Work Text:
Lance chewed on his bottom lip, arms crossed, as he stared at a painting in the room he was standing in.
The news of his pregnancy had to come out. Couldn’t exactly tend to alphas pregnant.
Well… He could.
There was whole market for it. But that wasn’t what their program was about, and with his age, if Lance kept the child, then it would be a high risk pregnancy, and dealing with alphas during a rut could only endanger the growth of said child. So until made a decision, Lance had to tell his boss, which then had to go up the chain, the surprise of his pregnancy hitting them all. Along with the confession, Lance also had to get off all unapproved medicine until he decided to either keep the pup or not.
Lance chewed harder on his lip, arms tightening further.
Once they could all think after the shock, questions flooded out.
How did it even happen?
Was the medicine they were given ineffective?
Did Lance know which alpha was the parent?
Was he keeping it?
Would he even tell the alpha?
Did he have to tell the alpha?
Lance had almost been sick with the stress of answering the onslaught of questions.
He needed to talk to Keith.
It only felt right to tell the alpha the truth, that Lance had somehow become pregnant, even though he no longer had a heat, that he was nearly so infertile that Lance shouldn’t be able to get pregnant while on birth control. That against all the odds, the alpha had still been able to put a pup inside of him.
Jesus Christ, how good was that kid’s sperm?
A knock.
Lance about jumped from his skin, wincing when he bit down too hard on his lip.
“Lance… Mr. Kogane is here.”
He took a deep breath.
Lance had asked his boss if for his confession and announcement to the young alpha about the pregnancy could happen in one of the small sitting rooms their company used for consultations. That way, someone would be nearby to help if he called for it, but it still gave them a bit of privacy, away from the mood that the companion rooms would set.
“Let him in.”
Lance didn’t turn. He just listened to the door open, footsteps, then the door close.
“Lance?”
A shudder raced through him, some of Lance’s anxiety seeping away from just the sound of the other’s voice.
Oh gods… he really was pregnant with this alpha’s child.
It made more sense now, when Lance thought about it.
The odd sensations with the other alphas, the disinterest, the lack of desire, of wanting to be touched. It was all because he was pregnant. And the reason Keith’s rut hadn’t come on that one time was more than likely because Keith’s senses knew Lance was pregnant, and didn’t need to work for it again. And the reason Keith did fall back into needing a rut once more was because the alpha sensed other alphas on his pregnant omega, and it had set his genetics off.
“Is everything okay?” Footsteps. “They called me up so suddenly and said you wanted to speak to me?”
Oh, why was Keith’s voice full of such worry and kindness? Why couldn’t the alpha have been just a bit more cruel, or seemingly cared less?
Lance took a deep breath, letting it out with a rush.
“I… I can’t be your companion anymore, Keith.”
Footsteps stopped.
“What?”
The way Keith had said that one word, strained, almost choked out with such fear, had Lance whipping around, his heart aching, instinctively wanting to soothe that worry.
Keith stood there, staring at Lance with such a crestfallen look, violets wide with shock and fear. One of Keith’s hands was over his stomach, fingers digging into his shirt, as if holding himself back from reaching out, from begging.
“Did I… D-Did I do something wrong?” Keith looked over Lance’s body, noting his bitten lip, the tightly wrapped arms, the defensive stance. Worried eyes fell back upon Lance’s face, those violet eyes large. “I didn’t hurt you last time, did I? I’m so sorry if I did. Or if I scared you with my comments—”
Lance shook his head. “No… no you… you didn’t hurt or scare me.”
Keith didn’t look any less worried.
“Then why can’t you be my companion? I don’t understand… You… You said you would help me because others couldn’t.” Keith swallowed. “Y-You told me you would help me since I was never stressed around you.”
Lance took another deep breath, knowing he just needed to rip this band aid right off and get it all over with.
“I can’t be your, or anyone else’s, companion right now.” Lance half turned away, a hand over his stomach. “I’m… pregnant.”
“Pregnant?”
At least that shocked the alpha into silence.
Lance moved away from the painting, needing to sit down. The stress from preparing for today, to now having the conversation, was making his knees week.
When Lance took a glance at Keith again, his breath stilled.
The alpha stood there, eyes wide, shimmering with surprise, excitement, and pride.
Lance’s stomach fluttered, his knees trembling for real now.
“A-And it’s… mine?” Keith asked, turning to face Lance full on, taking a step closer. “That’s why I was called, right? Because it’s mine. And… a-and we’re having a baby?”
