Chapter Text
Kaveh had never been a superstitious person.
However, in his family, there had always been a distinct tradition for all of the omegas- and it was one that he was expected to follow.
All because of an old wives' tale, originating from thousands of years ago.
It was rather simple and straightforward, dictating that all omegas must be mated to their lifelong partner before their thirtieth birthday- or else great misfortune would follow them and the rest of their bloodline. Whatever the fuck that meant.
Regardless, Kaveh never believed in it- so why would he even bother following it? He knew tons of omegas and alphas who found love and their mates past thirty, so why in the world did he have to be rushed into a lifelong commitment?
What if he ended up picking the wrong mate because of it? Picking a mate was supposed to be something forever, fuck, it was eternal- so why was he being expected to rush into something so precious and serious so quickly?
God, it didn't even make sense to him. It was so... infuriating. He couldn't even begin to justify it- everything about the superstition was just nonsensical and utterly ridiculous.
And yet, it was just his luck that it was something his family took very, very seriously.
Maybe a little too seriously, if he was being honest. If anything, Kaveh considered it a bunch of nonsense. Growing up, he never bought into such ideologies and never gave their family tradition much thought...
Until that fateful afternoon when his mother's phone call changed everything.
He picked up the call without much thought, clueless about where the conversation was headed. It took him a moment to realize that she had called for a very specific reason (also known as: meeting his non-existent mate), which was something Kaveh hadn't prepared for.
"Come on, I don't have a mate yet, mom." Kaveh had laughed it off awkwardly. "I'm way too busy with work to deal with mating stuff right now."
But the silence on the other end of the line was deafening.
"Kaveh, sweetheart, how old are you again?" she asked, her tone innocent as ever.
"Um," Kaveh blinked, caught off guard by the sudden questions. "Twenty-nine?"
"And when is your birthday?" she continued.
At that moment, Kaveh paused. He zeroed in on the date, his eyes widening as the realization hit him like a ton of bricks.
Because it just so happened that his thirtieth birthday was in one fucking month.
And all at once, Kaveh's entire world comes to a full stop. All he could do was stare at the date in sheer panic, his mind racing for the right words.
On the other end, his mother let out an audible sigh.
"Don't tell me that you've forgotten about our family's tradition, Kaveh?" his mother's tone had an edge of exasperation.
"No, mom, of course not!" he blurted out, panic setting in. "It's just that I've been super busy lately, and I've been a bit forgetful, and..."
"You still haven't found a mate?" his mother sighed again when Kaveh stayed quiet on the other line. "Kaveh, you know about how seriously we take this tradition of ours."
"I... I know, but..." Kaveh stammered, only for his mother to cut him off.
"Listen, Kaveh, if you don't have time to find a mate, then I'll have to find one for you," she declared, a hint of disappointment creeping into her voice. "I'll have to start looking around Fontaine for suitable alphas, and—"
At that, Kaveh felt his heart sink.
God, no. Kaveh would rather die than be mated to someone he didn't even know- he couldn't!
"Wait! Wait, hold on, you don't have to do that!" Kaveh urgently interrupted, desperation evident in his tone. "I have someone!"
His mother fell silent on the other end immediately.
"Oh? But you just said you didn't have a mate," she responded, suspicion evident in her tone.
“Yeah, because I’m not mated yet!” Kaveh stammered, “But there's this alpha, and I..."
He inhaled sharply, forcing the words past his lips.
"I’m currently seeing him!” Kaveh blurted out, all in one breath. "We're dating!"
And in all honesty, that had to be the biggest fucking lie he’s ever told. With each passing second, he held his tongue and silently prayed that she wouldn't hear the guilty tremor in his voice, his heart racing as she fell into silence once more.
Please don't ask any more questions, Kaveh pleaded desperately. Please, please, please...
"Oh? So who is this alpha you're seeing, anyhow?" She probed. "And why haven't you mentioned them before now?"
Damn it. Kaveh winced, mentally scrambling for an answer.
"Uh, you see... well, he's... he's my friend," Kaveh blurted out, speaking the first words that came to mind. "We met at the Akademiya a long time ago, but we started dating not too long ago."
"And you never told me?"
"Well, I couldn't. We aren't officially mates, you know..." Kaveh cleared his throat. "He only started courting me this year."
