Rec: The Old Guard: Joe/Nicky

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Another WIP I've been reading wrapped up yesterday. Nice non-traditional Omegaverse.

(let go of) the same dream (44407 words) by liadan14
Chapters: 12/12
Fandom: The Old Guard (Movie 2020)
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Joe | Yusuf Al-Kaysani/Nicky | Nicolò di Genova
Characters: Joe | Yusuf Al-Kaysani, Nicky | Nicolò di Genova, Andy | Andromache of Scythia, Quynh | Noriko, Booker | Sebastien le Livre, Nile Freeman, Steven Merrick (The Old Guard)
Additional Tags: Minor Booker | Sebastien le Livre/Nile Freeman, Minor Andy | Andromache of Scythia/Quynh | Noriko, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Non-Traditional Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Demisexuality, Alternate Universe - No Powers, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Mention of Regretted Past Sexual Encounters, Mentioned Racism, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Cuddling & Snuggling, Slow Burn, carpenter Nicky, Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Masturbation, Sex Toys, Explicit Sexual Content, Snowed In
Summary:

“Okay, I’m going to need your contact information and I’ll have to ask a few questions about what it is you’ll be needing during your rut. Is that alright?”

“Yes, yes, of course,” Nicky says, aware that he’s panicking and it reads in his tone. “Before you accept my booking, you need to—“

“It will be just fine,” Joe says, smooth and professional. “Why don’t we start with your name?”

“That’s just it,” Nicky says miserably. “It’s Nicolò di Genova.”

There’s a long pause. “Oh,” Joe says.

He hasn’t hung up, which is what Nicky was expecting, so he uses the silence to start apologizing.

In which both Joe and Nicky struggle to fit into a world where your cycle determines so much about your romantic prospects when neither of them have typical cycles or even know if they want that kind of romantic relationship. In which Joe co-runs a center where people with atypical heat and rut cycles can come and receive the help they need. In which Nicky really wishes he hadn't written a series of very stupid letters to the editor of the local paper back when he was pretending he didn't need the kind of help Joe was offering.