First, I would like to apologise to everyone waiting on the other stories. I promise I have not abandoned them, it's just that my creative juices have slowed to the smallest trickle. I would start to write the new chapters and then my brain packs up its braincells and goes for a snooze but I will get new chapters out if it kills me. In the meantime, here is my Valentine's Day story and my first Omegaverse story so here goes, enjoy!
Hetalia belongs to Hidekaz Himaruya.
When Omega meets Alpha
Arthur Kirkland had no time for alphas.
He had been the only omega out of the five Kirkland boys and his brothers were all alphas and pretty much arseholes, in his opinion. Every alpha he had met growing up had pretty much taught him that being an arsehole was a prerequisite for an alpha so, no! No alphas for him! He would find some nice non-arsehole beta to be his mate, should he ever want one.
Betas were better as far as Arthur was concerned. Hard working and less domineering than alphas, they were also less prone to being driven to harass any omega that went into preheat by their biology. His friends, Lukas and Vladimir were both betas and much easier to get along with, especially during preheat. It was definitely a beta for him.
What made it particularly annoying for the British omega was he attracted alphas left, right and centre, no matter what his attitude was like. Kind of like how people who are allergenic to cats attract them in droves. Arthur even wore the most unflattering of clothes, so as not to attract any more alphas than he was already but it was not really working. In fact, alphas were finding it a challenge to see who could make the tsundere omega submit and more than one wanted Arthur for his or her mate. In his workplace, there was a betting pool on who would finally nailed Arthur and, right now, the running favourite was Francis Bonnefoy, simply because of sheer determination.
Francis had had his eye on the cute omega from the first day Arthur started work as a secretary for Feliks Lukasiewicz at Hetalia Advertising. Feliks was a beta which worked well for Arthur. Problem was, a lot of his co-workers were alpha, very alpha. Like Francis.
Francis, like most of the alphas in the office, had wanted the British omega from the start. Although he thought Arthur's dress sense was appalling, from his beautiful green eyes with the large eyebrows and blonde hair, to his slender form and intoxicating omega scent, Francis was in Lust. Omegas were rare in any workplace and Francis was very glad Feliks had taken Arthur on as his secretary but Arthur was not as enamoured of the French alpha.
Arthur hated Francis with a fiery passion. He was a long blonde-haired, blue-eyed space invader with wandering hands and leering eyes. His sultry voice made made Arthur's teeth itch as he crept up on Arthur and purred, "Bonjour, mon cher." (Good morning, my dear) in his ear. Arthur elbowed Francis in the gut.
"It was!" Arthur groused, going back to his work. Francis was the bane of Arthur's existence. He thought 'no' meant 'yes' and 'F**k off' meant 'I'm all yours, Big Boy!'. Arthur wondered what it would take for the French alpha to get the message. Maybe a kick in the vital regions, Arthur had not tried that.
Yet!
Francis rubbed where Arthur's elbow had connected and faked a hurt expression.
"You wound me, mon cher," he declared. Arthur picked up a paper knife and turned to face Francis.
"Not yet," he replied, sticking the point under Francis's nose. "But it can be arranged." Francis just laughed. He took hold of Arthur's wrist and moved the paper knife from under his nose.
"Ah, Angleterre," he sighed, using one of the many nicknames he had for the angry Brit. "When will you realise that you and I are destined and just submit?"
"The only thing 'destined', Frog," Arthur growled. "Is me resetting your family jewels with my knee if you don't keep your hands off me." He pulled his wrist out of Francis's grip and slammed the paper knife back down on his desk before he did something illegal with it.
"I won't give up, mon petit lapin," Arthur gritted his teeth at being called 'my little rabbit' and aimed the two-fingered salute at Francis's retreating back. At least he was gone now and he could get down to work and get those emails from Feliks written and sent to the prospective clients being currently courted by Feliks and then sent emails to other departments. Feliks was a good, if rather odd person to work for and Arthur knew that not many non-omegas would have given him a job as the current thinking was that omegas belonged in the home as mates and home-makers, taking care of the children.
That was not for Arthur, not yet and when it was, it would be with a beta spouse.