And just like that, the long, suffocating silence was back.
"So you mean to tell me that he's been courting you for a whole year already?" His mother's skepticism had already returned. "And this young man, he hasn't asked to mate you yet?"
"Um..." Kaveh's voice felt weak. "No?"
His mother sighed.
"Then this might be a good opportunity for him," she mumbled. "So let's give him a month to make his decision."
Wait. Kaveh froze. "Huh?"
"You need to ask that alpha of yours to mate you by the end of this month. Trust me, if he's truly serious about you, he'll do it," she suggested calmly. "And if not, then I'll have to find someone for you instead."
"Mom!" Kaveh blurted out, his panic quickly resurging. "You can't just rush something like mating! It's a lifelong commitment-!"
"Don't give me that- it's been a year, Kaveh. Your father courted me for six months before we committed to being each other's mates," she countered. "If this boy isn't wasting your time, he'll accept your offer while he still can."
Kaveh visibly deflated, sagging his shoulders. God, now he was done for.
He had been spouting all this nonsense when he didn't even have an alpha to begin with, but now, there was no going back... he had to commit.
He was too deep into his lie to back out now.
Kaveh let out a small breath, casting his gaze downward.
"Alright, if you say so," he muttered, his voice low. "If that's the case, then I'm certain he'll do it."
"Oh?" His mother sounded surprised on the other line. "You're absolutely certain, Kaveh?"
Kaveh took in another soft breath to calm his nerves. “Mhm. I am.”
"Good," her voice carried a pleased tone. "Then you won't mind if I visit him by the end of this month, right? I'd love to meet the special alpha my son has chosen as his partner."
For crying out loud...
Kaveh nearly dropped his phone as he laughed nervously, his eyes darting around anxiously.
"No, no, it's fine. You don't have to go through all that, mom," Kaveh chuckled, "Plus, I'm sure that the ferry from Fontaine to Sumeru will be really expensive..."
"It's alright. I've actually planned this trip in advance," she reassured him swiftly. "Don't worry. I'm sure there won't be any issues if I visit, right?"
At that, Kaveh lowered his head in defeat. Fuck, what a nightmare.
Could this get any worse for him?!
"...Um, yeah, it's fine. I'm sure he'd want to meet you too." Kaveh muttered, fidgeting awkwardly in place.
"Good! Your alpha sounds like he would make a wonderful son-in-law." she said, a hint of sweetness in her voice, “Say, Kaveh, if you do decide to mate with this boy, should I be expecting grandchildren this year as well?"
“Oh my god, mom.”
Later that night, Kaveh had gotten prepared to visit his nearby tavern as a desperate solution to deal with his current issue, or at least that's what he told himself. In reality, a part of him just wanted to drown his sorrows in a few drinks, but deep down, he knew he had to do something.
Besides, all he had to do was ask some attractive alpha to be his fake partner for a month, right? How hard could that be?
Before heading out, he made sure to put on some of his most flattering clothes – the ones that clung to his curves in all the right places, offering a subtle glimpse of skin, not enough to reveal everything, but just enough to leave to the imagination. Before setting out, he looks himself over in the mirror one last time, carefully pinning his longer layers behind his ear and taking a deep breath to calm himself.
With that, he was finally ready. He knows what he needs to do – what his only choice is.
And so, Kaveh enters the tavern with one clear goal in mind: finding someone willing to play the role of his fake partner. His eyes scan the area, landing on a few alphas in the vicinity, most of them older and not exactly his type. He feels their perverse gazes on him as he steps inside, many of them already making their move and approaching him with other intentions in mind.
Before he knew it, hours passed him by.
Kaveh had genuinely lost track of time and the number of alphas whose advances he'd turned down. It’d reached a point where he found himself completely slouched over the bar, a blush creeping over his face as he stared off into nothingness. He felt light-headed, as if he were floating, struggling to keep his eyes open.
Once more, Lambad walks over to him, the bartender's eyes wide with concern as he takes in Kaveh's current state.
"You've really outdone yourself this time, Kaveh," Lambad calls out to him, letting out a little chuckle. "Do you want me to call a cab for you?"
