Work Text:
Todd had been lingering around the edges of the big groups. He was uncomfortable starting conversation with the senior members of his uncle’s company or their parent company representatives. The older faces were unwelcoming and had no pity to share for Todd not knowing the social norms as he tended to fall on to western niceties as that is where he had lived for the longest time. Which in turn left the poor alpha with many social errors.
The clumsy alpha decided he would get a drink to steel his nerves then maybe he would brave starting a chat with someone close to his age. Shifting off to a quiet part at the bar, he flagged down a bartender to make him a drink. He held the cool glass as he turned back to face the room; he then collided with a slightly smaller man.
The other man stumbled backwards almost spilling his drink in turn, the stranger’s hand flew to his drink to keep the liquid in the glass. Once the fluid settled, the man met his eyes. Todd’s breath was taken away when the handsome pale man looked at him with wide warm chocolate brown orbs taking in Todd’s face. The stranger was slightly older than Todd in a crisp white dress shirt and black dress pants.
‘He was such a cute man.’ Todd thought to himself, not that he would hit on this guy. Todd liked female betas.
“Are you okay?” The sweet-smelling man asked, his voice was shy.
Todd realized he had been silently staring at the poor guy for longer than was polite.
“Yes! Yes, I’m okay, just a little frazzled.” Todd spoke as he straightens out his clothes.
The unknown man gave him a warm smile, he took a quick glance around before a tanned hand was placed gently on his shoulder.
“Arthit new friend?” This voice belonged to a dashing young man with expressive eyes and a welcoming smile.
Arthit leveled his friend with a look and the hand was instantly removed from the shoulder however, the friendly man stood shoulder to shoulder with the pale man.
“Kongpob.” Arthit lightly pushed Kongpob away from him. Kongpob let out a small sad sigh but complied.
It was when the trio was exchanging greetings that Todd finally recognized that Kongpob was the heir to his uncle’s parent company. The alpha began to stumble over his words in front of the younger alpha, he wasn’t prepared to speak to someone so important.
As they talked Todd was taken back by how friendly Kongpob was. Not the fake friendly of those trying to determine if you could be useful to them. No, his interest was real and he made no actions of boredom or a want for Todd to finish. Kongpob would ask questions of clarification but otherwise he just listened.
It was refreshing.
The night had ended on a high note, his successful attempt at friendly conversation, the food and drinks were fabulous and now he was ready to face his new work life.
*
He had been told he would be placed under a mentor and would have to work his way up from there. Many would be angry that they were not instantaneously thrusted into a top position or have a job title created just for them. Todd on the other hand saw the logic, he was straight out of his program and needed experience before being trusted to do more than answer the phone and make coffee.
He greeted his older coworkers – friendly John, eccentric Soma, and the beautiful Earth.
Even though their interaction was mere seconds Todd felt like it had been ages and yet not more than a second. She looked away without a backwards glance to return to her paperwork. The desk beside her was empty but ready for an owner. Todd hoped that would be his desk.
“Oon will be your mentor. You’re in good hands. He has a good work ethic and you’re similar in ages.” His new boss said as he assigned work.
Oon? Would the man be like his name or was he someone who angers easily?
A door clinked open and a man with his head down stumbled through the door; he pushed the wood open with his back. Two bright pink milks clasped in his grip.
“Oon!” Earth cheerfully called out from her desk.
Oon raised his head and flashed a happy smile, he bypassed Todd to walk to Earth’s desk, handing her a drink and sitting in the empty workspace.
Todd was relieved that he knew this man. It was Arthit from the party. Todd could breathe easy seeing and working with someone he already knew.
“Hey mister Sun.” Todd greeted a smile taking up his whole face. The other man was slightly unnerved by Todd’s cheerfulness but offered his own smaller grin back.
Todd had been working at Ocean for nearly four months and he could say he quite enjoyed his workplace and most of his coworkers (John was a tricky one and was not above using someone else to finish his own work). Todd’s workload seemed to be less than Arthit’s but maybe it had to do with Arthit being an actual employee?