“Whoa! Whoa, whoa!” Lance shot up, moving away from Keith, hand outstretched as he walked quickly behind the chair Lance had picked to sit in. That… that youthful excitement made him feel all kinds of ways. From excitement with the alpha to spooked, knowing their age gap was only one of the many problems with this situation. “There’s no we, Keith.”
Shimmering violets dimmed, the smile Keith had fading on the edges. “What?”
“Keith… I… I’m a companion. I was hired to help you. We’re not in some relationship.” Lance swallowed. He felt tugged to that ever growing sadness in Keith’s expression, Lance’s hands itching to cradle that handsome face, to kiss away the worry. So badly Lance wanted to be shocked or confused by those desires, but it was futile. Because if he put any time to thinking back to all of their previous interactions, Lance knew that he always felt drawn to the young alpha. “Plus, I don’t even know if I want the baby.”
Violets widened, one step forward with surprise.
Lance retreated a step, hands leaving the chair’s back.
Keith stopped, bit his lip, then stepped back, eyes down.
“Was… Am I not… a good match?”
That voice was so crestfallen. Filled with the very some emotion Keith had been when he was heartbroken over being seen as a bad alpha to the other omegas, that he couldn’t be good for them, or to them, like he should as an alpha.
Lance unconsciously bit his bottom lip, pain sparking. “I am sure you’re a perfectly wonderful match.” Violets rose, staring at Lance expectantly. “But I am so much older than you are. And there is no guarantee I could carry to term.”
The success rate, as well as the precautions Lance would need to take were all spelled out to him when he had been at his last visit. If he kept the child, held the pregnancy to term, then he would be moderate to high risk all the way. And due to his pregnancy, he couldn’t work as a companion. He would be on desk duty until he needed to deliver, and that was if the pregnancy didn’t put him on permanent bedrest.
“I’ll keep you and the baby safe.” Keith said with such pride, believing himself fully capable to do so. “What ever you need, all you have to do is ask me. I’ll do it. Just… Just ask first. I promise I’ll be a worthy alpha for you.”
Lance shook his head. “You don’t even know me. I don’t even know you past our visits.”
Keith took a step forward. Those eyes that had held such worry and fear were now stronger, determined.
“I know you like to sleep on your right side the most. And you enjoy fruity things over salty.” Lance’s eyes widened, his lips parting. “You hum when you’re happy, and you enjoy singing songs under your breath when you’re doing a simple task like washing yourself or some menial task that distracts you. I know you can’t sit still for long, without something for you or your to do.” Keith stated proudly, his gaze locked on Lance’s. “In the mornings you’re slow to wake, but you’re happy to relax at night if you can. And you love affection, regardless if it’s physical or verbal. Your eyes shine when you get a touch of kindness your way.”
Keith lifted a hand, firmly placed over his heart. “You’re a family person. You like to take care of the young ones in yours, and always send them letters and gifts. You even said you keep a scrapbook of all the artwork they send you, to look back on the images when you feel lonely.” He stared Lance down as he spoke, confessing every story or comment Lance had made in passing during their times together. For regardless of how little it mattered, or how big a fact it was, Keith kept those details close to his heart. “I know where every scar on your body is from, and could recount the stories you told me without trouble. And most of all, I know that when you get paid, you love getting yourself a smoothie or ice cream to celebrate. Because you say a pay day deserves a sweet treat.”
Lance’s mouth dropped open, the fluttering in his stomach frantically flapping upwards towards his chest.
Keith took several more steps, chest rising with a quick sharp breath. “I pay attention, Lance. I have always paid attention to you. Because you…” Warmth came to those cheeks, eyes softening with shyness. “Because I loved you at first sight. But I didn’t want you to think me silly or young, if I said that, if I ever told you how I felt. And… A-And I knew I couldn’t have you as mine. And I was happy to love you from afar for as long as you would work in the program.”
“Th-That’s crazy…” Lance’s breath shook, both of his hands over his stomach, not with fear, or nausea, but with shock, surprise, to be confessed to like this. “You’re simply just… just infatuated because I’m with you during your ruts.”
Keith shook his head, now standing before the chair, the last obstacle between them.
“I never could bond with the other omegas, right?”
“That… That isn’t proof of anything!”