But the next week had a surprise for Arthur. Feliks was transferred to the Los Angeles branch and Arthur was getting a new boss. The new guy was in today and Arthur was crossing his fingers that he would not working with another alpha in the office but, if he was, he would have little choice as he needed the money so he braced himself for meeting a stranger of an unknown nature.
Alfred F Jones-Williams sat in the office of one Feliks Lukasiewicz who had been sent to Los Angeles to clear up a mess left by the previous manager and the young alpha had been sent to take his place in New York. He was, perhaps, the youngest manager in the company, fresh into his promotion as they needed someone quick to take over in New York and the board decided that it would be him.
One of the first things he noticed when he came into the office was when he passed the secretary's desk, he could detect the scent of an omega, a few hours old but it was strong. And enticing.
One thing was clear. Feliks had hired an omega secretary which was unusual as omegas were usually discouraged from careers but it did not bother Alfred. His mother was an omega, as was his twin brother, Matthew and both were as smart as any alpha and smarter than some. They could do anything they put their minds to, it was only society that held them back and, to Alfred, that was unfair so if an omega managed to get a job in this company, more power to them.
Arthur stood outside Feliks's office door, knowing that the new guy was on the other side of it. He had to meet him sooner or later so he took a deep breath and knocked.
"Yeah, come in!" a voice on the other side of the door called out and Arthur opened the door. The overwhelm alpha scent hit him almost immediately and Arthur immediately went into defence mode as he took in the sight of a young blue eyed man with rectangular glasses and blonde hair with a lock that stuck up. Arthur could have sworn it was waving at him and he could not help but find the guy very attractive, almost enough to tempt him and Arthur shook his head to clear it. What was he thinking, the guy was an alpha for goodness sake! He was probably an arsehole like the rest of them.
The omega scent that Alfred had detected around the secretary's desk came through the door, much stronger than what was outside and much more alluring and he looked up to see a man with messy blond hair with the biggest eyebrows he had ever seen, capping the greenest of eyes. He had a slender build, dressed like someone thirty years older and looked like he was expecting a argument and was preparing to fight it.
He also looked unbelievably cute. If Alfred did not know that Feliks was a beta, Alfred might have guess the real reason he hired Arthur. He would bet that this cute little omega really turned all the alpha heads around the office.
"Hi, dude!" he called over to the blonde who looked as tense as hell and want to show the omega that he had nothing to fear. "Come on in!"
Now that Arthur had stepped inside the office completely, the scent was really strong, leaving no doubt as to the nature of his new and, judging by the enthusiastic greeting he had just been given, over-the-top, alpha boss.
"I'm Arthur Kirkland," he introduced himself, politely but aloofly. "I was Mr Lukasiewicz's secretary and, I suppose, now yours."
"Nice to meet cha, Artie," Alfred replied and Arthur winced, either from the mangled English or the nickname. "I'm Alfred F Jones-Williams, you can call me Alfie, if ya like."
"I think Arthur and Alfred will suffice," Arthur replied, stiffly. Alfred frowned. He was trying to be friendly to this guy but it was like trying to break through a wall of ice. He was frosty and prickly, all at the same time which was a pity because the guy was really attractive and the scent he was giving off was driving Alfred nuts.
"Okay, Arthur," Alfred replied, sensing he was, for some reason, getting off on the wrong foot with the omega who, right now, was not displaying any omega tenancies that he could see. "Mr Lukasiewicz must have thought highly of your skills to have hired you..." Arthur knew what Alfred was getting at and it raised his hackles.
"Because I'm an omega!" he snapped. "One of many good things about betas is that some of them hire people on their skill, not their nature!"
'Okay!' Alfred thought. 'Hit a nerve there, I think.'
Arthur was beginning to find Alfred's alpha scent, combined with his handsome feature, overwhelming and it was warring with the anger of what he saw as criticism of Feliks for hiring Arthur in the first place. He had to get out before he did something to embarrass himself and he gave a terse smile at Alfred.
"Well, I just thought I would introduce myself since I'll be working for you," he said. "So unless you have any work for me, I'll get on with the work I already have."
"Sure, dude," Alfred replied, realising that he had made a terrible first impression with his new secretary. As Arthur left the room, Alfred wondering if asking Arthur out for a drink after work might break the ice.