A few of the older staff members treated Arthit differently, either they babied him or they treated him as an invalid as if the man could barely follow basic ideas. Todd did not understand why they did so, if they worried about his age, they were wrong. Mr. Sunny was not careless or a distracted person. Arthit would not allow for anything less then perfect and the man was constantly trying to improve himself.
Arthit was not one to seek out glory and he did not try to build lasting relationships with many of his coworkers. He was friendly with some of the engineering department but the person the warm man spent his time with was Earth. The two betas would go out to lunch or get each other drinks. It was frustrating to Todd as he knew he had a crush on her but it was hard not to hate the other man.
Todd didn’t want to be that ‘alpha’ but weren’t women supposed to prefer alphas? The very top of the social hierarchy, sure beta men could be a close second or third but what could Arthit give her that Todd couldn’t?
It was coming up on his fifth month at the company when Arthit did not show up for work. No one acted like this was odd but Todd hadn’t noticed Arthit acting sick the day before. However, not to look a gift horse in the mouth, Todd rushed to get Earth a pink milk. She smiled tiredly at him when he gifted it to her. Removing her headphones as he sat in Arthit’s chair indicating he wanted to speak to her. He stumbled over his words as he asked how her day was going.
“It could be better but it’s not as bad as Arthit’s. Heats are a nightmare, my sister has them.” She commented before she took her drink. Todd fought back a flush of pride at being able to provide for her even if it was a small thing.
“Heat? Is Arthit dating an omega?” Todd responded back, feeling better that his rival was already in a relationship.
She choked on her next sip. Hacking up some of the sugary drink. Her hand flew to cover her mouth.
“Dating? Todd… Arthit is an omega. Haven’t you noticed? You work closely with him?”
Todd thought about Arthit’s behaviour and he could now see a link to Arthit’s strange past actions and omega nature. Nodding to himself, he could now say Arthit being an omega was not as unlikely as he first thought. In fact, it suited him.
“Although Arthit has been with someone since university.” Earth’s voice removed him from his musings.
She was watching him closely, waiting to judge his response but when he said nothing relaxed. This new revelation did colour some of Todd’s past encounters as John was forever abusing Arthit’s kind nature and he could see the bias of the older workers towards a male omega.
Their direct boss had his own omega son so he treated Arthit the same as any worker Todd couldn’t remember the boy’s name but the young omega did study at the same university as the one Arthit had graduated from.
However, Arthit never mentioned anyone by name or gave a sign that he was in a committed relationship. If the rumours were true Arthit lived on his own, having lived in the dorms his whole university career. Soma had whispered into his ear after a night of drinking that Arthit had been disowned during his time at university. Todd felt uncomfortable with this knowledge regardless of if it was true or not, it was an invasion of Arthit’s personal life.
Once Todd learned Arthit’s status, he could not unlearn it. It seemed to star in all conversations about his mentor. Positive or negative it was connected to him being an omega. Some spoke in fond tones, others with scorn. Arthit took it all without complaint but some days he had more pink milk than others.
The alpha could understand and empathize with the older man; since he presented everyone had expected Todd to be this great imposing person, as if his awkward and slightly timid self would be replaced. Instead, he had remained the same, now he had a status to go with his colt like limbs. Arthit would have had to fight more labels than Todd could hope to learn. Mr. Sun had feminine and masculine expectations. He was a man but also as an omega he was assumed to be gentle and delicate. While Arthit could be both he was also tough and firm in his ideals but he was not someone who got in another’s face and shouted orders at them.
The shy omega returned back to work after his heat, going about his day and work as if he had not spent the time in a lust driven state; he didn’t even act as if he had been a no show due to a cold. Mr. Sun tried to pretend as if no time had past since his absence, some gave in to this charade.
John wolf whistled and then dumped a stack of paperwork onto his younger co-worker’s desk. A crimson face stumbled over his words as the alpha slapped him on the back and walked away without hearing a word of protest from the other.
