... c:

This is only supposed to be a sort of 'beginning' thing so don't hate the horrible ending.

(I admit it! A.F. is taken from Brave New World. It stands for... Well, you'll just have to go read the book. I found a nifty site that has the whole thing on it for free. Or you may just look it up on Spark Notes or just not care at all...)

The least respected and most discriminated group of people was Omega-Omega partnerships. It was by nature, not a very stable relationship, but not every Omega-Omega couple eventually split apart through a falling out or otherwise. They could be just as successful as Alpha-Omega or Beta-Beta partnerships, or even better some would like to say.

Because neither person was of a different Type, neither person was socially 'better' than the other. They had a truly equal partnership. (Just like an Alpha-Alpha or Beta-Beta partnership, but those were more accepted than Omega-Omegas.)

Most people of the Alpha Type liked to argue that an Omega mated to another Omega could never truly be safe. A fairly common argument. It was largely believed that without a higher Type to look after them, an Omega was always susceptible to attack by a stranger or would not be able to function at their best during heat without a stronger partner. Another Omega simply just could not take care of another Omega. (Even though, since the dawn of A.F., Omega's were typically the 'mothering' type and took care of the children and their partners.)

Another argument, one that had been scientifically disproven, was that an Omega-Omega partnership was not able to contribute to the creation of the next generation. Now, just because the only Type who was able to knot and thus most likely ensure pregnancy was an Alpha, did not necessarily mean that Omegas were entitled to only mate with them. Beta-Omega relationships had nearly as high a pregnancy rate as Alpha-Omegas. It was just a bit harder for Omega-Omega couples to become pregnant for their lack of overzealous sperm.

Families who harbored children in Omega-Omega partnerships were often ridiculed as well, though more often than not, they were given sympathy for their predicament if they publicly expressed distress over their children's relation. But while the family received kindness, the Omegas in question were often discriminated and shunned from their families.

And that was exactly what was happening to Matthew as he found a suitcase filled hastily with as many clothes as he could fit thrown out onto the sidewalk, just as it so ironically happened to start raining. His mother took one last look at her youngest child, her only Omega. She sniffed and shut the door, turning the lock and shutting the blinds next to the door.

Matthew rubbed at his eyes, shivering as the cold rain began to soak through his clothes. He'd been shunned. His family didn't want to look at him, to interact with him anymore.

He didn't have a home now. He was going to start his heat cycle soon! Matthew breathed heavily, trying not to hyperventilate as he thought of what to do.

He couldn't go to his partner's home, they would be kicked out too, for sure! And Matthew just couldn't do that to them. There was no need for two Omegas to lose their homes in one night.

Maybe he could find one of those community homes for the night, just for the night before he went to talk to his brother? Alfred was always understanding and he always at least gave Matthew a chance to explain himself before doing anything rash.

Yeah. Matthew liked that idea. The community home would give him a meal and a cot to sleep on and the next day he would visit Al for only a little while.

Alfred was an Alpha. He was twenty-two years old and he was mated with his Beta husband, Arthur. The Alpha-Beta partnership was not as common as most others, but it was by no means nearly as discriminated against as the Omega-Omega relationship his dear brother, Matthew, was in.

When Matthew had knocked on his door that morning, a suitcase in hand and a shy, pleading look on his face, Alfred couldn't have taken him in any faster.

He fed his brother a big meal with hot coffee to rid of the shivers he had. Once he'd had his fill, Alfred sat down next to him and asked him what had happened. Why did he have his suitcase? Where was –

"Mama kicked me out of the home yesterday," Matthew told him quietly. He often spoke in a hushed tone in Alfred's presence. It was his Omega-nature, to be as submissive as possible in an Alpha's company; even if they were related.

Alfred gazed at his brother sadly. Matthew was so sweet, and not just because he was an Omega. He was really a great person with the most wonderful heart one could have. He put others before himself, he was kind and courteous, he never caused any trouble if he could help it, but Matthew was never dealt a very good hand.

When they had been growing up, Matthew was often bullied by the Betas and other Omegas. He was a runt among runts and they knew it, they could smell it. And as the big brother, Alfred had always tried to help his baby brother get on as well as he could in school.