Arthur sat down at his desk, taking a moment to calm down and then he groaned and let his forehead fall on to his desk as he realised that he had just snapped at his new boss. He had to get his temper under control or he would find himself out of a job before the day was out and Alfred had already hinted that he found it strange that an omega had a job here. Most Alphas were critical of omegas in the workplace and would not hired one. They were a distraction - they could get mated and leave – and the most patronising and insulting reason – Omegas should stay at home, taking care of their mates and breeding! Wankers!
Truth was, Arthur had the brains to do anything the alphas he worked with could do and do it better in a lot of cases but society deemed that omegas were only good as mothers and caretakers for their mates. Only betas like Feliks thought otherwise and could see the contributions omegas could make if only given the chance but then, Arthur was considered to be one of the most unomega-like omegas to exist, what with his temper, unsubmissive attitude and seemingly lack of omega skills.
Arthur had omega skills but he would never let anyone see them. Everyone thought he was a terrible cook but he actually could cook and enjoyed it but deliberately ruined what he was making if there was an alpha watching or was going to be eating, giving the impression that any alpha who mated him would be doomed to a lifetime of bad cooking. He also enjoyed needlework and knitting but these were hidden as well. Arthur also wanted children some day when he found his nice, beta mate.
But first thing first. He had to make it to the end of the day without getting fired and he wondered how long it would be before Alfred F Jones-Williams made a move on him. Every alpha at Hetalia Advertising had at some point or other and some still did (Francis, for one). Another omega might have been flattered to attract so much attention from the alphas but Arthur just found it annoying.
"My day is brightened by the sight of you, mon cher," Oh Bollocking Hell, speak of the Devil! Arthur looked up to find a rose in front of his face, being held out by the Alpha Frog who was sitting on the edge of his desk. Ah! Alpha Frog! Arthur liked that, he was going to use that some time.
"Really?" he sneered. "Because, right now you're blocking my light. Don't you have any work to do, Frog, or is it your job to spread unwanted flirting all over the place?" Francis leant toward Arthur.
"Is it unwanted?" he purred.
"VERY!" was the angry reply. Arthur had to admit that Francis was a very good looking alpha but, like all alphas Arthur had met, he was very domineering and arrogant and every time he spoke, Arthur wished he could have been a doctor so he could sew Francis's mouth shut.
"You play so very hard to get, chérie," Francis mourned.
"Who's playing!" Arthur snorted. "And what do you want anyway, Cheese Breath, I have work to do." Francis leant over so close, Arthur had to lean back.
"You know that the Valentine Ball is coming up soon," he murmured. "And you must have a date so I've decided to honour you by being your escort to the ball." Arthur began smiling because the timing meant he had a excuse to refuse the encroaching French alpha.
"I'm afraid I must refuse," he said, smugly. "I shall be …. indisposed at that time." This was the wrong thing to say as Francis's eyes took on a leering gleam.
"So you'll be in heat," he worked out. "Perhaps I should drop by after the ball."
"Don't bother!" Arthur replied, heatedly. "Now go away and let me do my damn job!"
"Is there a problem here?" Alfred asked from the door to his office. Francis looked up at the new alpha boss who was frowning at him and Arthur and decided that it was time to retreat.
"No problem at all, mon ami," he replied. "I'll see you later, mon cher." Francis got off the desk and walked away. Great! Who knew what Alfred thought was going on between him and Francis now and Arthur glared at Francis's departing back, wishing he had a shotgun.
Alfred had watched the exchange between the British omega and French alpha and wondering if he should intervene. The French alpha's attentions seemed to be unwanted but Arthur was able to stand up for himself so maybe Alfred should just let Arthur handle it, despite his alpha instincts driving him to protect. Looks like he was right about Arthur attracting alpha attention. Even now, Arthur's scent was urging him to grab the Brit and hold on to him.
"You okay?" he asked when Francis was out of sight. "That guy bothering you?"
"Just a pest I can't legally exterminate," Arthur replied. "Place is full of them."
Okay? Alfred thought.
"Enough of Francis the Alpha Frog," Arthur continued. "Do you want me for anything?"
