Work Text:
In a society shaped by the Omegaverse system, biological role differences are sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle. Lee Do, an omega with a brilliant modeling career, is accustomed to facing the public spotlight with a calm demeanor, while his partner, Moon Baek, an alpha known as a young, authoritative CEO, is always a dominant and protective figure who maintains boundaries with the outside world so as not to intrude on his personal life. But behind the image they cultivate, their private apartment is often a place where even the smallest, most unreasonable things can happen.
That night, the atmosphere in their apartment was so peaceful, accompanied by the living room lights that were softly lit while the television was not playing too loudly, showing a light program. After dinner, Do lay curled up with his favorite blanket on the sofa while watching television and taking a short break after a fairly busy day of activities while Baek, who was sitting at the bar table near the kitchen, was still busy with his work by checking the company's weekly report.
"Honey, come here and lie down with me," Do said. Baek smiled warmly, having been urging him to stop working on his laptop.
“Just a moment, darling.” Do, hearing this, merely tsked softly and returned his attention to the television. The program paused and suddenly played an instant noodle advertisement where there was a simple scene about a school child who had just come home and was then warmly welcomed by his mother by serving him a bowl of freshly cooked instant noodles. Cheerful music accompanied the child's smile, satisfied with his meal. Do, who had been lying down, suddenly straightened up and sat back on the sofa. His eyes glinted strangely, and within seconds, tears fell. He covered his mouth with his palm, trying to hold back his sobs, but failed, causing Baek to turn around. The alpha's pheromones surged out, unknowingly overwhelming the previously calm room with worry. Baek quickly closed his laptop then got up from his seat and walked over to Do.
"Darling, why are you crying?" asked the alpha, who was standing beside Do. His omega immediately hugged Baek's waist tightly. Seeing this, Baek hugged Do's head and stroked his hair.
"It's—the commercial," he replied through his sobs. "That kid looks so happy eating his mother's instant noodles. I—I want to be like that too." His voice cracked and mixed with tears.
Baek was stunned as he stopped stroking Do's head then he turned to look at the television which was still showing the commercial. "Are you crying—because you want instant noodles?" he asked in a confused tone.
Do immediately released his grip on Baek's waist, pushing the alpha away slightly. He clucked in annoyance. "Aish! You don't understand! That commercial made me think back to my childhood. I suddenly miss my mom!" Baek chuckled softly as he sighed. He sat down then hugged his omega who was still crying. If Baek noticed, just before that Do had just laughed out loud because of a comedy show. The alpha found it very strange to see his omega's mood change so quickly. Do was never usually like this.
"Do you want to see your mom? I can arrange a schedule for us both." Do just nodded slowly then pressed his head against the alpha's chest, letting Baek stroke his hair again. That night, Do finally fell asleep in Baek's arms.
At night, the city slumbered in silence, and of the millions of people sleeping behind their respective windows, only a few remained awake, like the streetlights still on, the cars passing by infrequently, and the constant ticking of the clock. The world seemed to hold its breath for a moment, sinking into a long rest, ready to begin a morning more vibrant than the previous ones. However, in one of the dimly lit rooms, a beautiful omega suddenly woke up from his sleep. He had been writhing uncomfortably in his sleep and suddenly opened his eyes. He sighed softly as he stroked his messy hair. Usually, if he felt uncomfortable, Do would probably just turn over and fall back asleep in the alpha's warm embrace but tonight was different, there was a strange urge that refused to go away and that strange urge Do couldn't ignore.
"Honey—" Do touched Baek's shoulder to wake him. The omega didn't have the heart to wake his alpha. Do knew Baek's schedule was so packed that he hadn't even had time for lunch. After dinner, Baek, who was usually still busy with work, preferred to go to bed early. “Baek—” Do shook his partner’s shoulder again.
“Hmmm?” Baek answered, his eyes still closed. His sigh sounded tired.
Do pursed his lower lip because he couldn't bear it and felt guilty but he still couldn't hold himself back. “I want pancakes,” he said matter-of-factly. Baek, who heard that, finally woke up completely as he rubbed his eyes and turned to look at the digital clock on the nightstand.
“It’s two in the morning? Is it a bit extreme to want pancakes at this hour?” he asked, surprised. “Are you still hungry?” Flashback to dinner before bed, Baek remembers that Do ate a lot. Usually, the omega would only eat a few bites and then complain about being full, but lately, Do had sometimes been craving food in unusually large portions. If Do's food is finished, he even likes to glance at Baek's food and of course the alpha gives it to him.
Do winced slightly at his alpha's question. "I know—but I don't think I can sleep if I don't eat them. I want pancakes—and I want you to make them, okay?" he said while showing puppy dog eyes spoiledly.
