Chapter Text
If the first day of school after the start of Lumine’s heat had been bad for Aether, the following two days were just as bad. The last day took the crown and Aether felt like he was walking on the edge. And if he would fall down that edge, he would be punching someone. Scaramouche most likely.
Because if the shoulder bumping on the first day had been an indicator, it’s like Scaramouche decided he wouldn’t leave his side. And not to be a support, no, to make everything even harder. Making comments whenever he said anything, trying to trip him and edge him on when he didn’t get anything.
But what was worse was that damn history teacher. The man had already crossed the line when he was being too noisy about his sister. In itself not too bad but he had seen the history classes before and that teacher seemed like a creep that’d stalk teenage girls that were at least ten years younger than he was. And today he had had the guts to imply that Lumine must’ve been in heat. It was true, of course but he had no right to talk about such a thing. Especially not since she hadn’t been able to tell her friends herself.
So Aether ended up with detention that day, meaning he came home later than he wanted to and had his father waiting for him.
“Aether, sit down,” his father told him, still with his back to him. He did so, knowing that this was a fight he wouldn’t win. His father turned to him, gave him a glass of water and sat down opposite of him. “We got called by the school about your detention and your attitude about the past few days. Anything you want to tell me?” his father asked.
He cursed school for their ‘if you’re under fifteen your parents are going to be notified of anything out of ordinary’ rule, his father did not need to know this. “Scaramouche was just edging me on for days and this teacher was talking about Lumine’s heat, which he had no right to mention,” he grumbled.
His father’s face had a look of understanding, yet at the same time there was something Aether couldn’t read. “But there was nothing else?” his father asked.
“What do you mean, nothing else?” He knew his father was looking for something, he just didn’t know what specifically. He could tell his old man that he was ready to explode for the past few days but something held him back. Their parents already acted a bit off around the fact that Lumine took to his scent during her heat and he didn’t know what else they would start saying when he admitted that he was ready to rip off someone’s arm for touching someone alone.
“You haven’t felt extremely mad or aggressive the past few days? Or unreasonable angry?”
Aether shook his head. He knew that lying was best done by giving parts of the truth and he knew that thirteen-year-olds shouldn’t be this good at lying but it felt necessary. His parents were acting strange so he would have to wait and see first before telling the truth. “No, just a bit irritated because Lumine has been at home and I couldn’t stay too, that’s all,” he said. The excuse felt childish enough and he hoped his father wouldn’t question more, or worse use his alpha commands.
But his father only looked disappointed at him. “Son, you know better than this. It’s already something that Lumine presented this early and has to miss so much of her education, I don’t want you to have to go through the same thing. Let’s hope your presentation waits as long as possible.”
The presentation of his designation made him think. His anger was obviously no hint for an omega presentation, for he knew how it presented now. Aether gathered his confidence and looked his father straight in the eye. “You asked for the anger, madness and aggressiveness. Are they supposed to be signs for presentation?” he asked. If he couldn’t access the right information himself yet, he’d just have to do with the information his parents would give him.
“Yes,” his father admitted, “when an alpha goes through practice rut the first time they tend to be mad, aggressive, possessive of what they feel is theirs and really protective. They go through it less than omega’s, only four times a year until they mature and it becomes yearly, just like omega’s when they mature. Practice ruts usually allow room to still do what you want to do, unlike practice heats, you would just have to watch how you act. Some have it so extreme they do have to stay at home. I did get into some fights during practice heats, but other than that nothing extreme.”
He watched his father chuckle with an odd feeling. How could a man contradict himself so much? He didn’t want him to present to early to prevent missing education but he also said that he should also be able to go to school as an alpha in practice rut? And he heard his parents discuss the government's approach before, how is it that they disagree with the old-fashioned way yet still had their own old-fashioned ways creep in.
Something in him told Aether that he shouldn’t keep lying to himself. The aggression and anger of the past days wasn’t normal. But he hadn’t been possessive or protective, right? He probably should keep silent about it until he knew for sure.
It seemed like his father didn’t have anything more to add. “Am I allowed to go now?” he asked, just to be sure.
“Yes, go,” his father confirmed.
Aether found Lumine playing on her phone, something he hadn’t seen in a few days. “Are you feeling better?” he asked. His sister brightened at his appearance and got out of her nest.
“Aether! Yes I am! Still cared for the plushies but the strange feeling is pretty low now, so mom told me I could go to school tomorrow!” she told him with a bright smile before hugging him.
Aether couldn’t help but grin. She was acting so cute and happy compared to her usual serious self, he loved it. Not that he didn’t like her usual self, it’s just that he wished that she could enjoy herself more. Their designations affected their maturity but they were thirteen, jeez. “I’m happy you can come tomorrow, I missed you,” he told her while hugging her back.