Chapter Text
Reki woke up to the sounds of his sisters running a muck being loud and as playful as usual, the oldest of his sisters chastising the youngest two for some unknown reason to the red head. With a gruff sigh Reki sat up and stretched hearing the satisfying sound of his joints cracking and loosening up from his slumber. Still he hesitated to get out of bed he was feeling more sluggish then usual, more tired and achy all over. He had half his mind settled on laying back down and trying to get a few more precious minutes of sleep, but alas that wasn't an option. Langa would worry if he was late to meet with him.
Reluctantly he made his way out of bed standing up and turning to glance longingly back at his warm nest of pillows and blankets that he was leaving behind in favor of the harsh waking world, though Langa was a perk of the waking world he supposed, and skateboarding, still it was a disappointing moment. He made his way to the bathroom to clean up and relieve himself before getting dressed but as soon as he shimmied his pants down his legs.. blood. He recoiled a bit surprised by his own menstruation cycle. He didn't keep up with it like most omegas, his was so irregular it was almost impossible to predict anyway, so it was always an unpleasant surprise.
Almost as if on cue there was a sharp ache from his lower abdomen. The stiffness and aching from this morning suddenly made perfect sense. He was even more inclined to sneak back to bed now but still.. Langa was waiting for him. He couldn't keep his best friend waiting! After all Langa didn't even know about his omega presentation, so it wasn't like he could explain the situation. Nope. He had no choice but to buckle up like a man and endure the already miserable day.
Putting on a sanitary pad he pulled his underwear back on and then proceeded to get dressed, baggy sweatpants (black of course in case of possible leakage) and his hoodie and topped off with his signature headband. As normal as any other day. Yet his attitude wasn't as typical, he slunk out of his room dragging his feet and holding his stomach as he made his way down the hall. His energy was low and his back ached and random cramps in his abdomen and ovaries caused immense discomfort. His slow march to the kitchen was regretful he wished he hadn't woken up today.
He merely grunted in acknowledgement to his mothers morning greeting grabbing a slice of toast and spreading some jam on top quickly. He could feel his siblings and mothers gaze on him could sense their worry. He wondered how they figured out he was in distress so quickly, while most omegas bellowed pheremones when experiencing stress.. Reki was on a slew of suppressants to mask any scents. His family were betas anyway so they wouldn't easily pick up such pheremones.
He sniffed himself as confirmation that nope he didn't smell anything off about himself, his family could just sense something was wrong. "I'm fine. Just a little tired." He reassured them granting a soft smile to his mother and sisters before heading toward the door, toast held in his mouth as he laced up his sneakers. "Byuh." He mumbled his speech muffled by the piece of toast, he didn't wait for a reply just quickly making his way out the door and grabbing his beloved skateboard.
Skating wasn't as fun in his current state the cramps and bleeding made it difficult to enjoy anything as of the moment, but the uncomfortable feeling of dribbling blood as a result of his activity made it even more uncomfortable. Why had he been cursed to be an omega? It was unfair. Extremely unfair when statistics are involved. Omegas were incredibly rare with only 5% being born one nowadays, even more sparsely were male omegas like himself. So why had he been born one? The odds were heavily stacked against it happening but yet... here he was. A male omega, a rarity.
Omegas used to be just as common as alphas being born, but then the dowry system was implemented. A archaic practice that for some reason still persisted to this day, but much less common. The gist was that an omega's family's would pay a sum of cash or other valuables to have an alpha mate with their omega. Depending on the alphas family status the dowry could be costly and cause great financial stress on the omegas parents. Thus parents did not want omega children.
This system was what ultimately led to the downfall of omegas in society. Parents began getting second gender determination tests on their unborn fetuses and then aborting any omega leaning infants. Alphas were cherished. Betas were tolerable. But omegas were terrible. Even resorting to killing their omegan newborns or abandoning them completely. It was a mass omegacide, it became normal and acceptable for parents to do this.
