Chapter I – A for Alfa
Feliciano wimped in fear and took a few tiny steps back. His tall yet slender frame looked ridiculously small as he curved over in submission. His amber eyes looked down in fear, hidden behind the dark chocolaty bangs of his hair. The curly stray hair-curl so typical of him and usually bouncing off cheerfully was now frozen still and even shivering along with his entire body. The group of Alfas surrounding him laughed at his pathetic state, mocking him, humiliating him, and the whole school was there to see.
To see what a pathetic Alfa he makes.
To think he wanted to start fresh in his new High School. His grandfather being such a highly respected man and a strong Alfa, people assumed that Feliciano and his twin brother would also inherit their heritage genes. Indeed they did. Medical tests (tests you take on when you reach the age of 10) proved that both of them were Alfas.
Well, their blood says so. Feliciano's behaviour and personality make him as far away from a typical Alfa as possible. His brother was fine. A strong and ideal Alfa. But Feliciano was just so weak and cowardly, he hated violence, and his aim in life was to be an artist (something very Omega). His interests were: cooking, painting, sleeping (includes siesta-ing), shopping, and eating pasta. Feliciano was nothing like an Alfa. He should be an Omega. Everyone who met him assumed he was an Omega and yet, all his tests (he took many more as his grandfather doubted the original results) proved that he was a full Alfa. The absolute proof: He could not carry a child. And in that aspect, Feliciano was quite sad to be an Alfa.
He felt he would rather be an Omega. He hated the pressure of being an Alfa. He hated the expectations people had of him. He hated how his race contradicted who he was. And his grandfather had long given up on making him a suitable Alfa and was putting his hopes in his older twin for the future of the family business. Feliciano felt like a failure. And worst of all, he knew he would never find a mate.
It's obvious. What kind of Omega or even a Beta would want a weak Alfa unable to protect even himself as a mate? Feliciano could not blame them. He was good at seducing others but when fighting comes into the picture, all the shy teen can do is run and hide. An Alfa unable to fight and defend his rights … is doomed.
He was a freak of nature.
And now the whole school knew it. It's nothing new but Feliciano had hoped that in changing school he would be able to start anew and maybe get himself sorted as an Alfa. He had very little friends … well, acquaintances and almost all were Betas and Omegas. He didn't do sports like usual Alfas and preferred the Artistic classes that the Omegas take. He was a complete failure. Not a leader or a protector. A desperate case.
Feliciano Vargas felt tears threatening to fall from his half-lidded eyes.
He cries a lot and very easily. Another non-Alfa thing.
"Oi! You bastards! Hands off my fratello or I'll kill you all!" a strong and furious voice resonated behind Feliciano.
The laughing Alfas stilled and glared at the approaching 16 year old. Feliciano looked up and beamed in delight at the sight of his brother. Lovino Vargas was exactly like Feliciano except that he looked more muscular and physically more fit than his brother. Not overly buffed up like most Alfas, he did have however that aura of importance and oppressive feeling. His dominant attitude had nothing to envy to other Alfas and he was quite a skilled fighter when he bothered. Very lazy by nature, the Italian would usually not get involved in fights and often didn't need to anyway since he could impose himself by just scaring away his opponent by yelling aggressively at them. The only physical difference between the twins was that Feliciano's hair curl was on his left side and Lovino's on the right. Lovino always took Feliciano's defence ever since their childhood. And he was determined to keep at bay people threatening his family.
Growling imperiously at the group of Alfas, Lovino's harsh glare was enough to send them packing. Feliciano grabbed on to his twin's shirt and started to sob in his shoulder. The older Italian shushed him gently, slightly exasperated but mostly relieved that he had intervened in time. He didn't mind his brother being a little bit … unusual. He was his little brother after all, so Lovino would always take care of him. He did wonder how Feliciano had turned out such a messed up Alfa but it didn't bother him.
"Come on, Stupido. Let's get to class. It's our first day and I don't think Nonno will forgive us if we end up late."
"S-si … sorry, Lovi …"
"Don't worry about it. Come on. Our friends are also in this school, right? You'll be fine!"
Feliciano didn't know if he would be fine but he knew that nothing could make his situation worse.
Think again.
As the twins separated for class (they had ended up in different classes), Feliciano ran hopelessly down the corridors, searching for his classroom. As he turned one corner and finally found his classroom, he bumped into the last person he wanted to see.
Alfred Franklin Jones. Another Alfa and a close friend of his brother. When Lovino's around, Alfred always behaves but as soon as Feliciano finds himself alone in the same presence as the American Alfa, Alfred would always have fun with him and make him do his bidding like a puppy obeying his master. Tall (Alfas tend to be tall and physically strong) with buffed up muscles, Alfred had a loud boasting voice and an ego to go with it. His chestnut hair and sky blue eyes were a deadly combination and made more than one Omega swoon over him. But Alfred was still single. He had dated but it never lasted more than two weeks. The American would always get bored of his partner at some point or his partner would get sick of Alfred's egoistic attitude.
