A fight for dominance
“Tetsu? Are you on your way back?” Kagami asked, having finally picked up the phone.
“Erm, no. Listen, Taiga, don´t freak out. I am at the clinic right now.”
“Is anything wrong with you?” The other instantly shouted. Well, so much for staying calm.
“I don´t think so by now. I was feeling strange earlier and had Akashi drive me to the clinic. We are waiting for someone to see us right now.” Him, not them. He should not include Akashi in an “us”. There was no “us”. Kagami and him were an “us”. “Can you come, please?”
“Sure, I´ll be with you in … about fifteen minutes or so. Keep me updated, I´ll read my texts.”
“Okay. See you soon. Bye, Taiga.” Normally he would have blown the other a kiss but it felt strange with Akashi standing right next to him.
The redhead led him back inside, sitting next to him and going as far as to draw Kuroko against him with an arm around his shoulders. The Omega did not exactly resist in any way. He cuddled up to the warmth the other provided. Was he really this easy? Warmth, cuddles, gentle strokes and pheromones? It did not seem to take much to coerce him. Really, he should be embarrassed. He was behaving like a stereotype Omega, offering himself to the strongest Alpha he could get his hands on. And that even though he was already mated.
“Can a mating bond really be broken?” He whispered, trying to sound appalled instead of eager. Oh god, he was pathetic. Hopefully seeing Kagami would right his world again.
“Yes.” Akashi petted his hair. “Any Alpha stronger than the one you are mated to can break a bond. If he is only slightly stronger, he has to kill the mated Alpha. If he is much stronger, it is enough to normally mate with the Omega, the other bond simply dissolves.” He led his gaze wander. “I could break every bond in this room without fighting anyone.”
Kuroko looked around as well, only now noticing how nearly every Omega in here stared at Akashi with hunger and longing. Oh … so feeling like this for Akashi did not seem to be as strange as he first thought. He dared to ask: “Even Taiga?”
Akashi looked at him, raising an eyebrow – Kuroko blushed and ducked his head. Oh god. The other must know exactly what he meant. How should he ever look Kagami in the eyes again? Shame. Shame on him. How could he even think about something like that?
He felt a hot breath in his ear before Akashi silently spoke: “I`d kill my father for you. If your mate ever hurt you, I`d kill him as well if you wish it.”
He should not be flattered. He should definitely not feel flattered. Oh god, he was getting wet. This should not happen. This … oh god. He lay his head on Akashi`s shoulder. He should not. There was a low rumble under his ear, a sound like a content cat. Just more like a purring lion than a cat. His Omega side screamed to swing his leg over the other and ride him, his human side was appalled.
“Please be the mature one and stop me” He begged Akashi.
“Sometimes I hate to be the mature one” That one admitted but still pulled away. He stood and handed with trench-coat over to Kuroko. He grabbed it and buried his nose in the warm cashmere that smelled so much like the redhead. “I´ll get us some drinks. Do you have a preference?” Akashi offered.
He was able to shake it head, not disconnecting his nose from the trench-coat. God, this was so … so Omega. He hated how his instincts took control. It only took until Akashi had rounded the corner until the first Omega – only slightly older, maybe twenty – sat next to him and asked: “It that your mate? He smells heavenly.”
“No” He admitted in a small voice. “He`s my friend.”
“How do you stand not ravishing him? I know I would if he let me.” The black-haired young man took a cuff of the trench-coat and sniffed it. “If he is your friend, would you be alright with me trying to flirt with him?”
“You can try but he is so strong that he is resistant to pheromones. He is also completely uninterested in Omegas. So he will most likely just tell you to leave him alone. It´s why we are able to be friends.” Kuroko explained, finally calming a bit with not having the redhead right next to him. So it was only a temporary effect. If he stayed clear of Akashi´s scent, he would be alright. He folded the trench-coat on his lap.
“You don´t look like friends, you look completely infatuated with one another.” The other informed him. “Don´t let your mate see that, it will turn ugly.”
“Yeah.” Kuroko touched his mark. “My head is … I feel confused.”
“Hormones can be overpowering, even if we don´t like that fact. We like to think ourselves so cultivated but in bed we are nothing more than animals.” The other man leaned back. “Be honest with yourself, it doesn´t help to try to lie to your head. Lying to your mate is bad enough but lying to yourself is plain stupid.”