"No," Kaveh slumps forward, his words slightly slurred. "I'm fine. I'm not done drinking, anyhow."
"Um..." Lambad stares at him, clearly unconvinced. "Are you sure?"
Kaveh hangs his head on the table, nearly knocking over a few empty glasses. "Mhm. I'm sure. Get me another glass of your strongest."
With a soft sigh, Lambad leaves. Kaveh's head grows heavier with each passing second, and the omega slumps against the bar counter once more, resting his cheek in his palm.
And yet again, it doesn't take long before another figure approaches him. Kaveh senses a new presence behind him, unmistakably an alpha, and his head spins as he struggles to raise it and look back at them.
But before he can say anything, the alpha’s talking first.
“Well, well, well.” A familiar voice comes from behind, the low, seductive timbre sending a shudder down his spine and leaving his heart racing faster than ever.
Using all of the strength he has left, Kaveh quickly turns his head, looking around and locking eyes with a familiar and (infuriatingly) handsome face, complete with a signature shit-eating smirk curled on his lips.
God, why. Kaveh swears under his breath.
Of course, it had to be him. Out of all the people he could have seen at his lowest…
It had to be Alhaitham. The bane of his entire existence.
"I should have known I'd find you here this late at night," Alhaitham gives Kaveh a long look before raising his hand to grab Lambad's attention. "I’ll have whatever he’s having, boss."
And before Kaveh can say anything, he’s already sliding into the free seat right beside him. With narrowed eyes, Kaveh quickly turns his head to peek up at him, taking in the alpha’s appearance, from his layered jacket to his perfectly styled, side-swept hair.
With heated cheeks, Kaveh hides his face in his arms as their gazes meet again, just for a split second. He quickly tries to play it off, clearing his throat.
"Haitham?" Kaveh's head throbs as he raises it too quickly. "Ugh, what are you doing here?"
Alhaitham's gaze falls on Kaveh, taking him in from head to toe as he fidgets nervously.
"I could ask you the same thing," Alhaitham murmurs, his eyes briefly glancing at the array of drinking glasses scattered around Kaveh. "But let me guess. You were drowning your sorrows, as usual?"
“Shut up,” Kaveh hisses under his breath, but there’s no bite to it. He looks away, his head still spinning with drunken murkiness. “I’m not in the mood right now, Haitham.”
“Oh?” Alhaitham raises an eyebrow. “And why’s that?”
"I don't think that's any of your business," Kaveh shoots back, feeling a little defensive. "Just let me be."
Alhaitham studies him for a few more seconds before leaning back in his seat, his lips curling up into a cocky smirk.
"Hm? Don't tell me- were you stood up or something?" he guesses, raising an eyebrow when Kaveh scoffs, as if what he said was the most ridiculous thing in the world.
Kaveh rolls his eyes at him. From the corner of his vision, he watches as Lambad places their drinks in front of them before quickly ducking off to the side.
“Oh please. When have I ever been stood up?” he slurs his words, glaring at the alpha when he shrugs. “Look, just mind your own business. What I’m going through doesn’t even concern you.”
Alhaitham shrugs.
"It doesn’t, but I’m intrigued," Alhaitham muses, reaching out to take the drink and downing it in one go.
“...That’s strong,” he comments off-handedly, clearing his throat.
Kaveh huffs out a little triumphant giggle.
“Yeah, it's exactly how I like it.” Kaveh hiccups, resting his head down against his palm. From the corner of his eye, he notices Alhaitham still looking at him, directing his gaze around the table at the empty shot glasses around him.
He sighs deeply, reaching up and rubbing at his temples.
"Honestly, I don't know what goes through your head." Alhaitham mutters under his breath, his voice carrying a bit of a sharp edge. “What happened now, hm? Did you lose your job or something? Or did you get dumped?"
“No.” Kaveh mumbles. "And no."
“What, do you owe money to some loan sharks again?”
Kaveh’s jaw clenches tightly.
“No.”
Alhaitham’s eyes narrow as he shoots a long, unamused stare in Kaveh’s direction.
“I don’t believe you.”
“I didn’t ask you to believe me.” Kaveh glances away.
And with that, Alhaitham’s arms crossed over his chest, his expression as unreadable as ever.
