Chapter Text
The elevator seemed to descend at a slower rate than normal. Lance loosened his tie, stomach grumbling, hunger over taking him. He knew he shouldn’t have skipped breakfast, but he stayed up late working on a pro-bono case for an abused Omega. The poor teen was forced into a mating bond. Her own father selling her to pay off a debt. He remembers the day the shaking Omega was begging the receptionist to speak with him, apparently she did her research and knew Lance was the top lawyer in Omega rights. He had been on his way out of the office for the night, but couldn’t just walk away. He invited the girl into his office, and decided to take her case for free. He only ever did that for people he knew needed the help but did not have the means to pay him. He tended to have a soft spot for distressed Omega’s. Remembering all too well the way his sister Veronica was treated by her first potential mate.
The elevator finally reaches the lobby, and Lance sighs, happy to get out of the cramped space and head to the Diner across the street. The Balmaera is a classy little diner. It’s run by mates, Hunk and Shay, both Beta’s. It’s nothing fancy, but the food is great, and it’s a calm, relaxing atmosphere. He sat at his usual booth, and ordered the special. He was halfway through his grilled chicken salad, when the bell on the door dinged. Immediately his nose was filled with the strongest sent of distressed omega he has ever smelt. He lets out a breath and rubs his fingers under his nose trying to get the scent to lessen. Yet, he can’t ignore it. He can pick out through the sour smell, that it is pure omega, unmated, no Alpha scent what-so-ever. When the Omaga shuffles towards the counter, Lance looks over at him. He’s a bit shorter than Lance. His skin is pale, but in a beautiful way, almost flawless. With hair as dark as the night, slightly disheveled, and curling at the ends, in almost a mullet type fashion. Lance couldn’t help but stare at the back of the Omega’s head.
When hunk approached the distressed man, his scent became even stronger as he explains. “I-I’ve been traveling a-awhile. I was, uh, hoping I could…maybe get a glass of…” He pulls out an envelope from his pocked, opens it and with a shaky hand pulls out a couple crumpled dollar bills. “Um…w-what can I get f-for this?” He puts the dollars on the counter, and dumps a little change onto it as well.
Hunk counts the money and gives the young man a sad smile, “You can get a soda or coffee.”
“Okay. How much for a-a smoothy or shake?” The tan man asks, head tilted down.
“It’s three seventy-five before tax for a small one of either of those.”
The Omega runs his hand through his hair and sighs, “I-I’ll take a small coffee please. With um, two cream and…and three sugar.” His arms wrap around his mid-section and he calls after Hunk, “Decaf…please.”
Hunk nods and asks, “For here or to-go?”
“Um…here I suppose.”
“Then take a seat, I’ll bring it out to you in a moment.”
The man slowly turns in Lance’s direction, and stunning violet eyes searched the small diner for a place to sit. If Lance believed in love at first sight, he would have to say this was it. He was drawn into those eyes, unable to look away. He was the most beautiful Omega he had ever seen. His heart clenched at the fear in those eyes. At the ragged, worn down way the Omega walked, and the clearly dirty clothes and backpack he was carrying.
When the man started to move, Lance quickly looked down and started stabbing at his salad. He didn’t want to be caught as a complete creep. Yet when the omega got closer, he couldn’t help but glance up. Those perfect eyes met his, and the man wrapped his arms around his waist again, quickly looking to the floor. Lance frowned, wondering if he really came off that intimidating, but when the pale man walked by, he caught a scent that helped him understand.
The Omega is pregnant.
****
The next few days, Lance kept seeing that Omega at the diner at lunch time. Each day the man would pull out a worn down envelope and scattered whatever money he had onto the counter. Today, he was able to get a smoothy like he always asked about. When he turned to go sit as Hunk prepared it, a dusting of a smile crossed his face. Lance couldn’t help but stare at how blinding even just a little twitch of the man’s lips was. He must have been staring too long because the Omega glared at him before wrapping his arms around himself protectively and sitting a few booths behind Lance.
When Lance finished the special of the day, which was a basic cheese burger and fries, he got up and went to the counter to pay. Shay was all smiles as she asked how his meal was. Lance ignored the question to ask his own. “Do you or Hunk know that Omega’s story at all? He’s new around here, or at least at the diner.”
Shay sighs, “No, not really. We’ve been trying to get him to talk to us, but he won’t. We’re both assuming he’s either homeless, or on the brink of it. Considering he never has much money on him. The poor boy seems so frightened, constantly looking over his shoulder.”
Lance sighs and pays double for his meal, plus a generous tip. “Could you send out the special for him. Just tell him it’s taken care of, but don’t mention by me. I think he’s a little weary of Alpha’s.”
“Of course. That’s very generous of you.” Shay says, taking his money and sending the order back to the kitchen.
Lance thanks her, and heads out the door, not daring to take another glance at the Omega today.
When he gets back to his office, Romelle gets up with a stack of paper work from him, and follows him in. “Here are some new cases. I haven’t sent out an email agreeing to any of them yet. I figured you would like to take care of that yourself when you decide which one’s you have time for or would like to work on, and which one’s you’ll send referrals to other lawyers for.”
“Thanks Romelle.”
She nods but hesitates before leaving his office. “Um Sir, may I ask you a question?”
“Yeah of course,” Lance answers sitting behind his desk, laying out the paper work.”
“Um, I don’t mean to pry, but…have you gotten an Omega?”
Lance’s head snaps up and he raises a brow, “No…why would you think that?”
The other Alpha bounces on the balls of her feet, clearly nervous. “Well, um…you smell different? Like…concerned and uh…protective.”
Lance chuckles, “I’m always concerned and protective. My clients are mostly victims of Omega abuse. I worry for all of them. I want to help protect them.”
Romelle nods quickly, “Of course Sir. My senses must be a bit off today.”
“No worries Romelle.” The girl turns to leave and Lance mentions, “Hold all calls for me until I say otherwise. I’d like to focus on these requests without interruption.”
“Will do!” She says, making her way out of Lance’s office.
He’s always had to be careful about which cases he takes. Some are quite juvenile that can be solved in civil court, but then there are the ones that need immediate attention. So he starts by reading through each request, stacking piles into, referral, possible, and taking. After a couple of hours Romelle interrupts him. She knocks before coming into his office and he frowns at her. She knows how important possible new cases are to him.
She clears her throat, “S-sorry to bother you, but there is a pretty upset Omega demanding to see you.”
“Oh, uh send them in I guess.”
She opens the door all the way and Lance is shocked to see the Omega from the diner. He storms in past Romelle and plants his hands on the front of Lance’s desk, leaning over to snarl at him. “I don’t know who you think you are, or if you think you can somehow bribe me, or-or if Kuro sent you, but leave me alone! I see you staring, I know you bought the food for me today, because I’m not stupid!” He leans even closer, a growl building in his throat. “I can take care of my damn self, and don’t need some snooty ass Alpha getting in my business.” He stands up straight, turns on his heels, and before he slams Lance’s door, he swears, “I’ll pay you back.” Then is gone. Only for a second until the door swings open, his head pops in and he whispers, “Thank you though.” Then slams the door again.
Lance stares blankly at the door.
What the hell just happened?