Chapter Text
Numb the emotions. Numb the pain. Try to flee the river of tears threatening to flow.
Alhaitham felt like everything had just become too much to handle. Whatever he did, whatever he said, all of it just seemed to make his Alpha angry. Every tiny word of worry resulted in Kaveh getting loud. Angry Alpha pheromones were flooding his nostrils, made him feel sick, caused him to cower. It happened way too much recently. And Alhaitham didn’t know how to handle it. It most likely was his fault. Why did he have to complain to Kaveh? Why did he have this overly strong need to be included? This argument could have been avoided if he had not tried so hard to belong.
It had started when Kaveh had returned home much later than Alhaitham had expected. Kaveh had said it had been, because he had spent time with Tighnari and Cyno … again. It had not been the first time in these last months that Kaveh had gone out to meet their friends without him. Were they even his friends? That was the question that immediately had forced its way into Alhaitham’s thoughts. Part of him thought so, but then again, Alhaitham always wondered how deep their friendship really was. Maybe in truth Alhaitham was just annoying to them? What else could it be? There had to be a reason after all, why Cyno and Tighnari never invited him to the tavern.
It wasn’t like he could blame them. Alhaitham knew he was a difficult person. Much too clingy, always looking to be reassured that other people liked him. There probably was no Omega in this world as difficult as him. So it was no surprise, that Tighnari and Cyno didn’t want him around and Kaveh also spent more and more time away from home. It was all Alhaitham’s own fault for being too difficult to handle. No wonder Kaveh avoided him when every conversation they had ended dramatic and loud, because Alhaitham was just way too sensitive.
Or maybe it was all just going on in his head. They did not really hate him. Or did they? All these conflicting thoughts were exhausting.
Alhaitham whimpered as another wave of Kaveh’s pheromones hit his nostrils and he found himself digging his fingers into his own hair.
„I’m sorry, Kaveh,“ he said, „I didn’t mean it like that.“
He couldn’t even look at Kaveh. A person like Alhaitham didn’t deserve to face Kaveh. Alhaitham was bad, he always was the cause of drama and worst of all, he lost control of his own distressed pheromones, which caused Kaveh to retch.
„Alhaitham stop!“ Kaveh ordered him, but it was hard to comply. Alhaitham had no control over his emotions.
„Please don’t hate me, I didn’t mean to complain. I’m sorry,“ he pleaded, trembled and sobbed.
In response to that Kaveh sighed and brought up his hand to cover his nose.
„I don’t hate you, but you have to stop acting like that. I’ve invited you to go out with me countless of times and you never felt like it. But now that I go out with my friends you suddenly get upset?! Just because you are my Omega that doesn’t mean that my time only belongs to you,“ Kaveh shouted, sounding weird now that he was covering the lower part of his face.
He was still angry. Alhaitham sobbed even more.
It was hard to believe that Kaveh did not hate him when he was being angry like that. And it was all Alhaitham’s fault. He had done it again like so many times before. It felt like he had broken another one of his relationships apart just because he feared being alone. It always happened like that and it was like a cat biting its own tail. His constant need to be included was the reason nobody wanted to spend time with Alhaitham. He had no friends, because he was difficult to handle. He felt like he was a bad person.
„Sorry,“ he repeated again under tears and pulled away from his Alpha.
He wanted to flee, wanted to escape, but at them same time he was afraid that if he went now Kaveh would not let him back into their home. Then there would be no way to fix it and his Alpha would leave him for good.
„Kaveh,“ he said and stretched a hand out towards him, „I am really sorry.“
„Haitham,“ a sigh escaped Kaveh’s throat, „I need a few moments for myself.“
His voice was softer now and yet when Kaveh moved away and left towards their bedroom Alhaitham felt only more scared. Surely Kaveh would leave him now. They weren’t even officially mates yet. Kaveh had not marked him yet and now he surely never would. Alhaitham had messed up, it was all his fault, he had broken apart something as beautiful as their relationship. More sobs came from Alhaitham’s throat. Why did he always have to destroy everything? He was bad, bad, so bad.