"Fine. Suit yourself," Alhaitham mutters, reaching into his pocket and bringing out his phone. He types away for a few seconds, not paying Kaveh any attention, leaving the two in an even more awkward silence.
Kaveh huffs, closing his arms around himself. He can't resist stealing a lingering glance at the alpha for a few seconds, something stirring in his chest as he watches him.
Huh. Was he always this handsome? Kaveh blinks, reaching up and rubbing at his eyes, letting his vision refocus once more.
God, he was way too drunk for this.
Curiously, he looks over Alhaitham once again- swallowing at the lump that rises in his throat. He keeps his eyes pinned on the alpha, his eyes widening when the alpha turns over his shoulder to look at him, catching him off-guard.
"Well? Are you going to stare at me forever?" Alhaitham mutters, raising an eyebrow when Kaveh splutters. "Or are you finally going to talk?"
Smug bastard.
Kaveh glares at him, seething with embarrassment. He reaches over to drink from his nearby glass, taking a long sip before slamming it back down.
"You know what, fine. If I tell you what's happening, can we agree to never mention it again?" Kaveh turns to face him, his face a rosy mix of frustration and drunkenness.
“Mm.” Alhaitham’s response is calm and annoyingly unbothered. "That's fine by me."
Kaveh’s eyes narrow at him when his heart skips a beat. He clears his throat in another attempt to regain his composure.
“And if I tell you, will you never speak of it again?” Kaveh mutters, pointing a finger in Alhaitham’s direction. “To anyone.”
“Sure.” Alhaitham mutters under his breath, raising his eyes to hold his gaze. "Who would I even tell?"
Fair point, but still. Kaveh pauses.
"I..." Kaveh exhales softly before hanging his head down in shame, his next words tumbling out in a jumbled mess.
"I need to find an alpha," Kaveh's words are muffled as he hides his face in his hands.
“...What?” Alhaitham blinks at him, a little surprised.
"You heard me." Kaveh peers at him through the gaps between his fingers, scarlet eyes meeting Alhaitham's intense cyan gaze. "I need an alpha."
Alhaitham remains silent. Kaveh can see the gears turning in his head as he attempts to make sense of what he’d just said, a little frown forming on his face.
“...Is your heat coming up or something?” Alhaitham guesses, his voice carrying a hint of strain.
Kaveh's face heats up with genuine embarrassment.
“No! I mean, yes, but that’s not why I need an alpha!” Kaveh blurts out, his words tumbling out in an unfiltered rush. “Ugh, never mind. You wouldn’t get it.”
“Try me.” Alhaitham mutters.
Well, here goes nothing. Kaveh clenches his jaw tightly.
“I need an alpha to mate me,” Kaveh feels an intense wave of humiliation and embarrassment just admitting it aloud- and to Alhaitham of all people.
How low has he gone? Was he really this desperate? His body stiffens as a flood of heat and embarrassment suddenly surges through him, staining his cheeks with a deep blush that immediately draws Alhaitham’s intense gaze.
"...Why the sudden urge?" Alhaitham's question is tinged with hesitance. He watches as Kaveh reaches out to finish the last of Alhaitham's shot glass, slamming it down with a little too much force.
“It’s not like that. It’s just that my family follows this stupid tradition for all the omegas.” Kaveh huffs. “It basically says that we have to find a mate once we reach a certain age, or else we’ll be cursed with a lifetime of bad luck or something.” Kaveh sighs, drunkenly laughing to himself. “And it just so happens that my birthday is coming up pretty soon.”
And naturally, Alhaitham doesn’t look amused. Not even a little.
"So they expect you to find some alpha before your birthday?" Alhaitham deadpans, his voice flat. "All because of some superstitious nonsense?"
Kaveh dejectedly nods.
"Yeah. Obviously I don't believe in it, but I'm not left with much of a choice here," Kaveh says, averting his gaze. “My mother gave me the ultimatum today, if I don’t find a mate by the end of this month, then she plans to find one for me. She told me there are a lot of available alphas in Fontaine who would be more than willing to mate me, but I…”
Kaveh draws in a sharp breath, his heart clenching at the thought.
"I don't want that," he admits softly, feeling Alhaitham's gaze search him, his expression as stoic as ever.
He stays quiet for a few more seconds before breaking the silence with a low sigh.
