Chapter Text
Zack’s temper had been bad. Even worse than usual ever since he met Johan. When something bad happened or someone started picking on Zack his reaction was always the same: fight back.
Which is why it bothered him to see the poor, puppy-eyed kid take beating after beating without so much as balling a fist. Zack watched as a group of middle-school bullies beat Johan for what was it…? Looking like an omega? Zack clicked his tongue in annoyance and started walking the opposite direction of the beating.
“How come you got me regular milk? You should know by now I only drink chocolate! Stupid omega bitch!”
“I-I’m not an omega! And you said earlier said that–”
A sudden crack pierced the air and familiar sobbing followed.
Zack kept walking. It possibly affected him more than Johan every time he got beaten, but with so many fights already on his permanent record, he couldn’t risk getting in trouble again. Expulsion was less an academic worry and more an emotional one. If he got expelled he could easily relocate, but then that’d mean saying goodbye to Mira which was unacceptable.
Mira begged him to be good and tried to be good. He really did. He thought of Mira’s face every time he got mad, but deep down he knew things would always end the same for him.
His feet stopped.
“Hey shitheads!” Everyone in the courtyard turned their heads to look at him, including the bullies and Johan. “Don’t you think you’re old enough to buy your own milk? Unless you’re too scared to do anything without mommy?”
“Huh?! Who the fuck do you think you’re messing with, bitch?”
My reason for expulsion probably, Zack thought inwardly.
“Just a couple of dickless losers who’ve probably never been in a real fight their entire lives.”
“Fuck you say to me you little–”
Zack’s hand was already making contact with flesh before the bully finished; the sound of fist colliding on face ripped through the air like a supersonic fighter jet, and in a flurry of furious motion, struck the remaining two bullies with a swift but brutal attack aimed at the middle of their jeans.
Cheers and screams erupted from the onlookers and he couldn’t help but puff his chest out a little bit. Anytime his skill in boxing was acknowledged Zack felt like how he imaged alphas to feel when they present.
Hacking from below him caught his attention and his eyes darted to the bully whom he attacked first. “Y-You fucking idiot,” he choked out between sobs, “My father’s on the fucking city council, and once he hears about this you’re fucking over!”
Zack clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Don't these bitches knew my father is co-chairman of H company? Even fucking Charles Choi is afraid of us.
Ignoring them, Zack turned to Johan where he unceremoniously grabbed him and slammed him against the wall, eliciting a sound of surprise from the jostled boy.
“WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU STUPID?!! IF SOMEONE MESSES WITH YOU FIGHT BACK! BE AN ALPHA!!”
“I-I… Uh… uh..” and with that Johan sobbed even harder.
Wait a second. Doesn’t this look really bad?? I’m holding him up like some kind of bully!! What if people think I beat him???
Glancing around Zack noticed more and more students pouring in who were attracted by the shouting from earlier.
I can’t get expelled! I haven’t even presented as an alpha yet and asked Mira to marry me!
Zack turned his head back to Johan and growled making him yelp.
IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT IDIOT!
Zack grabbed Johan's hand and started running.
“Move idiot! Unless you wanna get caught and get in even more trouble?!!”
“Ahh… O-Ok!” Johan clamped down on Zack’s hand and they ran as far and as long as could away from school. Since they’d be immediately caught in the city Zack decided to run where no one would follow– the slums.
“Thank you for saving me!” Johan raggedly panted out as they ran, “Let me repay you– I know my way around here! There! Go left!
“Don’t boss me around! I’m in charge! And fine!”
Zack veered towards an unfamiliar and frankly disgusting-looking street before Johan stopped suddenly causing Zack to trip backwards and Johan trip forward. Zack ripped his hand from Johan’s and swatted his head.
“S-sorry Zack,” Johan sheepishly apologized, earning another swat to his head.
“Don’t stop so suddenly next time idiot! And where are we? And how did you know to take a left?”
Johan opened his mouth and closed it a couple of times before he finally answered, probably because he sensed Zack’s growing annoyance and an impending head swat.
“I live here,” he muttered uncertainly. “Just a couple houses forward is my house, and I thought that to repay you… if you wanted… you could come over to my house and have some tea and rice cakes…?”
Zack inwardly grimaced.
What if I get food poisoning and die? Who will protect Mira?? And what about presenting as an alpha???
But looking at how earnest Johan was Zack cursed his pure, angel-like heart.
“Fine. But I only drink Lotus flower tea.”
“But I only have green tea…” Johan trailed off.
God, if you really do exist I really do deserve to go to heaven for this.
“Whatever. Your rice cakes better make up for your poor choice of tea.”
“R-really? Oh-okay!”
Surprising Zack Johan grabbed his hand and led him in. Equally surprising Johan, Zack didn’t remove it.
“You never answered my question before. Why don’t you fight back?”
Johan sat beside him and refilled his tea cup.
“I don’t know how to fight… and if I got in trouble my mother wouldn’t be able to take it. I mean what would we do? The other kids know I can’t move so I have to endure it. It’s my only option.”
“Then why’d you talk back when that one bully called you an omega? Their other insults didn’t seem to bother you.”
Johan bristled. “Well– Well, what if someone called you an omega Zack?! You’re pretty like one but it still wouldn’t feel good, would it?!!”
“What the fuck did you just call me Johan?! Come here! Let me show you what this omega’s capable of!”
He grabbed Johan and wrestled him to the ground where they played, fought, and talked for hours until the sky grew dark.
I should probably call in to tell Dad I won’t be home tonight, Zack thought lazily.
In an effort to sit up, he untangled his legs from Johan’s, causing him to hold Zack tighter.
“Mmmm... don’t leave Zack…. it’s nice and warm.”
“Fucker… how dare you tell me what to do.”
“Zack?”
“Huh?”
“...are we friends?”
So damn embarrassing! How can he just ask something like that?!
“...Well when I come over next time, if you have Lotus flower tea I’ll consider it.”
Zack couldn’t be sure since he started nodding off, but it felt like Johan wrapped his arms tighter against his body.
Weeks passed and then months until years. Zack, Mira, and Johan became inseparable friends. Together, the boys sparred with each other and became peerless boxers while Mira cheered them on. Soon, high school would come, and for everybody that meant one thing: secondary dynamic presentation.