Baek laughed softly and nodded, "Okay, wait here, okay?" The alpha kissed his omega's forehead before getting out of bed and heading for the kitchen.
Do pulled Baek back and kissed him on the lips. "Sorry for the trouble."
"It's okay, darling." Baek walked towards the door and when he was about to leave, Do called him again.
"Thank you! Oh! Could you spread peanut butter on the pancakes and put some pickle slices on them?" he asked, smiling, showing his bunny teeth.
“Are you sure? Don't want strawberries or blueberries? Maybe you'd like some whipped cream on top?” Do shook his head quickly, making Baek even more stunned. “Okay then. I’ll call you when it’s ready.”
"Yay!" Do replied cheerfully like a child who was given candy.
Finally, early that morning, Baek stood in the kitchen with a bitter expression, preparing pancakes exactly as requested. Every time he put pickle slices on top of the peanut butter spread, his stomach would churn as if it were rejecting the combination outright. However, remembering Do's beaming face when he asked him made Baek hold back his nausea.
If this makes him smile, let my stomach suffer.
There was a day when Do and his best friend Jungwoo (a fellow model) spent time together. They started their free time with a spa day, followed by brunch at their favorite restaurant, or shopping together, trying on the latest fashions. At a boutique, the two of them were busy taking turns going in and out of the dressing room while trying on the outfits displayed on the mannequins. Jungwoo was looking at the large mirror when Do came out wearing a white fitted shirt and was silent for a moment and his eyes automatically narrowed suspiciously.
“Hmm—Do-ya,” he called, holding back a smile.
Do turned his head quickly. “What? Don’t tell me the pants are too short again, I already chose a bigger size,” he said, occasionally glancing at himself in the mirror.
“It’s not about the pants but—” Jungwoo shook his head slowly then his eyes dropped briefly to his best friend’s chest. "Your chest—why does it look a little—er—fuller than usual? Your cheeks too—a little rounder than usual."
Do immediately froze as his eyes widened before hurriedly pulling the blazer he was wearing closer. “What do you mean full?” Do occasionally patted his cheeks as well. “Are you saying I’m fat? Yah! I never skip a bit of exercise or eating healthy.” Jungwoo rolled his eyes lazily. After all, before going to the boutique, Do had already finished two matcha ice cream cones. Not to mention the potato chips he had consumed on his way to the spa. Do never even liked potato chips.
Jungwoo raised an eyebrow, pretending to be serious. “Exercise? So, fitness centers now have ‘omega-style breast enhancement’ packages?”
Do snorted as he patted Jungwoo's arm. “Yah! Don’t talk nonsense, people will hear!”
“Why? I was just admiring your transformation. You used to be like a board, now you have contours.” Jungwoo emphasized the last word, moving his hand in a circular motion directly across his chest, making Do even more embarrassed.
Do hurriedly went back into the dressing room, muttering, “I’m never shopping with you again, you bucket-mouthed bitch.” Meanwhile, Jungwoo laughed loudly, even making a wrong step and almost tripping over the shoe rack, causing the boutique employees to turn their heads in curiosity.
Do finally returned to Baek's office with a disheveled face after a day of teasing by Jungwoo. As soon as he arrived at Baek's company office, his steps were filled with an irritated energy. Without warning, he immediately pushed the door to Baek's office wide open, making Baek's secretary surprised and follow Do inside.
“Excuse me, Mr. Moon, Hwejangnim doesn’t wish to be disturbed.” Oops, big mistake, Do stopped and glared at Baek's secretary who had already lowered his head. Do finally entered and dumped his shopping bags, which landed on the sofa with a loud thud. Baek, who was in the middle of signing documents, slowly looked up and stared at the scene.
His brows furrowed slightly, but his voice remained calm. "Why?" he asked briefly, confused.
Do stepped quickly to the table and stood with his arms crossed over his chest and an expression like he was interrogating a suspect. “Answer my question honestly. Am I fat?”
Baek remained silent. The pen in his hand stopped moving. His eyes reflexively examined Do from top to bottom of his body. For him, Do was still as proportional and even attractive as usual, but his gaze accidentally stopped for a moment on his chest and cheeks, which did look a little different.
"Erhem—" Baek coughed softly.
Do narrowed his eyes. "Don't just stay like that! You're just making me even more suspicious!"
Baek opened his mouth, but his voice trailed off. "You look healthy, darling?" he said quietly and carefully.
"Healthy?!" Do immediately slapped the work table so hard that Baek's coffee mug almost fell over. “That’s a polite way of saying fat, right?! So I’m really fat?!”
