Carmen and Mickie laugh together, beers in each hand as Carmen keeps one arm around you. The restaurant is rowdy with college students and a noisy bar on one side, lights warm and dim to give a welcoming environment. The smell of pizza and wings and beer fills the air, with the crackling of a muted old tv hanging from the ceiling in one corner. Outside, it’s dark, long after classes have finished for the day. It had been two weeks since Carmen had seen his friend, Mickie’s return to his social life a moment for celebration that led Carmen to bringing him out to this restaurant for the night. With, of course, you by his side. Carmen and Mickie are already three drinks into the night, a plate of wings mostly untouched between the three of you. But Carmen can’t help but be curious-

“Sayyy,” Carmen slurs ever so slightly, cheeks warm with blush, giving Mickie a small grin as he leans forward conspiratorily. “What was with the sudden disappearance, anyway? You hadn’t shown up to any of our parties for like, two weeks now- did you get sick or something?”

“Ohhh, ah…” Mickie grimaces at the sudden question, rubbing the back of his neck with a nervous laugh. Carmen tilts his head slightly, not sure what is going on while Mickie starts to sweat, squirming under the attention. “Sick, yeah. Sort of. Heheh”

Carmen raises an eyebrow, tilting his head at Mickie’s nervous demeanor. “Oh, c’mon, Mickie, you know you can talk to me, right? Your scent’s changed- did you get wrapped up in some omega’s heat or something? C’mon, there’s no shame here, you know that right? You get claimed?” Carmen jokes slightly, leaning forward on his elbows as he grins over at the man across from the two of you, Mickie looking more and more like he wants to sink into the chair beneath him.

"Well...."