Boltedfruit Archive

The next two weeks pass in a blur of quizzes and reading passages aloud that make Steve seethe.

Omegas are naturally soft and less prone to defined musculature. Omegas are naturally excellent in determining and thus fulfilling the needs of the household. They are naturally skilled in cooking, cleaning, and childcare. They prefer to stay at home with their children than pursue careers.

Steve hates cooking, he also sucks at it. Robin does most of the cooking when Steve isn’t buying them takeout. He hates being forced to work, but he doesn’t actually hate working. He looked forward to going to Scoops to see Robin and then felt so proud of himself when Keith hired them both at Family Video. He’s not cut like a bodybuilder or anything, but he’s not a small guy either. He’s not demure, not short or thin. He only cleans when he has to, and–

Well, he actually kind of likes the idea of raising kids. But even when he was with Nancy and privately fantasized about a whole brood of kids he could ferry around in a big camper, it wasn’t something he ever told her about.

It’s the one omega stereotype he identifies with and he hates that he does.

And hearing the alphas in class brag about how true they find those things to be in the partners they’ve had, to hear them so casually regard omegas as objects to knock up and push their kids out of, leaving them to do everything in the household save make money. And the one act of an alpha going to work was somehow more important and harder to do than anything an omega was expected to?

He fucking hates it.

Not for the first time, he wonders why. Why is he different? What’s wrong with him?

Eddie never speaks up. Seems to hide the same as Steve when class discussions get heated. They share a look one day, and Steve feels almost relieved when Eddie rolls his eyes at one alpha’s particularly gross statement.

The alpha eyes Steve sometimes. And Steve gets the impression he’s trying to show off or something. A good portion of the class seems to love the guy. It’s likely a case of the omegas wanting him, and the alphas wanting to be him. Steve falls into neither category and is disgusted that a city so different from Hawkins still has people who fall in line with such outdated customs.

And the worst part? Steve used to be like that alpha. Maybe not as gross (god he hopes he wasn’t so gross), but then he presented and it all fell apart. It didn’t matter anymore, even if he’d wanted it to.

He nearly breaks his pencil when he realizes with a start that now he’s no better than Eddie. A nobody. A social pariah.

He pouts and mulls and absolutely loathes he can feel Eddie’s eyes on him the rest of class. He’s putting off bad energy, a bad scent. But it’s not like he can help it. Omegas do put off very loud signals regardless of the owner of the body’s wishes.

Maybe he should look into the pharmacies nearby.

Male omegas benefit doubly from their secondary gender. By being uniquely capable of both impregnating a female partner and carrying a child themselves, they are often highly respected in their individual cultures.

What a fucking joke.

This also often makes them highly sought after during mating cycles, and protection is encouraged…

Steve tunes it out after that. It’s all so…traditional. He can’t stand it.

When class is finally over, Steve ignores the way Eddie turns toward him. Ignores the start of whatever Eddie is about to say.

He slings his backpack over his shoulder and hurries out of the room.

It’s not even that he should be surprised, because he shouldn’t. It’s not anything new. It’s the same bullshit expectations he’s heard about omegas his whole life. The same cliche crap that he’s spent hours arguing with his father over ever since his biology betrayed him and made him the first male omega the Harrington family had produced since something like the 1800s.

Either find a girl and get her pregnant or figure out a way to hide your designation. No son of mine will–

Blah blah blah.

He’s so sick of hearing his father’s voice in his head. It’s old news. It should be.

It makes him feel hopeless.

An omega’s fate can’t be the only thing for him. It just can’t.

He should have just kept his mouth shut and never told a soul what he witnessed between Nancy and Jonathan. Should have just played pretend everything was fine, perfect. That Nancy loved him and he was happy, and then he’d probably be married by now. Probably would have a kid on the way. As an omega, he wouldn’t have been able to get pregnant by Nancy, but he could have gotten her pregnant.

He could have made their life work.

His dad would have been happy at least.

“Hey, Harrington!”

He stops his hurried pace, realizing he’s made his way down the hill to the back of the library. It’s secluded enough; he’s come here to sneak a smoke or two between classes before. People usually leave him be.

When he turns, he expects to see Eddie. To catch his dark, enticing scent on the slight breeze. Is almost eager for it.

