Kyle slept fitfully, and when he finally did sleep, he dreamt. He was the watcher of a painfully familiar story. One from his past. He remembered like it had been yesterday.

He had tried every trick in the book, but his mom wasn't having any of it. Instead of spending all day in bed where he wanted to be, instead he trudged through the snow to the usual bus stop.

Kenny and Stan were already waiting.

They both greeted him and he greeted them back, feeling surprisingly normal.

"Hi Kyle."

Cartman appeared at the bus stop, a wide grin on his face. Kyle waited for the ridicule.

"How are you doing dear friend?" Eric had asked. Kyle narrowed his eyes.

"It is such a fine day after all."

"What the hell are you up to?"

"Me? Nothing at all! I'm just going to school like a normal kid. Ready to learn about all sorts of new things."

Though Kyle trusted him about as far as he could throw him, he had no choice but to drop it as the bus pulled up to their stop.

The dream faded out, and Kyle watched in horror as a new scene opened before him, lucid enough to know what was going to happen, but not so much that he could change it.

Entering first period Kyle had walked on autopilot to his usual seat. As he pulled out the chair, a bright, neon green dildo popped out, jiggling in the air as the bottom stayed firmly suctioned to the seat.

"BA HA HA HA HA, oh man! Your face was priceless!" Cartman's laugh was piercing that day.

"Fuck off Cartman!" Gripping the dildo, he yanked it off, a loud pop sounding as the suction finally released.

He threw it hard, seeing him dodge just in time, still laughing.

Sitting down he heard whispers around him, snickers escaping here and there. He'd been telling everyone he had been a beta for a month or so. Now everyone knew he was an omega and a liar. It was hard to focus that day.

In the halls it was clear the 12th grade kid hadn't just told his own grade and Kyle's but the whole school.

In Phys Ed he'd never felt more uncomfortable in his gym clothes as both the grade 10s and 11s watched him knowingly.

Changing in the change room he hurried in, wanting to get it over with as soon as possible. As he opened his gym bag he saw the same green dildo as before.

He had been so mad. He wanted to get even. But it just made things worse.

Kyle waited and watched for Eric to come in and change. As usual he was one of the last ones as he was currently complaining of stomach pains (fake).

"Hey fatass, if you can't find a place to put this, how about I shove it up your ass!?"

"AH HA HA HA HA! Look everyone, the omega's carrying around a dick so his ass won't get lonely!" Cartman grabbed his stomach, laughing at his own jokes. The guys joined in, laughing at Kyle's expense.

"That's not funny!"

"Nope, totally is!"

Grabbing his bag and storming out, Kyle made sure to throw the rubber dick in the garbage rather than give Cartman another chance to stash it somewhere.

After third period, Kyle had been ready for the day to be done. He'd been paranoid, and most of the guys were acting strange around him, some making jokes at his expense.

He opened his locker door, he felt something solid slap against his face.

Stuck to the door of his locker was a bright pink dildo - even fatter than the last one.

"Dude, what the hell?" Stan asked, fiddling with his own lock next to Kyle.

"That's it! I've had enough!"

Grabbing the dildo, Kyle was on a war path.

"Well boys... I'm not impressed."

PC principal paced back and forth, leering at the both of them from behind his sunglasses.

"Kyle Broflovski... it says here you were found beating young Eric Cartman with a hot pink dildo." PC principal put down the clipboard he held, rubbing his temple with two fingers.

"What do you have to say for yourself?"

"It's not my fault! He's been putting these things everywhere!"

"I just thought... it be like a jooooke, since we're best friends I thought it would be okaaaaay." Eric sniffed, cradling his right arm.

"Bullshit! You're just doing this to make fun of me as usual!"

"Now Kyle, can't you see he's sorry?"

"I am Kyle, I'm really, really sorry. I just want to be friends again." He whined, making Kyle roll his eyes.

"Can't you see he's lying!? He's making fun of me because I'm an omega!"

"You keep going on about our types Kyle. I just want it to be like before. After you've found out I became an alpha, you've been mean to me ever since. All I want is to be your friend agaaaain!"

"Kyle! We've just talked about being typist, and here you are already discriminating against the alphas of our school!"

"What!? No! I'M the one being discriminated against!" Kyle gaped.

"I don't want to hear it young man! Look at the pain you're causing poor Eric. He even sprained his right arm because of you."

"It's okay PC Principal, I think maybe I'll be able to write like usual so I can keep up with my studies." Moving his hand Cartman groaned in pain. "M-maybe not."

"Kyle! Your punishment is to be Eric's right hand until he heals! Do I make myself clear?"

"Are you kidding me!?"

"I said is that clear?"

Leaning in, his fist up, PC principal was not going to let this go.

"Fine! I get it!"

"Good! Dismissed."

Kyle was pissed as they left the office.

Eric turned to him with a smug grin and continued to cradle his arm.

