Chapter Text
They call him a freak, a weirdo, an unnatural omega. No omega should behave the way he does, everyone knows that, it's written in the rules of the universe. An omega like that should get put down, he's feral, a danger to society, what if other omegas start to think it's okay for them to behave like that, like some kind of heathen.
It's as if he saw the way an proper omega should behave, and said fuck that. He's hanging out with several alphas too, and that other omega—the one that's soft spoken and submissive—a perfect omega.
That whole group is weird too, they act like that freak of an omega is the alpha of the pack. The two alphas quiet down if he glares at them, he doesn't even show his teeth or growl—yeah that weirdo growls and snarls at alphas with his small omega fangs. And yet those alphas submits to him with an unnatural eagerness.
Fucking freak.
There's a darkness that follows him, a darkness that shouldn't be around omegas, shouldn't embrace them like a protective layer. Omegas should have the energy of the sun, of a soft summer breeze, birds singing in a flower filled forest. But that omega, the energy around him it's rough, acidic, it screams danger making it hard to breathe through.
His appearance captures your attention, causing anyone to move closer despite the darkness surrounding him. He’s pretty, beautiful, and stunning as most omegas. His body is soft and looks fragile, as if it’s asking for protection, asking you to move closer and that’s when he strikes.
He’s a poisonous flower, one that doesn’t look poisonous—it’s too pretty to be deadly, nothing will happen if you move closer. His beauty is comparable to a foxglove, the flowers hang prettily from its stem, pink with dotted insides hypnotizing you to come closer.
The dotted inside is similar to the faint freckles decorating his skin. And the sweet fragrance of his scent, one that is hard to find, begs you to lean in in an attempt to breathe in the chocolate fragrance.
But when you’re moving closer, nearing his neck to breathe in the sweet fragrance—unknowingly putting yourself in danger, it's too late.
The poison is working fast, striking out, knuckles and knees leave masterpieces of blue and purple with line art in red scratches. His attacks are unexpected, after all what kind of omega behaves that way? Leaving his victims with confusion. blurred visions and bruised.
Until the beautiful, terrible, pink flower is alone once again.
Until another person tries to come near him.
————
Sieun is fully aware of the things they say about him, it would be hard not to notice them. That he is the worst omega they’ve ever seen, that his behaviour is embarrassing, that he's feral, should wear a muzzle. And that his personality destroys any beauty he has, his coldness and unwillingness to respect alphas makes them angry.
He won’t give them any attention, he’s used to the comments and the leering. He keeps to himself and his small friend group, the group he can’t shake off. He’s stuck with them, they don't care about his personality, about his coldness, about his aggression towards alphas—despite two of his friends being alphas.
Sieun honestly hates most alphas, especially the kind that seem to lack any kind of thinking ability, the ones that think with their knots. The ones that blame omegas for defending themselves when they get too pushy, thinking their alpha status allows them to do what they want.
The reason he gets called feral is because he defended himself, he has attacked several alphas trying to corner him, to convince him that he would love their knots. Sure maybe stabbing them with different pens and kneeing them in the crotch is a bit much, but he will gladly do it again.
But if you don’t defend yourself, then they call you a whore, someone so desperate to get filled, knotted and bred that you throw yourself at them. In their sick minds every omega is desperate for them, would bend over and allow them access to their cunts.
Sieun hates them, despises them even.
Even worse is those alphas that can’t take a hint, the ones that think his aggressiveness is an attempt to be different, an attempt to get alphas to chase him. These kinds won’t realize the bitterness in omegas scents isn’t a good thing, that the omega isn’t turned on.
Especially the ones that tell him his “hard to get” act is cute and that some alphas actually appreciate a chase every once in a while. They promise to show him a good time, tries to convince him that they could fuck him so good.
It could be funny if Sieun wasn’t so done with them. The way these macho alphas, scent reeking, call omegas desperate when they would fight their closest friend at the first chance of putting their small cocks in something, anything that has a warm wet hole.
Sieun really doesn’t care about them, about the stuff they talk about, he has better things to worry about than disgusting alphas thinking with their knots. He would rather live without knowing what they think about too, what perverted thoughts they have—what they’re imagining doing to him when their eyes wander over his body.