But it’s not Eddie.

It’s the alpha from class.

Steve debates on what to do for a few seconds too long. The alpha is in his space now, grinning ear to ear and looking sufficiently windswept. Had he jogged to catch up?

“Do I know you?” Steve asks, automatically bristling. He decided on the first day of class he couldn’t stand the guy. So far he hasn’t spared so much as a word towards Steve, so why the guy is suddenly acting like they know each other is a mystery.

The alpha is taller than Steve by an inch or two. He’s got green eyes and he’s pretty buff. He’s brash and loud and smells awful, all those supposedly rich undertones gone sour, too ripe like old body odor. The picture-perfect alpha.

He steps even closer until Steve’s back hits the cement wall behind him. He hadn’t realized he’d been moving away.

“Ah, don’t be like that. We both have Pram, right? You’re the pretty thing who sits in the back and pretends he’s not a looker. Always catch you giving me eyes, and I know what you’re thinking. You want a ride.”

Ah.

Then there’s only one explanation for why the alpha followed him. He smelled Steve. Knows he’s an omega.

Unbelievable.

“Not interested, sorry.” Steve frowns. Pushes himself off the wall and goes to duck under the large outstretched arm boxing him in.

The alpha steps in front of him again, this time bodily shoving himself against Steve. Steve holds the hiss he wants to let loose behind clenched teeth. The alpha presses closer, leans in like–

Like he’s about to kiss him.

Steve turns his head away, feels lips land on his cheek. Hears a low chuckle and then meaty fingers are pinching his chin, circling his jaw. Forces him to face forward.

“You’re not like the other omegas in class who hide their scent because they’re ashamed they’re not pure. You smell so sweet. Fucking delectable. I’ve waited long enough. Know you’re fresh as any flower.”

“I’m–” Steve’s mind works. He laughs. “I’m not some blushing virgin. Get off of me.”

It’s the middle of the goddamn day. It’s bright out. There are people around. But nobody seems to notice what’s happening just a stone’s throw down the hill.

Or maybe nobody cares.

Ms. Pram tries her best to juggle a good discussion in class, even if she can’t fully cap the bullshit alphas like this guy spout. If she steps outside of her class, if she looks down at the library, she will see them. She would know, right? Know that this isn’t something Steve wants. She could stop this.

The alpha laughs lightly. “Please, I can smell it on you. You’re on your own. You’re desperate, and no one’s had a taste.”

It’s laughable. As if the guy could scent every single person Steve’s ever been with. If he could, his head would spin.

As for being on his own–

“Get away from me.” Steve struggles against the alpha’s hold and manages to knock him off balance for a moment.

Those green eyes narrow. “Huh, not used to giving in? I wonder why. That’s what you’re supposed to do when an alpha makes a claim.”

“I don’t belong to anyone,” Steve hisses, ashamed at the noise that escapes him and the fact this asshole is getting to him.

“Oh, you’re fighting it. Your biology.” The alpha laughs, readjusting his bruising grip on Steve’s face. “Maybe you used to use blockers, but what, you decided to drop ’em once you got to college? You wanted to know what a real alpha’s knot felt like, didn’t you? You wanted to give in for once. So now you let everybody get a whiff. I bet I’m right.”

Nancy flashes through his mind. The memories he has of spending sweet nights with her, her complimenting his scent, but never biting him, never taking that next step.

Had it been the blockers? Was that part of why she left him for Jonathan?

His voice shakes. “Get the hell off me.”

The alpha lets out an amused grunt. “Guess I’ll just have to convince you.”

No. No, no, no, please no–

Lips brush his, only barely, before the alpha is gone. Steve blinks, momentarily stunned. Stumbles a little away from the wall until he’s standing on the grass. Needs to be as far away from that mouth, that alpha as possible.

It’s Eddie, and he’s held in the same place Steve had been, but now that meaty hand that had gripped Steve’s jaw so tightly is fisted in a leather lapel, his other circling the base of his neck. The alpha has him practically by the throat.

But what has Steve second-guessing just what the hell is happening, is seeing Eddie’s fangs bared, hearing the low, threatening rumble from deep in his chest.

And god, his scent.