The omega composed himself and started on the mountain of dead trees. Todd sneakily stared at the quiet man. His hair and clothes were in order and he was only slightly more pale than usual. There were no marks or visible signs that Arthit had spent his heat with an alpha…or anyone else.
Hadn’t Earth said he was with someone? Or had Arthit lied?
Todd snooped through Arthit’s desk under the guise of retrieving a document on a new product. There were no photos or notes from a secret admirer nor from a long-term lover. The closest thing Todd found was a framed photo of the entire engineering department. The was a note written in cursive writing inscribed on the back of the frame.
It was signed by Cherry. Thanking Arthit for his time in the department during his internship, wishing him the best. Going so far as to grant success all the way to the moon. Cherry was an eccentric person but that was an odd phrase to use. The alpha snatched the file folder and shuffled to his desk when the door opened; Earth walking through the doorway with a pink milk in her hand. Her head was not facing Todd, she was talking with Arthit about something.
The uncertain alpha let the matter of Arthit’s personal life story stay a mystery. As long as the omega was just a friend with Earth than his romantic life was unimportant to the courting alpha.
Four months later
Todd was carefully sipping his seven-hundred-degree coffee, he had spent the last night covering for John once again not doing his work. The alpha was losing the wonderous veneer he once had of his uncle’s company. People were rude and used those they thought they could exploit. Those exploited had no power to call them out or seek help.
“Hey Todd.” Kongpob said cheerfully as he went about distributing drinks to the team. It was not lost to the other alpha that intern Kongpob was only giving drinks to Arthit and Earth.
However, that suited the personable alpha, he took an interest for those who cared for him. Not spending a second with people who flattered or tried to butter him up. The university student knew the way of the world, a world Todd was discovering.
“Did you hear?” John asked from his perch on his desk moving closer to the two alphas; swiping the drink from Arthit’s desk. Todd glimpsed the narrowing of Kongpob’s eyes and the way he tensed for a second before forcing himself to relax.
“What?” Kongpob asked to be polite but Todd detected the uncaring tone. John didn’t. The oldest alpha waved away the youngest with some useless busy work of organizing some documents. John watched the Suthiluck heir for a beat then moved closer to Todd; his tone low so as to not be overheard by the third man.
“It’s about Arthit…Soma said she saw him last night at the extremely expensive hotel. The one the company rented out for the Christmas party. Arthit was sitting at the bar. He was dressed to impress…sitting alone at the bar with a drink…” John paused for dramatic impact as Todd’s brows furrowed with the confusion of where John’s talk was going.
“Well, an older man; like older than our boss. Came up to our little omega and he jumped up, hugging the geezer.” Todd’s jaw dropped at John’s insinuation of Arthit’s supposed action.
“The two took the elevator together up to the rooms, smiling the whole way.” John finished with a flourish, grinning with glee while revealing this rumour.
A thud was heard as Kongpob dropped a large file, luckily none of the papers escaped from the manila folder. Kongpob was bright red as he apologised and rushed out of the room.
It had to hurt to hear the man he idolized be talked about like a common sex worker; worse the rumour was being spread by the omega’s own co-workers. Kongpob was trying to mask his care of Arthit as a junior helping a senior or close friends but the other alpha saw an alpha courting a potential mate. A mate who was shyly returning that affection, like the hidden moments on the team building day or in the elevator.
It was sweet. It made Todd feel secure in his own courting of Earth.
The alpha foolishly thought the dribble would die out before lunch. The running mouths work with or knew Arthit. There was no way they would believe this rubbish. This was not some nonsensible c-drama where an office worker had to work as an escort to support their monstrous family.
It didn’t disappear, instead it grew. More “information” was added, someone changed the description of Arthit’s clothes to something slutty; another said the pair kissed. One version said Arthit was paid cash by the elevator; Arthit taking a walk of shame late into the night.
More elaborate the story became each time Todd heard snippets of it. The shamelessness of people whispering it to another.
The alpha had lost some of his shyness to tell people to hold their tongues but that did nothing to cool the heated words.