He is—by law—feral, an unnatural omega, something dangerous. It's not as if Sieun goes around seeking violence, he doesn't like violence. But he won't allow anyone, especially not an alpha, to walk over him—pretending Sieun is less for being an omega, for being something he can't change.
So he fights, scratches, bites, stabs. Anything he can do to hurt alphas, to hurt them in a way that is similar to how they hurt omegas, just…more violent. He doesn’t do it to protect omegas, Sieun does it because he won’t allow them to treat him like trash. And he usually doesn’t get in trouble, the alphas are victims to their subgender, their pride is too high to actually tell anyone that an omega hurt them.
He has found that being an omega gives him the ability to get closer to the knotheads, they assume he's submitting—relaxing, smirking as they believe Sieun is giving up—not expecting him to turn violent.
Even after multiple attacks most assume that Sieun won't actually attack anyone, I mean look at him—body soft, he's quiet like a mouse, keeping to himself, and yet he strikes out like a snake, fast and lethal.
There is one guy he feels conflicted about, Ahn Suho, Sieun has heard of him from Humin and Hyuntak. Knows Suho sits four desks behind him, he's an alpha with personality similar to the other two alphas, and usually sleeps in class.
The only reason that Sieun knows this is because he can feel the other's curious gaze burn into the back of his head when he's awake. The staring isn't perverted, doesn't feel suffocating or like the alpha is trying to undress him—like others—it’s weird, the alpha is weird.
Observing Sieun as if he's a puzzle is something mysterious waiting to get solved. This weird alpha probably imagines he can “fix” Sieun, turn him into a proper omega, into someone submissive—to try and make him less fierce and violent.
The weird guy doesn’t try to reach out to him, doesn’t attempt to talk to him, he only observes Sieun from the back of the classroom.
Sieun doesn't understand him, and he doesn't want to understand him either. He has no need for even more people in his life, a strange alpha is not something that is welcomed. Especially not an alpha that probably wants to be his knight in shining armor, not someone that would want something—sex—in exchange for saving him.
Yeon Sieun can handle himself, thank you very much. He has done it so far, not even his parents try to protect him.
If there is one thing that he has learnt, it’s that you can’t trust alphas, they always want something for protecting you. Humin and Hyuntak are exceptions, the reason for that is that they both seem like idiots more interested in sports than in omegas.
Honestly Sieun wouldn't be surprised if other omegas are ashamed of him, ashamed of his behavior. He knows some of them, stare at him in disgust, some of them fear him—avoid him as if he's the plague itself. A part of him likes it, because it means they leave him alone, lets him do his stuff and doesn't bother him.
And if they aren't ashamed of him, then they're confused about his behavior. About the fact that he won't submit to alphas, that he glares and sometimes snarls at them, and actually attacks them—drawing blood.
Juntae is one of those omegas, he doesn't understand Sieun but tries to be supportive despite it. Maybe it helps that his friend can sense when he shouldn't say or ask something, can tell when Sieun is gripping his pen tighter—not that Sieun would ever attack Juntae. Juntae knows when he should steer the conversation in another direction, something Sieun is grateful for.
There have been some moments where Juntae, and the two alphas, tried to change his opinion on alphas, telling Sieun that having an alpha help with the heats makes it easier—that it doesn't have to be sexual either! Juntae has even tried to comfort him—if that's the right word for what it is, that he will find an alpha that's going to grab his attention, that's going to change his conception of alphas. An alpha just for him is going to appear and change his entire view on the subgender.
Maybe he should try and convince Juntae to read less romance? Because Sieun honestly doubts something like that's going to happen, that an alpha will actually make him change his opinion.
And even if it happens, chances being extremely low, Sieun can bet that the stupid alpha will try to change him. No alpha, well no normal alpha, would ever want an omega like Sieun and he’s satisfied with that.
————
Why does those alphas keep hitting on that omega, on Yeon Sieun, when it's clear that he doesn't enjoy it? Eyes glaring, mouth scowling, hand gripping his pen tighter. Everything practically screams that Sieun would rather be burying himself alive than to be here where alphas try to flirt with him.
Especially with the rumors surrounding the small guy, rumors that the omega can, and will, fuck you up if you bother him. Yeon Sieun will scratch you, bite you, stab you with one of his many pens, leave you confused and bruised.
