Luca’s breath is stuttered as he grips the blond close, and Nico can hear him swallow heavily before he burrows his face further into his shoulder and neck. The alpha squeezes his eyes shut, trying to control himself as he presses his own face into the sweet smell emitting from the younger man's neck. 

He rubs his hands up Luca’s back, heart beating so hard against his chest that he fears it'll fly out. Luca’s heart thunders against his chest too, the other boy shaking in his hold as Nico’s fingers course through his brown locks. 

Their legs tangled together, and Nico’s eyes fluttered as warm hands clasp against his bare back. He can feel the branding on Luca’s arm pressing against his skin, the other scars littering up the omegas arms scuffing against his own scarred back, their bodies pressed close. His fingers feather against the omegas neck, and he winces as he feels scratches- fresh ones- and wonders if maybe Luca did this to himself to keep himself from falling into heat too hard.

His thumb brushes against the younger man's claw marks gently, and he swallows as he feels scars there too. His mind boggles at the feeling of the pain on the omegas skin, and he swallows tightly as this deep sense of worry laces through him. Does he scratch himself every time? Were these inflicted by something or someone else?

Strangely enough, despite Luca’s tense body in his arms, the younger man feels more relaxed and smells more relaxed than he has in the last three days. Nico’s eyes flutter shut as he holds him there, Luca’s easing breath calming his own heart down as he feels his back move in steadier movements beneath his fingers. 

It's strange how calm he feels. Nico figured he'd go crazy once he touched the brunette, so sure that he'd possibly lose himself in the midst of the pheromones and the warmth. Instead the warmth has his body falling slack in the other man's arms, mind growing foggy and relaxed- more than it's been in weeks. He brushes his nose along the smaller boy's neck, breathing in a long, settling sigh. 

“You okay?” He asks, afraid of Luca’s long going silence, his usual sneering ‘don’t touch me’ having left their situation when the omegas hands touched the older man. 

Luca nods softly, and Nico hears him swallow and for the first time ever Nico believes him when his voice comes softly, “Yeah…”

“You kissed him.”

Nico flounders, looking at Lana wide eyed as he jerks his gaze away from Luca’s back, “I did not.” He snaps, and she throws him a cheeky grin as his apparent embarrassment shows in crimson across his cheeks.

“Well you guys did something.” She says, twirling her finger through her wild hair as she looks at him wide eyed, “Don't tell me you guys did hand stuff and you didn't even peck his lips Nico-”

“Lana!” He shoves her hard and she cackles as he glares at her, “We hugged, that's all.”

Lana stops laughing, face scrunching into a puzzled expression, “You hugged?” She says in a tone that suggests that she doesn't believe him at all.

“Yes, that's it.” He murmurs, deliberately excluding the fact that they scented each other for several hours three nights ago as he leans heavily on the helm, “And he's been a little more talkative…”

“And that's making yah undress him with yer eyes?” She raises a brow at him and Nico doesn't hold back when he punches her shoulder this time, “Ow!”

“Quit your dirty thinking, you pervert.” He says sternly and Lana pouts as she rubs at her arm, “How are you six months older than me?”

“Clearly I'm superior.” She says bitterly and he scowls at her, rolling his eyes.

“I'm not gonna treat him like some kinda…” Nico looks up some, thinking hard, “Tramp.”

Lana stares at him for a few long seconds, and then her mouth is hanging open, a choked laugh coming out, “You fancy him.”

Nico clenches his jaw, and something inside him tells him to say he doesn't, but his lips don't move. Lana gasps, looking absolutely flabbergasted as he places her hands on her cheeks dramatically, “You do!”

Nico scowls at her and she waggles her brows, grinning ear to ear with glee, “Aww, ya haven't fancied anyone in soooo long!”

“Lana!” He leans up off of the wheel, looking at her in disdain, “The whole ship doesn't need to hear your big mouth.”

Lana bites her lower lip, and Nico scowls at her, daring her to say whatever it is she's thinking. She dares, “I bet you wish he had a big mouth-”

He punches her again.