"You're an Omega," his mother told him.
He met her eyes and let the reality of her words sink in.
"Just like me," she added when he gave no response.
"Are you sure?" Yuuri asked in a small voice. He didn't want to believe it. Omegas were weak creatures that everyone said were baby-pushing breeders who had only recently gained the rights of full citizens. He knew. He'd seen it in his humanities class, where the whole class had watched the diet pass the monumental Omega Equality bill; he'd even had to write a paper on it.
And now here he was… an Omega.
"Oh, Yuuri," his mother hugged him before leaning back and looking him in the eyes again, sweeping his sweaty hair back across his damp forehead. "When you were little, we had a feeling that you would present this way. Have you ever wondered why we built the addition down here?" She waved her hand to indicate his space. "Your room is the furthest from the guests, it has its own bathroom, and you have your own air conditioner/purifier; we even installed scent blockers in the building materials and insulation."
Realization dawned on his features, and he pulled in on himself. They'd known what he'd be. They had known, and prepared for it. They had known he'd be a weak Omega, but had never prepared him for that reality. He felt the knowledge sweep over him and felt nauseated anew.
"Now, Yuuri, what do you know about being an Omega?" she asked.
"They're weak," he hiccuped, tears springing to his eyes. "They go into h-he-heat all the time, and Alphas own them."
"No, Yuuri. No," she pulled him into another hug, nuzzling his neck scenting his distress. "We Omegas are beautiful, not weak. Yes, you'll have heats, sweetheart, but only a few times a year, but Alphas don't 'own' Omegas, not anymore. They protect and love their mates. And together, you and your mate will start your own family. No one who can carry children and birth them can be considered weak, Yuuri." His mother reassured him.
"Really?" he asked, unsure but willing to look up at her. He thought back to his life before, thinking of how he saw her. His mother was right. She was an Omega, but no one really treated her that differently than his father. Of course, his father was the head of the household, the man of the house, and the Alpha, but he was gentle, too.
"Yes, of course! But, before any of that happens, you need to make some decisions while you're still lucid," his mother stalled, steadying them both, not wanting to force this choice on her son, but having to nonetheless. "Until you're ready to have a baby of your own, you have to choose: suppressants or collars."
He stared at her in surprise, not knowing what to do or how to answer. Her words seemed to wash over him when all his mind could hear was replying the same thing over and again, 'have a baby.' A baby! He was supposed to have a baby?! He didn't want that. He didn't want this!
"If you go on suppressants, you can only do so for about 10 years; any more than that and you might not ever be able to have a baby. If you wear a collar, it will prevent an Alpha's bite from releasing the hormones in the scent glands in your neck; it's only after those hormones are released that will allow you to become pregnant, Yuuri. Although, wearing a scent blocking collar will also tell the world you are an Omega."
"Is that bad?" he asked in a small voice. "I thought you just said Omegas were 'beautiful' and would be protected and loved…" Yuuri's confusion was cut off.
"By their Alphas. Omegas aren't rare, Yuuri, but male Omegas are, so it might be harder for you, and I'm sorry about that. I only want to protect you, sweetheart, and you need to know that being an Omega today is not as bad as it was 100, 50, or even 20 years ago. But, Yuuri, there are still some people who may still look down on you, or think that they can push you around." Her eyes burned for a second, but the glint in her eyes was more pained and sad than angry.
"But, mama, if that's what it's like, then I don't wanna be one!" Yuuri cried, gripping her arms, feeling the fire returning to his body, slicing its way up his veins.
"Yuuri, it will be alright. Things change. People change, but we are who we are. Being an Omega is not something you can choose. It is who you are, just not everything you are," she pulled his small trembling hands from her upper arms, sliding them into her own. "I promise, no one will make you do anything you don't want to do, but being an Omega is only part of what makes you, you. You're your father's and my son; you're your sister's little brother. You skate and do ballet. You like to eat katsudon, and you're an Omega."
"What if…" he began, tears running down his face, fear choking his breath, "what if I don't wanna have a… a b-baby?!"
"Oh, sweetheart. No one is saying you have to, but you do have to decide if you want medicine or a collar. You need to decide how you want to keep from having one while you can still decide for yourself."
"While I can still decide?" he asked with a frown. His body was feeling hot all over again, but this time, his stomach was having spasms, painful ones. Electricity felt like it was pinging through his body, searing his insides, and he knew his mind was becoming muddy again.
'Suppressants or collars.' What kind of choice was that? He reached up his hand to his neck, radiating waves of heat into the tingling of his fingers. The pinprick of pain shot through his muscles there, and he snapped his head to his mother, fear clutching his addled mind.
"Mama, did Nishigori bite me?" Yuuri felt frozen at the thought. Was he going to be Nishigori's mate?! Nothing could have scared him more- Nishigori as his mate… making him have a baby! His mind spun at the possibilities, at the frightening reality of his new life.
"No! Yuuri, no," his mother answered him sternly, almost yelling to stem his raising panic. "You were given a shot at Ice Castle. It helped you sleep through the first round of your presentation sickness, but your first heat will be starting very soon. It is almost here; I can smell it." She clarified at his rounded eyes growing wider. "This first round will be more intense than what you experienced at Ice Castle, Yuuri. You'll get slick soon. Your body will hurt, too," she said with tears in her eyes, obviously hating that her little boy was going to suffer. "Yuuri, we need you to decide: suppressants or collars."
"Su-suppressants," he said hoarsely over his scratchy throat, bending over his gut, his pain flaring. "Mama, mama. Make it sto-stop!" His thoughts were convoluted and spinning. The whole world was mad! His face planted into his covers as he tried to smell his familiar aroma, tried to find relief.
"Shh. Shh, Yuuri. I know, sweetheart," his mother cooed. "Hold still now, so I can give you your medicine."
He glanced to the side in time to see her stand and pull a syringe from her robe. Had she had it the whole time? Bracing her hand on his neck, she slowly inserted the needle into his throbbing gland there, where his shoulder met his neck. Coolness coated his inflamed scent gland, pushing the fire back once more.
"Rest now," he heard his mama's disembodied voice say, "rest."
His fear and anxiety slipping away with his drooping eyelids and muddled mind. He let go of his pain as he sunk into calm waters, floating in a placid stream in his mind. His last thought before drifting off down river was of a beautiful set of aquamarine eyes twinkling brightly.
A/N:
Sorry for the late update. I was swamped with theories classes (reading 300-400 pages a week of dense theory- ugh), leading discussion, interviewing staff for class papers, and writing those papers all while catching/getting over the flu. Ugh (again. Hahaha). Ok. No more complaining-promise. That's just grad school. Hahaha.
Back to the story... So what do you think so far? Feedback fuels my muse, and she's a cheeky flirt! There one minute and gone the next. =)
