Chapter Text
At a party full of high school students, a 16-year-old omega hides in an upstairs bathroom to reapply his makeup. The bass from the loud music was shaking everything around him, he can feel each thump of the beat in his chest. He’d been partying for three hours now, drowning out his thoughts and worries that he left at home with alcohol that was being passed around by his seniors every minute.
The omega almost got away from the pang of guilt in his chest, but he looks into the mirror and sees the same eyes like his Dad.
“B-but...Daddy! This is the senior’s farewell party! I have to go!” The young omega cried, watching his dad walk around the kitchen to fetch his morning coffee like nothing was wrong.
His dad was normally a big teddy bear with anything involving the teenage omega and his papa, but today the alpha didn’t even hesitate to ruin his plans. This was so unlike him since he’s never told the teenager ‘No” for anything.
“You are not a senior. You’re only sixteen and have no business at a party like that after midnight.” His dad explained pointedly like it was the most obvious part of his decision.
The teenage omega pouts, hoping his dad would change his mind but the alpha was not even studying him. His eyes never left the tablet he was reading from the moment he entered the kitchen. The omega was beginning to feel helpless since his dad was his go-to parent for things like this and got the opposite response than he’s used to.
“What if—”
“Akira, no.”
The teenage omega remembers his dad’s final words about the party from two mornings ago as he’s putting on the final touches to his makeup. That conversation couldn’t count; Akira Kambe always got what he wanted being the youngest child and omega at that.
“He was having a rough day. Daddy didn’t mean it.” The omega muttered to himself for the hundredth time tonight to stop whatever misplaced guilt he started feeling about going against his father’s wishes. He was the baby of the family; the word ‘no’ was not something he grew up hearing from his parents or siblings.
He checked himself over one last time and couldn’t help but wink at his reflection. His outfit was the newest addition in Omega fashion stores, and he loved every detail of it. The romper accentuated his chest with the plunging collar perfectly, sheer enough to show his skin but not too much. A fit that hugged his waist and hips to show his curves but flowed at the sleeves to give him a soft, but sexy vibe. It was short—his Papa would probably say he is not leaving anything for imagination, but he did not care. It was the perfect outfit for the party he was not supposed to be at. And his white leather collar with the initial “A” studded in diamonds was just what he needed to top it off. It was a more daring style than he was used to since he’s normally portrayed as cute—But tonight, all the seniors were going to see him differently. After taking a few selfies, Akira heads out of the bathroom ready to get back on the dance floor.
He was lightheaded, probably from the alcohol running through his body. The omega felt so at ease, he was swaying his hips while descending the stairs to find his friends and get back to the fun when he bumps into a tall person on the last step.
“Oh, sorry—” Akira feels the lump in his throat as he watched one of the last people he’d want to see at a high school party. “U- Uncle Shin?”
The teenager stares in horror at his Papa’s best friend, who didn’t show the normally loving smile Akira received. Instead, the blonde alpha features were unreadable; His lips were pressed in a tight line as he takes in Akira’s appearance. For the first time that night, the omega was self-conscious of his outfit.
“It’s time to go, kid.”
Akira lowers his gaze in defeat, knowing he didn’t have a say in it, and follows his uncle out of the party that was now stopped. A dozen of police cars in the driveway were horrifying to see and he didn’t feel they were there for a simple noise complaint. That realization has him chewing on his lip, anxious for whatever was waiting for him at home.
*AK*
The ride in the back of his uncle's unmarked police car was suffocating for Akira. His uncle didn’t say anything on the drive home. Despite being in front of his house for ten minutes now, Akira was still sitting in the car. He could see the lights on in the family room, which meant his parents were up and probably waiting to kill him for disobeying them.
The omega feels his heartbeat quicken at the unknown. He’d never went against any of his parents’ wishes before, so he was not sure what to expect from his dad or papa. He wrings the hem of his romper, somehow wishing it could magically grow longer to hide more of his thighs; He definitely should have worn jeans and a t-shirt like a normal teen.
“They’re waiting for you.” His uncle murmured, staring at the omega through the rearview mirror with apologetic eyes.
