Beneath a Glass Eye
By Ahro

Part V

Arthur wondered if the day was dragging on purpose.

It was still bright in their windowless room, and Alfred had mated with Arthur for the fourth time that day. Arthur's need usually struck him every three to four hours, meaning it should have been well past the usual hour their room was darkened. It began to wear on Arthur's nerves, as the light was keeping Alfred from being secretive and telling him what he was desperate to know. It also bothered him that the Alpha hadn't stopped pacing since.

"Alfred, what are you doing?"

The Alpha only continued his pacing. It was making Arthur tired just watching, and it was putting him rather on edge. He was at the peak of his heat, and everything was effecting him more. Alfred's unease was not helping his own.

"Alfred, talk to me, damn it! Quit pacing! And stop blaming yourself for what happened. You didn't do anything wrong." Arthur ordered from his same spot on the bed. He'd reached the point where moving about the room wasn't an option. Pain laced up his spine, and he was regularly having cramps, though Alfred had taped a heating pad to his lower abdomen which helped greatly. But now, with those eyes watching them behind the glass like they were experiments, Alfred was more serious about following the strict protocols. Even with a plug in, he wasn't allowed to get up due to gravity.

Feeling another approach was in order, Arthur tried his 'needy' card.

"Alfred, I need you close. Please. You're making me upset, and you know stress isn't healthy for me when we're trying to conceive."

This seemed to work, as Alfred stopped and turned to Arthur quickly, apologies spilling from his lips as he went.

"I'm so sorry. I should know better."

"Stop apologizing, you dolt." Arthur smirked, reaching for Alfred's hand as he neared to pull him close. "Just lay down next to me. Everything's okay."

Alfred heaved a sigh but nodded. He slipped over Arthur to the other side of the bed and laid down on his back, staring blankly up at the ceiling. Arthur only rolled his eyes, seeing the stress still plastered across Alfred's face. He then scooted closer to the man - minding that he still had his hips elevated, he didn't want to add to Alfred getting into trouble again - and rested his head on the man's chest, sighing contentedly.

"Wha- Arthur, you can't do that."

The jumpiness in Alfred's voice got Arthur to turn his head to look up at Alfred, and he could see the shine of sweat breaking across his forehead. Arthur's brows furrowed in confusion before asking,

"Can't do what?" His response was a bit snappish but he was growing annoyed by these regulations. He needed Alfred to relax. Even if they weren't to be mates, Alfred was his Alpha right now. If this breeding session was to be successful, then Alfred needed to do more than just assist Arthur only in times when he needed relief.

Alfred exhaled on a shaky breath, but found his voice and answered,

"This. This is considered too intimate. There's nothing between us. I'm only here to breed you."

Arthur felt the hairs stick up on the back of his neck, and he only scooted closer to Alfred, wrapping an arm around the man's chest and pulling him close.

"Think I give a shit? You're upset, and that doesn't help me relax, which is what they want. So I'm staying here, and you're going to settle down and like it." He demanded with a huff before nuzzling against the man's soft skin.

Another shaky breath came from Alfred, but he didn't say anything more. He just laid there like some stiff board. It continued to irritate Arthur, but he couldn't magically make the man relax. He partially wished his heat would flare up again so he could need him physically again. That would at least mellow Alfred out easily.

"Tell me about yourself?" The question left Arthur's lips suddenly, though he was more surprised that he actually did want to know more about Alfred. The man was so intriguing with being this double-agent. At least, if that was all true.

"T-that's too intimate. We can't get close."

So much for lightening the mood.

"Fuck no it isn't too intimate! I'm trying to have a general conversation with you. We've done nothing but fuck and sleep. We should be sleeping right now, but I bloody well can't with these damn lights being so bright." Arthur accused loudly, hoping someone would get the drift and finally lower them. He really did want to get some rest, but he mainly wanted Alfred to talk unhindered. Surprisingly, his questions that were bubbling up weren't about what had happened, but about Alfred.

Alfred heaved another sigh but remained silent. Arthur grumbled his displeasure but decided to relent for now, but he didn't move from being snugged along side the Alpha. He found listening to Alfred's heart pound in his chest rather comforting. He'd never had such close contact with anyone before. His parents had kept him rather sheltered because he was an Omega. Then once he was found to be fertile, freedom was a thing of the past entirely. His folks didn't really care about him much after that. There were many perks of having a fertile Omega for a son: compensation from the government, higher social status, better living conditions. It was much like winning the lottery. They could have all that in exchange for losing their son. Arthur was just happy he could help, though, after all that had happened, he wondered if he really wanted to remain a breeder.

"I grew up just down the road from a beach."

Arthur gasped when Alfred began to speak, but kept quiet, not wanting the man to stop.

