Chapter Text
The scraping of wooden wheels against dirt road was sharp in Kuvira’s ears as the cart continued it’s journey on the winding path. She kept her knees hugged close to her chest, tumbling in her seat every time they passed over a divot or hole in the trail. She looked up to see the back of her sire’s head. He never turned back to meet the eyes he could undoubtedly feel staring at him.
This was not how she expected things to go.
“Worthless!” A pungent smell filled Kuvira’s nostrils. Even as she cowered under the dining room table, the stench of her sire’s ardor permeated from the closed door of his room down to the first floor. Pups tend to have very weak noses as sharpness isn’t necessary until they reach maturity, but particularly strong emotions will reek so intensely even they can smell them.
She flinched as a stream of curses and broken pottery echoed through the house, clutching her head as tears ran down her cheeks. Could she have but a crumb of peace?
“This is all your fault, you useless bitch!” Another hard clatter of ceramic against wood, followed by a whimper gave her all the answer she needed, even if it wasn’t the one she wanted.
“I should have known a pathetic, sniveling brat of an omega like you would only ever bear me the same sniveling brat of a child, even if she is an alpha!”
A hard pass over a rock jostled the cart and brought Kuvira out of her thoughts. She looked across from her at her mother. Lip busted, eye swollen, a scowl seemingly permanent on her face from the moment they loaded into the cart. Kuvira tried to reach out to her. A tiny hand extending in comfort and concern, only to be met with a hard kick to the stomach. The young alpha retched and coughed, clutching her stomach as the burning pain spread through her torso. A fresh river of tears finding their way to the bed of the cart from their home on Kuvira’s face.
“Mama…”, she croaked weakly.
“Shut up. I would’ve been better off if you hadn’t been born.”
“Finally. We’re here.”
Pushing herself up, Kuvira leaned her face against the rail of the cart to see into the distance. A palace of metal flowers. There was no other way to describe it. Curved sheets of platinum like petals of a lotus flower on a lily pad. Great towers sprouted up from the middle, sunlight glistening off the sleek surfaces and through the pristine windows. Looking a little straighter on, there were two figures off in the distance, waiting.
Her sire pulled the reins on the ostrich-horse pulling their cart along and they slowed to a stop soon after. Carefully, as to not poke at the bruise now forming under her shirt, Kuvira climbed out of the cart and walked up to the figures. They had funny looking, robe-like clothes and metal jewelry around their necks that made Kuvira unnerved. She clutched at her sire’s pant leg in reassurance but this was not someone she could depend on for protection. He kicked her to the floor roughly.
“Get off! You weak coward!”
Her knee scrapes against the ground before her arms can break her fall.
“Good luck trying to get any use out of this pathetic wretch, Suyin”, he spat as Kuvira picked herself up from the floor and dusted off her pants.
She turned to this woman named Suyin, now crouched next to her, and nervously looked up at her, fingers twiddling in anticipation.
“Don’t worry. She’s in good hands.”
The male sire scoffed, “So long as she’s out of mine.” Kuvira looked up at him, pleading for sympathy with her eyes. But the implication of shameful disgrace was insulting.
“Listen up, brat!”, he barked, making Kuvira flinch, “I never want to see you ever again! Do you understand me?! Never again! If you ever dare come into my presence again, I will take you out of this world just as I brought you into it!”
The reality finally settled in. There was no hiding from it now. Part of her wanted to believe it was another mean punishment her sire had concocted for her. But no, not this time. Kuvira had no choice but to come face-to-face with the very thing she so desperately feared.
Her mother and sire were abandoning her.
Piercing wails erupted form her throat as she cried and cried, large globs of tears falling from her eyes. She had done so much crying in such a shirt amount of time. Bataar Sr. scooped Kuvira into his arms and rocked her gently against his chest.
“There, there, sweetheart. It’s okay.”
Through blurry eyes, Kuvira lifted her head just long enough to watch her sire and mother get back into their cart and ride off, back to the home Kuvira would never return to. The little alpha buried her head in Bataar’s chest once the cart was out of sight.
“Alright then”, said Suyin, clapping her hands together, “Let’s give you the tour.”
The great doors of the estate opened and they were met with a big metal flower where dancers twirled gracefully in the air. They caught each other gently and tossed each other around just as much so, even in their loose fitting clothes.
“This is the dance hall. You can sit in on some classes if you like. If it interests you, I can even teach you myself.”
Though her cheeks were puffy and red, Kuvira smiled a little at the idea. The next room they entered was a dining hall with one large, U-shaped table and very tall chairs.
“This is where we’ll have dinner. My chef is one of the best in world. He can cook anything you like and better than you’ve ever had it.”
Next, they stepped outside into a field where pedestals were lined up in rows, strange rocks Kuvira had never seen before nestled securely on each one.
“This is my meteorite collection. You can come here and look at them whenever you like but be careful not to touch.”
Shouting and commotion came from the dance hall, making Kuvira cover her ears nervously.
“There’s no need to be afraid”, said Bataar as he rubbed Kuvira’s back soothingly, “Those are important people you need to meet.”
The old omega set the youngster down and held her hand as he led her back inside. Suyin led the way.
Upon entering, Kuvira was met with the sight of children. There was a boy with long hair who was laying down on the floor. He had many papers scattered in front of him with drawings and sketches. There was another boy with glasses like Bataar Sr. playing with a toy train. The train was made of metal, unlike the wooden one Kuvira had gotten for her first birthday. It was the only toy her sire ever bought for her.