Baek quickly raised his hands in surrender. "That's not what I meant. I really don't—"
"Don't lie!" Do interrupted dramatically. He then grabbed the blazer he was wearing and covered his chest tightly while grumbling. “Jungwoo said my cheeks were round, now you’re calling me ‘healthy’. This world is truly unfair to omegas like me.”
The secretary, still standing in the doorway, covered his mouth tightly to hold back his laughter and quickly stepped aside before being noticed. Do turned around, grabbed one of the shopping bags, and held it high. “Starting tonight I'm on a diet! I won't eat dinner at all!” he exclaimed determinedly but just three steps away from the alpha's room, his stomach growled loudly. The room suddenly fell silent and Do froze in place and his eyes widened. He slowly turned around to find Baek sitting behind the desk, his mouth covered, but clearly holding back laughter.
“Don’t. You. Dare. Laugh,” Do hissed, his face bright red.
Baek finally couldn’t hold back his laughter, and a low but distinct laugh escaped. “Hahaha-”
“Annoying alpha!” Do immediately threw the shopping bag straight at Baek. Luckily, Baek caught it before it spilled out. He finally walked towards his omega who was already looking down in shame.
“Darling,” Baek tried to suppress a smile, his tone gentle. “I’m serious, you’re not fat. If anything has changed, it just means you’re looking better. I like it.” The alpha then nuzzled his omega’s neck. “Your scent has gotten sweeter, is it just me?”
Do was silent, his face getting redder. He gently pushed the alpha out of his embrace. “Don’t act so sweet! It won’t erase the fact that my stomach just complained.”
Baek chuckled again and he took Do's hand, leading him back to the sofa where the shopping bags were piled up. “Well, before you go on a complete hunger strike, how about we order a healthy dinner? Salad? Warm soup?”
Do was still pouting but finally sat down resignedly. “Then—add some garlic bread too.”
Baek smiled slightly, ruffling Do’s hair gently. "Did you say you were on a diet?"
“Shut up, Alpha. If you’re still going to complain, I’ll order pizza.” Baek laughed heartily this time, making the tension disappear.
That night, they returned to the apartment. After a simple dinner, in which Baek finally relented and ordered two pizzas due to Do’s stubbornness, they each went about their own routines. Baek sat on the couch with his laptop open, still checking work reports while the omega, Do, sat on the carpet in the living room and unpacked his shopping bags one by one.
“Oh my gosh, there are so many. Why did I buy three sweaters in three colors when they're all the same style?” Do muttered as he folded the second sweater.
“Because you can't choose, darling. So you bought them all, right?” Baek said without looking up from his laptop screen, his fingers still dancing across the keyboard. Do who heard that hissed softly and stuck out his tongue then went back to busying himself. When he opened his shopping bag which was a bit heavy because he bought a winter jacket, he found something among the clothes. He reached inside and found several small white boxes with clearly legible writing,
Pregnancy test kits.
On top of it was a bright yellow sticky note with Jungwoo's distinctive handwriting.
“Try testing them all! Just in case. Xoxo.”
Do's jaw dropped. “Jungwoo!” he shouted spontaneously.
"What's wrong?" Hearing his omega scream, Baek turned his attention away from the laptop. "Did something happen?"
A startled Do quickly hid the boxes behind him. “Ah–that, my shopping's got mixed up with Jungwoo’s.” Baek nodded slowly and then returned to his work. "Honey, I need to go to the bathroom!" Without waiting for his alpha's response, Do quickly got up from his seat, taking the test kit and entering the bathroom, locking the door from the inside.
Once the omega was in the bathroom, he took a deep breath and looked at the test kit in his hand. Do's heart was pounding with a mixture of nervousness and fear. Several years ago, a doctor told him that his chances of getting pregnant were quite small due to health problems. Even at that time, Do had already bitterly accepted the reality and felt unfit for a long-term relationship, but Baek, Baek, never let that become an issue. From the beginning, the alpha had only said a short word, and it still echoed in Do's mind.
"I love you, not your womb."
He finally began to piece together a series of events that completely changed his habits. From the significant mood swings to the unreasonable early morning requests, and what shocked him even more was his excessive eating habits. Oh my, even Do is so disgusted by potato chips but today he could eat up to two packs. Do looked at himself in the mirror and then looked back at the test kit. He felt like crying. That's why Do secretly took the test because if Baek found out, Do was afraid of the alpha's expression if the test results weren't as they expected. With a heavy heart and a deep breath, Do finally mustered up the courage to follow the instructions.
After following the instructions on the test kit, Do waited, leaning against the bathroom wall, counting the seconds in his mind.
