It was surprisingly easy to care for Noah. Brandon couldn't help the soft smile that stayed on his face as he observed the new Alter inspect Jamie and Sean's room intently.

He did notice how Noah tended to stumble a bit, tripping over his feet on occasion for no reason at all. When Noah held onto the table, Brandon couldn't stop himself from inquiring "Are you okay? Do you need some help?"

Noah blinked back at him, confused for a moment before smiling shyly. "Ah. Uhm... I'm not used to-" He motioned to their surroundings as he added softly "Walking around?"

At Brandon's curious look, Noah tugged his personal plushie closer to his body. "It's... uhm, inside?" He tapped against his temple before lowering his voice as he whispered "I never really had to walk."

The Alpha blinked before nodding, pushing back his growing curiosity that wanted to ask more questions about how it felt to be in their shared mindscape.

Instead he settled on an easier, safer question. "Do you need any help?"

"Mhmmm... I think I'm getting the hang of it." Noah hummed with a shake of his head, cinnamon spreading through the room, warm and fragrant.

He stumbled to the other side of the room, pausing at the sight of the TV set. "What is this?" Noah asked with a hesitant poke against the screen.

"It's a Tv." Brandon said, automatically moving forwards before taking the remote. Noah's eyes widened with awe when the screen turned on, showing a wildlife documentary.

"You can watch movies, cartoons, anything basically. The pack has a Netflix, er, movie subscription for their members." Brandon easily flicked through the programs until the screen showed kid friendly movies.

Noah's scent sweetened, excitement clear on his face as the screen showed previews of the cartoons. "Do you wanna watch some with a snack?"

Instantly Noah spun around, an ecstatic grin on his face that Brandon has never seen before. "Can I?"

The young Alpha had to fight to keep his smile on his face, realizing now that more than likely, Noah had never been outside before.

Instead of growling with disgust at the Corrupted like he wanted to, Brandon grinned down at Noah and gave him a playful nudge. "Of course you can. Do you want to come along or should I get the snacks on my own?"

Noah instantly stepped closer, giving Brandon his answer. They quickly made their way over to the dining area, where Brandon noticed that Noah was gingerly holding onto the back of the young Alpha's hoodie.

It made Brandon slowly realize that Noah was more than just an alter. That there was a reason why exactly the young man in front of him didn't seem to have a detectable rank.

He's a child alter. A Little...

Brandon didn't quite know how to handle the situation without insulting anyone. He knew that a child would love to have a hand offered to them, to hold hands as a sense of security and comfort.

However he also knew that towards the adult alters, it may come across as a bit demeaning. Perhaps they might even think Brandon was using Noah as an excuse to be more touchy with the community.

"Are you okay?" Brandon murmured softly, voice pitched low and soothing as not to startle Noah. He nodded, not releasing the hold he had on Brandon's hoodie, licking his lips hesitantly.

"Jamie always said to stay close in case something happens." He shrugged, nostrils flaring as they entered the kitchen. Brandon thanked his lucky stars as there were only two others in the room, currently engrossed in their meals.

Besides a dismissive nod, they didn't give any reaction to Brandon or Noah for that matter. Brandon could only assume that they thought the person beside him was Sean and didn't want to stress the Omega any more than they were. Especially given how Noah instantly ducked away behind Brandon, avoiding the curious glances his way.

He appreciated it greatly, because Brandon had no idea how he was going to explain this. Someone new, unintroduced, who looked exactly like Sean and Jamie?

Then again, it could work beneficial, as more people would know about the Community's existence. Sean and Jamie would no longer need to hide.

The young Alpha shook his head; there was a reason why people with DID kept it to themselves and only revealed it to their most trusted inner circle.

Pulling his focus towards Noah, Brandon quickly prepared some snacks and managed to usher Noah back to Jamie and Sean's room without any questions from the people enjoying their meal.

Then again, anyone with a nose was going to ask questions after finding another unknown scent in Brandon's company.