A smile, so happy and bright. “But it’s proof that my alpha side saw you and never wanted to bond with another omega again… I have dated some before I met you, after all. So it isn’t like you were my first crush, omega or not.”
Lance blushed.
Keith’s smile grew at the color on Lance’s cheeks. “I love you…”
“Love doesn’t—” Lance’s blush deepened, his eyes down, suddenly shy by those lovesick puppy eyes. “Love won’t just… just make this work!”
“It might not. But I want to make it work.”
Lance looked up, those determined eyes closer now, Keith standing by the chair, no longer in front of it.
“I want to be your alpha. To be claimed by you, to mark you if you’ll let me.” Another step, and the fluttering in Lance’s chest shot higher. “I want to be your mate, your lover, your everything…” Another step, and the fluttering was choking Lance’s words from escaping. Keith was only one step away. And with being so close, that rich scent the alpha was releasing soothed Lance, calming his stress, settling the rolling of his stomach, easing the pain in Lance’s lip. “Want me to move in? I will. Want to move in with me? Let’s find a place together because my one-bedroom bachelor pad will not be enough.”
Lance shuddered when Keith chuckled, his breath becoming quick.
“But whatever the decision is… even if you don’t…” Eyes fell to Lance’s stomach, the omega quickly covering it with both hands, hiding the non-existent bulge there. “Even if you don’t want to keep the child, that’s okay.” Those violets rolled up, capturing Lance’s wide gaze. “I just want you most of all.”
Lance swallowed, at a loss for words.
When he didn’t speak, Keith took a slow careful step forward until the space between them was nothing but a few inches of difference, Keith staring at Lance with that love sick puppy eyed gaze of his.
“I love you, Lance. I have since I laid eyes upon you.”
“That’s…” Lance shook his head, unable to face the strong needy look in Keith’s eyes.
Fingertips brushed Lance’s chin, the omega sucking in a breath at how nice it felt.
“I’ll court you. I’ve been wanting to for the longest time.” The back of Keith’s fingers caressed over Lance’s cheek until his hand began to cradle the omega’s face. “I just didn’t think the program would let me, since it frowns on any acts or signs of bonding.”
Lance’s lips trembled, his eyes glued to Keith’s chest, heart hammering against his ribcage. The hand on his face was so warm, as perfectly fitted against his face as it had been the first time Keith had set it there.
When Lance felt fingers brushing the hand limp at his side, the omega jerked, looking down, dislodging the hand Keith had on his cheek.
There he saw that Keith’s other hand hovered by Lance’s surprised one, fingers curling, realizing perhaps he had moved just too fast for Lance’s comfort. “Can I… Can I hold you?”
Lance looked up, eyes wide. “What?”
“Hold you?” Keith tilted his head, eyes pleading, a pure sweet puppy look on that young face.
Lance shuddered. “Why?”
“Because I feel so calm when I hold you.” He stated as matter of factly.
Lance swallowed, his body aching for those strong arms to envelope him. “I… W-We haven’t met up to… to embrace.”
Keith pouted.
The omega’s resolve wavered, his senses, even dulled with age, wanted to sooth that look of the alpha’s face. Every cell in Lance’s body craved the alpha’s touch, to be held and loved and cared for.
“F… Fine…”
Brightness shone there, and with a mindful slow care, Keith wrapped his arms around Lance’s body, careful to not squeeze too tight on his middle.
Lance melted in those arms.
Between the warmth and strength, and the scent the alpha put off, Lance couldn’t fight his instincts. He leaned against the raven, eyes closed, hands clutching to Keith’s back, unwilling to let go now.
When the silence broke, it was by the soft nervous voice of the alpha.
“Please allow me to be yours… I won’t get upset if you want to keep working here… I just want you.”
Lance swallowed. His fingers dug into the fabric on Keith’s back, his eyes opening, staring at that painting from before. “You don’t even know if you would like living with me… Sharing a home at the same time you become a parent is a lot of stress… And you’re so young… How will I know you won’t leave when someone newer, cuter, comes around?”
A snort. “If I cared about age, I would have picked a younger omega when I first came.” Keith nuzzled his face into the side of Lance’s head, taking in lungfuls of the spiced sweet scent of him. “And if you mark me, and are okay with me marking you, isn’t that enough proof I won’t stray?” Keith buried his nose in those brown locks, feeling so happy. “Not like I’d ever want to. You’re the best and cutest omega I have ever seen.”
It was Lance’s time to scoff at Keith’s declaration.
