We're back to the end of chapter 12! These are the events that follow!
No One's POV:
One of the kids hadn't eaten yet. She was refusing to eat. Alfred was getting frustrated. Why are kids so hard to deal with?!
"Victoria! You can't play if you don't finish eating." Alfred tried to threaten her, but she just shrugged and pushed the plate away. She hadn't eaten a bite.
He sighed and looked over at Arthur, who was finishing feeding Keabetswe-he should just call her Kia, it would be easier-her food. Arthur looked over at him and he motioned to Victoria. Arthur nodded and handed the spoon to the woman who had popped her head in before. Alfred learned her name was Maria.
She's an alpha, age 21, and was born in Venezuela. She had also been born with vitiligo-basically there were different blotches of skin that had different colors. Her natural color seemed to be tan, but there were very pale patches on her face and body. Apparently, her parents didn't like the criticism of having a 'different' child and had left her at the academy when she was 7. Her parents thought no one would want to mate their children with her. (Jokes on them apparently because she was mated to a lovely deaf omega named Catalina from Colombia.)
Something that really really surprised Alfred was that she had NSD, or No Scent Disorder stage 1. It basically means that she can't smell scents or anything really, but she did have a scent of her own. It was very dangerous because that meant she couldn't tell the difference between a beta, omega, or alpha unless she saw their marks, and that could have gotten her into a lot of trouble. Luckily, the academy provides universal health care for all the residents-as done by the government-and she is being treated. It apparently helped her a lot because she can sorta smell now, and tell the difference between signs, but nothing beyond that. She told him she hopes to smell a rose one day before she dies.
Arthur sitting next to him pulled him out of his thoughts.
The omega looked at Victoria with a raised eyebrow. She pouted at him and pulled her plate back, and started to eat her mashed potatoes and pizza. Arthur nodded and was about to get up, but Alfred held him down.
"Whoa Artie, not so fast. You haven't eaten yet." Alfred said. Arthur shrugged. He shook his head then made the sign for hungry, creating a 'c' with his hand-his fingers were curved but not touching the palm-and the fingertips and the palm were facing his chest, with his arm horizontal, going from the top of his chest down to the stomach.
'Not hungry.'
Alfred sniffed his scent. There was a beach smell in it. He didn't know what it meant, but he guessed Arthur was lying.
"No way, dude. You need to eat. Now go and grab some pizza." Alfred pointed at the boxes off to the side of the table where the alpha kids were getting more slices. As alphas, they had a tendency to eat more, which really confused Alfred as to why Victoria wasn't eating. Was she sick or something?
Alfred sniffed her scent but didn't smell anything that was usually related to sickness.
Arthur had sighed next to him and removed his arm, getting up and walking over to the boxes of food with a paper plate.
The school was usually donated food from local restaurants and fast food places on weekends, and since it was Sunday, they were full of restaurant food. (Alfred found that so cool.)
Arthur, as was told, grabbed a slice of pizza. He held it up for Alfred to see, making a small show out of it moving the plate back and forth careful to to drop it, then picked up the slice again with his other hand and bit into it.
Alfred gave him a thumbs up and decided to get a few slices himself.
The kids who were done were running around, playing and having fun. Victoria had finished her food and had joined the others in their activities. The three oldest people in the room watched them and talked. Maria was kind enough to translate what Arthur was saying for Alfred, and Alfred expressed his emotions verbally so she knew what he was thinking without the need for scents. After some time passed, Maria looked at her watch and sighed.
"I have to go to a class soon. Will you be fine putting the kids down for a nap?" She looked over at Arthur, who nodded. He pointed over to Alfred, who looked up from his 5th slice of pizza. Maria chuckled. "Okay, don't do anything you two." She winked at Arthur, who blushed and glared at her.
Arthur was feeling very embarrassed. Honestly, Maria was acting as if he was going to shag Alfred after the children were asleep. They haven't even known each other for that long! He hasn't got any feelings for the alpha! He's just a friend. Alfred obviously must feel the same way if he's been putting up with Arthur this whole time.
Maria walked towards the door with her backpack on, waved goodbye to everyone, and left.