"Thanks for the help, Kyle. I've been wanting to clean my room for a long time now. Plus, I have an essay to write. You'll have no problem helping me with that, right?"

Cartman's grin grew until it consumed his face, and continued to grow even larger. His teeth became sharp and encroached on him, leaving the scenes from his past. The watcher Kyle turned to run, but he reacted in slow-motion. His heart pounded as Cartman's teeth laughed through his gaping grin.

"If it had been on your neck, I would be the only alpha you could be with. And you'd be mine."

Kyle slapped his hand to his neck, running, but going nowhere.

"No!"

Teeth chomped into the soft flesh of his hand. Kyle fell and warm blood dripped down his arm. The teeth chomped down again, and again. He felt a weight on his back, pushing his down. The teeth chomped down once more, snarling at him like a rabid dog.

Kyle jolted from his bed, his heart beating a mile a minute.

"Fuck." He hung his head in his hands, relieved it was over. It had been ages since he'd dreamt of that day. Maybe all his exposure to Cartman was dredging up things best forgotten. If he could ever forget it.

Heaving a sigh, he already felt tired. His body was slick with sweat. But time ticked on, and he had to get ready for work. He rubbed the crescent scar on his hand, then pushed away the memories and jumped in the shower.

The morning was a whirlwind, but Kyle was slowly becoming accustomed to it. Thankfully, this was the first lunch break he'd gotten in awhile where he didn't have to fill it with work.

Bradley waved him over when he saw him.

"Morning Kyle. Tell me, what new presentation stunt will you be pulling next?" He joked as Kyle sat down.

"Hopefully a normal presentation, with no mishaps, and deadlines met." Kyle collapsed back into the chair.

"That might be the most miraculous presentation yet! I don't think anyone's managed to pull that off!"

"Haw haw." Kyle began pulling out his food. He was starving. "By the way, what are you up to tonight?"

"Probably go home, think about doing laundry, fall asleep, and then forget about doing laundry."

"So not a whole lot?"

Bradley shook his head, "Riveting Friday night, I know."

"Let me treat you to some drinks."

"Drinks? Of the alcoholic variety?"

"What other kind?"

"What's the occasion?"

"Besides the good company, how about you saving my ass yesterday?" Kyle suggested.

"Hey, honestly, don't worry about it. It's nothing."

"No, it's really not nothing. Let's meet after work."

His phone buzzed to life. He glanced at it and saw Cartman's extension.

"Duty calls." He sighed, stuffing the rest of his sandwich into his mouth.

"I don't miss those days, that's for sure. If you make it through this, you'll make it through anything. Text me when you're done."

The frosty mugs of beer were placed before the two of them, and they each took a revered sip after a week's worth of work.

"Ahhh, finally a bit of relaxation. I really thought that was the end for me there."

"It was such a strange coincidence. You know, I found those documents in the garbage bin at Johnson's desk. He didn't even think to shred them."

"That guy's such an asshole. He competent enough, but just a bad personality." Kyle commiserated.

"I don't understand him, especially when anyone can see you're working hard. It's not like you're slacking off."

"Cheers to that. And thank you again." Kyle drank deep. "You're so on top of things. I'd be lucky if I knew half the things you do."

"It was hard earned." Bradley said honestly. "I came into it as trusting as you. I learned by trial and error. I also have to work 10 times harder to get any recognition. It's not as bad anymore though. I think I've established myself pretty well. Nothing will ever be as bad as leaving your position though."

"What do you mean?"

"Have you noticed that I'm one of the only omegas in this department? Even after the induction program?"

Kyle thought to his coworkers. So far for omegas, he only knew Bradley and himself.

"When did the program start?"

"It's been going on for a while. Though only higher omega achievers are selected for the position, most don't make it to the end of the placement, or they quit the company after they do."

"Why's that?"

"The president's aide is like a training position, but you're always right beside him, so no one would dream of doing anything too crazy in front of him. A little prank here, a document there. As soon as you're hired into a branch and get into your department - well, by then all eyes are turned to the new aide, and the previous one is no longer on the radar. You become another faceless worker in the company and people can do what they like. It's quite the wake-up call. Even in a company that's supposed to be supporting and helping omegas join the work force, there's the same old crap we have to deal with day in and day out."

"That's... terrible." Kyle had thought after a few months things would get better, but hearing it straight from Bradley made it all the more difficult to swallow. He thought of how much harder he'd had to work on those projects simply because his team had been uncooperative.

"Yeah. It perpetuates the stigma as well. Jealous betas sabotage omegas. They look incapable in the eyes of the higher ups, but the alphas don't expect much different from omegas, so they don't look into it too hard. It's a lot better than other companies, but there's still a lot that needs to be fixed."

"What about you?" Kyle blurted.

"What about me?" He asked.

"Why do you stay?"

Bradley looked into his glass. He swirled the beer around to capture the excess foam on the sides.

"Maybe I'm just stubborn. Maybe, despite what everyone expects, I'll make a name for myself. All on my own."