There's one rumor about him stabbing a pen into Youngbin’s scent gland—destroying it completely, making it impossible for the gland to work. It actually happened but most believe it's a rumor, since Youngbin's pride got hit, the alpha getting embarrassed that the omega managed to actually hurt him pretty good.
Suho honestly can't judge them too much, he would try and flirt with the omega, because fuck he's really his type—a bit strange, extremely hot, a bit violent. But Ahn Suho has working brain cells and would rather live with his knot still attached to his body. He wouldn’t say he’s afraid of Sieun, he finds him cute—like a feisty kitten—it’s more that he’s aware of the damage the smaller can do.
So he continues watching Sieun from the back of the classroom. When he's not sleeping, then Sieun is there in his dreams, and when he's awake his gaze is stuck on the omega. Suho doesn't know what it is but something about Sieun is calling for his attention, he's stuck in his mind like a drug is for its drug user.
Gossip goes around the school, often about Sieun, often about who's fucking him, knotting him, breeding him—talking about the omega as if he's a pornstar. Suho honestly finds the way they talk about Sieun disgusting, as if he isn’t a human being.
But in the dark corners where Sieun can't hear them, there's gossip about his scent—it’s a mystery. They say it's hard to find, hard to smell, getting suffocated underneath scent patches. And it's not just alphas, it's betas and a few omegas too, all wondering what Sieun's scent smelled like. If it fits an omega or if it's more suitable for a beta.
Suho can't agree at all.
It's neither hard to catch nor hard to smell, not for Suho.
Because the omega's scent is so fucking heavy, teasing Suho’s nasal cavity, he could get scent drunk from here—four desks behind the other—if he inhaled enough of the scent. He doesn’t question or wonder why he’s the only one that could catch the omega’s scent despite his gland being covered by scent patches. His brain gets embraced by the other’s scent, turning him a bit dumb.
The fragrance of chocolate is accompanied by the scent of books, it works. When Sugo inhales it, he’s transferred to a small cafe—one that would be a bit hidden, not that popular—the wood is a dark mahogany, plush pillows are dark green, kinda like a dark emerald. Classical music plays on low volume in the comfortable space. Someone is reading a book, sipping from a mug filled with hot chocolate.
Somewhere in this imaginary world there’s different students working on their assignments. Some are writing by hand, others write on their computers, post it-notes get written. Their conversations are lowered to show each other respect.
The imaginary world fits the omega, with his quietness and his nonstop studying. The chocolate scent is perfect for Sieun, the undertones are rich, his normal scent is sweet—like hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream and marshmallows. When he’s annoyed it turns bitter and a bit dark, like dark chocolate—rich in flavour, not something everyone will appreciate. He wonders what other undertones the scent would take.
Suho can't help but think how well his coffee scent fits with Sieun's. He is a romantic at heart—stories from his grandma are the reason for that, and the fact that their scents have multiple similarities causes them to think of them as soulmates. Something that doesn't exist, and yet it feels right, to call Sieun his soulmate despite the fact that they haven't had a whole conversation. He can tell that this crush on Sieun is going to mess him up.
Suho knows that he himself doesn't really fit the alpha standards, something the students like to talk about—how he, Humin and Hyuntak doesn't "fit" the standards, but those "standards" are made up by the school bullies, who forget that alphas are to provide for their partner, to make their partner feel safe, not to use their bodies as sex toys. In the students' minds they're less alphas because they don't drool and pop a knot by catching eyes with an omega, it's embarrassing really.
He knows how society wants “real” alphas to behave, they should be aggressive, dominant, pushy and just straight up annoying, bonus points if they suffocate an entire room with their scents. They should force themselves on omegas who’re too shy and weak to fight back. Suho will never behave like those alphas, his grandma would be disappointed and would scold him.
Maybe that's why he's so interested in Sieun, the omega doesn't follow the unwritten rules of the universe, it's pretty hot, seeing the small omega deck an alpha bigger than him, Suho would gladly let the omega do that to him.
Suho can’t help but think the omega seems lonely even while being surrounded by his three friends, it’s almost as if something is missing from the other, maybe that’s the reason for the growling and attacking?