The alpha probably already spoke to his parents, so he had to know just how much trouble he was in. His uncle was always one to show a smile and entertain everyone with his silly antics, but he was the opposite since he picked him up.
“Have you …” Akira bites his lip, not even sure himself what he wants to ask. He glances at the digital clock on the dashboard and sees it’s a quarter to four in the morning. A little hope creeping into his heart that they would be too exhausted to scold him tonight. “Are they mad at me?” His voice wavered.
The quietness in the car was the answer he dreaded. His uncle said nothing to comfort him but watched through the mirror with furrowed eyebrows and a half-hearted smile. “It’s getting late. Head inside, kid.”
Akira nods slowly, eyes starting to sting with unshed tears as he grabs his belonging and makes his way to the front door. He didn’t have time to pull out his keys; The door was already swinging open to reveal his papa, Haru, who appeared frantic. Golden eyes glance over him quickly before pulling him into a hug, crushing him into the older omega’s chest. Akira could feel his papa’s heartbeat and the guilt catches him off guard, hugging his papa back— hoping his embrace could calm the man's senses.
“You’re okay. My baby is okay.” Haru mumbles repeatedly, never letting the teenager go.
Akira frowns, unsure what to say. His head was cradled in his papa’s neck and the older omega looked like he had no plans to let go anytime soon.
“Papa, I’m fine.”
“We were worried sick about you, Akira. I thought something bad happened.” Haru pushes Akira away to check his face. “You didn’t leave a note. You weren’t answering your phone. Why did you go out after we told you no?”
Akira couldn’t watch his papa in the eyes; He couldn’t give him an appropriate answer. ‘Not wanting to be the only one in class that missed the party’ was not going to work on the omega from the way he was watching him so intensely.
Haru sighs, “Come. Your father is waiting for us in the family room.” He grabs his wrist gently, pulling him towards the room that was reeking of sour pheromones.
Akira really wishes he didn’t go to that party now.
When they walked into the room where his dad was waiting, Akira sees the alpha sitting in the lone chair next to the reading lamp; The look he gave Akira as soon as he walked in had the omega tripping over his feet.
Daisuke Kambe was an alpha known in the business world as stoic and unapproachable. Any pictures the media had of him, his features were always schooled to be unreadable. The only time that didn’t happen was when he was around his mate or children; Around his family, he was always smiling with eyes full of love and adoration—especially for Akira: the youngest and only omega child in the Kambe household.
Right now, Akira’s dad did not have a welcoming smile on his face whatsoever. The kind of expression that greeted him was cool, like how someone would watch a stranger. He can feel his dad’s eyes on him, maybe scrutinizing his choice of outfit. That thought makes the omega want to suddenly hide his revealing clothes behind his small bag.
The atmosphere was uncomfortable. For the first few minutes, no one said a word. His papa seemed nervous with the way he kept glancing between Akira and Daisuke, concern clear on his face. Akira kept his eyes on his feet, shifting his weight from one leg to the other. Daisuke didn’t move a muscle, still sitting and analyzing everything about Akira. If it was up to Akira, he rather his father get to the screaming and punishment so he could go sleep. All of the worrying he did on the way there had him exhausted now.
“Why?”
Akira flinches at his dad’s question. The middle-aged alpha only said one word, but it was full of venom and rough to the ear. His dad’s shoulders were stiff, hands clutching the chair handles, and the more he spoke, Akira can tell his voice is taut with anger.
“What was so important about this party that you had to disobey me?” The omega hunches his shoulders, trying to appear smaller in front of the alpha. “You didn’t get your way once, so you decided to ignore me?”
Akira wants to respond; He wants to tell his dad that’s not true—but it was. He was raised believing he could do no wrong as the baby in the family. The omega grew up getting showered in affection and naturally got away with anything his older siblings would have probably been scolded for. Those were the dynamics his parents taught him when he always got his way. Instead, Akira bites the inside of his cheek thinking that would control his will to not cry. The present knot in his stomach made him want to vomit—he felt sick the longer he had to endure his father’s displeased stare.
“You leave this house after midnight…dressed like that. You are a child, yet you reek of alcohol.”