Kyle took a sip

"I also respect Eric as a boss."

Kyle spat, "What?!"

Bradley shot him a grin.

"Don't get me wrong, he can be a bit of a..." He stopped as he searched for the right word.

"A dick?" Kyle took the liberty.

Bradley's eyes shone in agreement, "Yeah. But he's at least that way to everyone equally. I've never heard him once mention someone's secondary gender. He trusts you to do your job, and if you mess up, he reams you out just like any other alpha, beta or omega."

"Is that so…" Kyle was skeptical. That certainly wasn't the Eric Cartman he'd known in middle and high school. Was Cartman actually capable of changing his views that much?

Kyle didn't think so.

His thoughts continued to be plagued with Cartman, even after he'd had a few and bid Bradley goodbye. What he'd said clung to his thoughts, repeating in an infuriating loop.

After a shower, he plopped down beside his bed and leaned against it. He scrolled through his phone, scanning Facebook, Twitter and Insta before deciding the usual arguments were too depressing or not sufficiently distracting enough to read tonight. Rubbing his towel roughly against his orange curls his phone sprung to life.

His heart jumped a little as he saw the name. He never called him much these days.

"Hey what's up?" He asked.

"Nothing much. What're you up to this Sunday?" Ike's voice was fainter than usual. It sounded like he was on the road.

Kyle's relaxed slightly. At least there were no more predicaments he'd gotten himself into. Though he was the one who said he wanted to be relied on.

"Nothing planned so far. How come?"

"Oh, you know, I was looking for someone to drive up to Canada with me to import some of that sweet, sweet syrup."

Kyle could hear the grin in his brother's voice. "I thought the maple syrup mafia already told you not to sell on their turf." He played along.

"I just can't stand by as they sell that American shit!"

"I'm going to need a cut of the profits then. 80% at least." Kyle badgered.

"Hey, it didn't take you long working for a corporation for you to adopt their scummy business practices!"

"Take it or leave it." Kyle warned.

"79% and that's my last offer."

"Deal." Kyle exclaimed like he sold him. "Where are you right now anyway?"

"…I'm driving back from mom's place. I wanted to tell her about my grad date."

"When is that again?" Kyle knew already, but he didn't want to hear the other part Ike was going to say.

" A month today. She wants to cook for us on Sunday. Mom does." Ike steered the conversation back.

"..."

"I know you don't want to go, but the doc said to try and not stress her out even more than she already is. She keeps talking about you, you know. She's always asking how you are."

Kyle sighed.

"I'll go. Just seems like a weird time to finally be invited." This was the first Sunday dinner he'd been invited to since he'd moved out, pretty much.

"... I think... it's more about her heath scare the other day, not about dad being gone."

He wanted to believe it, but deep down he didn't. The line was silent as Kyle grappled with his emotions.

"You okay?" Ike asked eventually.

"Yeah. I'll see you Sunday." He could hear the shortness in his tone, but luckily Ike didn't press him further.

"Later."

"Yeah, see you Sunday."

Kyle hung up, suddenly very tired. The light filtered into his dark room from the bathroom light he'd left on. He let his head hang and sighed, recalling all the memories he'd be better off forgetting.

"Honestly Sheila, we might as well save the money for Ike."

An overheard conversation.

"Kyle, you need to start looking at realistic options. There's only so much I can help you with like this."

A backhanded platitude.

"Going out with your friends again? Can you afford to do that right now?"

Snide comments at every turn.

Kyle knew he was spiralling. Each memory was so distinct and burned into his mind that they played out in full clarity, like a bad compilation that he couldn't stop. His father's misguided concern, the pity, the disappointment, the eventual resentment.

"You need to be more careful! You KNEW Eric's was an alpha. Why would you even THINK to go there alone!?"

After that day, when he'd needed comfort more than anything else.

"If I'm such a disappointment, why don't I just leave?"

Kyle had threatened. He hadn't expected his father to agree.

"Maybe once you get some real-life experience, you'll know we've been doing what's best for you." After his mom had left his father hovered in his door. "Your mother won't say it, so I will. Do us both a favour and make sure not to get knocked up." He tossed a box of condoms into the room and closed the door behind him.

Then when Kyle was at his wit's end trying to find a job and needed rent money,

"Living on your own - that went well. Do you want us to find you a job now too?"

Each memory bore its barbs, twisting deeper into the same wounds, making them fresh again.

Kyle climbed into bed, curling into himself. He closed his eyes, willing himself to not think about it. He felt dark and twisted inside. Even despite the memories and despite the hate Kyle had harboured towards his father for everything he'd said and done, he still entertained the fantasy that once he was independent, things might go back to how they had been. Or at the very least, that he would be acknowledged. It was that small part that wounded him the most and made him feel worthless. Despite how hard he'd tried and how far he'd come, he knew it would never be enough.

The sentiment echoed in his mind until finally sleep came.

And at night, he dreamt again of sharp, canine teeth.