He let out a stressed sigh before setting up Noah for his first ever movie. A little smile played on his lips when Noah became so engrossed in the movies, the pup was nearly demanding a new one.

They were on their third or fourth movie by now and as Brandon stood up to stretch, he could only chuckle when Noah stayed engrossed with the screen.

"Lobo is so cool." Noah murmured, observing how the wolf character fought with Puss in Boots. An awed grin splitting his lips as he repeated the name a few times. "Lobo... Lobo is a cool name, right?" He asked, turning his attention away from the screen and turned to Brandon.

The young Alpha nodded in agreement. "To be fair, Lobo is an amazing character." Brandon admitted, watching along with Noah as the wolf disappeared in flames with an all too familiar whistle.

Cinnamon swept through the room in excitement as Noah grinned when the movie ended, a grin that reflected back on Brandon's face.

"I wanna go tell..." Noah yawned, interrupting his own sentence before his grin gentled in a soft smile. Eyes squinted and dimple in his cheek as he smiled up at Brandon while cinnamon softened before turning more floral yet equally sweet.

Brandon turned, observing the switch for a moment before smiling down as jasmine filled his nostrils. Sean blinked tiredly, as if waking from a deep sleep before looking around.

"It's okay." Brandon quickly soothed as he crouched down to appear less threatening. He could only imagine Sean's confusion as Noah had more than likely shoved Sean into the spotlight in order to swap out.

Sean took a delicate sniff of the room, pausing as he detected the cinnamon still lingering. "Noah?" He asked curiously, looking down at the plush still in his lap before blinking rapidly, eyes softening even more.

The young Alpha nodded, hesitating. "He came out when we were looking at plushes for you and the others." Pointing towards the table, where a handful of different plushies were waiting to be scented. "He picked out several that you all might like but you can always go pick out your own from the storage if you want."

At that, the Omega shook his head, gingerly placing down Noah's plush at the end of the bed. "These are perfect." Sean murmured, approaching the table filled with soft blankets and plushies.

It was clear in the way Sean hesitated to touch anything, to grab whichever plushie and blanket he wanted, that he wasn't sure what to do.

Or rather, afraid to do it.

Desiring something soft and comfortable along with scenting those objects were instinctive behaviors for an Omega. To be denied such a thing for so long, probably be punished for wanting it...

Sean didn't hesitate for too long after Brandon gave him a reassuring grin and nod towards the items on the table. His fingers eagerly found the soft yellow throw blanket, plush and comfortable.

Bringing the freshly washed fabric to his face, Sean hesitated before slightly nuzzling against the blanket. His shoulders hunched, as if expecting to be hit but when nothing happened, the Omega repeated the gesture.

He didn't quite seem to know how to scent and when watery eyes looked helplessly at Brandon, the Alpha's heart melted. Pointing a finger towards his own throat, Brandon gently explained without sounding condescending, as if Sean should know better.

"There's glands in your throat that release pheromones. For Alphas they're placed right here." Brandon tilted his chin up, tapping against the two glands on either side of his jaw. "Jamie would have them there too, but smaller. As for Omegas, their jugular glands are located lower, more towards their larynx."

Sean blinked, feeling his own throat before pausing as he sensed the obvious bumps on either side of his throat. He gave a hesitant sniff at his fingers before frowning, not sensing any pheromones.

Brandon couldn't help but give a wry chuckle. "You won't be able to smell your own pheromones darling, just your scent. If Jamie were to activate his glands, or if you touched mine, you'd notice the difference." Brandon explained, anticipating Sean would reach for his own neck once more to test Jamie's scent glands.

Instead, a hesitant finger poked gently against his jugular gland, sending a shiver of awareness over Brandon's spine. The Omega beside him didn't have a clue what he just did, humming when he confirmed what Brandon just said.

"So I just... bring the plush to my throat?" He asked softly, making Brandon blink out of his stupor and nod. Observing how the Omega gave the plush a hesitant nudge and gave a pleased smile when he sniffed at the plush.