Carried by emotions much too big to handle Alhaitham pushed himself away from the wall. He started walking towards the door, walking out of the house, walking up the spiraling walkways of Sumeru City. It felt like he was controlled by an outerworldly force, like he himself was not in control. Where was he going? He didn’t even know himself. It didn’t matter either, as long as his path lead him towards punishment and pain. It was what he deserved: punishment for being a bad person.
The longer he walked the darker the alleys became. Eventually Alhaitham found himself in a part of town that he knew Omegas were supposed to avoid and yet that was exactly the reason why he was here. The houses in this part of Sumeru City were run down and way less impressive than those of Akademiya students. The nearby taverns were filled with people, who had a rough life and an equally rough attitude. If drunken Alphas found him here, they would hurt him, they surely would.
That would be good, right? It would only be just if he was hurt for being difficult.
And yet Alhaitham didn’t dare to get to close to the taverns. Instinct and fear stopped him from fully committing to his plans. Instead of approaching the taverns directly, he walked aimlessly inbetween them. How pathetic. Alhaitham felt like a coward. Maybe it would be better to return home completely, but that would mean facing the trouble with Kaveh. He wasn’t ready for that.
Slow steps pushed him forward, down another alleyway between two buildings. The smell of vomit mixed with the smell of piss was hanging in the air. Why was he here? He really should turn around. This wasn’t a place he should be. Maybe he had just been too emotional. That was it probably. He always was like that. His mood shifted between happiness and agonizing sadness quite often and in those moments it was hard to find his rationality. The stench however seemed to clear his mind. Running away and getting hurt wouldn’t help nobody.
„What do we have here?“
A sudden voice pulled Alhaitham out of his thoughts and he turned his head to face the source of it. Behind him stood a man. Blond with a scruffy beard, taller even than Alhaitham. There was the distinct smell of too much alcohol coming from the stranger, but that became masked by the scent of Alpha pheromones when he approached Alhaitham.
What did he want? Alhaitham took a deep breath and stared at the Alpha that was stumbling badly. He was obviously drunk.
„Why so sad, sweet thing?“ the Alpha slurred and brought a thumb up to his right eye to wipe away one of Alhaitham’s tears that had not yet fallen.
He was too close! This was not good, Alhaitham knew what Alphas did to Omegas like him in places like this. He couldn’t allow that to happen. The only Alpha that was allowed to touch him was Kaveh.
“Get away from me!” Alhaitham shouted loud in instinct.
Sadly the stranger didn’t seem to care. Quite the opposite. It seemed that Alhaitham’s shouts only encouraged the drunken man to get closer. Suddenly he was leaning in towards Alhaitham his lips and nose dangerously close to the scent glands behind his ear.
„Mhhh … you smell so good,“ the man hummed with a low rumbling voice, „makes me want to eat ya!“
A tremble ran through Alhaitham’s body and he tried to turn and run. A hopeless idea.
“STOP OMEGA!”
The drunken man released a bunch of pheromones as he used the deep growl of his Alpha voice and Alhaitham felt engulfed in such strong fear that he sank to his knees. Using the Alpha voice on somebody that was not your own Omega was frowned upon. Infact it was a criminal offense, but in this part of town crime was just another shape of daily business. People living here couldn’t get what they wanted if they weren’t ready to use unfair methods.
It was hard to think under the influence of the Alpha’s controlling voice and pheromones, but Alhaitham still felt slight pain. He didn’t want to comply. He trembled as he meekly raised his voice.
„I … I have to g-go home, ba-back to my Alpha.”
„Your Alpha? But you’re not even marked, Omega. Nice try,“ the Alpha slurred and put his thumb onto Alhaithams scent gland rubbing it lightly, “maybe I should make you mine!”