Omega children were seen as another family's property and a big burden for the family, having to support the child and then pay for someone to bond with them eventually. It was all barbaric but that was just how society behaved.
The worst possible offspring to some parents were that of a male omega. They were seen as wrong and unholy abominations. They were especially unwanted with the belief only girls should present as an omega, if any at all.
Over the generations, less and less omegas were born as time went by. So many didn't make it past infancy that their presence in society and development were declining steadily. Alphas on the other hand were still a healthy portion of society despite the staggering lack of omegas for them to mate with. That disconnect led to omega trafficking and kidnapping to supply rich alpha bachelors with a mate by force. A dark but profitable business, after all with the shortage of available omegas, there was definitely alphas and their family's who would pay big money to secure one for themselves at any cost even if it wasn't through legal nor moral means.
As Reki skated over the top of the hill he spotted familiar light feathery blue hair and matching sparkling aqua eyes. His best friend was waiting for him as he did everyday, waiting patiently. As the red head neared he quickly gave the other a high-five. "Hey. Sorry I was running late I slept in."
Langa quirked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow. "Its okay. I don't mind waiting," He smiled softly, an expression Reki had come to love. Langa wasn't very expressive with a usual melancholy attitude and calm but sincere disposition. It was almost hard to believe the Canadian was an alpha. Even after knowing Langa for a few months it was still difficult to believe. He acted more like a beta or even an omega sometimes with how non-confrontational and timid he could be.
But at the same time Reki could catch a whiff of the other boy and know he wasn't lying about his presentation. He had the musky overpowering smell that was distinctly an alphas, unique but all consuming. Alpha pheremones were the strongest of any dynamic, with alphas usually scenting their possessions and territory they liked to have a tough to miss smell. Langa smelled like mint leaves or sometimes maple-y sweet or icy like fresh snow or sometimes all three together, it was so distinctly Langa and he liked it a lot. While Reki typically disliked alpha pheremones he had an exception for Langa's, it was soothing and familiar and comforting. He knew he'd grown attached to his best friend. Embarrassingly so.
"Let's go, slowpoke!" Reki grinned and took off as soon as the wheels of his board hit the street he was racing towards the school, glancing over his shoulder he could see Langa scrambling to do the same clearly caught off guard by Reki suddenly taking off.
But Langa was quick to catch up with him coming to glide right beside him quickly an adorable pout on his lips. "You're playing dirty. Warn me if you want to race." He mumbled grumpily.
Reki rolled his eyes using one foot to kick and propel himself faster. "This is hardly a race. If I were serious I'd give you a proper notice, this is just fun." He grinned smugly. Skating seriously right now would not be fun, he'd be too uncomfortable to skate at his full potential and too worried about leakage to move as fluidly as he usually could. He would be pretty lackluster for a couple of days at least or until his cycle decides to lay off him. No serious tricks or beefs until he recovered.
They both went to class after arriving at the school. Reki was in pain and he felt like literal death as his cramps got worse and increasingly more painful as time went on. He kept fidgeting in his chair stretching out his back and swiveling his hips and contorting himself trying to relieve the aching stiffness from his lower back. Despite his efforts nothing seemed to help, it only earned him weird looks. He winced as a particularly painful stab of pain in his left ovary complimented with a shock to his pelvis, he doubled over trying not to groan aloud and voice his obvious discomfort and pain to the classroom.
He felt the weight and warmth of someones hand coming to rest between his shoulder blades it was a clear gesture of comfort. There was also a spike in pheremones the kind emitted to try and console someone, this all Langa's doing of course. The alpha sat right beside him in class so of course he'd be aware of his unusual pained behavior. Turning his head Reki had his cheek resting pressed against the desktop and his eyes settled into looking into Langa's. Pools of blue. So inviting that Reki wanted to jump in and feel the refreshing water on his sore muscles. Let the cool liquid cool down his flushed too hot skin. Langa's orbs reminded Reki of an oasis, deep aqua pools of refuge from the harsh world.
