Thread by @cerbykerby

what if unbonded alphas can tell that their rut is approaching because their teeth itch with the need to bite.

what if omega!lwj can tell that alpha!wwx is almost in rut not because of his changing scent, but because wwx chews on a squeaky ball to relieve the itchiness.

alpha!wwx likes his squeaky ball! it's sturdy, big enough to fit in his mouth and get to all his teeth, and it squeaks just enough to satisfy the rut-driven part of him that wants to hear something cry out.

it REALLY annoys his coworker lwj. the constant *squeak… squeak…*

omega!lwj is about to go insane. whenever he's about to go into heat, he just wraps himself in more blankets in his cubicle. that bothers no one! this alpha, with his SQUEAKY TOY, is definitely bothering people! how is lwj supposed to work in this environment??

finally, lwj has had enough. he storms over to wwx's cubicle.

the ball in wwx's mouth: *squeak… squeak… squ—*

lwj: mr. wei, i suggest you work remotely whenever you are in this state. the noise is a distraction.

wwx:

lwj:

the ball in wwx's mouth: *squeaksqueaksqueak—*

wwx kind of enjoys being in pre-rut; that's when his mind is in overdrive. he is at his most creative and productive. all he needs is something to keep his mind, hands, and teeth busy. his boss doesn't mind. his coworkers don't mind.

only fuddy-duddy lwj minds. ugh.

it really is such a shame that lwj smells /incredible/ now that wwx's senses are ultra-sharp. perhaps if lwj weren't so *prickly*, wwx would find him appealing.

the increased squeak frequency of the ball in wwx's mouth is a separate issue. he just feels extra itchy, that's all.

one last thing to add to this: when they finally bond, the first thing lwj does is get out of bed, wrap the bondbite in gauze to help it heal, and throw away wwx's pre-rut squeaky ball.

wwx tries to act distraught, but fails because he can't stop laughing.