After waiting for a few minutes, Do finally approached the sink and his gaze fell on the three test kits that were neatly lined up. All three showed a clear, unfazed double line. Do's mouth slowly dropped open, and his eyes trembled as if they were about to burst into tears. "All three are positive?!" Reflexively, a small scream escaped his mouth. He hurriedly covered his mouth with both hands. The small scream seemed to be audible as Do was startled by the prolonged knocking on the bathroom door.
"Darling! What’s wrong?! Answer me!” Baek's voice rose with worry. “Open the door! Are you okay?” The knocking on the door kept coming. Do stared back at himself in the mirror, his eyes glistening with tears. His hands trembled as he reached for the hem of Baek’s oversized white t-shirt. He pulled it up slightly, just enough to reveal his own stomach. Do bit his lip as he smiled while reaching out his hand to touch his stomach which still looked as flat as usual. But somehow, it felt different, like something warm was spreading throughout his body.
“Do! Please answer me, darling! Open the door or I’ll break it down!” Baek's voice was hoarse this time and almost desperate. The bathroom door finally creaked and opened slowly. Through the gap, Baek saw Do’s face wet with tears. The omega looked down and his shoulders were still shaking then his lips tried to smile but failed to cover the confused expression that was clearly visible. “Darling—” Baek’s voice was hoarse as his breath became heavy with anxiety. He immediately pulled Do out of the bathroom and led him to the living room. When the two of them stood facing each other, Do showed Baek the three pregnancy tests.
Baek was stunned and his eyes widened as his body seemed to lose balance. "This—" his voice faltered. He finally looked up at Do's tear-streaked face.
Do smiled a little through his tears, and a shaky voice slowly escaped, "Baek—I—I'm pregnant," he said with a soft chuckle.
For a moment the living room felt silent and Baek's eyes filled with tears. Tears fell uncontrollably. He covered his mouth with one hand. "Is this real?" he asked in a barely audible voice. Do nodded slightly. Baek couldn't hold back any longer. He immediately grabbed Do's body and hugged him tightly. "Darling—my omega," he said, his voice cracking between tears mixed with happy laughter. In that embrace, Baek suddenly lifted him easily and spun the omega into the air, still in his arms.
Do chuckled through his tears and then gently hit the alpha's shoulder. "Yah! Stop it, I'm going to get dizzy." They both laughed, and Baek put Do down and tightened his embrace, burying his face in the omega's shoulder, sobbing and laughing at the same time.
“I really can't believe it. I'm going to be a father.” Do nodded and closed his eyes letting the alpha hug him tightly.
A few days after that tearful moment, Do and Baek finally decided to have Do's pregnancy checked by the doctor. They were already in the examination room and Do was lying on the bed while on his right side Baek was sitting and holding Do's fingers. Their hearts were both beating fast as the ultrasound screen displayed a small, bean-shaped image. The sound of the tiny heartbeat filled the room with a fast and strong rhythm.
"Congratulations," said the doctor with a warm smile. "You're seven weeks pregnant. The fetus looks healthy." Do immediately covered his mouth with his hand as his tears flowed again, this time with a feeling of relief and happiness, while Baek stared at the screen without blinking, then lowered his head until his forehead met the back of Do's hand. The alpha, who is known for being cold and authoritative, couldn't hold back his tears.
After all the check-ups were done and some vitamins were taken, the alpha-omega couple finally went home with hearts that could not be expressed in words. Do sat in the passenger seat with a small bag containing several bottles of vitamins on his lap. His hand was still tightly gripping the ultrasound paper as he stared at it as if afraid that the paper would disappear if he let go.
Baek, who was driving, occasionally glanced at his omega who was smiling while stroking the paper. "Look, honey—this is our baby," Do said with a soft chuckle. "We should give her a temporary name—hmm—something sweet."
"Temporary name? Her? Are you so sure that it is a girl?” Baek asked, raising his eyebrows.
“Yeah. So I don’t keep calling her baby— and yes I just can feel that it is a girl.” Do turned to the alpha, biting his lip to hold back a smile. “How about—little pancake?”
Baek paused for a moment, then chuckled. “Little pancake?”
“Yeah! Because every morning I always ask for pancakes, right? So—she’ll definitely like pancakes too.”
Baek finally reached out one of his hands to briefly stroke his omega’s mane. His smile was genuine and full of love. “Okay—from now on, she’s a little pancake.” Do hugged the ultrasound to his chest again as he leaned back in the passenger seat, closing his eyes with an even wider smile. For the first time in his life, he felt something truly new.
A family.
A home.
A warm beginning.