"Well, lookie here! Feli! How are you doing, dude?" Alfred smirked behind his squared glasses.
He was accompanied by his step-brother Matthew Williams, a shy Canadian Omega, tall but with a lean and thin frame, a sweet smile and absolutely no boyfriend because Alfred would scare away anyone that dares to get too close to his sibling. Along with the North Americans was two German Alfas: Ludwig and Gilbert Weildschimdt. Ludwig was the same age as Feliciano, Alfred and Matthew but Gilbert is a year older and Ludwig's brother. Ludwig was tall, neat blond hair slicked back and icy blue eyes, with a strong and muscly figure. You could see under his school uniform the ripped muscles from his morning training (Ludwig and Gilbert's father is a military and he trains them). Gilbert is an albino and has that wicked attitude, very sly and sneaky that completely made you unable to understand how he could be related to the stern, stoic, serious and hard-working Ludwig. You really could not understand how those two can be brothers.
Gilbert and Alfred are quite close friends and got to know each other through a common Beta friend: Francis Bonnefoy. Although Lovino is best friends with Alfred, he is far from enjoying the company of the "Potato Bastards" as he nicknamed the German brothers. He knew them already through his childhood friend Antonio Fernandez Carriedo who is also best-friends with Francis and Gilbert. Overall, it's like a little gang of Alfas and believe it or not but they are all single! And extremely popular among Omegas and even Betas. Feliciano was the oddball. The one nobody would want to date even if he was the last Alfa on the planet.
"Kesese! So you're in the same class as Alfie? Where's your brother? I'm surprised he left you alone and defenceless! Kesese!"
"Gilbert, why don't you go to your own class? Antonio and Francis will be waiting for you." Ludwig spoke coldly as he tried to get rid of his annoying and troublesome brother.
"Kesese! Chill Lud!" Gilbert cackled and slung an arm over Feliciano's shoulders, making the Italian unsettled. He hated being in the presence of Alfas. He always felt intimidated and only wished he could run away and hide.
"So Feli, you alone?"
"Ve … Fratello is in a different class." The Italian mumbled quietly, not crossing eyes with either Alfas.
"Seriously? Oh man! I get stuck with the wrong brother!" Alfred complained loudly before bursting out laughing at his own joke.
The bell rang and Feliciano almost sighed in relief when he felt Gilbert release him and run away to his own class, laughing like a madman. Ludwig sighed and walked into the class followed by Matthew who was as invisible and silent as ever in the presence of his brother.
"See you later Gil!" Alfred waved his friend away then turned a wide and sadistic smirk to the Italian. Feliciano wished he had been quick enough to get into class as he realised he was alone with the American.
"So Feli … you should come to football practice with us! You know, like real Alfas!" Alfred started laughing. He loved to make allusions to how Feliciano failed at being a real Alfa and would always drag him into things that the Italian could not handle like forcing him into fights and other Alfa things as he calls them. Feliciano can only assume it's an entertainment for Alfred. He wasn't the only one. Alfas always teased and bullied him because the Italian failed to act like them. Like a real Alfa.
"Ve … no thanks, Alfred." Feliciano tried to move into the room but Alfred blocked him with his arm against the door.
"Really? What a shame! I would have loved to see you at practice, Feli~!" Alfred purred, glee in his eyes.
Practice meant that Feliciano would end up as the football team's punching bag or chores boy. Throughout middle school, Feliciano had more than once been forced to practice and used as fun for the team. Until his brother heard of this and intervened. Lovino isn't into American football (this is set in America) and is more into European football (soccer). That's the only sport Lovino bothers with while Feliciano doesn't do any extra-curricular sports. He already hates all those sport classes he is forced to take in school because of his Alfa status.
Depending on your status, you will be obligated to certain subjects and have others as optional. Feliciano took on many options that are usually obligatory for Omegas like Cooking, Sewing, Philosophy, and his personal favourite Arts. He is obligated to do Advanced Sports, Advanced Mathematics, Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and Economics (although that is more of a Beta subject). Every student is also forced to learn two foreign languages no matter their status. And out of all his classes, Feliciano gets little contact with other types than Alfas because the subjects are so selective and depending on what you are. People rarely pick options because it doesn't fit their profile. You never see an Alfa pick Cooking. Or an Omega pick Sport. Only Betas seem at ease in almost everything and their numbers are probably the highest in the school.