The omega snaps his head up to defend himself, a little white lie saying ‘it was only one drink’ to help his case with his dad. The words got caught in his throat and he only got a glimpse of his dad’s face until his eyes were back on the ground. He had to be in the twilight zone, his dad could never look at him that way. Akira recalls his dad’s face a few seconds ago; his eyebrows were furrowed, his upper lip was pulled up, and his nose was wrinkled in disgust. That realization has his vision blurring, but he still did not want to cry in front of his parents. He doubts a crying episode would lessen his punishment this time; Not with the suffocating angry pheromones seeping out of his alpha dad.
“You intentionally went against our wishes. We always gave you everything you wanted. Haru and I always trusted that you were responsible, so we never worried about you, but that wasn’t enough.” His father stood up, closing the distance between the three of them. “You chose to go to a party to what, hurt us? Make us angry? Are you really that ungrateful, Akira?”
“N-no.” Akira raises his head to look between his parents, noting their difference in expressions. “I just...didn’t want to be left out.” The omega mutters, avoiding his father who was towering over him. Out of his sixteen years of life, this was the first time Akira felt intimidated by his dad’s six-foot height. He felt smaller now than he ever did at five feet.
The alpha scoffs at his answer, “Well I’m sure it was worth it. Leave your phone, wallet, and keys. Bring down your laptop. You’re only allowed to go to school. That’s it.”
Akira watches his dad in horror as he walks to leave the family room. What in the world would he do without his phone!
“Th-that’s not fair!” The omega finds his voice. He believes his father was overreacting. “You’re making this into something way bigger than it was!”
“Akira.” The omega hears his papa hiss, probably trying to get him to shut up, but this was wrong. His father was doing too much over a party.
Akira’s dad turns back slowly; steel-grey eyes livid, staring at him like the alpha was daring him to object. His dad's face remained unbothered, but the look in his eyes is enough to make the omega more upset.
“It was just a stupid party. I don’t deserve to have my phone taken away. It’s like you’re trying to ruin my life!” He screamed, stomping his foot which makes him feel pathetic and childish after he does it. He would have cringed at his behavior, but he was too focused on his growing annoyance at his father’s punishment. “I came home a little tipsy, sure but you’re being the worst father right now.”
The alpha narrows his eyes for a second, Akira holding his breath thinking he was about to hear an earful. He wished that’s what happened. Instead, his father gave him the most heartbroken look before he turned away and walked out—it was a look that would haunt Akira. His father stared at him like he was a disappointment for the first time in his life and that was all it took to let the tears he’s been holding roll down his cheeks freely now. Even the sour pheromones of anger were withdrawn, the tall alpha’s way of shutting down.
“Honey…”
The two omegas were left in the family room and Akira didn’t even bother saying anything more to his papa. The concerned voice from his papa only made him feel guiltier. He threw his bag with his phone on the couch and ran upstairs to lock himself in his room. The night ended sourly for him. If he knew it would be like this, he would have never gone to the party in the first place.
He tries to control his sobs when he enters his room, not bothering to turn the light on. He just wanted to forget about the last interaction with his dad. He blindly reached for his favorite plushie he got from his father and cry into the soft material.
Akira didn’t know how long he had been crying; When he finally willed himself to get some rest, he notices the sun trying to peek into his room to signify the beginning of a new day. He sluggishly moves around the room to clean his face and get ready for bed.
For him, he doubts he would ever be able to face his father again after the hurtful things he said.
*AK*
Akira ignores the pounding in his head and the pounding on his door. His oldest brother, Haruki had been standing outside for ten minutes now. The teenager didn’t feel up for his usual teasing, so he stayed quiet hoping the alpha would leave. But of course, no annoying older brother would give up that easy.
“C’mon baby bro. I haven’t seen you all week. Don’t you want the gifts I brought you from Dubai?”
Akira rolls his eyes at his brother’s obvious lie since he saw the alpha at their father’s company earlier that week. He pulls his duvet over his head. He wants to be left alone.
“Fine,” Haruki sings, and the omega can hear footsteps fading away down the hall.
He exhales, finally feeling like he can breathe again. The omega didn’t know what time it was but figured he probably missed Sunday’s brunch with his parents and siblings. He did not have his phone so he could check, but that was the least of his worries.