I could think of one or two things went through Alfred's mind and mentally scolded himself for letting his biology react to Arthur's. He needed to control himself better.
"I was just thinking," he said. "As we'll be working together, I thought we could go for a drink after work. Ya know, to get to know each other."
Well, that was fast , Arthur thought. It usually took a day of looking and excuses to talk to him before any moves were made and he had barely known Alfred for an hour but, as least Alfred was one of those who did not demand that he go out with him. At least, not yet.
"Thank you for the invitation," Arthur replied. "But I can't, I'm afraid I'm busy tonight." He picked up some papers he had been working on. "Excuse me, I have to go and fax these." With a polite smile, he went over to the fax machine. Alfred watched him walk away as he cursed himself for not realising that Arthur would be in no mood for a date after repelling Francis the Alpha Frog.
"Tried to get a date with the untouchable?" a German voice cut into his thinking. Alfred looked up to see a man with the whitest hair and the reddest eyes he had ever seen. "Hallo, I'm the Awesome Gilbert Beilschmidt, head of the Awesome Research Department." He held out his hand. Alfred took and shook it.
"Alfred F Jones-Williams, new manager," he replied. "What do you mean, untouchable?" Gilbert kesesed.
"Every alpha in this building has asked Arthur Kirkland out at some time or another," he said. "And he's refused each invitation with varying degrees of rudeness. You got lucky, he was actually polite. Probably because you weren't pushy and, of course, you're his boss."
"Every alpha?" Alfred did not realise that Arthur's attraction was so wide-spread. Gil thought for a moment.
"There might be one or two on the lower floors that haven't asked him," he mused. "Probably because they haven't met him yet. Only betas and other omegas can get close and it makes him a challenge to the alphas, especially Francis. He's trying to get Arthur to be his date for the Valentine Ball."
Alfred thought back to the conversation between the omega and the French alpha, knowing that Francis's intentions were doomed to failure. If Arthur was going to be in heat, he would have to seclude himself and, therefore, could not be at the Ball.
"If you fancy your chances," Gil continued. "You might want to join the betting pool. Most of the alphas are making wagers that they'll be the one to get Arthur." Alfred frowned at the idea of placing bets on the British omega's love life. He knew he would kill anyone who did that to Mattie.
"Are you in the betting pool?" he asked with a note of disapproval. Gilbert piffed.
"Nein," he replied. "Not my type. He's cute enough but he's too much hard work. Besides, I think he thinks all alphas are meat-headed, master of the universe types, who just live to tell omegas what to do and I don't think he takes kindly to that. He's not very omega-like, either. He's rude, unsubmissive and you haven't seen what he laughingly calls his wonderful cooking." Alfred had to admit that Arthur sounded nothing like Mattie, although he could remember one time when they got into an argument and, instead of submissively conceding, Mattie came at him, guns blazing and argued with him for a full hour. He won the argument too.
So much for submissive.
Still, it bothered Alfred that Arthur attracted so much alpha attention and, if what Gilbert told him was right, it was unwelcome and, as Arthur returned from the fax machine, Alfred vowed to look out for his new omega secretary.
Alfred asked Arthur out to lunch the next day but was once again rebuffed. He was not as hostile as he was on the first day but he was still aloof and distant and Alfred could understand the challenge of getting Arthur to crack but he did not want to treat Arthur like a challenge. As the days went on and he spent more time in Arthur's company, Alfred realised that he wanted Arthur for his mate.
Alfred had spotted things that proved that Arthur was not as un-omegalike as he pretended. A few minutes after arriving at work, Arthur would bring him coffee without Alfred needing to ask him to. If he was going to lunch, Arthur would ask Alfred if he wanted anything bringing back. Just all kinds of little things that the average alpha took for granted but, being raised by an omega and having an omega sibling, Alfred was a little more clued in, despite giving the impression of being unable to read the atmosphere, as he had been accused of in the past.