Brandon felt his heart jump in his throat as Sean started to get absorbed in the scent marking. Nuzzling into the plush, hugging the fluffy white wolf into his throat, nearly purring as he finally, finally gave into his Omegan instincts.

That's it darling...

When the white plush smelled completely like fragrant jasmine, Sean smiled, holding it against his chest. Motioning towards the blanket, Brandon murmured "The same principle with the blanket. Though the more you use it, the more your scent will seep into the blanket naturally."

Sean nodded, giving the blanket a lazy nuzzle to leave a satisfying imprint of his scent before he hummed. Eyes flitting over the large collection of plushies before reaching out to pick up another one.

Brandon blinked in surprise, an awkward blush heating his face when he was presented with a wolf plushie that looked near identical to his own wolf.

When Sean gave it a shy wiggle, Brandon accepted the plush as the Omega whispered "Your scent is... soothing." His own cheeks heating up until both of them were standing there, faces a vibrant red.

Clearing his throat, Brandon made quick work of scenting the plushie while Sean watched. His own beast purring in contentment, knowing Sean felt safe with them.

So safe in fact, the Omega had requested them personally to provide them with a pheromone scented plushie. It made Brandon bite back an elated grin as he offered the scented plush back to Sean, who took it with a barely repressed whimper.

And as the Omega looked up at him with wide eyes, scent combining with that of the young Alpha, Brandon had to bite his tongue as Sean asked "You mentioned... nesting before?"

Honestly, Brandon had anticipated the question. When it was first mentioned and noticing the confusion and lack of response from Jamie, he had already drawn his own conclusions.

Why would the Corrupted have cared about the needs of their captive? They wouldn't have provided Sean with any means to Nest to begin with, never mind actually informing the poor Omega what this desire, no, need was.

"Have you ever felt... overly emotional? Like you'd want someone to hug you and you want to cry?" Brandon questioned softly, watching as Sean drew the plush tighter to his chest.

Not waiting for a response, Brandon continued, "When Omegas get overwhelmed, they can feel the need to Nest. It's a way to self-soothe, to reaffirm themselves and their position in the pack or in their relationship."

"Usually Omegas nest to self soothe, or when they're in their Heats. It's a completely normal behavior where they surround themselves with things that can comfort them, both physically and emotionally." Brandon pointed at the scented plush within Sean's arms as he licked his lips, hesitating for a moment.

It was an awkward, sensitive subject to breach but it would be worse if Sean remained unaware. "During your Heat cycle, you'll feel a desire to mate but also a desire to remain close to someone you trust. Usually this will be your mate but unmated Omegas will use a replacement in the form of a scented plush of a trusted Alpha or Beta."

As the young Alpha spoke, he could see Sean relax, the formerly closed expression turning vulnerable, replaced with a new emotion.

Longing.

Brandon continued to explain despite his Beast urging to step forwards and hug Sean. No matter how much he wanted to comfort the confused Omega, Brandon wanted to make sure Sean was fully informed and not influenced by faulty information or overtaken by his own desires.

So the young Alpha kept talking, explaining the nesting process in great detail. After all, he had often participated when his own mother needed to self soothe.

And when he explained to Sean that nesting didn't need to be sexual, that nesting could be purely about friendship, warmth and comfort, the Omega's lip wobbled as if he was moments away from crying.

He could see and even smell the war waging in Sean's head as his Omegan instincts were screaming at him. Finally safe enough to be fulfilled, secure enough to trust someone when they were at their most vulnerable.

When the first snivel filled the air, Brandon hesitated only for a second, until Sean darted closer himself and nuzzled against his chest.

Brandon wasn't going to ask what Sean needed. The poor Omega's muscles tensed and quivered as he cried with years of suppressed desires and unmet needs.

All he did was to simply ask "Do you need help darling?", gaining an almost instantaneous nod against his chest, along with a whispered plea.

A plea voiced by Sean's Omega, voice quivering and broken, calling to his Alpha. Brandon enveloped Sean in the softest, warmest hug he could manage, sighing softly as the Omega inhaled his pheromones.

"Then let's prepare your nest, sweetheart."