“So?" Alhaitham finally shifts his gaze up, his frown deepening, "What are you planning to do?”
Kaveh droops a little, his lips pursing together tightly.
“I don’t know, okay?!” Kaveh whines, leaning onto his hand. “That’s why I’m here, I guess. I’ve been thinking about it, and I think the only thing I can do is ask some alpha to help me out.”
Alhaitham’s eyes narrow. “Help you out?” he repeats his words icily.
“Yeah.” Kaveh sighs, glancing around himself. “Surely there’s an alpha here who would pretend-mate me for a month or something.”
Alhaitham rolls his eyes, scoffing under his breath.
“Do you realize how ridiculous that sounds? Pretend-mating?” Alhaitham sounds exasperated. “Also, need I remind you that all mates have very real mating marks?”
“Yeah, but I’m sure that I could make a believable mark with makeup or something.” Kaveh shrugs. “Trust me, I can do it. I've done it before.”
Alhaitham looks genuinely concerned for a split second, but he doesn’t press further.
“And if your mother finds out?” Alhaitham asks, plain and simple.
“She won’t. Either way, I don’t care what she has to say about the matter- I want to mate for love!” Kaveh blurts out, his incoherent ramblings only getting louder and louder. “And is it so wrong that I haven't found the right alpha yet? It's only because no one has been compatible with me!”
“Yeah, I’m sure that's why.” Alhaitham mutters under his breath, averting his gaze when Kaveh leans in close.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Kaveh retorts, his eyes narrowing in his direction. “It clearly is! I have plenty of alphas who want to mate me, thank you very much!”
And at that, something flickered in Alhaitham's expression. His frown deepened a little.
“If that's the case, then it should be no problem finding an alpha to…” he holds his hands up, mimicking air quotes, “Pretend mate you.”
Kaveh huffs. If only, right?
“Obviously. But in reality, it's not that easy.” Kaveh glances at Alhaitham once more. “You get where I’m coming from, right?”
And much to his annoyance, Alhaitham's blank stare remains unchanged. Kaveh sighs.
“Look, I’m not dumb. I know I’m desperate, but I can't trust some random alpha I've never met to not mate me for real.” Kaveh squirms in his seat at the mere thought. “Tell me, what do I do if they end up losing control and if they bite me? Or if they end up doing something much worse than just that?”
At his sides, Alhaitham’s hands clench into fists, his eyes darkening with something unreadable. Dangerous.
“...Yeah.” Alhaitham’s voice sounds lower than usual, his brows knitting together. “There is that possibility.”
"Exactly. This is horrible." Kaveh lets out another loud, regretful sigh. "I even thought about asking my other friend to help, but since he's already mated, it wouldn't work. He’s the only alpha I talk to, besides…”
Kaveh stares at Alhaitham, blinking a few times as realization dawned on his face. Alhaitham holds his gaze steadily, his expression unchanged.
“Wait…” Kaveh points at him, his eyes widening in a mixture of drunken wonder and shock. “You!”
And even now, Alhaitham's calm and collected gaze doesn’t waver.
“Me?” he echoes, his voice flat.
Kaveh frantically nods before abruptly surging forward, catching the alpha off-guard and moving closer to Alhaitham's face. His own face flushes with warmth as he breathes in Alhaitham’s scent, his pheromones permeating the air around them. He lingers a little longer, inhaling deeply just to be certain, his heart racing as he suddenly becomes aware of Alhaitham’s close proximity, of how close he’s sitting, how good he smells, and…
All at once, it hits him.
“You're an unmated alpha!” Kaveh whispers, as if it were some great revelation.
“Sharp observation, Kaveh.” Alhaitham mutters sarcastically, his tone oddly subdued, though it goes directly over Kaveh’s head. The omega stares at him, his eyes sparkling with wonder as he leans in close.
"Wait, this means that you could be my fake mate!" Kaveh beams at him, his words slurring together in excitement. "And then afterwards we can just go our separate ways and pretend that none of this ever happened! It's perfect!"
At that, Alhaitham's eyes narrow into a sharp glare.
“And why exactly would I do that?” he mutters, his voice lowering.
Kaveh gives the alpha a weird look.