In their later high school years, when the other Omegas were already mated and bonded, having babies and dropping out to take care of their new families, Matthew had stayed and finished his education, never attracting any (worthy) mates. (In fact, any and all potential mates had been thoroughly examined by Alfred and not-so surprisingly, none had passed his judgment. Matthew deserved only the very best of the best.)

Matthew was one of only four Omegas to graduate with their class that year.

It was at eighteen, a few months after graduating, that Matthew had met his partner. Alfred had been away at college and had not been able to screen him beforehand. During his summer holiday, Matthew had introduced the two and as much as he didn't like him, Alfred couldn't disagree that he was right for Matthew, even if he was an Omega.

Alfred met Arthur in his fourth year of college. Arthur was a Beta studying abroad from England and the two had fallen in love nearly at first sight. When they announced their plans to bond and mate to Alfred's family, they had been accepted, though the reception was not as grand as it could have been had Arthur been an Omega. Matthew had never told his family about his Omega partner. Until recently, so it seems.

"You're welcome to stay here for as long as you need, Mattie," Alfred said earnestly. He wrapped a reassuring arm around his shoulders and hugged his brother. "Until you find a place or when Gil can help you out."

Matthew nodded absently. "I-I couldn't intrude, Alfred. I just wanted to tell you about what happened. I'm sorry if I made it seem like I was asking for a place to stay. I couldn't intrude on you and Arthur."

"Ah! Speaking of the Lazy King himself!" Arthur had just walked into the kitchen, rubbing his face and yawning loudly. "Look who I found on the doorstep!" Alfred cried cheerfully."Can we keep him?"

Arthur did a double take towards Matthew as he made himself a cup of tea. "What brings you here so early, Matthew?"

Matthew blushed. "I-I'm sorry for coming unannounced, but I really wanted to tell Alfred about my predicament."

"Mattie's being shunned, Artie. The old family found out about Gil."

Arthur nodded solemnly. "It was only a matter of time," he said. "But do know we will always help you if you need it, Matthew."

Matthew nodded. "Thank you, both of you. But Alfred, I can't stay here. I'll figure out what I'm going to do and I'll find a place to stay on my own. Just until Gil can live with me."

Gilbert Beilschmidt was one of the loudest, most self-absorbed people you could ever meet. He loved to yell and had a nasty habit of abusing the word 'awesome'. He never let his Omega Type get in his way when he set his mind to something. If he wanted it, Gilbert surely had a way to get it and you could be assured it would be obtained in the most outlandish of ways possible.

Like for instance, Matthew.

Gilbert had first spotted Matthew at the grocery store. It was a common Omega surplus. The slighter Type did the shopping while their partners worked to bring home the money.

He was studying two different bottles of maple syrup when Gilbert got his first glance at the blond boy. His scent was intoxicating; sugary with just the right amount of musk. (He wouldn't admit it out right – though he had written it in his diary the moment he got home that day – but Gilbert had actually caught himself drooling a bit.)

It was an odd feeling. A warm ball just swelled in his stomach that spread to the tips of his fingers and filled his cheeks with a healthy glow. It was the kind of feeling his little brother got when the little Italian Omega from down the street visited.

Gilbert was in love.

It was odd. He'd never been in love. Never in his life had Gilbert felt so spine-tinglingly attracted to someone. Of course, he had shivered at the smell of a few Alphas, but that was to be expected, he was an Omega after all.

But this. This almost suffocating attraction to this strange blond Omega was just so overwhelming! He had to do it! He had to go over and say hello.

So he had. Sort of.

The loud and proud Gilbert walked over to the enticing blond, who was debating to himself over which brand of maple syrup to buy, and said in a very manly voice, "H-Hello. I-I-I'm Gilbert. I couldn't help but notice how good you smell."

The blond squeaked as he noticed the other man. He'd nearly dropped the bottles, but Gilbert was quick in catching them. "S-Smell good?" The beauty gave Gilbert the most outlandish look and tried to inch away.

Gilbert nearly smacked himself right there. "I-I mean—Uh—You looked—" Crap. Smooth. "Ach, never mind. Sorry I bothered you." He felt his face heat up in embarrassment for his total ineptitude and he turned to leave with the tiny sliver of dignity he had left.

