Chapter Text
It’s always quite alarming to smell a distressed omegan scent late at night. Especially on a cold night like this. Wade was puzzled – where was it coming from? It had started snowing, past midnighy and there was barely anyone around, certainly no one in distress. Wade sniffed again, maybe he had smelt something else. But no, there it was again. It was coming from… the alley?
Wade stared into the dark, eventually venturing a few feet along it, away from the streetlights and passing cars. The scent got strong, and he saw the source - an omega was huddle amongst the trash and dumpsters, shivering violently. Even from the distance between them Wade could tell that his clothes were so worn through that they would be providing barely any warmth. He looked starved and cold, and Wade's heart broke at the sight? What was he doing huddling out here? Not in a shelter or with family? Friends?
Maybe he had no one, shelters are busy this time of year, maybe he got turned away. Well, Wade could not leave him out here in the cold. Pale and gaunt as he was, he was goddamn gorgeous, and young – if Wade didn’t at least him get somewhere safer, someone else would find him. It's a miracle he hasn't been found yet. There were plenty of sick, perverted alphas in the world.
But he hesitated. Wade hated that he was such a big alpha, it made approaching omega’s hard enough. But a scared, cold, homeless omega? He’d have to be so careful not to scare him off or trigger him. Even tiny, underfed omega’s can pack a punch when threatened – it’s their mother instinct. But Wade tried lowering his scent as much as possible, approaching the boy slowly and crouching down.
“Hey bud, whatcha doing out here with the trash huh?” Wade offered a smile. The omega looked up at him, frozen, do doubt assessing him. “Look, I’m not letting you stay out here in the snow. Let me take you to a shelter or something.”
Now that Wade was closer, he could tell the omega was probably in his twenties. Old enough to heat, and he may already be nearing heat as it is, with his scent being so strong. It might be why he was huddle in the literal trash, trying to mask himself. But, fortunately, or unfortunately, for him - Wade had a keen nose. Might also be why the omega wasn’t found by anyone else yet.
“You can’t stay out here. The snow is only going to get heavier.” Wade sighed, happy when the omega sniffed at him. Wade reached out to offer a touch to the younger man, trying to be comforting (not something he was skilled at). The omega sniffed his hand.
“Can I please assist you?” Wade sighed. “Before someone bigger and badder than me comes along?” The kid snorted, rolling his eyes. So, he wasn’t easily scared at least. “Come on, kid. Shelter?” The omega shook his head. “Alright. Can I offer you a shower and some food at mine then? Nothing fishy I… I’m seeing someone.”
The omega had finally got up from the trash to follow Wade, and upon unfolding himself Wade noticed how skinny the omega really was. And Wade did not like it. He still didn’t talk, not when Wade asked his name or age or why he was in the alley. He trailed behind the alpha, keeping a few feet between them, big brown eyes watching carefully. Good, he's not niave. Cautious is good. They got Wade’s apartment, the omega still keeping his distance, but seemed to relax a bit.
“Well. You should shower ‘cause – no offense, baby boy, but – you stink.” Wade half smiled and the omega’s face became almost comically unimpressed. “It's just down the hall. You can borrow clothes if you want and wash those. I got a washer and a dryer here. Yeap, I’m high class. I’ll make you some food, what do you like?”
The omega waved his hand dismissively and headed to find the bathroom. Wade let him go – inwardly very pleased he was being allowed to help the omega. It felt – purposeful. His alpha was pleased to care for an omega in need. He was glad the lie about seeing someone worked – if he could at least make sure the omega was warmer and not starving that’d be enough. Even if the kid left again.
Wade heard the water turn on as he started cooking some eggs, putting some toast on too. It should be a safe meal, unless the omega is allergic to eggs... But, no. That was statistically unlikely. Wade decided to go with omelets and throw some vegetables in there too, just in case the kid hadn't eaten anything healthy lately.
The omega came back to the kitchen, now squeaky clean, in Wade’s bathrobe, which was three sizes too big for him. He smelt amazing - the trash really had been working, without it his cherry and cream scent filled the room.
“O-oh,” Wade looked away as his chest contracted. The omega looked precious with his wet curls now matching the hue in his eyes, safe and snug in Wade's robe. “Yeah that’ll keep you warm, smart thinking kid.”
The omega sniff at the food and smiled, eyes enlarging slightly. What a nice smile.
“How long’s it been since you ate?” Wade asked, plating up the eggs. The omega raised his eyebrows and ducked his head shyly. “Well, eat as much as you want. If you’re still hungry there’s cereal and shit in the cupboards. Mi casa es su casa.”
The omega nodded, eagerly digging into the food, before groaning and fanning his mouth. Wade laughed.
“You literally saw me take it off the stove. It’s hot!” Wade smiles, gettung the kid a glads of bottle. The omega chuckled at himself. “Can’t you talk, baby boy?”
