Work Text:
“Do you ever feel… ah, embarrassed for having a much older omega as your mate?” Zhongli asks.
The question is not out of insecurity. He can’t imagine ever being insecure in their relationship, especially with how much Ajax shows his devotion each day. Their bond is strong and through it, he can feel how precious he is to Ajax. Sometimes he needs to ask his mate to tone it down because Ajax sends too much love through their bond, making Zhongli too dreamy to finish his job at work.
It’s more out of curiosity. He heard something in his office yesterday that drives him to this point.
Predictably, his mate looks at him weirdly. As if Zhongli has grown a second head. “No. Why would I? I landed a sexy cougar.”
Zhongli frowns. “Don’t call me a cougar.”
“MILF?” Ajax tries bravely.
Here’s the thing. Zhongli is not foolish. He is not the same omega a year ago who would smile tenderly when Ajax declared him a MILF in front of their friends, falsely thinking MILF as a term of endearment (like how one would call their beloved my treasure or something of the sort) with how much adoration Ajax had when he uttered the word.
Zhongli is smarter now. He has come to understand that Ajax has the uncanny ability to produce a worshipping expression on his face with the most love-struck voice an alpha could have, only to bestowed upon him the most outrageous pet name known to man.
Those names aren’t terrible, he supposes. Perhaps, he’d appreciate them had he come from a different generation, but Zhongli is simply too old to appreciate the beauty of being called a thick thigh mommy. He loves Ajax nonetheless. His alpha can be sweet in his own way.
Still, he decides not to dignify Ajax’s gibberish, coming back to the question he had in hand.
“Most omegas are younger than their alphas. Don’t you ever feel weird about us?”
Because really, they are one in a million. He couldn’t count how often people are left surprise when they find out how young his alpha is.
Ajax shrugs. “I think it makes more sense for alphas to be younger.”
That’s new. This is the first time Zhongli has heard such sentiment. Most of the masses would agree that omega should be younger. But then again, despite the easy way he held himself, Ajax actually has the tendency to have radical thought. It makes sense that his view differs greatly than what commonly believed.
“How so?” Zhongli probes, genuinely curious. “Omegas stop having heats around fifty years old. It makes more sense for alphas to seek younger omega. It’s easier for conception and ensure longer period of breeding.”
“Skill issue. I am a prime alpha so I have no such problem,” he gives Zhongli a meaningful look. It’s sleazy. A young man shouldn’t have that look. “While I can’t relate to concern about having a limp dick, I think those alphas should try a concoction of raw eggs with ginger and turmeric. Drink it three times a day. The problem should be solved. Not that I’ve tried it, cuz you know. My sperm is superior,” he finishes in a weird mixture of mindless bragging and genuine concern for his fellow alphas.
To be fair, Ajax did get Zhongli pregnant even when a lot of doctors claimed it would be hard for Zhongli to have a child. Although personally, Zhongli would attribute it to their beautiful bond and love. The power of their union was so strong, it moved the gods to finally blessed them with two healthy pups. That’s more romantic than it being Ajax’s superior sperm.
And for the record—
“There is no such thing as prime alpha. That’s pseudo-science. Also, there is no study that raw eggs concoction could increase vitality,” in case Ajax doesn’t know. Not that his alpha would care. Probably he was just messing with Zhongli anyway, but Zhongli digress— “I mean, in general. That’s your personal opinion, but generally speaking, wouldn’t you agree that it’s better for the omega to be younger?”
Ajax rises an eyebrow, searching something within Zhongli’s expression before he continues.
“Still no. It makes more sense for the alpha to be younger. Alpha’s job is to protect. It’d be easier if the alpha is younger and hence, stronger. Omega’s job is to be pampered, so age doesn’t matter in that case.”
That’s… actually not omega’s job. But, alright.
Okay. Zhongli is pampered, but that’s only because Ajax dotted on him. Zhongli never asked for him to do so! He certainly doesn’t need his alpha to brush his hair every morning, although admittedly it’s nice.
“Besides,” Ajax adds, not finished yet with his rambling. “Alphas have shorter life expectancy. If the alpha is younger, they can spend more time together. If the alpha is older, then the omegas would be widowed for too long. Our age difference is just perfect. Omegas usually life until 80 and I think I’ll die around 60 at most what’s with my unique lung, so that make us perfect.”
Zhongli’s curiosity suddenly turns to ashes. Ajax was a heavy smoker back in college, but he has stopped smoking for the better part of the years. Mostly because Zhongli cannot stand the smell of tobacco. Ajax is active, eats well, and rather a stress-free person. He’d live long. He should be.
“You will reach 80. Older, even. Your great grandparents are centenarian. Old age is in your genes.”
“Eh, I’d rather not live longer than you,” he shrugs in his usual carelessness.
The innocent gesture worsens Zhongli’s already dampening mood. He knows Ajax means what he said and that doesn’t calm Zhongli one bit. He doesn’t want to think about leaving Ajax, ever. He also doesn’t want to think about Ajax dying.
“This is— this is morbid,” Zhongli twists his own hand in a nervous tick. “I don’t like it. I don’t want to talk about this anymore.”
Ajax looks up, finally noticing Zhongli’s uneasiness. The omega’s pheromones now turn sour with how upset he is.
The alpha gets up with a curse.
“Okay, princess. I am so sorry. Let’s talk about something else,” he scoops Zhongli into his embrace, kissing the top of Zhongli’s head sweetly. “What’s your opinion on slutty bunny costume?”