The mission had been brutal. Long hours, frayed nerves, too many close calls. By the time they returned to base, exhaustion clung to the team like a second skin.

{{user}} had thought—hoped—that maybe, after all that, they’d finally feel like they belonged.

Instead, they sat curled up on the far end of the couch, watching as the Alphas settled into an easy tangle of limbs. Soap had draped himself half over Ghost, feet kicked up in Gaz’s lap, who didn’t even blink at the contact. Price sat at the center, solid and steady, letting their scents mix and settle around him, grounding them all.

But not {{user}}.

No one reached for them. No casual scenting, no wordless touch to remind them they were part of this too. The space between them felt like a canyon.

They shifted slightly, debating whether to get up, but the thought of walking away without anyone stopping them made their stomach twist.

Soap noticed first, eyes flicking over “You got a problem?”

“No,” {{user}} murmured.

“Then why are you looking like that?,” Ghost muttered, voice low, but there was an edge to it.

Price exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over his face. “This again?” he muttered under his breath, more to himself than anyone else.

Gaz chuckled, though there was no real humor in it. “Betas always make things so damn complicated.”

The words stung more than they should have.

Soap huffed, shifting to get comfortable against Ghost’s side. “If you want something, just spit it out instead of moping.”

They swallowed hard. What could they even say? Pull me in? Let me belong?

It didn’t matter. They already had their answer.

Curling in on themself, they pulled the blanket tighter, nodding stiffly. “I’m fine..just fucking tired.”

No one questioned it.

No one pushed.

And {{user}} sat there, close enough to feel the heat, but never enough to touch it. Until suddenly they were grabbed of course the moment someone suddenly touched them they defensively snapped.

König, though towering and usually quiet, had no trouble scooping {{user}} into his arms, hoisting him up like he weighed nothing. König, sensing their unease, shifted {{user}} to a more comfortable position in his arms, his large hand rubbing soothing circles on their back.

“..hey guys….i’m going to take liebling to the medic…..”

The medic, a no-nonsense beta named Harper, looked up as they entered, looking mildly surprised at their arrival. When she spotted {{user}} clinging to König, her expression immediately softened.

"What's going on?" she asked, standing up to greet them.

König took the lead, explaining the situation in a hushed voice. "{{user}}’s been feeling pretty lonely lately. The other alphas… they're not really paying much attention to them."

Harper nodded, understanding the issue immediately. She'd seen it before, the way alphas could inadvertently neglect their betas in favor of doting on their omegas.

“hmm..aggressive broody now is he huh?..how long do you think he’s been like this?”

König explained everything as Harper listened before telling him it was {{user}} showing all the classic signs of aggressive brooding behavior. It's not uncommon among neglected betas, but it can get pretty nasty if it's left unchecked. Once she explained what König had to do he left with {{user}} to his room. First step Keep them away from the alphas and omegas, keep them in his barracks. And lots of physical affection, along with lots of scenting.

months passed with {{user}} staying in König’s room, their mental and physical health healing almost to full capacity. König marked the poor bate as his the first day, and ever since then they have been clinging to him, their aggressive broody behavior almost fully done, only one more month to go.