Finally, there was a girl, sitting in a far corner by herself. She had a book in her hand with a blank cover. She only looked up to glance at Kuvira then looked back down again.
“These are going to be your new siblings”, said Suyin. “Come here, kids!”
The boys stood and scurried over to their sire but the girl didn’t move, eye glued to her book. The boy with the long hair walked up first, a drawing held in his hand. Kuvira walked up to meet him.
“Kuvira, this is Huan.”
“Um, hello.” Kuvira waves timidly at him. Without warning, Huan holds up his drawing directly in front of Kuvira’s face.
“What is your opinion on this drawing?”
No expecting to give artistic critique, Kuvira flinched a bit at the suddenness of the gesture but calmed herself when she realized there was no threat. She eyed the drawing carefully. It was a picture of Huan next to a big metal banana with fireworks popping overhead.
“Um, I think it looks… nice?”
Huan paused for a moment before putting his drawing down and cupping his chin pensively. He nodded and went back to his spot on the floor, running his brush across another piece of paper. Another banana seemingly in the works. Usually, when Kuvira gave an opinion, she was met with ridicule at best and violence at worst, so Huan’s non-reaction lets her uneasy. Did he like her response? Has she made a good first impression? Very unclear.
The boy with the glasses gets very close to Kuvira’s face, invading her personal space in a way that Kuvira doesn’t like. She leans back to keep him away and tries covering her nervous face with her long sleeves.
“Our city’s transportation system is completely automated and runs without the need for Satomobiles. We use a system called the monorail.”
Yet another situation Kuvira was unprepared for. This one was unwelcome. She didn’t like this boy. He had zero regard for personal space and he spoke about things she had no way to engage with. What on Earth is a monorail?
“I don’t know what a monorail is.”
“You don’t? Oh, you must be from a very poor part of the country then.”
Redness began growing in Kuvira’s cheeks. She could feel how hot they were becoming from her embarrassment. She clutched at Bataar’s pants in a futile attempt to save face. Bataar had lost interest in Kuvira, who doesn’t share his interests, and returned to his toy.
“This is Bataar Jr. He’s our oldest.”
“Can I go now, please?”
“Not yet”, said Suyin, “You have one more person to meet.”
Finally, though she didn’t see when, the little girl from the corner came up to her. She had short black hair and light green dress. Kuvira peeled herself from Bataar and stood bashfully before her. She kept her eyes on the floor.
“Kuvira, this is Opal.”
“Hi.”
For a moment, Opal didn’t speak, only staring at this shy, timid alpha in front of her. But then, she did say something, though no one was expecting her to say:
“I’m going to marry you.”
There was a long pause. No one was quite sure what to make of Opal’s statement. Suyin was the first to react. By laughing.
“Sweetheart, you can’t marry Kuvira. She’s your new sister.”
“I don’t need a sister and I don’t want a sister. Kuvira and I are going to be mates.”
“Who decided that?”, said Suyin, putting a hand on her hip.
“I did. Just now.”
“Well, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but you will not, under any circumstances-”
“Okay then.”
Everyone whipped their heads toward Kuvira, who had been looking inquisitively at Opal from the moment she made her statement. So far, Opal’s marriage proposal had been the kindest thing anyone had said to her since she arrived. It was the only thing someone had offered, or rather insisted, she partake in that seemed to actively consider her personal happiness. Suyin’s offers of mentor ship seemed more rooted in personal gain than helping Kuvira be happy. As if the circumstances of Kuvira being there were any indication.
“Is it true you’ve never seen the monorail?”, asked Opal.
“Um, yes.” The heat of Kuvira’s previous embarrassment had just begun to settle and now Opal’s inquiry was making rise again. Suddenly, small fingers lace with Kuvira’s own as Opal takes her hand and leads them outside, a big smile on the omega’s face.
“Let’s go for a ride.”
The young alpha is dragged along a stone path that leads to the station just outside the main entrance to the estate. They hop on and take their seats on the green cushions, wobbling in place when the monorail begins its journey through Zaofu. Kuvira peeks through the window behind them, watching the shiny buildings and fancy fountains pass by.
She sneaks a glance at Opal, who remained quiet since the ride began. It was hard to tell what she was thinking about. Was she thinking about what she said before? About getting married? It unnerved Kuvira just thinking about it. She only agreed out of fear.
Her sire gave her away. Her mother hated her for being alive. She had no doubt Suyin would do the same when the investment started to outweigh the dividends. She needed one person, just one person, who wanted her to stick around, regardless of the reason. So, Opal’s lifelong venture seemed perfect! Just get married and stay together forever! Easy!
But it was out of Kuvira’s hands.
She knew nothing about Opal or why she chose her. Would she change her mind when they got know each other? Maybe she thinks Kuvira is a strong, domineering alpha that will provide for her and keep her safe from whatever dangers might come their way. Despite the young alpha’s desperate need to be needed, she couldn’t be something she wasn’t.
“You know”, started Kuvira, sitting correctly in her seat, “I-I’m not very brave. Or very strong. I probably won’t be a good mate.”
“I picked you for a reason. As long as that reason doesn’t change, we are going to be mates. End of discussion.”
“Oh. Alright then.”
That night, curled up in her new room, Kuvira stares up at the ceiling. As she does, thoughts of Opal’s smiling face fill her head.
I’ll be the kind of mate you deserve, Opal. I promise.