The omega froze and got anxious, swallowing and watching Wade like he expected Wade to attack him or something for not answering. Maybe someone has before, taking his silence as rudeness.
“It’s alright you don’t have to. I just, don’t know what to call you.” They stared at each other for a minute or two, Wade getting lost in the brown eyes before snapping out of it, clearing his throat. “So you’re welcome to take the couch if you want to stay the night. I’d prefer you’d do that instead of go back out to your trash bag bed, though I’m sure it’s amazingly comfortable.”
The omega chuckled darkly, getting the sarcasm and Wade smiled. This guy had a good sense of humor.
The omega finished his eggs quickly and looked around, eyeing the kitchen, Wade encouraged him to go get more. The omega found some Doritos and sat on the bench as Wade washed their plates, before moving onto a bag of cookies, with intervals of spray cheese he found in the fridge. It rivaled any hormonal snack binge Wade had been on.
“Christ. Glad you’re getting fat on those bones I guess.” Wade watched the omega stuff his face, sadly thinking maybe the omega hadn’t eaten in a long while.
Once he was satisfied, Wade showed the omega to the couch. He sat down, considering it as a possible bed then looked up at Wade wrinkling his nose and shrugging.
“Not as comfortable as trash?” Wade smirked, and the kid grinned at him. Wade had to look away, hoping the omega didn't catch his blush.
Get it together, Wilson. It's an omega in need, he does not need you acting like a schoolgirl because he's pretty.
“Well, there’s a TV, I only got Netflix. And my room’s through there if you need anything. But – it is like nearly 3am so. You might wanna sleep.”
The omega then sneezed and Wade reconsidered if perhaps he hadn’t smelt heat on the omega earlier but a cold brewing. Wade reached to put his hand on the omega’s forehead, nearly missing the omega’s flinch and found it to be fairly warm.
“You might be getting sick, baby boy. I’ll get you some blankets.” Wade sighed, concerned. He ducked into the hallway to grab the warmest blanket he could find but paused. His duvet, his bed would probably be a lot warmer. He came back out to the living room, pausing when he saw the omega so prettily, waiting. Goddamn the universe was testing him. “Uhh – Maybe you should take the bed. It’ll be warmer.”
The omega squinted, looking around, then looking at Wade expectedly.
“What?”
The omega frowned, frustrated at himself, and he thought for a minute. He then pointed to Wade, made a heart with his hands then motioned around at the apartment. Wade got it.
“Oh! No, it’ll be okay. I uh... okay lied I’m not seeing anyone." Wade since, the kid just stared. "I just – didn’t want you to think I’m here for any, perverse purposes. I just want help. You know you wouldn't have come with me if I didn't."
The omega looked at him for a moment before he shrugged, getting up and going to the bedroom, smiling upon seeing the big queen bed with its large soft pillows and comforter. He walked over, pausing, before sinking into the mattress, burying his face in the sheets and heaving a huge sigh.
Ugh, an omega had never been in Wade's bed before, and no one had ever seemed to pleased to be there. He knew it was probably because the omega hasn't seen a bed, but the alpha part of his brain was ecstatic an omega was basically rolling around in his scent.
“How longs it been since you had a bed? ” Wade asked from the doorway, and the omega looked up at him, already looking sleepy. He held his hand up, index and middle finger up. “Two months?” Wade frowned; the kid shook his head. “Two… years??”
The kid shrugged, before frowning and patting the mattress, swallowing. It took effort, but he quietly sighed: “N-nice.”
“My bed’s nice?” Wade’s face lit up hearing the soft, croaking voice. But the omega made a face. “Oh... two years since you’ve had such a nice bed.”
The omega nodded, smiling, pleased Wade could get the message without him needing to speak more. So he could talk, it was just hard. Maybe he didn't speak English. But no, he understood Wade fine this whole time.
Wade come closer to the bed, telling himself it was judt to hear the kid better and not at all to just be closer to him.
“So, you can talk.”
The omega nodded.
“Just been a while, huh? I’m sorry.”
A confused frown.
“That’s total bullshit, baby boy. No one deserves that, especially you.”
The omega swallowed, blushing.
“Sorry.” Wade backed off a bit. “I’ll uh, I'll go take the couch. Come get me if you need me, and I’ll see ya in the morning?"
Wade stopped when the omega made a desperate squeak, and looked at two stunning puppy dog eyes, the omega’s hand held out. Wade glanced away; oh he's going to have trouble if the omega ever used those weaponised eyes again. He would do anything for those eyes.
Wade looked back up. “You.. want me to stay?”
Nodding.
“Um. Okay. Suppose I’ll keep you warmer, huh?”
Another nod, followed by a very faint. “...S-safe”
So, Wade got into the bed with the stranger, lying far enough away not to touch him but also finding it difficult to relax. The omega settled into the sheets, sighing, and smelling content, full and clean. Wade felt so proud; he'd done that. He'd provided food and shelter for this poor omega, made him feel content and safe.
Yeah, this might be the best night of his life.