Still the omega felt a sinking feeling of dread, surely Langa would question him as to why he was hurting. Reki didn't want to lie to him he never wanted to lie to Langa but it wasn't as simple as he wished it was. Hiding his dynamic and status as an omega was vital to Reki's safety as well as his family's. He would be a target of harassment and ridicule if the secret got out to the rest of the school. His reputation would lower and so to his opportunities in life. Despite being an omega, Reki was his family's only son. The best chance at a provider they had. So it was crucial he be seen as a beta. His mom and he himself had gone to great trouble to conceal his second gender and fool people.
He wasn't forced into hiding it, he wanted to. It was shameful in society to be an omega and Reki didn't want to be seen as a weak brainless slut but that was how most viewed them. High schoolers being especially harsh. Not to mention the sleaze bags at S who prowled around like bums flirting with woman and making crude comments and challenging each other like the brutes they were. Majority were betas, but quite a lot were alphas, the drawl of competing and showing off was like a magnet for alphas to be drawn to. Sometimes with actual fights or just really crazy beefs that were all a display to show dominance and power. Reki liked to win.. but he just enjoyed skating more then anything. Racing and competing wasn't his main focus. He didn't need to be the best to have fun.
He wasn't a superstar athletic genius like some of his friends were. He just loved to skate and was decently talented at it. But even he had some pride and being laughed at for being a lowly omega was a fear of his. He didn't want to draw that sort of attention to himself. He was embarrassed of his gender and could think of nothing more terrifying then it getting out.
"Reki.. please tell me. Are you sick?" Langa pressed worriedly as soon as lunch came around Langa began questioning Reki insistently wanting to know why the red head had been so uncomfortable earlier.
He sighed and shoved a piece of chicken from his bento lunch into his best friends mouth to which the always hungry Canadian gingerly accepted chewing appreciatively and humming at the flavor with a happy grumble from his throat. Langa made the cutest sounds. "I'm fine. I just pulled a muscle in my back. Its not anything to worry about so calm down." He assured.
Langa swallowed the chunk of meat and then once again pouted his brows furrowing in confusion. "Are you sure? I smelled blood earlier when we met this morning.. So I was worried you were bleeding somewhere and then you acted hurt in class.. The smell hasn't gone away so.." The alpha rambled worriedly clearly distraught that Reki would say he was weird for such a thing. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Reki flushed his cheeks set ablaze from mortification. Langa could smell that he was bleeding? Were alphas really that sensitive to smells?! He wanted to run away and hide forever since this was an incredibly embarrassing situation that he was not prepared to be put in. "Heh. I don't know what you're on about, really, I'm fine." He tried to respond smoothly but his voice still squeaked and broke from lack of confidence. Sheesh now he really wished he would have stayed in bed this morning and skipped today entirely. Anything to avoid this cursed interaction.
Langa still appeared confused his nostrils flaring as he sniffed the air clearly picking up something as he took another quick sniff. "Hmm." He grumbled thoughtfully. "I still smell it. Maybe somethings wrong with my nose.." Langa brainstormed trying to conjure up an explanation.
"Ha! Maybe! O-Or maybe someone else around here is bleeding!" Reki spluttered faking a forced laugh as he quickly stood up now ready to flee. He needed to put an end to this conversation as it wasn't leading anywhere good. "I gotta go-..go.. uh.. bathroom. Gotta go to the bathroom, be back." Then in a flash Reki turned on the heel of his sneaker and quickly made his big escape rounding the corner with a sigh of relief.
Great now he was only digging himself in a deeper hole of mystery. He didn't know how to make it stop though. Langa was worried for him. While that touched Reki's heart to have a best friend so caring about him, it was frustrating right now. He couldn't tell Langa what was bothering him, he had to lie and hide things and that made him feel like a terrible friend. He was worrying Langa and couldn't even tell the alpha why. Stupid omega body, stupid period! This was unnecessary drama and it stressed Reki out.