Arthit hadn’t said a word when he listened to the end of the gossip but Todd knew he hadn’t left his desk the entire day. Sitting in his chair and growing paler as the minutes ticked by. John and Soma pretending to be whispering to each other but the office could hear them. Earth telling them to shut up and handing her beloved headphones to Arthit.
Earth drove him home that night and Todd hoped it would blow over. Once everyone got their mean girl spirit out then the office could return to normal.
It was worse the next day. Glares and snide comments followed the omega with every shadow. The engineering department was at war with anyone else, choosing to back Arthit.
Kongpob was missing.
Arthit was unnaturally pale, and said less than normal. He was fixated on his phone.
A mass email was sent out.
Mandatory attendance for a disciplinary briefing. Mere minutes before the meeting was to start, Todd felt his phone buzz. He like many others checked their phone. On the screen was Arthit kissing Kongpob on the mouth. The same night as the team builder retreat. Gasps were heard throughout the room, some taking this as an admission of guilt.
Arthit was missing from the room and the email was anonymous.
Todd sat next to Earth who had her fist clenched in disgust at the behaviour of those around her. Todd put a hand on her shoulder, holding up his own larger fist. They would fight this.
The stage had a single podium on it. A large projector screen ready to be used. The lights were dimmed and a hush descended upon the onlookers. Kongpob was walking to the podium, dressed in a tailored suit; appearing to be the model version of what made an alpha.
“Thank you for gathering here.” Kongpob said with an effortless smile, the crowd melting in his gentle tone.
“I wish I could say this was to praise my internship.” Kongpob gave a forced chuckle, leading the audience to give their own uncomfortable chortles. Shifting in their seats as Kongpob’s eyes laid heavily on each individual.
“When my father first heard my reasoning for interning here and not our own branch. He was concerned that I would waste my time.” Kongpob allowed the information to be obtained and then lifted his hand to silence the noise it caused.
Todd had forgotten not everyone knew who Kongpob was related to.
“I was entrusted to an employee who had proved themselves to be an excellent worker. One my father approved of before he even started working here.” Kongpob glared in the direction, Todd believed John to be sitting in.
“I was made aware of the rumours circulating about an omega within the company.”
The crowd looked at each other.
The projector flicked on and the photo of the pair kissing was now on the screen.
Kongpob turned his back on the horde to look at the photo. A second of softness was seen in his posture then he faces the spectators.
“This photo was taken without our consent. The guilty party will be discovered and terminated for this violation. The same punishment for the one who started the rumour as it can be seen as sexual harassment and slander.” The young alpha growled out.
A few people flinched at the threatening words and others worried for their jobs.
“Arthit will not be working here anymore but it is not for the reason that the rumours are true but due to my father and MY opinion on how this branch is managed.” Kongpob’s eyes flashed at his announcement.
“Employees deserve the right to grow and work in a safe environment; two things Arthit was denied.” The heir’s eyes narrowed and now Todd felt the other alpha’s eyes on him and Earth.
“I would like to say I would be personally offended for anyone who suffered like this…however it is personal for me. Arthit was the head hazer in my first year, he was someone I looked up to once I let go of my dislike of the hazing cycle.” Kongpob had a ghost of a smile on his lips.
“More than being my mentor…He was the one who accepted my courtship. Despite me being younger and a vocal rebellion of what he was trying to instill in us.”
Todd heard himself gasp with everyone else. This was news to him, thinking Kongpob was in the early stage of courting.
“I will not have my mate humiliated nor will I allow my omega who just last year delivered our child into this world. Mocked for being happy to see his father-in-law. That night in question; I was talking business and Arthit was at the bar. We were on a date but he wanted to see our baby who was in the suite with my parents.”
The truth settled in the minds of those who heard and Todd heard Cherry shouting about how they knew the rumours were bullshit.
Kongpob walked to the edge of the stage, a sharp grin displayed his fangs. Looking every inch of the predatory nature of an alpha.
“Ocean will be closed while we review the conduct of its employees. You may now leave.”