They both snapped to attention, hearing and smelling Akashi before he turned the corner. The redhead only sent the other Omega an unenthusiastic look for him to flee back to the other side of the waiting room. Yeah … Akashi could be terrifying if he wanted to. He gave Kuroko some strawberry milk before sitting down and opening his pear juice. Hm, pear … still drinking fruit juice. Having Kagami drink juice had had exactly the wanted effect, he tasted sweet now.
“Would you like some?” Akashi asked, misinterpreting Kuroko´s look.
“Huh? Oh, no, sorry, I was just … staring.” Well, so much for honesty.
The redhead smiled amused and took his trench-coat back. It was only a second before Kuroko could smell Kagami himself, his whole focus instantly zooming on his mate who stepped into the waiting room. He was up in the same second, running into his embrace – well, taking the two steps – and drinking in his mate´s scent. Yes … this was home. His world felt right again. His head filled with thoughts of Kagami.
“You´ve got to be kidding me.” The Omega who had spoken with him before said in dismay.
Kagami blinked at the man and asked: “Is something wrong?”
“No.” Kuroko stretched and kissed him. “I missed you.” He did not have to look to the side to know the other Omega was rolling his eyes at him. Well, it was true though. He missed not having to think. Akashi´s scent had been a bit much to handle.
“Being envious of others only makes oneself ugly. Aiming for success yourself is a way to make others notice your worth” Akashi berated the other Omega.
The man snorted and said bitterly: “We´re Omegas, who but a brothel would employ us?”
Well, he wasn´t wrong. His mother worked as a cleaning women and cashier. Omegas could normally only hold low-income-jobs. Those who worked normal jobs often slept their way up.
“Just because something is hard does not mean it is impossible. This guy is the national basketball champion.” Akashi nodded to Kuroko. “And I don´t mean his mate, even though he is one too.” He stood. “Alphas respect success. If you want a better partner, impress them. Pheromones only work on the small fry.”
Well … and young Alphas. At least if they weren´t Akashi Seijuro. He had some unbelievable skills of which one wasn´t exactly seeing the future but something close. He had stood because the nurse had come – though she had been at least two corridors away when he stood – to ask after Kuroko. They followed her to one of the consultation rooms.
“Ah, Kuroko! Long time no see.” The doctor greeted him, one of the ones who still knew him from his middle-school times. “Well, that´s a line-up of impressive Alphas you brought in.”
“Good day, doctor Haragata. This is my mate Kagami Taiga and my friend Akashi Seijuro.”
“Glad to know you finally settled down. Natsuki tells me you are pregnant?” He pointed at the chairs and they followed the invitation.
“Seven weeks.” He smiled proudly. “I had a bit of a scare today. I suddenly felt strange, it was like a horrible bout of sadness … like back then when I lost Aoki. It´s alright again but it scared me.”
“It´s what we´re here for. You don´t exactly have the best history with pregnancies. How about we do an examination and an ultrasound?”
Kuroko nodded and went over to the examination table. Thankfully he knew all the procedures well. Kagami and Akashi exchanged a look though, silently asking the other if he had any idea what they were supposed to do. Kuroko grinned, waved them over and pointed at two stools on the left side of the examination table. He had Kagami sit next to his head, Akashi a bit further down. When he held up his shirt and opened his trousers, he saw both of them fidget for a moment.
“So, this is the first pregnancy you encounter?” The doctor addressed both of them, just as amused as the Omega was.
“Sure, he is my mate.” Kagami scratched his head.
“I am unmarried.” Akashi averted his gaze.
“First-time mothers are a bit of a hassle but first-time fathers always are a highlight with their awkwardness” The doctor admitted to Kuroko.
“It is my first time having anyone with me. I like the feeling” He replied honestly.
“Yeah, it is much nicer. It´s good you found someone who doesn´t run in fear. Even two, I don´t think I ever had two Alphas in here. Even those who decide to support their Omegas would often rather be caught dead than set a foot in here.” The doctor had begun to probe his stomach after listening with a stethoscope. He was one of the seniors, so he had rough, calloused hands from all the births he had assisted with.