Shit. The guy’s pheromones caused Alhaitham to feel so dizzy that the world around him got blurry.
„Please stop,“ Alhaitham breathed out as he fell over to his side.
As he released his own distressed pheromones the stranger squeezed his throat.
„Shhh… this Alpha will make you feel good,“ he cooed and released even more pheromones.
It was too much. The scent was so overwhelming. A part of Alhaitham was aware, that he didn’t want this, but his instincts took over. Like a calming and very alluring fog the drunken man’s pheromones surrounded Alhaitham. This Alpha would take care of him.
„Yes, Omega, just let go,“ the Alpha whispered as he climbed on top of Alhaitham.
Suddenly his body felt so hot and Alhaitham started panting. Unable to resist the strong scent around him lust overcame him. The part of Alhaitham’s mind that was aware he wasn’t consenting to this was gagged by pheromones. Whatever happened now, Alhaitham was at the mercy of the drunken man who now cupped Alhaitham’s crotch.
„You’re already hard for me. Mh … such a good Omega,“ the man praised.
Good Omega. Alhaitham smiled. He really was good wasn’t he? The Alpha was satisfied and aroused, he could smell it.
„Mhh,“ he hummed dazed, drunken on pheromones.
„I’ll make you mine,“ the drunken guy said again and brought his teeth up towards Alhaitham’s scent gland.
The Alpha would claim him now, that was how it was supposed to be right?
No. Suddenly Alhaitham felt wide awake again. The Alpha was too close to his most vulnerable spot. This wasn’t good. Only Kaveh was supposed to mark him. Fear took a hold of Alhaitham.
„Stop!“ he shouted and tried to push the man away.
Alhaitham couldn’t become that man’s Omega, he belonged to Kaveh and only to Kaveh! However as much as he tried to push the Alpha away, the man wouldn’t move.
„Shh!“ the drunken man repeated, but as Alhaitham still struggled he used the Alpha voice again, „COMPLY, OMEGA!“
And that left him no choice. Alhaitham froze on the spot, frightened. As much as he wanted to he couldn’t move anymore, couldn’t speak. The Alpha could do with him whatever he wanted. All that was left for Alhaitham to do was to sob and close his eyes. It was too late, the man would bite him. Now he had done it: he’d never be Kaveh’s again.
Alhaitham braced himself for the bite, but just as he expected to feel the teeth, he heard an angry growl, followed by the sound of fighting. Somebody grabbed the drunken Alpha and pulled him off to the side.
Kaveh. Alhaitham recognized his scent, even before he opened his eyes.
„Get away from my Omega!“ Kaveh shouted and released his own angry pheromones.
It was another overwhelming scent, that caused Alhaitham to cower, but at the same time, it was very welcome right now. His Alpha was protecting him and the drunk guy that had been about to bite him was obviously intimidated. Of course he was. Kaveh could be really scary and he was way more dominant than that drunken loser. A sense of pride filled Alhaitham’s heart as the drunken guy scurried away.
„Alpha,“ he couldn’t help but moan as Kaveh then turned to face him.
No word was spoken as Kaveh bend down and lifted him up from the ground, holding him firmly. Alhaitham put his head against Kaveh’s chest.
„Alpha,“ Alhaitham hummed again and closed his eyes feeling exhausted.
„Foolish Omega. What has gotten into you? Do you know what could have happened?“
Kaveh was right and Alhaitham felt guilty and sad as he looked up to his Alpha’s face.
„I’m sorry,“ he said causing Kaveh to sigh.
„I know. Shh now, we’ll talk later,“ his Alpha said and took a moment to breath, „but … I’m so glad I came before it was too late.“
„Me too,“ Alhaitham mumbled sounding as exhausted as he felt.
All those pheromones had left Alhaitham shaken and weak. Had Kaveh not been … he didn’t even want to think about it. Instead he listened to the calming beat of Kaveh’s heart as he slowly carried him back home.