It’s the same and so much richer than before. Amplified. Radiating something menacing, possessive. Primal. The roots of an old tree, mushrooms, flowers, moss, and twisting vines.

It’s not offensive in the slightest. It’s succulent.

To his unending embarrassment, Steve feels himself grow a little wet. Steps further back, so neither of them will catch it.

The other alpha shakes Eddie hard, cracking his head against the cement. Still, they growl at one another, teeth sharp and gleaming even in the shade.

Then Eddie snaps his jaw at the other alpha, the sound of teeth hitting teeth ringing between Steve’s ears. And from his vantage point, he swears he sees Eddie’s eyes flash red.

The other alpha’s hands slowly unwind from Eddie’s vest. Eddie bears down until the other cowers. It’s subtle. A tilt of his head in deference. Eddie’s won.

Steve’s mouth waters.

The offending alpha turns to Steve, still hanging his head. He peers up at Steve and he notices it’s suddenly very hard for the alpha to meet his eyes. His overripe scent has gone all reed-thin bare.

“Didn’t realize you were taken. Won’t happen again.”

Short and curt really, but a relief as the alpha finally walks away. Steve takes a deep breath, feeling jittery all at once. The rush of adrenaline leaves him weak-kneed.

He feels a split-second urge to correct the alpha. Say no, he isn’t taken, and he certainly isn’t Eddie Munson’s. Wants to repeat that he isn’t anyone’s.

But he bites his tongue. Allows the scent of old earth to fill his nose, let his blood settle.

It’s comforting. He wants to sit and bask in it. Languor all day unseen, wrapped up in it protected and–

He takes wobbly steps down to be level with Eddie. Hopes he doesn’t notice.

Eddie does, of course. Just watches Steve fumble on his own two feet with his lips barely parted. The fangs are gone. His eyes are the same deep shade of brown they’ve always been.

Any other alpha would have Steve scruffed by the neck and forced to the ground in submission after such a display.

But Eddie just looks concerned.

“I’m–”

“Sorry, Steve. Sorry.” He shuts his mouth, eyes flicking to the ground. “That was a lot.”

He tucks his hands behind his back and kicks a knee up. He looks a fraction of the height he is, and Steve wonders why he never noticed how much space Eddie truly takes up. How in high school it was all a show. Look at me, be afraid, don’t interact. Now all his posture is saying is don’t look at me, I’m barely here.

And, wait. Why is Eddie apologizing?

“It’s fine!” Can Eddie tell how hard his heart is racing? “It’s…really. Thank you. For helping me.”

Why is it so hard to get those words out?

“I can’t stand that guy,” Eddie mutters, glaring at where the alpha retreated around the side of the building. “He never shuts up. He thinks it’s still the fifties or something.”

Steve nods in agreement. He shifts and realizes his underwear is damp. He’s a little hard too, and he flushes despite himself. He takes a step back, intending to what, wave bye? He needs to go to the bathroom and clean himself up.

He doesn’t hate that he’s an omega, just sometimes it’s so goddamn embarrassing. More so since he actively decided to stop taking the blockers after moving away from his parents.

But he’s an adult. This doesn’t happen. Hasn’t in years.

Eddie’s nostrils flare. His eyes snap to Steve’s. Holds him there, pinned like a butterfly.

It’s the exact opposite of how Nancy would have reacted. A small smile. Maybe a flirty gaze. Pretending nothing was amiss apart from a little wiggle of her nose to let Steve know she noticed.

Eddie’s response is anything but.

“I should go,” Steve blurts and practically runs in the other direction.

He hides in the bathroom for an hour, head in his hands and toilet paper wedged between his thighs, trying not to think of the intensity Eddie watched him with.

Tries in vain to put those red eyes out of mind.

–

He gets home and tosses his bag down. He debates getting off for a few minutes but ultimately decides against it. He just can’t. Thinking of Eddie like that…it’s just weird.

He sits and watches TV for a while instead, but it’s all white noise. He can’t focus. Can’t pay attention to anything other than the fluttery beat of his heart, the rush of his blood. He still feels off his feet, even as he resorts to going into Robin’s room and stealing one of her pillows. He lays on the couch and hugs it to his chest. Buries his face in it, inhaling deep and deeper until he feels a little less untethered.