“Why is that?” Akashi asked in disbelief. Kuroko would have rather expected Kagami to ask that.
“Because common prejudice is that Omegas are responsible for the children, so why should an Alpha have anything to do with the pregnancy other than to making it happen?” The doctor looked up. “I like to see that this thinking seems to change. Omegas heavily rely on their Alphas in pregnancy and not having them supporting them is a big stress factor. Omegas often lose children simply due to the fact that they are neglected.” The man shook his head. “Until the Meiji restauration, Omegas were cherished and cared for just like women. The Westerners brought a lot of prejudice with them, degrading Omegas to today´s status. Omega prostitution was nearly unknown until the Meiji era.”
It was a topic most doctors in this clinic could ramble about. They were all Alphas or Betas – no Omega would ever be able to get a medical degree – but they cared deeply for Omegas, enraged by the disregard and abuse most of them had to suffer daily.
“So there are Alphas who tell their Omegas not to annoy them with food cravings, stomach pains and morning sickness? Who simply ignore that?” Kagami seemed appalled. He actually seemed to like to go running to the next conbini. He said the smile it brought to Kuroko´s lips and the kiss he always got for it made it worthwile.
“Worse. About forty percent are physically abusive and another thirty percent lock their Omegas in except for daily shopping. I don´t think those Omegas would dare to ask for support. They often come to this clinic in secret, fearing that their Alpha mates might find out they have been here. It is still better than living alone for most though. We have a job center for Omegas here but employers who accept Omegas are scarce. So they have no choice but to suffer their Alphas. And then we have their children here who have long lost hope they could have anything better than a partner who abuses them, thankful when their partner stays, even if he hits them. It is really sad to watch.” He looked at Kuroko. “This seems to be in order. I´ll put up a screen and start the ultrasound machine, okay?”
“Yes, please.” The screen was used because most Alphas did not take kindly to looking at someone else fiddling with their Omega´s genital area. Early pregnancy scans required anal ultrasounds. Kuroko was relaxed, he had done this often enough. He feared the other´s reaction though. “Taiga, this is an anal examination. Behave.”
“A- what?” The Alpha blanched.
“It´s how you got me pregnant, so keep calm.” He trusted Akashi to keep his composure but the was unsure about his mate. “Do you want to hold my hand?”
“Yeah” His mate admitted.
The doctor had set up everything by then and asked: “Do you remember the procedure or should I explain again?”
“Please just continue. I remember and it would make these two squeamish.” Kuroko smiled amused. He did enjoy then flinch both of them had when the doctor picked up the rectal ultrasound head.
“I am having phantom pains right now” Kagami admitted.
“You are much bigger” Kuroko informed him. “Those babies I had were bigger as well. Abortion doesn´t save you from birthing them after all.”
There was a moment of tense silence which the doctor interrupted by turning the monitor and saying: “I found it. It´s not exactly easy to spot but this is the baby. It´s the size of a blueberry, so we can´t see much.”
He tried to zoom in which made it more blurry. Kuroko was used to deciphering the strange grey blobs but he saw the other two squint their eyes.
“This is the head, the body and the tail.” The doctor pointed at said parts. “The child has arms and legs but they look like fins and aren´t very long. The important thing is this.” He pointed right at the middle. “This rapidly moving square is the heart and it shows that it is beating normally. So your baby seems to be alright.”
“Thank god.” Kuroko smiled and squeezed Kagami´s hand. “So it was just a scare after all.”
“How would it look like with twelve weeks?” Akashi asked.
“Well, about the size of a lime. No tail, fully grown arms, legs, hands and feet. It´s the week where the hands begin to grab.” The doctor grinned. “It is a lot more human than sea-rob then.”
Akashi did not smile back. He looked … crushed. A bit like after their game, before he found his smile again. Kuroko did not like that look on him. Was he getting self-conscious? Or was it guilt over what happened in middle-school? He was responsible, yes, but … well, no, he was responsible. He seemed to be realizing that.
The doctor seemed to notice his pensiveness but decided not to comment. He printed out the ultrasound before taking out the device. Kuroko cleaned himself and put back the screen himself after dressing. He thanked the doctor before tipping both Alphas on the shoulder to have them follow him. Both seemed to be lost in thought, even Kagami.
