Chapter Text
Soshiro flopped onto his futon and fought back a sob. He had managed to pass the first part of the application, but the second half worried the young alpha’s family. His father had not so subtly suggested that he rescind it to save face and look for another career. Even Soichiro suggested it.
“Ya, good with a sword, but against bigger Kaiju, Ya’ll just be cannon fodder,” the older sibling stated, his father nodding in agreement.
He had fought back his tears during dinner before returning to his room. His desk and floor were covered in books regarding kaiju and close-quarters weaponry. But his intellect wasn’t enough, his years of blood, sweat, and tears weren’t enough. In the eyes of his family, he was never going to be as good as his older brother.
So what if he couldn’t fight well with a gun? He had his skills as a swordsman.
“Does anyone have any faith in me?” he whispered to himself as he curled up under his blankets. His body started to feel fuzzy and heavy as he sank into sleep, then his soul stepped out for a walk.
Soshiro opened his eyes and found himself in a living room illuminated by the setting sun. Random boxes were lying around with items half-packed next to a bookshelf to his left and a sofa to his right.
“Soshiro, I finished unpacking the kitchen boxes.”
A tall Omega came out of the adjacent room wearing dark sweatpants and a long cream-colored sweater. He had soft black hair and green eyes that seemed to take him in with adoration. “So do you want to go shopping or would you prefer takeout?”
“Who are you?”
The man stared at him for a moment before smiling. A sweet, honeyed peach scent filled the air around them. “I see, today was the day you went on your walk. I’m Kafka.”
“Are we roommates?”
“In a way, we met on the day I joined the Defense Force,” Kafka replied as he sat down on the sofa, gesturing for Soshiro to join him.
“We joined in the same year.”
“Oh no, I failed the exam lots of times before I finally got in. You had already started climbing the ranks by then.” Kafka replied, his face tinted pink. “Actually, you’re the reason I was able to finally get in. You took the chance on me. And if it makes you feel better, during the last joint exercise, I accidentally broke Soichiro’s jaw.”
At that, Soshiro nearly fell to the floor laughing.
“How-how do ya accidentally break someone’s jaw?” he choked out.
“He snuck up on me,” Kafka replied with a pout. “And you trained me too well in your family’s fighting style.”
Soshiro stopped laughing. “I trained ya, in my family’s style?”
“Not with swords, close quarters. It worked better for me than the standard one taught in the Defense Force.” Kafka replied. “Pretty sure it was out of sheer embarrassment that Soichiro never charged me with striking a superior.”
“Soichiro is yer superior?”
“Technically, he outranks both of us, but you’re way stronger.”
“Of course, he outranks me, the perfect golden boy.” Soshiro spat out with more venom than expected. Even in the future, the smug bastard was one step ahead of him. Probably took advantage of that to keep Soshiro underneath him and in the rear guard.
“Soshiro!”
Soshiro looked up at Kafka, whose eyes seemed to be glowing in the orange light.
“Lay your head right here and close your eyes,” Kafka ordered, patting his lap invitingly.
“What?” Soshiro was cut off and yanked down. Kafka maneuvered him until his head rested against his stomach. “Kafka, we shouldn’t-.”
“Shh, just listen.”
Soshiro closed his mouth and tried to focus, but all he heard was a small rhythmic beat beside his ear. He leaned in closer, brushing his hand against Kafka’s stomach, and was greeted by a nudge against his palm.
“You’re an amazing person, Soshiro. It’s because of you I fulfilled a promise to my childhood friend, and it’s because of you that I was able to become a mother,” Kafka explained as he covered Soshiro’s hand with his own. It was then that Soshiro realized that Kafka was wearing a ring that matched the gold band on his hand.
Soshiro looked up at the Omega with wonder in his eyes. He locked onto the mating mark on Kafka’s neck with overwhelming pride filling his heart.
His mark.
“We’re mated…and we’re going to have a baby.” Soshiro realized aloud.
“Well, our first baby, we agreed to at least three,” Kafka replied with a cheeky grin. “But I have a feeling we might end up with five.”
“Five?” Soshiro repeated in disbelief.
“Likely, since you always seem so ravenous for me.” Kafka teased. He cackled as Soshiro’s face burned in embarrassment.
“It’s not funny!” Soshiro retorted as he sat up. He was only seventeen in his current timeline, and they were both older in this future.
“Yes, it is! The shoe is on the other foot now.” Kafka hiccuped, wiping away a tear. “You teased me so many times before we started dating.”
Calming down, Kafka hugged Soshio tightly, biding his time until the Alpha relaxed. Soshiro was taking deep breaths, trying to commit Kafka’s scent to memory.
“Soshiro, a few years from now in your time, we’re going to meet. We’re going to deal with a mess before we actually start dating, but you’re going to knock me off my feet, literally. You’re going to steal me away one night so we can elope.”
“Sorry for not being more romantic.” Soshiro stammered out, his face flushing even brighter, making Kafka chuckle
“It’s okay, stuff was crazy around that time, and we did have a proper ceremony later,” Kafka replied as he leaned against Soshiro. Soshiro’s hand went back to massage Kafka’s stomach, making the Omega purr as they felt their child kick against his palm.
In those minutes of silence, Soshiro wished this were his current timeline. Here, sitting with his mate, in their home, waiting for their future child to be born. So when the fuzziness started to return to Soshiro’s vision, he dreaded going back.
“No, no-not yet,” Soshiro whispered. “I don’t want to go back yet.”
“It’s okay, Soshiro.” Kafka cooed as he held onto him even tighter.
“How long until I meet you?”
“A few years, but it’s okay,” Kafka replied as he kissed his forehead. “I’ll be waiting for you at the end. I love you, Soshiro.”
Soshiro awoke back in his childhood, his heart beating hard and his alarm going off loudly. The phantom scent of honeyed peaches clinging to his skin was the only proof that the walk had really happened.
“I love you, Soshiro.”
He tossed the blankets off and got dressed for his exam. He could do this; his mate believed in him, and he would succeed so that they could be reunited.
And watch his mate break Soichiro’s smug face.