When Robin gets home, she finds him like that. Rumbles a small, distressed little sound, and pushes at him until she can squeeze in beside him. Until he smells like her and he feels less alone, apart, like an other.

He doesn’t tell her what happened, and for once she doesn’t push it. They heat leftovers and watch a movie. He still feels like shit when it’s over, and it’s unsaid that he’ll sleep on the floor of her room tonight.

And even then, wide awake in the middle of the night listening to Robin’s soft and even breathing, surrounded by his best friend’s comforting scent–he can’t stop smelling a hint of moss and undergrowth.

–

When the next day of class comes, Steve is dreading it. Wakes up slowly, back in his own bed after spending the previous day and most of the night doing homework.

When he gets there, his stomach sinks seeing Eddie already in his seat. He’s not distracted by a book or notes, and he turns almost immediately when Steve steps into their row. As if he was waiting for him.

He smiles before biting his lip and whipping back around. Steve watches his head lower, fingers appearing to twist and pull at the curls near his cheek.

Steve sits.

“Hey.”

Eddie glances at him. “Hey.”

Class passes quickly after that.

–

“Today you’ll be assigned a partner for the next three weeks to work together on your final project. You’ll be able to pick your partners, but each team must consist of one omega and one alpha.”

Someone asks why, echoing Steve’s thoughts.

Ms. Pram beams, bending behind her desk and coming back up with a huge…something in her arms. She hefts it against a hip and adjusts the small hat it’s wearing; a little pink beanie.

Steve sees a vague cloud of white descend from where she adjusts the thing and Steve realizes all at once what it is.

“Because in this class it’s essential you learn the basics of an alpha and omega pairing dynamic since you’ll be caring for your very own flour bag baby together!”

There’s a chorus of groans and giggles throughout the room.

There are already small groups of students whispering not so quietly, trying to secure partners before the assignment has even started. Steve looks around, wondering if anyone will ask him.

No one has bothered to get to know him. He’ll say hi and bye, has tried to smile to see if his old Harrington charm still works. People have been friendly enough, apart from the incident behind the library. But nobody is trying to get his attention now.

Nobody wants him.

He sees the other omegas get picked right away.

He sees the asshole alpha choose a pretty girl, tiny under a baggy sweater and pencil skirt. She reminds him briefly of Nancy. Is proven wrong just as quickly by how she bats her lashes, simpers at the fool, and touches his chest like he’s the greatest thing on earth.

It’s something Carol would do, sure. Nancy? No way.

Ms. Pram is calling for quiet so she can continue lecturing when Steve’s senses prickle. Then he feels a gentle pressure at his elbow.

Eddie’s got a finger hooked against him. His nails are black but not chipped. He wonders when he painted them.

His eyes flicker between Steve’s. “Want to? Be partners, I mean.”

“Uh…”

Eddie shoves a curl behind an ear that falls right back in his face. He holds it back instead, mouth quirking awkwardly. “I know you’re not my biggest fan or anything, but I figure since we kind of know each other already and since nobody else is looking to buddy up with us anytime soon, we could–”

“I mean–”

Eddie is nodding now. “And yeah, your crowd and mine don’t mix. The kids told me plenty of stories, trust me.” And okay, that stings. What the hell kind of stories were they telling him? “Sure. But we’re in college now, right?”

“I don’t know what they said, but I’m not that guy anymore, man.”

His tone makes Eddie wince. “No, I get it. I know you’re not. Also because of the kids. Mostly Dustin, who pretty much idolizes you by the way. The kid’s a huge dork when it comes to you. Number one Steve Harrington fanboy.”

Steve scoffs. “Yeah, right. Kid’s practically in love with the ground you walk on.”

A soft flush turns Eddie’s cheeks pink. “He talks about me a lot?”

“I’ve had to threaten to stuff a sock in his mouth to get him to shut up. Barely worked.”

Eddie’s eyes glisten. Steve sets his chin in a palm, cover for the wash of affection tinting Eddie’s scent into something buoyant.

A girl a row over pssts at them, and waves at Steve. She asks, “Do you want to be partners?”

Steve considers her. Smells the overflowing scent of earth turned to flowers turned to mud. Feels more than sees Eddie’s mood dim in real-time.

Says, “Sorry, I’m with Munson.”