He’s aware that a lot of people are afraid or at least cautious about Sieun, and has noticed the ways betas avoid the narrow eyed omega, has seen how Juntae is the only omega that interacts with Sieun. Hear how conversations falter and get lowered when the omega enters the room, even if his earphones block out the conversation.
Sieun is attractive, anyone with eyes can see that, even the alphas that grumble about his personality find him hot. Suho himself finds Sieun attractive. But he doesn’t find the other intimidating, and isn't afraid of the smaller at all. He likes to think he’s respecting the omega by not flirting—whilst protecting his knot.
In his eyes Sieun is as dangerous as a kitten discovering it has claws. The omega is cute, round wet eyes, filled cheeks, plump lips, soft body. Everything about Sieun seems soft, hiding his sharp claws behind the cuteness.
Now Suho doesn’t have a habit of going around psychoanalysing his classmates, but Sieun and his behavior screams trust issues and abandonment issues. He always looks tired—dark circles under his teary eyes, like he isn’t eating enough despite filled cheeks, his body is tense, teeth grinding as he locks his mind behind music. He seems like a kitten with trust issues, someone that needs a warm home and love, love that won’t disappear if he doesn’t “behave”.
His thoughts start to wander, going into a territory that his mind shouldn’t be in, the kind of thoughts that alphas have about their mates. His thoughts cross the unspoken line without his consent. Does Sieun have enough nesting materials? Does he scent his friends and do they scent him back? Do they bring scented objects for his nest? Suho has seen Sieun backing away when his friends scent each other, does he think they will do something?
Is Sieun taking care of himself and his omega subgender? Or is he satisfied with doing the bare minimum to keep his omega side happy? Is his nest getting taken apart after each heat or does he let it stay?
Is there anyone reminding him to eat? Sending messages asking the omega to send pictures of his food to make sure he’s actually eating. What about water? Is he sleeping enough?
Could Suho become that person? Could he be allowed to take care of Sieun even if just platonically? Sieun would probably need someone to bring him out from his focused studying.
Lost in thoughts he doesn't notice that his eyes have fallen on the omega, doesn't notice the omega watching back, the omega's ears turning red. Suho wanna take care of the other, he would feel honoured if he even got the chance to get to know the other. Maybe he let the omega take the first step, Suho doesn't want him to feel cornered or threatened, even if he's more of a kitten than anything.
————
"Sieun, are you listening?" Juntae's voice pulls him out of the trance he got stuck in. Shaking his head lightly Sieun turns back to his friend, Juntae gives him a knowingly smile that the omega doesn't wanna ponder on. "Sorry, what were you saying?" Juntae repeats without waiting and the two fall into a comfortable conversation.
“You know..Suho is similar to Gotak and Baku, maybe you should try and talk to him.” Sieun appreciates Juntae, he truly does. But he doesn’t understand why the other omega is so fixated on Sieun finding an alpha.
“Maybe…”
Thankfully Juntae leaves it at that, letting Sieun off the hook.
————
Suho told himself that he would let Sieun take the first step in their relationship, in their friendship, not wanting to make the omega feel cornered. But he needed to know if there is any competition for Sieun's attention, he knows there isn't any, but there's nothing wrong with being sure.
“So..what did you want to talk about?”
Suho can feel the blood rushing to his ears, turning them red from embarrassment, as he stands in front of Baku and Gotak—the only alphas Sieun talks to.
“Do you guys know—since you're friends with Sieun—if he's interested in anyone or something?”
“.. huh?? Sieun? Our Sieun? The Ice Princess?” If Suho didn't feel so embarrassed he would find their bafflement funny, they look at him like he just told them he's from the future. “Dude, did you hit your head or something? Do you need a nurse?”
He gives them the finger accompanied by a deadpan expression, honestly what did he expect when he planned this conversation? “No way..dude you want to hit on Sieun?” Fucking Baku and his loud ass voice, “quiet down idiot, it's probably a secret, now everyone knows thanks to Mr. 99 IQ over here.” How someone can sound so fond and irritated at the same time, Suho will never know.
“Can you just answer the question?”
“You have seen how he acts, he does it for a reason, Suho. He doesn't want an alpha.”
Why did he expect to get a straight answer from these two? He already knows Sieun doesn't want an alpha but that doesn’t mean that he isn't interested in anyone.