The once intern dismissed the room without a glance backwards. He was off to see his mate.
Kongpob had used all his strength to not scream at those who smeared his wonderful omega’s name. To receive a call from his Oon on the second day about how they were worse had interrupted the alpha’s meeting with his father.
Kongpob prided himself on his restraint and his ability to listen and reason. In this instant he had neither. Arthit’s tears made him cruel to those who harmed his mate.
The omega had told him of his desire to work and not give fuel to the rumours of Arthit getting himself knocked up to live in the ivory tower Kongpob could provide. During the internship he had seen the stories his mate had not shared, where the lines of stress had come from.
It was time for a change.
Kongpob would fix this wrong.
His sun would shine, not be blocked by clouds and storms of doubt.
18 Months earlier
“Arthit! Arthit we’re here and we brought booze!” Bright shouts through the omega’s dorm door. Pounding on the weak wood. The hallway is deserted except for the group of fourth years.
The once head hazers are weighed down by the bags filled with snacks and drinks. Having received a call of distress from their friend, the team had to work fast, grabbing everything in sight that could sneak a smile from the upset man.
Arthit is not quick to open the door, they can hear him shuffling behind the locked shield before they see him. Paler than normal and tears streaming down his face, hair a mess from running and tugging at the brown strands. The engineers share looks of concern. Arthit is bundled under a heavy sweater despite the blistering heat of the summer weather. The head hazer sniffs at the men as he motions them into his dorm. The place is just as messy as the owner, blankets thrown into a pile, the blinds pulled closed, take-out containers on all available surfaces. Arthit has never had a spotless room but he is not one to leave trash in his sleeping space.
This was worse than they feared. The red shirt left by the pillow raises alarm bells in the friends minds. The scent is one they are familiar with.
The fabric is new for the second-year student and in most of their memories he wears the common white dress shirt of the first years. However, time has passed by rapidly since the pair announced their new relationship at the final year party.
The omega and alpha holding their clasped hands and matching bracelets.
The months watching the younger alpha tease their best friend, the alpha’s love-struck expressions when Arthit looked his way had not disappeared as finals had reared its ugly head. Yet here they are all gathered together since Arthit had not stepped foot on campus for the last two days, No notice or warning for his absence.
Just Arthit’s watery eyes as he blankly goes to the bed. Wrapping the shirt around his arms; getting the fabric close to his running nose. The feisty omega curls into a small ball. Tuta is the one who puts his arm around Arthit’s slumped shoulders. Getting close to the omega, his own beta scent not invading the omega’s nest. Or rather the bones of what it must have once been.
The flamboyant man rubbing his back and whispering of condolences. Telling Arthit, it will all be okay.
“So, we’re going to kill 0062, right?” Prem asks heatedly. Face tight with rage and his scent getting bitter.
Knot nodded grimly.
“I brought my car.” The normally calm alpha confides to the hot-headed alpha.
The two share dark looks of determination.
Bright looks torn between his two friend groups, cracking open a beer he goes to Arthit’s free side, thrusting the cool drink out to the unhappy sun. Arthit turns his head away from the drink, covering his mouth with a hand.
The other one is used to push Bright away, the beta accidentally spilling a few drops on the bed. Tuta scolds the careless beta and the two begin bickering at each other. Arthit slips free from the heavyset man and retreats to the bathroom. The door clicking shut before either alpha can grab him.
Knot takes one side of the door, sandwiching himself between two sets of doors. Blocking Arthit from escaping out the front door. Prem relaxes, long legs spread on the other side, his feet pointed towards the bed. They are prepared to wait.
Bright is seen sipping on the once offered beer and Tuta picks at his painted nails. Both alphas have also cracked open a can. But neither have taken a sip yet.
They want to know what kind of night it will be.
Get black out drunk. Drowning sorrows under the influence of liquor.
Or drowning a younger boy under a bridge for breaking the heart of a close friend. Will they get to hunt down another alpha tonight?