"W-Wait. Th-That was really sweet, what you said. Even if it was kind of creepy." The blond had tugged at his shirt sleeve and Gilbert turned a bit. "I'm Matthew, by the way."

Dear Lord, even his voice was tantalizing. It was like Christmas bells, those charmingly cheery kinds, not the irritating sharp ones, were ringing in his ears as Matthew spoke. (Gilbert would later kick himself for that kind of analogy as he wrote his encounter in his diary, but he couldn't really give a rat's ass as he had scored a date with Matthew for the very next night.)

"Brüderlein?"

"Hmm? Was ist es?"

Gilbert looked up at his little brother. Sometimes he really hated that his baby brother had been born an Alpha. (Really, really hated it.) But such was life.

"I found someone really nice." He smiled, not his signature cheeky smile, but a nice, warm smile that really meant something. "They're really awesome."

"Ist das so?"

"Mm-hm. But, Brüderlein, they aren't someone Grandpa may approve of."

Ludwig gave his brother a confused look. Gilbert never let his insecurities bother him. He always tried to stay up-beat and loud and happy. A quiet, subdued Gilbert who was asking for advice from his baby brother was not a common sight to see.

"What is wrong with them? They aren't part of a Pack are they?"

Gilbert shook his head. "He's an Omega," he whispered, as if afraid their grandfather was listening in at that very moment.

Ludwig nearly chocked. "Omega? Gilbert! Was denken Sie?!"

Gilbert gave his brother a determined look. "I'm thinking that I can tell my little brother about my problems. It's not like I always do this. But this is important. This is big. I'm asking what you think Grandpa will say."

Ludwig sighed. "Do you really like him?"

"As much as Feli likes you," Gilbert said, his cheeky grin plastered on his face. It slipped the next moment back into his sincere smile. "As much as I possibly can. We've been going out for nearly two years."

"This is dangerous, Gilbert, you know. Not everyone is going to accept you. Some people, Alphas who don't agree with you two, are going to try and separate you both."

"I know. I know. But for right now, I'm only worried about Grandpa. Once I finally tell him, I will start worrying about other people. We've already told his brother. He's an Alpha and he's very supportive. Now, I'm asking my little brother if he'll be just as awesome and support us two too."

The blond Alpha thought a moment, not debating over whether he should support his brother or not, but wondering when he'll be able to meet this other Omega and maybe put the fear of God into him so he could understand how much his brother means to him. "In Ordnung."

In terms of looks, Alfred and Matthew were almost identical. They weren't twins, but they did resemble each other in a very common way. Most people, outside of family or close friends, could only distinguish the two by scent. Alfred's overbearing Alpha pheromones usually clouded Matthew's sweet Omega scent, thus differentiating each other.

As Ludwig looked at the two bothers he couldn't help but re-think his earlier idea of 'putting the fear of God' into his brother's potential mate.

Matthew was a very kind person. It would be like yelling at Feliciano. And Ludwig just could not do that.

Matthew and Gilbert sat very close together on the couch in Alfred and Arthur's house. Each Omega's brother eyed the opposite while simultaneously looking over the other Alpha.

It was tense and quiet and all attempts by Arthur to alleviate the mood went unnoticed by the two Alphas as they sized each other up, waiting for the other to make the first move.

"U-Um, thank you for coming over," Matthew said quietly. Even in the dead silence, everyone had to strain their ears to hear him. He must have been very uncomfortable in the presence of the two strong and strong-willed Alphas. "I-I hope we didn't take you away from anything."

Ludwig looked back to Matthew and the blond dropped his gaze to his lap, nervously twiddling his fingers as he waited for someone else to say something.

He didn't have to wait long, for Gilbert suddenly burst out laughing with his wheeze-like guffaws. "I'm sorry," he panted, "but that tension was so nerve-wracking! I couldn't stand it!" He laughed for a few more minutes before Matthew began giggling too and soon Alfred was laughing away while Arthur chuckled and Ludwig let slip a small smile.

"Well," Alfred said after he caught his breath. "If you make Mattie happy, I guess I'm okay with you."

Ludwig nodded. "And if Matthew really means this much to you, Bruder, then I will accept him."

The two Omegas smiled, taking each other's hand. They emitted strong, sweet smelling pheromones that the two Alphas caught wind of. The two scents were the same.