"It was a pretty quiet town. Not much ever went on, but it was old, and almost forgotten. Schools weren't as segregated as they are now. Alpha children mixed with Omegas as casually as they do with Betas. There was this one Omega that always would catch my interest. He had blond hair and these striking green eyes. I was always too shy to talk to him, but when I finally had the gall worked up, we had progressed to middle school, and we were separated by our Types."

"When we were let out for recess each day, I learned that our playgrounds were still side by side, only a new fence had cut it down the middle. Rather than play with my friends, I would run to the fence and stare off at all the Omegas playing. I'd get into trouble sometimes from my teachers, but eventually I saw him again. Always quiet, and reserved, sitting away from the other kids playing. He was always reading. All sorts of different books, and he always had a new one each week. I hate to read, but I enjoyed being read to. So I'd often imagine what it'd be like to sit next to him and listen to him read aloud. I'd never even heard him speak. I was just so enthralled by him. So, I went to my parents at the start of my freshman year and asked how to go about being promised to an Omega. They managed all the paperwork, found out who it was for me - yeah, didn't even know his name, pathetic right? And then, before I even got a chance to meet him in person, he was found to be fertile and was gone."

Alfred paused to laugh. "Pretty silly, really. You'd think I'd have moved on." He paused again just as the lights dimmed before adding, "but I haven't."

Arthur couldn't move. He didn't even think he was breathing. He'd gone so stiff, no longer drawing circles on the man's chest as he'd talked. His mind was racing with questions, but he wasn't sure if he was over thinking it all. Was this Alpha the one he'd been promised to? There were so few fertile Omegas...

"Alfred-"

"The lights are dim now. Why don't you get some rest. They'll probably be turned on sooner than they have been."
Arthur kept quiet at Alfred's obvious dismissal. He would have snapped back, but, in that moment, he felt maybe Alfred needed some time to think as well.

"Alright," Arthur got back up and shifted back to his usual spot. Tucking into his pillows, he closed his eyes and tried to will himself to sleep. Though now, he found it more trouble trying to get his heart to stop racing.

"Alfred! Nng-"

"Shh- I'm here, hold on."

"It's so much worse! Uuugh! Fuck!"

"You're at your peak, it'll pass."

Arthur squinted his eyes as the desperate need had him rutting against the pillows under his hips. Alfred had just woken up by Arthur's startled cry and was struggling to get himself going, but none of it was fast enough.

"Fuck! What's taking so long?"

Arthur watched as Alfred situated himself behind him again. His hand was working his cock quickly, but thankfully, Alfred pressed three fingers inside Arthur's hole to help stimulate him in that moment.

"Ugn- just fuck me! Please!" Arthur pressed back on Alfred's fingers, needing him deeper. It wasn't filling enough, and his body was craving Alfred's length inside him.

"Right- right, hang on, just breath."

Arthur groaned, but nodded, and tried to focus on his breathing. It wasn't long though and Arthur felt Alfred press his engorged cock inside him. He moaned Alfred's name as he was filled, and soon felt some ease once Alfred came over him more. Having Alfred's scent surrounding him, and the comforting thrusts now, was a relief, and he felt his mind clear a little.

"Better now?"

Arthur sighed, "yeah, better, but not perfect."

Alfred laughed, his warm breath at the back of Arthur's neck, sending a shiver down Arthur's spine as he enjoyed the sound.

"Of course not yet. You've gotta give me a little bit here."

Arthur only whined some more, bringing another musical laugh from Alfred as he kept up his rhythm.

"I can get you off from your cock too, but that'll only take off the edge."

Arthur shook his head vigorously as he bucked back to meet each strong thrust.

"No! Just fill me! And stop bloody laughing at me! I can't help it when I'm like this."

"I know, but it's cute when you blush."

Arthur scoffed, about to retort on how he was definitely not cute, but he suddenly felt intense pressure push against his walls, and he was immedietly thankful that Alfred's knot was taking inside him.

"Ugn- oh fuck, Arthur! S-shit!" Alfred held Arthur's hips in an almost death like grip as he stayed still and the base of his cock swelled inside Arthur. Arthur thrashed beneath Alfred at the immense stretched feeling. The pain from it always causing him to want to get away, but he was thankful Alfred was strong and held him fast. Arthur just needed to wait for his body to adjust, until finally Alfred's seed began to stream inside him. Arthur let out a low, drawn out moan as his body shuddered and slowly went limp. Taking in Alfred's seed relaxed him as his body was fed what it was desperate for. It still blew Arthur's mind at just how orgasmic it felt having his body bred. To give in to that natural need was intoxicating and Arthur was ready to indulge in that as much as possible.

"Emm, feeling better I take it?"

"Belt up, you wanker." Arthur chimed good-naturally as he breathed a sigh and closed his eyes. Alfred laughed lightly before resting down on Arthur while his cock continued to fill and breed the Omega. Arthur felt so perfect in that moment. It was hard to believe it was almost over. If everything went well, he'd be carrying a child soon. Not... there child, but a child that would go to some loving family. And then the following year he'd be able to enjoy being bred again, and go through the same process, year after year. That's what he wanted, wasn't it?