What would Langa say if he found out? Would he be disgusted with him? Interested? Would they even remain friends..? Maybe it would put too much strain on their friendship. It was a heavy secret that carried baggage, awkward and inconvenient baggage. It was safer to stay as it was; an alpha and beta as simple ordinary best friends. Nothing more normal then that. Telling Langa would complicate things. Maybe he should just avoid the alpha entirely until his period and menstrual pain ends, that way the Canadian wouldn't worry for his well-being.
Then again he might just end up worrying Langa more if he suddenly began avoiding him.. there seemingly wasn't an easy solution to his problem. He stopped at a vending machine digging in his pocket for any loose coins. He supposed this was as good a time as any to buy a soda can and down some suppressant pills, with the amount of stress he was experiencing he would probably need it to keep his scent under control.
"Yeah its ridiculous! This the second time I knocked the bitch up.. she's completely worthless, all I want is one alpha son from her."
"Shit. How much did her parents pay for you to take her? Maybe she has a faulty womb."
"They gave us 15 hundred in cash and some shitty property. It was a bad trade cause now I'm stuck with the damn terrible omega, done marked her and everything."
"Man I'd just count your losses and get rid of her. With your family name you'll probably get another mating opportunity. Maybe an actual quality omega with a good dowry too."
"You're probably right. I'll talk to my parents about disposing of her and finding a new one."
Reki felt sick overhearing this conversation. He felt terrible for the poor girl they were talking about. What did they mean dispose of her? And a faulty womb? Such terrible sickening language about ones mate. He risked a glance past the machine to where he'd heard the boys speak. Just normal teenage boys, grinning and fooling around with each other, but now they were joking about how the alpha should go about disposing of the omega. Pretending to shoot guns or tie nooses around their necks, so that was what they meant by disposing of her. Death by murder or forced suicide.
Reki felt anger and disgust beyond belief. Not only empathy for the omega in such a dire situation but rage for the clear dismissal of her life. He wasn't even thinking as he emerged from behind the vending machine, hands clenched in fists and jaw tensed up. the red head had a firey aura as he approached the gaggle of young men.
"Do you have no shame?! You scum bags are talkin' about murdering someone!" Reki shouted at the group, not only gaining their attention but also the attention of others around them causing a scene.
The alpha who was responsible for this commotion laughed as if expecting Reki to be joking. "Murder? That's an exaggeration. It's a dumb omega bitch who's good for nothin'. She brought it on herself for not producing an alpha son." Was the asshole's response. "Who are you anyway, kid? It's none of your business what I do with my property."
Glancing between him and the others in the group their arrogant smirks pissed Reki off further. With his hormones out of whack he couldn't calm himself down, no, he was only getting more and more worked up. He swung a punch at the alpha, hitting him square in the nose with his knuckles as hard as he could. The rich murderous bastard was knocked backwards with blood dribbling from his nostrils. Reki felt pride, now he wasn't the only one bleeding. Though his knuckles did burn from the punch, the first time he'd ever hit someone before.
However the epic moment was short lived as the alpha stood up now looming menacingly over Reki's smaller frame. He looked more homicidal then before, thick red blood running down his face and a glint of rage in his eyes. Shit. Maybe Reki made a mistake. The pure fury he felt before had gone away replaced with terror. As he turned to flee he was met with a wall of bodies, the boy's friends were rallying together blocking Reki's path to escape.
"Kick his ass!" "Kill the damn stupid twerp!' "Teach him a lesson, Makoto!"
Makoto. That must be this boy's name. He was apparently popular as quite a lot of people crowded around to watch the fight all cheering the alpha on. Makoto snatched Reki by the collar of his hoodie lifting the smaller boy up as if he were weightless. "You must have a death wish. I'll help you out with that.." He smiled a type of grin that sent chills down Reki's spine. He clammed up unable to move he was so frightened. Today was getting worse and worse.