"Your name is Nicole Mikaelson." Tony informed her once he had her sat at the dinner table. "But file I was given notes that you prefer Nikki."
"Where's Polly?" The girl asked from around a lump in her throat. Tony could almost see her choking on it.
Tony sighed. "You were the only one rescued by my colleague. Was she a supernatural like you?"
Nikki stared blankly for a moment. "She was a beta. Is that right?" Tony heaved a heavy sigh at this. Oh boy. They dug deep in her melon.
"If Ms. Richards was an ordinary person caught with you at the wrong time I'm sorry to say... Hydra probably-"
There was a crash in the kitchen and then the smell of spilt tea. "Pep?" Tony called out, only to hear a pained noise from Nikki and turned his head back.
"I'm fine." Pepper called back. "I'll have to start another pot of chamomile."
"We just wanted boba while we were in Kyoto. It splashed everywhere when they grabbed us." She met his eyes, tears welling up in them. "Why wouldn't they have just left her behind? Polly didn't even know basic self defense. She would be no good to them."
His heart sinking even further, Tony made himself ask the next question. "But was she any good to you?"
"I don't know." Nikki whispered, looking horrified by the fact she'd forgotten. "All I can tell you is that I've clung to her name this whole time, and a memory of her nursing my wounds. So probably. It was the only thing they didn't manage to steal from me."
Tony checked the time and swore to himself. "One moment, Nikki. Friday, has Pete already left school?"
"Peter is well on his way."
Tony heaved a sigh. "How would you like to go to public school as part of your rehabilitation? There's someone you're going to meet in a moment who could help with that."
x
Peter Parker was having a bad day. By the time school had let out he was unable to deny the fact he had presented as an omega. Seriously? Two percent of the world population present as omega and even less of those are males. It couldn't just be a fever.
He tried to ring Mr. Stark again, but to no avail. I feel so hot. I can't keep going like this. He was swinging as fast as he could at this point, well ahead of Flash, who had practically chased him out the doors when the school bell rang. Peter barely had time to duck him, activate the nanobots in his suit and make his escape. His heart was pounding by the time he left the center of the city and grew a little closer to where Tony's penthouse was. A whole building for him to live in and practice his engineering skills. What a dream.
He tried one more time to ring Mr. Stark as he swung around the corner and Tony picked up. "Pete what's gotten into you? This isn't the best time for me, I'll admit."
"Mr. Stark, do you have a moment?" Peter was embarrassed. "I need to see you. I'm coming in the top." He landed on the roof and the nano machines peeled back to leave him panting in his school clothes on the roof.
"Pete, why does it sound like you've run a marathon? Friday, scan him."
Peter felt a hot flush of embarrassment as he struggled to get the strength in his limbs back. "Mr.Parker is presenting as omega and going into heat. It is a natural occurrence that usually happens for the first time when a person is-"
"Fuck." There was some loud shuffling and the sound of Mr. Stark whisper-yelling at someone. "I'll be right up, Pete."
x
Nikki couldn't focus. Her head gone all kinds of fuzzy and there was something that smelled truly delicious nearby. She turned to look at Tony and could feel her eyes turning amber with the start of the change into a wolf. "Don't you-" Tony began quietly scuffling with her, trying to nudge her back into her room. She bolted, going for the stairs that lead up to the roof. She peeled the door at the top off the hinges vaguely registering that something was different with her now. They need me. The person on the roof needs me. I have to protect...Have to. Need to. I must. I will. It took three long strides to cross the roof and gently pull the burning, gasping figure up into her arms.
"Omega." She said, pressing her forehead to the sweaty forehead of the pained boy she'd scooped up. "It's alright. Shhhh..." She began to gently rub his back.
"Put him down." Tony was speaking, a tone of warning in his voice. Nikki glared at him from the corner of her eye, growling softly and clutching the panting boy.
"Omega." She said simply as if that was enough of an answer.
"C'mon kid, don't make me do this." Tony tried. She shook her head at him. Mine. He needs me. He's mine. "You don't even know Pete, but he has a bright future ahead of him, same as you. The two of you presenting isn't enough to throw that out-"
"He's mine." She said aloud. "True omega. We belong to each other."
"Last chance." Tony said with a set face. Nikki shook her head at him. "I mean it, Nikki. This isn't something to play around with. Neither of you is thinking clearly. An omega's consent cannot be given in this state. Nor your own."
A surge of panic filled her. He's going to take my mate. Perfect omega. No. He can't. I won't let him have my soulmate. "No!" She said and stood up, cradling the heatsick omega.
"I'm sorry." He said and then spoke a phrase in Russian that caused her to go fuzzier than ever and her limbs to lock up. A kill code. I can't believe- Her consciousness left as she entered her standby, order-receiving mode.
No. Nononono! Then she was gone.
x
Peter swallowed the suppressant tablet, looking over the blonde girl with the pretty eyes who had told him everything would be alright. "Mr. Stark I can't afford these. Neither can Aunt May." He was already feeling better, more himself, and was dreading the return to the hazy fever state.
"You'll have all the suppressants you need kid, and I'll make sure news of your official presentation as omega is smothered and kept on the down low." Stark was quiet. "She said you were her true mate."
"It sounds right." Peter shrugged. "Her touch made all pain leave my body. I felt safe, soothed. Like I never have, not even for Aunt May. It definitely made something in me cry out when you did whatever you did. And looking at her now is painful. I wish you'd wake her back up."
"Not a chance kid, until I'm sure what just happened." He crossed his arms.
Peter sighed. "I think we both presented at the same time. I'm an omega and she's definitely an alpha." He glanced at her again. "She's my age. Why isn't she in school?"
"Another victim of leftover Hydra cells." Tony crossed his arms and gave Peter a long look. "I wondered about sticking her with you, but there'd obviously have to be conditions on that."
"Like what, Mr. Stark?" Peter looked up at him with those big, soft puppy eyes. This kid is just too good for this world.
"Well, before any of the alpha/omega stuff happened I was going to be adamant you learn the code words and phrases that can stop her in her tracks." Tony was firm. "This was involves you learning Russian. I'll get you an app for that." He hesitated. "I'm not sure now, though. You have to keep your heat suppressed and I think you should use scent blockers too. The other kids are dangerous enough without adding her into the mix."
Peter just listened carefully. "I'm giving you a chance here to say you don't want to do this." Tony continued.
Peter smiled softly at him. "No, Mr. Stark. I do. I'm your friendly neighborhood Spiderman." He faltered. "If I'm being honest though, an American high school has to be the most stressful spot for a young person I can think of."
"That's why I'm suggesting it. She needs to learn how to handle these things that a normal child her age does." Tony was quiet. "I still won't make you do it."
Peter shook his hand. "Teach me the words, Mr. Stark. I'm ready."