TOG au edit for @ironpe: a walk in the clouds au
After the war, alpha Joe intends to pick up where he left off with his wife: build a life together, and get that house with a white picket fence. After a mildly disappointing reunion, he realizes that she never read any of his letters, and that he hardly knows her, save for that one whirlwind romance right before he shipped off (they hadn’t even had time to mate). But he’s determined to make it work, and part of that takes him on a cross-country trip to work at his old job at a chocolate factory.
On the train over, he shares a carriage with a nervous omega who barfs on him right after he helps him with his luggage. This is how he meets Nicky, a graduate student returning home. Apart from the vomiting incident, they get along well, talking the hours away about anything and nothing in particular. Joe feels a connection, but senses that Nicky is hiding a secret, especially as Joe can’t get any scent off him. When Joe comes back from using the bathroom, he finds Nicky crying quietly, and he finally confesses his predicament.
Nicky is pregnant. He had been having an affair with his professor, only to find out that he refuses to be tied down and left Nicky to fend for himself. Now he’s going home to a conservative father who will most definitely kill him when he finds out. Joe reassures him that’s not the case, but Nicky insists it is. “I will kill anyone who dishonors my family.” How many times has he said that?
Unable to leave Nicky in trouble, Joe offers to pose as his husband, just for one night. In the morning, he will leave and Nicky’s father will hate him instead of Nicky. After much convincing, Nicky agrees reluctantly, thanking Joe over and over for his kindness.
They leave the train together and Nicky takes him home to a sweeping vineyard, where their family’s winery has stood for many generations. Joe is welcomed warmly by everyone, except Nicky’s father who is outraged that Nicky would get married without telling anyone and is determined to be worried about Joe and his intentions.
They decide that Joe needs to stay longer, to allay some of his father’s suspicions. But with each day that passes, Joe finds that he’s pretending less and less that he’s in love with Nicky. When he dotes on Nicky, he means it. When they kiss, the thrill Joe feels is real. The moment he starts to wish this is all real is the moment he remembers he’s still married. While he senses that Nicky feels the same way about him, Joe can’t reciprocate and he won’t hurt Nicky this way.
Can Joe endure a few more days without arousing suspicion? Will he be able to leave Nicky knowing he’ll be breaking his heart? More importantly, does he still even want to?
baratheonpilled
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