On Sundays, the Kambe household would be filled with voices and sometimes music. Akira would have woken up to the smell of coffee and footsteps walking past his door. Normally, he would have gotten out of bed to greet his dad and papa in the kitchen; talking his dad’s ears off about anything he could think of. His big sister would have been the first to arrive and immediately help papa, while his other two siblings stroll in later just in time to eat. The omega never thought about it, but it was something he cherished. Sunday’s brunch was their family’s time to be together since his siblings all moved out once they finished college. It was their promise to him. Even Daisuke would silence his phone during that time to give his undivided attention.
The thought of his dad brings him back to his reality—the fact that the alpha probably hates him now for calling him the worst father. He smacks his head and groans at the pain when he hears his room door open.
“Told you, I still got it.” Haruki strolls into Akira’s room with his chest puffed out, followed by their big sister, Hana, and his second brother, Daichi.
Akira watches them walk into his room, ignoring his pout. “I didn’t say you could come in.”
“You always barged into our rooms even when we didn’t want you there.” Haruki retorts, throwing himself over the omega to lay down. “It’s payback.”
Akira rolls his eyes at the alpha, trying to wiggle from under the heavy body. After a few minutes of struggling and Haruki snickering, he gives up.
When he turns to Hana for help, the words don't get past his lips. Like himself, Hana had their dad's eyes. She had the same intense gaze that Akira was subjected to last night when he came home, and that makes him feel sick again. While Akira shared most of Haru’s features except for his eyes, his big sister looked like a carbon copy of Daisuke. On more than one occasion, the media even suggested she looked too identical to their Aunt Sue. Hana was a powerful alpha that helped their dad run the family empire, so she was also intimidating.
“You missed brunch.” Hana pointed out, standing in front of Akira with her arms crossed.
“…yea…”
“Papa said you had a falling out with father.” Akira avoids her stare, not registering that Haruki had even gotten off of him but his body was already straightening up to sit cross-legged on his bed.
Akira looked up to his parents for obvious reasons, but he also looked up to his siblings—even if sometimes they annoyed him excessively. With three older alpha siblings, he was always coddled and protected by them. He didn’t even think about how they would react to hearing about what happened last night.
“I…didn’t mean to,” Akira mumbles, looking at the three older siblings surrounding him. “It was just a party.” He plays with the end of his sleeves—a nervous tick he’s always had growing up.
“Let’s hear you out from the top, hm?” Daichi suggests with a smile, reaching to fix his bed hair which makes his eyes glossy. Akira feels some of the tension leave his body, giving his brother a wobbly smile. He didn’t even know why he felt relieved because it’s not like they heard what he said yet, but he was happy to see that they were willing to listen to his side of the story.
So, for the next half an hour he told them everything. From the moment he asked Daisuke about going to the party, to how embarrassing it was to have Uncle Shin picked him up with so many squad cars in front of the party, to how he got mad at their father for taking away his phone. He knew his dad had to hate him after last night.
The first few seconds were quiet, obvious to Akira that his siblings were trying to digest everything he told them, but typical Haruki had to say the first stupid thing that comes to his mind.
“Damn, I didn’t know Daddy’s little prince had a rebellious bone in that body.” The alpha coos at the title the family gave him, laughing when he dodges the pillow Akira pitched at him. “I’m just saying! Dad probably got all depressed and— oww!”
Akira saw Hana getting ready to hit Haruki in the back of the head and kept quiet, knowing he always felt better when Haruki got scolded by the older alpha. Surprisingly, this time it did nothing to ease his sadness.
“You two go check on Papa. He was also having a hard time.” Hana orders their brothers, not really leaving room for argument.
The two brothers did not object, immediately getting up to leave. Both had a serious expression when their papa was mentioned, which got the omega curious. They hugged Akira and scented him quickly before making their way out of his room; Leaving the omega wondering just how bad Haru must have been if they didn’t even try to stay around longer— guilt struck him again, remembering how frantic his papa was last night.
As soon as the door closes, Hana sat next to Akira to wrap her arm around him, “I am not going to sit here and scold you for the party, I’m sure father and papa did that enough.” The omega pulls his legs closer to bury his face in his knees, not sure where this was going. “But I don’t think you should have done what you did. Dad would give any of his children the world if we asked, Aki. He loves us and Papa with every inch of his body.”