Arthur hummed and looked at the time. 12:25. The kids should be going to nap soon. He stood up and clapped his hands. A few stopped playing to look at him, then the rest did too.
Arthur started to sign sleep: starting with his fingers extended and spread apart, he kept his hand over his face, moving his fingers down to end with his hand below his chin and with his fingers touching his thumb. As he made the sign, he had his face relax and closed his eyes to add to the sleepy effect. This signaled them that it was nap time.
"Nap time! Everybody get your partner and find a mat to sleep on!" Abdul said and signed at the same time. they paired up in twos, Keabetswe and Keiasha being paired together since they were the youngest-ages 1 and 3 respectfully.
7 groups of two were left on the mats on the floor, each child yawning and getting sleepy. Arthur looked them over and caught the gaze of Lilo. She left the mat and her buddy-Talia-to rummage through her backpack and pull out the musical carousel. Arthur twisted the knob and put it up on the counter, the music flowing through the room and into the dreams of the sleeping children.
Arthur waved Alfred over and they walked to the back room, made for employees. Since no one really worked there, just different students, it was more of a lounge room. There was a large sofa, a microwave, a fridge, a large tv (with cable!) and even a bed in the corner.
Arthur found himself yawning and looked at the bed, wondering if he should do it or not.
'Fuck it I'm tired.' He thought and marched over to the bed, threw himself onto it, and closed his eyes.
"Artie no fair! Scoot over." Alfred pouted.
Despite everything inside him telling him not to-the bed was really nice, should he share it with someone else?-he shuffled away from the middle and let Alfred plop onto it next to him. Arthur turned onto his side and yawned, closing his eyes and trying to nap.
Alfred looked at Arthur's back, staring at it and wondering if it was a good idea. He'd shared a bed before with the omega, but they were both awake and were aware of what they were doing. Anything can happen while they sleep.
'Fuck it.' Alfred shrugged and closed his eyes, slowly drifting off to sleep.
After a while, a new force dragged the alpha awake, and apparently Arthur too.
Alfred yawned and blinked awake, once again finding himself curled up with the omega. Arthur had buried his face in Alfred's neck, and his hands were both between their chests, being the only thing keeping them from bumping together. Alfred had an arm wrapped around Arthur's waist and held him close, but something-or someone-was wriggling in between them.
Arthur lifted his head to look at Alfred, confused and still looking tired. Alfred removed his arm and shimmied away, Arthur doing the same to let the thing get between them. Alfred looked down and saw one of the kids.
Abdul.
The young omega crawled until he was between them. Arthur looked very confused.
"I had a bad dream, and when I do I usually crawl into my mommy and daddy's bed. Can I stay here?" He asked.
Arthur looked at Alfred, who nodded, then back to Abdul and gave him a reassuring smile. He kissed the other omega's forehead and wrapped an arm around his waist. Alfred smiled slightly and ruffled his hair.
"You'll be safe here kiddo."
Abdul smiled and buried his face in Arthur's neck, most likely for his comforting scent.
Alfred looked at them and couldn't help but smile.
'So,' he hummed as he scooted closer to sandwich the shaken boy between himself and Arthur. 'this is what it would be like to be a father.'
New chapter is done! Yay!
New Characters:
Maria-Venezuela-A
Catalina-Colombia-O
Vitiligo is an actual skin condition where parts of the body have a different pigmentation than the rest. I don't know if it relates to any skin cancers and I also am not sure if it's treatable, sorry.
In my fanfic, I have created 3 different stages of NSD or No Scent Disorder. Maria has Stage 1, which is the inability to smell scents even if you're an alpha or omega. Stage 2, which will be introduced later, is when an alpha or omega has no scent. Stage 3 is when the first two stages combine and affect and alpha or omega. The reason I say specifically alpha or omega is because betas cannot smell scents and have no scents of their own. I did base Stage 1 on an actual disease that can happen to humans. It is treatable.
Other diseases and disorders will be touched on later on in the book, and I will do as much research as I can for each. I may even put in personal stories of mine for certain ones. Please note I am not nor have I ever been trying to offend anyone with these disabilities and disorders in my book, and I am sorry if I have ever made it seem that way.
Also guess who has summer school...ME! I hope this explains why it takes me so long to update.