“I’m serious.” Keith leaned far enough back to look at Lance without loosening his arms around him. “You’re all I ever think about…” Cheeks colored, Keith’s smile wobbly. “A-And… And I…”
Lance looked into that sweet face, his heart still beating at a rapid rate. “You…?”
“I uhm… I hope I can be someone you think about, too.”
But he was.
Lance had spent uncounted moments in his free time thinking of Keith, of the cute way Keith slept between lustful bouts of a rut, curled into Lance as if never wanting to let go. Of when Keith was obviously having a bad dream, how his brows would pinch together, then Lance would smooth them out, snickering, murmuring into the alphas ear that he’ll get wrinkles if he doesn’t stop that. That in those rare moments Lance woke up before Keith, he’d comb through that black mane of hair with his fingers, working out every tangle or knot with his magical touch, gazing at that handsome face, a bit saddened they hadn’t met when Lance was younger and ripe in his prime.
That when Keith looked at him, Lance fell into a calm upon those sweet violets, that when Keith smiled his way, Lance felt giddy and eager to see another smile, to hear Keith call his name. Even in moments they were touching, or joined by Keith’s knot, Lance loved how Keith nuzzled him, always eager to please, to comfort Lance.
“This is crazy.” Lance gasped, tears building. “You’re crazy.”
“Crazy in love.”
Lance shook his head, eyes shut.
“This can’t end well… I’m so much older than you. And a baby to add to the mix…”
“I’m fine having more than one.”
Keith’s jovial tone had Lance’s eyes snapping open, the comment making his eyes lock onto the other’s. “You—” Lance gasped, leaning further from the hold, Keith’s hands on Lance’s hips keeping him from teetering away. “You don’t even know if the pup is yours! Or if I want it!”
The smile that broke out on the alpha’s face had Lance blushing, looking down.
“You suspect it’s mine for one reason or another.” Keith pulled Lance back into the warmth of his arms, nosing over Lance’s flushed cheek. “Anyways,” a light kiss, “even if the pup isn’t mine, I’m okay with that. I don’t need to know who the real parent is because I’d still raise it like it was mine.”
“And the matter of me keeping it?”
Those young violets held so much knowing as they stared Lance down without a hint of fear in them.
“Regardless of if you will, or won’t, doesn’t stop me from still wanting you. From wanting to be your alpha.”
Lance bit his lips. A light caress of Keith’s hand up and down his spine had the omega leaning in, curling into Keith’s arms, soaking in those calming alpha pheromones.
When Lance spoke, his voice came out in a small whisper. “I’m so scared to do this alone…”
“Then don’t.”
Lance clutched to Keith. He turned his face into Keith’s neck, taking in another deep breath of those pheromones. And when calm washed over him, when Lance’s muscles relaxed, he released a big breath, body growing loose in the alpha’s embrace.
“How does one even court a pregnant omega past his prime?” Lance asked, disbelieving.
Keith only laughed. He nuzzled into Lance’s head, releasing the barest happy little growl. “Same way you would a non-pregnant omega in their prime.”
There was no way to know if this would work, or if they would work.
But Lance couldn’t deny that he wanted to try, to get to know Keith, to allow this alpha into his life and have a pup with him.
Pups.
Gods, this young alpha would test his luck.
“What if I can never deliver you a pup?” Lance hadn’t lifted his face from the crook of Keith’s neck. He only turned his head, looking out to the room again, so scared to smell anger or disappointment tinge the other’s scent at the question. “What if you do all this work and I can’t be nothing more than a barren omega, leaving you without a family?”
Keith’s words were sweet. His touch gentle, holding Lance as if he’d carry the omega away to some paradise.
“You’d be enough family, with or without pups.”
This was so crazy.
He was crazy.
Because Lance couldn’t believe he was actually considering this, considering making this young alpha his.
“I love you.”
Those three big words broke Lance from his thinking.
His head rose, eyes on violets, Lance’s heart thundering inside of his chest.
“I love you.” Keith repeated. Face so open, every emotion the alpha felt right then and there telegraphed over him, in those large love struck eyes. Telegraphed in the way Keith held Lance, cradled him, standing strong to protect, but gentle enough to cradle.
Tears built in Lance’s eyes.
He nodded. An acceptance of that love, of this decision.
And when lips found his, Lance wrapped his arms around that alpha’s neck, clutching to him, desperately seeking out that love and comfort he offered.