"Yes, you're definitely feeling better."

Arthur smirked into the pillows, hiding it from Alfred's view. He was feeling much better, but, he was still troubled over what Alfred had said. His story from his childhood. How he'd lost an Omega he'd been promised to. One that was fertile. In a small town, near a beach. A boy with blond hair and green eyes. It couldn't have been.

"Arthur, you've been quiet. Are you alright?"

"Hmm, yeah, just thinking."

He felt Alfred stiffen against him again - a telltale sign Arthur had come to notice when he'd said something that triggered Alfred's nerves. Thankfully, he'd been woken by his heat pretty early in the morning hours, and the lights had still been lowered.

"O-oh? About what?"

Arthur could tell Alfred was afraid to ask. So, to save him some anxiety for now, Arthur decided to return to what had happened the previous day. With the lights dim, Alfred could be quiet about it, and perhaps give Arthur more incentive to go with the Alpha. He still couldn't be entirely sure if this was an elaborate hoax. Though, the longer he thought about it, he thought he did recall seeing a young boy, always clinging to the fence and staring off at him. He'd waved to him once, but that had scared him off. Could it have been...?

"Arthur?"

"Oh- ahh," he lowered his voice to a whisper, "I wanted to know about yesterday. How could they let an Alpha like that in here? Did they honestly expect I'd let him breed me with that aggressive attitude?"

Alfred lowered his head to rest on Arthur's shoulder so his lips were close to the Omega's ear. Just like the previous nights, it would look like Alfred had fallen asleep that way, which was common while he was still knotted. Those behind the mirror couldn't see Alfred talking, and that was the only way they could communicate.

"Because they've been monitoring how you respond to me, they can see you're not a pushover Omega. Believe it or not, many Omegas that are brought here are brought against their will. They don't want to be breeders, nor do they want to be taken from their mates. These Omegas..." Alfred paused, and Arthur knew he wasn't going to like what he was about to hear. Collecting himself, Alfred continued,

"These Omegas are often placed on a special cushioned breeding table. They're propped as you are with their hips raised, but their arms are strapped to the table, and their legs are spread and strapped to special stirrups. Due to the added stress this puts on the Omega, they are sedated. Once docile, they allow the chosen Alpha into the room, and they proceed to breed the Omega."

"During their term, these Omegas are heavily guarded and watched, often times kept sedated as well, so as not to harm themselves or the child. Once the Omega gives birth, the process continues." Alfred blew out a sigh, "it's disgusting, and these are the kinds of things they don't tell the world about, because if people knew, the facilities would be shut down. But, that would harm our already struggling population. So it is kept as a heavily guarded secret."

Once Alfred went silent, Arthur collected his thoughts, and just about vomited. Omegas being sedated and bred against their will? That was sick and disgusting! No matter how important it was. Of course, Arthur had been reluctant to go as well when he first found out. He'd been happy to know he could have children, but to know they wouldn't be his children. At least, not until the end. After an Omega's twenty years, any children born after that an Omega was able to keep. Of course, an Omega's prime was during their twenties and thirties. After that, having children was a stretch. The parents would be in their sixties when their child was graduating high school. But it was what the world had been facing for generations. You took what you could get.

"That's... that's disgusting." Arthur choked, feeling his heart race as he held his hand over his mouth from both shock and a fear of vomiting.

"I know. And... I fear you'd be faced with that too. Unless you give in willingly. You've been fine with me the whole time, so you'd probably be saved from that fate. But, I felt you should know the truth behind this place, and how imperative it is that you leave with me."

Arthur swallowed. His palms had grown clammy as he clung to the underside of his pillow. So much he'd been told, and all of it was lies. Those Omegas seen on tv, they weren't tired because of their pregnancy, they were drugged. Perhaps this was why fertile Omegas were dying out. All for the sins of a corrupted world.

Taking in a shaky breath, Arthur asked,

"That little boy beyond the fence. The Omega with blond hair and green eyes. Was that little boy me?"

Alfred remained quiet for a moment. A silence fell over the room. A quiet that only heightened the obvious pounding of two hearts in sync with one another. A truth neither of them could hide from.

On a steadied breath came a whisper,

"Yes."

A/N:WOOT! And there lies the connection between Al and Art. :3 I hope you enjoyed this chapter! We're nearing the end of this fic. On the downward slope now. Depending on how I write them, we have two to three chapters left.

Thank you all again for the amazing support for this fic! It has been outstanding and I'm beyond happy you've all been enjoying it as much as I have been in writing it! :D

EDIT: For further info about Arthur's parents and how he was raised, check out the post on my tumblr (or search the tag 'beneath a glass eye'.

Be sure to check me out on Tumblr for fic updates as well as lots of hetalia fanart. :D

ahro. tumblr. com