Arthit is not heard crying in the bathroom, it is deathly quiet in the tiny space. They must have waited hours, years even before the door opens a fraction and something is slid across the floor. Knot slamming a hand down on the white blur. The two large men leaning close to see what the object is when Knot finally lifts his hand.
A white plastic test with two blue lines.
“Oh Shit.” Knot and Prem say in unison.
No one thinks that something like this could happen to them or to someone they know. They were still in university. Consequences were for those in the real world. Not for the safe sphere university created.
“Have you told him?” Knot asked, being the voice of reality.
“No.” Arthit hiccupped behind the door.
It cut his friends hearts to hear the other so upset and helpless.
“I can’t tell him. Kong will think he needs to take responsibility. You know how noble he is.” Arthit confesses. The group can’t argue with his logic. The younger alpha would do just as the omega said.
Kongpob wouldn’t want Arthit’s reputation tarnished. However, he was still just a kid himself, the alpha might choose to deny it and claim Arthit a liar.
Out of character but people can be cruel when they need to be kind.
Arthit had to earn peoples’ respect whereas alphas like Knot and Prem could be given it for free due to their secondary gender. Alphas came and went to whomever they desired while Omegas were required to have only one mate in their lifetime.
The double standard was still thriving even with the culture changing. Younger generations demanding for more independence and a level playing field. But people like Arthit’s parents, they were the type to cling to the old ways. Projecting their ideology on their only child. Arthit’s insecurities surround physical touch stemmed from the toxic mindset of being unrespectable because he allowed someone to touch him in a romantic manner.
The omega kept his relationship with Kongpob a secret because of these fears and now his nightmares were walking amongst the daylight.
Prem felt the angry tears gathering in his own eyes. Fearing what would happen to his friend, his buddy was so close to the finish line and now someone was tripping him. Letting him crash into the dirt cruelly to laugh at the omega’s fall.
“We’ll help you.” Bright utters dumbly but honestly.
They stand by their friend regardless of what he decides.
“Thank you.” Arthit whispers. Shattering the men in his room.
The sound of beer being swallowed is the only sound in the room for a long time.
Then a noise by the front door. A key is placed within the lock but no clicking of the door being unlocked can be heard in the dorm. Instead, the handle is turned in a jerky motion. The men all curse themselves for not locking it in the first place.
Kongpob is standing in the doorway. He looks panicked, but there is also a cup of pink milk in his hand. His eyes widen as he sees the hazers sitting in various places in his boyfriend’s dorm. His lips forming in to a question but he never asks it because his first step into the room. His foot lands on a tiny item.
The red jacket boy crouches down; leaving the drink on the floor in the small space that neither he nor Knot take up.
The test is now in Kongpob’s tanned hand. The other stares at in shocked surprise. Soundless and mouth open. The composed Kongpob stunned into dumb silence.
The men watch for his reaction. Knot and Prem ready to pounce if the other tried anything.
“Oon… My poor wife.” Kongpob says softly. Walking to the bathroom door in a trance.
It’s like the younger student does not see his seniors lining the room.
“Arthit…Can you please open the door.” Kongpob begs the omega.
The door opens a crack, Arthit’s head peeking out but the barrier is between the couple.
Kongpob looks at the melancholy omega, face pensive. In a snap, he shoves at the door, causing Arthit to stumble from the force. The door slipping between them. Prem shouts, Knot leaps to his feet and the two betas start to advance on the couple.
Kongpob is the fastest. Encasing Arthit in his strong arms and pulling the slightly smaller man into his broad chest. The alpha tucks his head into Arthit’s hair, and lets out a deep purr. The sound making Arthit’s tears begin anew.
Arthit sobbing about how sorry he was but all his words do is make Kongpob try to drown them out with the volume of his purrs.
“It’s going to be okay. We’ll do this together. The sun and moon orbit each other, nothing will change that. One more little planet is about to enter our solar system.” Kongpob whispers into Arthit’s ear. Kissing his head as he rocked the omega in his arms. The pale fingers digging into his shirt.