“I- I know,” Akira stutters, feeling the familiar sting in his eyes.
“No matter how angry you got at him last night, he didn’t deserve what you said.” Akira feels his sister's other arm engulf him, cradling his head into the crook of her neck.
He nods in agreement with her, too scared that he would croak if he tried to say anything.
“For whatever it’s worth, you weren’t the first child to disobey their parents. It’s part of growing up. The most important thing we can do is learn from our mistakes.” Hana pats his back in comfort, ignoring the sniffles coming from him. “Plus, our parents had three alpha children before you.”
Akira pulls away with a frown, not understanding what his big sister was trying to say. His confusion must have been noticeable, so she laughs, wiping his tears away.
“If all it took for Father to hate you were to disobey him and get in a fight, then his first three children would have been disowned a long time ago…especially Haruki.” Hana winks, standing to fix her crumpled clothes. “He might be disappointed in you, but he could never hate you. You’ll always be his little prince, okay?”
Akira giggles, feeling better after talking to his big sister, “Mhm.” He hums in understanding and follows her to his door where they shared one last embrace before saying goodbye.
This was good. He could get through this. His papa was not as upset with him as his dad, so it couldn’t be too difficult…right? Daisuke has a soft spot for him after all.
*AK*
Akira makes his way down the stairs to see if anyone was in the kitchen since it was now evening. He had eaten all the snacks he usually stashed away in his desk drawer, but bow he was out of them. He hadn’t seen his dad all day so he was too afraid to leave his room and run into the alpha. The teenager may have felt better after talking to Hana, but that didn’t mean his dad was not still upset at him. He planned on taking Hana’s advice and give himself some time to reflect on his mistakes and apologize to his dad later.
He hadn’t seen his papa either. For all he knew, the older omega was also angry at him. He pauses on the last stair, realizing this was probably a bad idea. He did not mentally prepare himself for both parents to be upset with him. Quickly, Akira spins around to dash upstairs—
“Baby?”
Akira freezes, turning to see his papa at the entrance of the kitchen smiling tiredly at him. The younger omega noticed instantly that Haru had dark bags under his eyes. He ignores the ache in his chest, waiting for some negative emotion to show on his papa’s face.
“Are you hungry?”
The teenage omega doesn’t answer as he steps off of the last step. He keeps his eyes on Haru, too worried he would miss an expression on the older omega’s face. Thankfully, nothing changed. His papa had the same gentle smile, though he looked exhausted this time.
Akira doesn’t wait for his papa to move, walking straight into the slightly taller omega’s body for a hug. Not even a second later and he feels slim arms wrap around his shoulder, a gentle hand combing through his messy dark curls. He wanted to stay there as long as he could; he wanted to bask in the warmth of his papa’s embrace.
“I promise to never disobey you or Daddy again.” He murmurs in his papa's shirt. If it took months to earn his parents’ trust back, he'd gladly exercise patience. He spent the whole morning drowning in his regret and sorrow every time he thought about his dad's reaction.
Haru laughs, patting his head. “I believe you.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I know, baby. I know.”
His papa continues to hold him a little while longer. Aside from their small movements and Haru’s pleased humming, the house was otherwise quiet. Once again, that wasn’t something Akira was used to.
“Will Daddy be joining us for dinner?” Akira clenches his fist, grabbing more of Haru’s shirt. He’s anticipating his father to walk down at any moment since he’s always been a man on time.
Haru tightens his arms around Akira’s shoulder, Akira can hear the tiredness in his voice. “Dad went on a last-minute business trip this afternoon.”
Akira should have known this would happen. Things were never going to go his way or be a smooth ride. From the way his dad shut down last night, he should have guessed the alpha would want to get away for a few days.
“Don’t worry, hun. He just needs a little space.”
He listens to his papa, trying to be understanding, but it’s not easy for him. The longest he ever went without talking to his dad was probably a few hours in a day. His dad always checked in on him or let him know when he was not going to be around. This was the first time there was no communication between them and that made Akira’s heart hurt a little more.