Arthur was also a competent secretary with the potential of being more if only society allowed it. He seemed to have a more than good grasp of the company and had made some good suggestions when Alfred surprised him by asking for his input. He was also a good friend to his beta colleagues, such as Lukas Bondevik and Kiku Honda. He also stuck together with another omega who worked there, a rather bad tempered, Italian one called Lovino Vargas, secretary to the Spanish alpha, down in the Art department, Antonio Carriedo. Given the abuse dealt out by the Italian omega, people were thinking that Antonio was a sucker for punishment. Or in love and a masochist.
Alfred needed to find away through Arthur's prickly exterior to the warm, caring omega he suspected was under the surface, if only he could make Arthur realise that he was not the Big, Bad Alpha and make Arthur a little less indifferent to him.
What Alfred did not realise was that Arthur was already less indifferent. While Alfred had an overwhelming personality, like most alphas, it seemed to be from exuberance rather than the usual all-mighty alpha arrogance and he seemed to have some understanding of omegas and had shown some respect for Arthur's capability. And he was very easy on the eyes. Not that other alphas were not but there was something boyish about Alfred, like his childlike wonder at the world had never completely gone away with the passage of time and it was endearing. It was a pity that Alfred was not a beta but now Arthur was wondering, did that really matter so much. Maybe he should give Alfred a chance but Alfred was in a meeting today so there would be no invitation to lunch but maybe when the meeting was over, Alfred might ask Arthur out for a drink again.
Arthur hoped so as he turned up the air-conditioning. It was getting warm in here.
Alfred tried to tune out the droning of a very boring meeting, wishing he was anywhere but there. He could be using this time getting some work done and getting Arthur to like him. It was due to run for another hour or so and he grabbed a cup of coffee from the tray on the table in the hopes that it would keep him awake.
Arthur was afraid. He knew why he was so warm but it was too early! He would normally have taken suppression pills but this should not be happening for another week. He was in pre-heat and he was stuck at work. Every alpha head kept turning toward him whenever they past his desk, each one with an hungry look on his or her face, some even coming on to him, only to be rebuffed, rudely in the case of some of the most persistent.
Even Gilbert stopped as he smelt the intoxicating scent coming from Alfred's British secretary and he was tempted to approach the omega himself but then shook his head to clear it. This was not good! This would drive every alpha nuts with desire and Gil knew that Alfred had his eyes on Arthur, like every other alpha that had stumbled across the Brit but Gilbert suspected that it was going deeper with Alfred. With other alphas. like Francis, it was just a bad case of Lust but with Alfred, Gilbert believed that the American was falling in love.
Whatever! Arthur needed help but Gilbert was not the right person for the job, being an alpha himself. Arthur needed someone that would be unaffected, like a beta or fellow omega and he needed to go home as soon as possible before some alpha lacking in self-control went too far. He gathered his resolve and went over to Arthur.
"Arthur," he said, resisting the urge to grab hold of the Brit and drag him somewhere private. "Don't leave this area! I'll find one of your friends or a non-alpha to take you home, just stay here, okay?"
"Okay," Arthur breathed a sigh of relief that someone was helping him. "Thanks, Gilbert!" Gilbert gave Arthur a thumbs up and then left before he became part of the problem. Arthur continued his work, wanting to get as much done before his enforced seclusion and began printing off some documents. The printer was half-way through when it stopped and the computer told him that it was out of paper. Arthur really needed to get, at least, these done before he left but a short trip to the supply storeroom would not be too bad, would it? It was only in the next corridor.
As Arthur left, a pair of hungry blue eyes watched him and then the owner of those blue eyes followed him out into the corridor.
Should have stayed put, Arthur! This was meant to be a one-shot but it turned out longer than expected so it's a two-parter, at least and I hope to get the next part out as soon as possible. As you get guess, in this society, Omegas are not encouraged to have careers but to mate as soon as possible and they're limited as to what they're allowed to do. :( Anyone that's read the Till I See You Again, story arc of Heartbeat will recognise Hetalia Advertising but that is a soul mate AU and this Omegaverse so thing are slightly different, I was just too lazy to come up with a different business.
Despite its length, I can't help but feel this story needs more depth but I want something out for Valentine's Day so I may rewrite this at a later date when my dammed-up creative flow breaks through again. Stay tuned for pt 2, I hope to have it up tomorrow or the next day at the latest, fingers crossed so till then,
Hasta la Pasta!