“Uh, because I need help?” Kaveh huffs, glancing him up and down. “Look, I know how you feel about me, but you’re not that heartless, right?”
At that, Alhaitham's shoulders visibly tense as he folds arms across his chest, averting his gaze to the side.
“Are you sure there's nobody else you can ask?” There's an edge to Alhaitham's voice- something careful. Cautious. "Nobody else you want to ask?"
Kaveh can't believe a thing he's hearing.
Was he seriously trying to get out of this now?
“There's nobody else.” Kaveh’s eyes narrow. “You’re literally the only person who can help me with this.”
And for some time, Alhaitham doesn't say a word. He looks deep in thought, almost like he’s actually considering his idea, until…
“Mm... I don't know.” he murmurs, a teasing lilt to his tone. “I think I'm gonna need a little more convincing than just that, senior.”
Kaveh’s jaw drops. “What?!”
“You heard me. You're asking a lot of me, Kaveh.” Alhaitham muses. “You’re asking me to lie, to put up this whole act…” He leans in a bit closer, his eyes locking onto the omega's. "But what exactly am I getting out of all of this, hm?"
Fuck. He had a point.
Kaveh bites his lower lip, his body trembling with a mix of drunken arousal and nerves. He fidgets, struggling not to look away, his head spinning in a whirlwind of emotions as he tries to control himself once again.
“Um, well...” Kaveh hesitates, glancing around the tavern once more, his slender hands balling into fists in his lap. His eyes wander over the few unmated alphas in the bar once again, most of them already eyeing him like a piece of meat dangling in front of their eyes.
Just locking eyes with them quickly jolts Kaveh back to reality, the omega instinctively drawing even closer to Alhaitham. His head feels heavier as he suddenly leans forward, his warm breath teasing the shell of Alhaitham's reddened ear.
“You can have me.” Kaveh whispers against his ear drunkenly. He notices Alhaitham noticeably freeze up, the alpha’s eyes widening ever so slightly.
“...Stop that. Don't say things you don't mean.” The low timbre of Alhaitham's voice sends a shudder down his spine, weirdly strained and a little thin. "You're drunk, Kaveh."
Kaveh swallows at the lump already rising at the back of his throat, his fingers curling a little against the front of the alpha's jacket.
"So? I still mean it, y'know." Kaveh sighs, breathing in Alhaitham's scent deeply. Has he always smelled this good?
God, why was he just noticing?
Kaveh's eyes flutter shut as he moves a little closer, the omega in him drawn by Alhaitham's warmth and scent.
"Look, it'll be just for a month, okay?" he whispers, "It'll be over before you even know it."
"That's not the point, Kaveh. I..." Alhaitham hesitates for a moment, his hands awkwardly lingering near Kaveh's body as they inch closer. Once again, his gaze averts as he utters his next words, so quiet that Kaveh nearly misses them.
"I don't want you to regret it."
Abruptly, Kaveh lifts his gaze up, meeting Alhaitham's calm gaze with fiery determination.
"I wouldn't." he murmurs. "I promise I won't, alright? So..."
And summoning up all the courage he has left, Kaveh takes in another deep breath, and does the one thing he can do in this situation.
The one thing he knows will work, no matter what- his dignity be damned.
He meets Alhaitham’s beautiful eyes with as much desperation as he can possibly muster.
And he begs.
“Please,” Kaveh’s voice wavers, his sanguine eyes glistening with emotion. Submission. “I-I know I'm asking for a lot and I don’t know what else I can do to make up for all of this, but I…” He takes in a little breath, “I need you.”
For some time, Alhaitham remains silent. He keeps his eyes locked on Kaveh as he instinctively draws closer, the desperation in his gaze making Alhaitham visibly swallow.
“I want you to be my mate, Haitham.” Kaveh whispers softly, his head lightly knocking against Alhaitham’s shoulder as he clutches at the front of his shirt, trying to keep himself grounded. "Please, alpha.”
At that, the corners of Alhaitham's lips twitch, almost forming a smirk, but he maintains a composed expression, nonetheless.
“...Alright.” he murmurs at long last, his hand reaching up to lightly stroke through Kaveh’s golden hair, his touch surprisingly gentle. Soothing.
“Since you asked so nicely, Kaveh.”