Work Text:
The flower shop smelled of fresh grass, sweet flowers, and soil, the kind of sweetness that stuck to the walls as they were closing. Mizi stood behind the counter, wiping down the same counter she’d already cleaned three times. She could hear Sua humming in the back, arranging orchids for a special occasion. Mizi had picked the spot years ago when she chose to settle down with Sua, drawn by the wide windows and how the sun spilled onto the flowers giving them a glow. Sua had laughed at the idea at first, but here she was, still by her side. Yet, sometimes, she can’t help but worry about her only flower slipping away.
Mizi hadn’t always known what it meant to be different. She’d always thought love was love no matter who it came from. Even when she presented as a beta at 10, it didn’t stop her from loving her friends and forming childish relationships. But as she grew up, she saw the reality as alphas and omegas got together, the strong musk scents her omega friends would describe to her with love-struck eyes that Mizi herself couldn’t relate to. They would always say Mizi was a good friend. A friend that’s all Mizi could ever be. Teachers, relatives, and even strangers made it sound inevitable. Betas could be companions, friends, caretakers, but not the kind of deep partner that alphas could be.
“Well, you’re a beta, Mizi. You don’t need that stuff. You’ll probably just end up with another beta, or… I don’t know. You’ll never feel it like we do.”
Mizi remembered lying awake at night, wondering if her heart would always have to settle for “less.” She’d tried to push it away with a pretty face, shooting her signature smile and laugh, like it didn’t affect her. In reality, the words had stung her more than she’d admit.
Then she started dating Sua and every now and then those thoughts, those thoughts resurfaced. What if she’s just with me until a real alpha comes along. Someone who could properly mark her..
Mizi wasn’t that naive. She had seen the way alphas would look at Sua when they go out on dates or when they came into the flower shop. The hungry gazes for an unmarked omega like Sua always made her stomach twist. Any one of them can offer Sua the things Mizi could never: a mark, the scenting, forming a bond. The worst part was Mizi wouldn’t even blame Sua if she wanted that.
“You’re spacing out again,” Sua teased, as she buried her nose in Mizi’s neck to inhale her scent. Mizi hadn’t even realized how much time passed until she picked up on the faint honeydew scent from Sua’s shampoo.
They had picked the shampoos out together. Well–Sua had the idea. Artificial sweet scents specifically for them. Mizi always wore a berry scent to at least have the illusion that they can be more legit. Sua would joke about Mizi being closer to becoming a “real alpha”, but even Mizi couldn’t believe that anymore.
“Ah sorry, I don’t know what got over me,” Mizi lowered her gaze, but quickly plastered her fake smile. She didn’t want to worry Sua with her stupid insecurities. “I must be exhausted. Thinking about Ivan and Till’s wedding soon is so exciting!”
Sua chuckled as her gaze softened on Mizi. “Yeah, I can’t believe those two idiots managed to pull it off together. ”
Mizi smiled faintly as she let Sua lean into her. Sua's presence comforted her more than anything in the world. “I still remember when Till came the first time to find flowers to confess to Ivan. He was panicking the whole time.”
“Ivan certainly wasn’t any better. The amount of times he would call me at night to rehearse his confession lines for Till was terrible. Never again…” Sua grudgingly mumbled. “They were hopeless back then.”
But it worked for them didn’t it?
Mizi and Sua had known Ivan and Till since high-school. The four of them were inseparable. Even though Mizi and Sua had been dating for longer, Ivan and TIll had always looked like the storybook picture of what love should be, albeit Till wasn’t exactly that perfect omega for everyone. But that's what made them perfect together. Till was the perfect omega for Ivan. An alpha and omega finding each other like soulmates and everyone around them could agree.
But them?
They would always get confused as best friends first before anything else. And when they would correct them that they were in fact together, people would apologize. But Mizi knew better. She could see it in their eyes, silently judging as if what she and Sua had was a crime. So what if she was a beta? Her love was no different from anyone else's
She should be happy. She had Sua afterall and some of her closest friends supported them. She was happy. But as she picked up some peonies, trimming their stems to fit in the arrangement, her mind began spiralling again. What would people think once they see them together at the wedding? Would they still see them as friends or will they silently look down on their relationship?
“Mizi-”
“-Mizi you’re doing it again,” Sua murmured as placed the roses in the bouquet.
Mizi snapped her head up at Sua’s voice. She kept getting lost in thought. “Doing what exactly?”
“Well you always have this look like you’re battling aliens when you’re distracted,” Sua spoke softly.
Mizi snorted. “Maybe I am. I’m certainly outsmarting them in my head.”
Sua hummed as she started bundling hydrangeas in her arms. “I hope you are. But seriously, what’s on your mind? You know you can always tell me.”
Mizi sighed. She didn’t want to worry Sua but she knew she couldn’t keep pushing these thoughts away forever. “I just worry sometimes… that maybe I’m not cut out for you. That you’ll leave me once an alpha comes along.”
“Mizi..” Sua’s eyes softened as she leaned closer to Mizi, her fingers brushed against Mizi’s cheek. “You’re the one I chose. Not because of some stupid norms or scent. But because I wanted Mizi for Mizi. You’re better than any alpha I could’ve asked for…”
For a moment, Mizi couldn’t breathe. She felt her lungs closing up, everything feeling suffocating around her. Sua’s cold hand against her face. If she had a clear scent, it would definitely smell of rotten berries by now. But her face spoke more than enough that Sua needed to know.
“I–” Mizi started, her throat feeling dry. Sua’s other hand rubbed her back in a comforting motion. “I’m just scared of losing you…”
Mizi’s voice was small and Sua couldn’t help but bring herself closer, resting their foreheads together. Her phermones emitted a soothing scent and even if Mizi couldn’t smell them, she knew it was more than enough.
“If I wanted an alpha don’t you think I would’ve chosen one already?”
“Well, I guess. But you don’t know–”
Sua cut Mizi off with a gentle kiss as she held her hands in her own squeezing it tightly. Kissing Sua always made Mizi’s heart flutter. This time was no different.
Sua pulled back, still resting her head against Mizi’s. “I do know. You’re my god, my universe. And I know my inner omega wants you too. And if you don’t believe that, then I’ll keep trying until you do.”
Mizi hesitated for a moment. The thoughts still linger in her head since they can’t instantly disappear. But for now she can push them away for her. Mizi allowed herself to relax against Sua’s forehead. It was just the two of them with the light buzz of the fan. Mizi pulled back first. Scared she would end up staying wrapped in Sua the whole time. Not that she minded though.
“So, did you really mean what you said? That I’m better than any alpha?” Mizi asked with a smirk and tease in her voice. It wasn’t common for an omega to not want an alpha and Mizi wanted to lighten the mood a little, maybe boost her inner beta too.
Sua rolled her eyes before she playfully flicked Mizi's forehead. “Yes you are dummy. What more do I need?” Sua went back to collecting flowers to add to the arrangement.
Mizi rubbed the spot on her head, but she was smiling too. “But what if someone were to come along?”
“There is no what if or maybe you'll start sounding like Ivan at this rate.”
“Hey!”
The bell above the shop door chimed, pulling them back to reality. Together they turned, gigging, shoulders brushing, and scents mingling, berry and honeydew, together in the air. It wasn’t perfect by the world’s standards. But it was theirs.
And maybe, Mizi thought as Sua smiled at her, that was enough.