Feliciano wished he could escape his situation or he wished he actually had been born as a normal Alfa. Then maybe Alfred and other Alfas would stop bullying him. As those thoughts crossed his mind, both Feliciano and Alfred jumped when a harsh and authoritarian voice snapped in the air from behind Alfred.
"Oi! Fat arse! Move. You're blocking the way." A deep male voice with a very strong English accent resonated.
Alfred nearly apologised as he turned around and caught himself just in time. An Alfa that apologises is rare and considered weak. But when you are faced with an intimidating presence and overwhelmed, it is rule for Alfas to submit to the stronger and more dominant Alfa. And that feeling of domination, the prickling of the air around you and the oppressing atmosphere, that is exactly how you felt in the presence of the blond 16 year old teen. Not particularly tall, especially if he's an Alfa, he wasn't all buffed up either but you could see muscles similar to Lovino's under the neat aspect of his uniform. His face was pleasant to look at and actually really attractive but with weird thick eyebrows … actually he looked cute with them. His golden hair was mussed up as if the wind had had his way with it or he didn't bother brushing this morning. But the most intriguing was his eyes. They were big and sharp, like ones of a cat and even seemed to narrow into a thin line like an angry cat, and of a beautiful emerald green. A green this pure and vibrant is unusual in itself and his showed a spark of authority and pride that all Alfas would wish to have.
Alfred looked the boy over with a suspicious glare while Feliciano shied away, hoping nobody would notice him and hopefully Alfred would forget him. They were late for class and on the first day! His nonno was not going to be pleased. Alfred burst out laughing and offered a hand to the new boy.
"Hey, dude! Didn't see you there since you're so small! So, what's your name?"
The boy lifted one of his large eyebrows and seemed reluctant to shake hands with Alfred but he still did out of politeness.
"Arthur. And you're in my way."
"Oh yeah, right! I'm Alfred Franklin Jones! I was just about to go in too. You're a first year?"
"Once you're done telling me your life story and being all nosey, will you let me through? We're late and although you may not care, I do." Arthur growled in irritation and Alfred frowned at this. He didn't like being addressed like that by some new kid he just met. Especially since Alfred is a particularly dominant Alfa.
"Oi dude. Watch your words. I'm nice cause you're new and all but don't push me. You'll regret it." The American seethed in between his teeth. Arthur rolled his eyes, amused and tried to walk past the American.
Being ignored was definitely not something Alfred would stand for. He growled in fury and grabbed Arthur by the shoulder to pull him back as he clenched his fist into a punch. Feliciano shrieked as he saw the coming blow but Arthur only smirked. In mere seconds, Alfred's face clashed with Arthur's foot and broke his nose before the taller teen was flipped over and landed on his back, flat out on the floor with a loud thump. Arthur dusted himself off and glared at the American like one would when scolding a child.
"I told you to move out of my way. I tried the nice way but you just didn't listen, mate."
The emerald eyes then fell on the stunned Italian and approached him. Arthur placed a gentle hand over Feliciano's shoulder who was shaking every fibre of his body.
"Are you alright, lad?" Arthur smiled warmly at him. Smiled. Feliciano could not believe that this scary person could have such a warm and caring smile. Such a beautiful smile. And the Italian had a feeling that Arthur didn't smile very often.
But … something didn't feel right.
Arthur was now so close to him that Feliciano could smell and identify his scent. Humans all have a specific scent that identifies and differentiates them. Omegas always have the sweetest of scents and are a delight to Alfas. Betas have a more variable scent but it's always quite dulled and relaxing, rather than something strong and feral like for Alfas. From what he had seen, Feliciano had assumed Arthur to be an Alfa. Who else but another Alfa could stand up and efficiently beat Alfred? And indeed, Feliciano did smell some Alfa on Arthur but he noticed it was only a superficial smell, like you get from hanging around many Alfas and having picked up the scent. Lovino would often complain that Feliciano spent way too much time with Betas and Omegas and he would pick up their scent.
Arthur crunched his nose, obviously smelling Feliciano himself and his eyes widened slightly in surprise. He didn't speak a word and instead walked into the classroom, motioning the Italian to follow, reminding Feliciano that they did have class after all. But as Feliciano listened to Arthur's excuse to the teacher and both heard Alfred groan and pull himself to his feet, the Italian couldn't stop himself from trying to smell out the British student.
He smelled different. Definitely not an Alfa. Absolutely not.
But how could he be anything else but an Alfa? Yet his smell was there and tingling Feliciano's nostrils, pleasing his nose and the Italian found himself enjoying the sweet scent of the blonde English teen.
Sweet?
AN: Ah yes, just to warn everyone: It's a Italy x England fic (yes, in that order)
But there will be some one-sided World x England (Because I think England makes a cute Omega!) And I thought it would be fun to have Feliciano be an Alfa!