Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The Basics of this AU:

Obviously, this is an Attack On Titan Omega verse AU. It follows the life of Levi Ackerman growing up in the Underground, becoming a scout, having children, and so on but there are lots of changes to the plot since he’s an Omega. This first introductory chapter is just to give a background on the story before it starts to hopefully avoid confusion:

WARNINGS: This is an extremely dark fan fiction about rising above oppression. I won’t sensor much. There will be rape. Rape culture. Murder. Pregnancy by rape. Citcumcision. Death. Titans. Slurs. Swearing. Physical/ Mental/ Emotional/ Sexual abuse. Objectification. Prostitution. Sex. BDSM. Slavery. Torture. Cruelty. Breeding. And most likely more. If you get uncomfortable with anything on that list, please click off, this fic is not for you. There’s fluff but also angsts. Don’t like, Don’t read. It’s really that simple. PLEASE do not make a pathetic fool of yourself and comment random hate that nobody asked for. I’m open to constructive criticism but flat out hate for no real reason will not be tolerated. 💜

(Also, I don’t really consider this a warning but I guess some people would so… in my AU, Everyone is bisexual. What matters in love is your “race” (omega, alpha, beta). It might not make so much sense, but basically, each race is split into the male sex and female sex. But people identify their gender as they personally see fit. Levi is a man. Erwin is a man. Hange is non-binary. Petra is a woman, etc. Race is really just split based on your chromosomes, and nobody cares what you are.) I also know that there isn’t diversity on paradise but there is in my AU. Racism is just based on your “race. (Alpha, Beta, Omega.)”

AU: Society’s social status is split into three groups: Alphas, Betas, and Omegas. They all have different anatomy, which I’m going to draw later on. Basically what you need to know about that is: Alphas all have balls Dicks. Women too, just theirs are way smaller but they still have the ability to get Omegas pregnant and can get pregnant by a male Alpha, Beta, or a male Omega who is not circumcised (but they’re very VERY rare and looked down upon). Betas have normal human genitals. Girls have vaginas and boys have penises. Omega genitals look very similar to a vagina but there are no lips. Male Omegas have balls that are usually brutally cut off by the age of 6 or 7. Female Omegas also undergo dangerous circumcisions. They are circumcised to prevent them from blocking off anything from getting into their bodies from down there. Since this also means that it would be very hard to rape an Omega that isn’t circumcised, it’s really looked down upon in society.

Alphas: They can be any sex and are the overall leaders of society. They’re the leader, the Pastors, The soldiers. They can do everything and anything they want that falls within the laws that the other Alphas make. Kings and Queens can be Alpha or Beta but they’re usually Alpha. Alphas rut 6 times a year. This is the best time for them to mate. High Alphas can control any omega with a commanding scent and often use this to their advantage. Physically bigger and stronger than the other two races. You can tell Alphas apart from Betas because their chests are noticeably fuller. (You know how everyone jokes that Reiner has boobs? Well every Alpha’s chest looked like that. It’s just compact muscle.) Two Alpha parents can only have Alpha offspring. They make up 45% of the population.

Betas: Are second. They’re very close to the social benefits of Alphas. They can be anything an Alpha can be but if it came down to someone listening to them or an Alpha, everyone would listen to the Alpha. They’re mostly scholars. Filing occupations like teachers and doctors. Librarians and owning big and small businesses. They get all the “Alpha” luxuries but they’re still second to them and are expected to know that. They’re the brains. All Betas Menstruate. Two Beta parents can only have a beta offspring. They make up 45% or the population.

Omegas: They are the lowest of the low. They can’t get jobs without an Alpha’s blessing and those jobs are just medium wage ones. They can’t get any education. Some stores don’t allow them to come in at all, and the rest require them to have an Alpha’s blessing or a Beta to accompany them. They’re overall seen in society as simple sex toys solely put on Earth to please Alphas and Betas. They aren’t allowed any rights and are taught to keep their heads down, shut up, and look pretty, or else they’d be punished. They were taught this by their parents, the church, and everyone else. You can easily tell who’s an Omega because of their flat chests that lack compact muscle, making it a weak spot, and delicate features. They are all exceptionally beautiful and because of this, have long been classified by the churches as “sins disguised as flowers.” They are expected to do the house work, to be caregivers, and to be ornaments to a household. They are expected to bow to an Alpha that’s greeting them and to kneel at the dinner table while the family eats. They should know how to serve tea and do perfect embroidery. They should be taught traditional Omegan dances and wear typical Omegan clothes. Their greatest weaknesses are the control that High Alphas have on them. When given a hard Scent command, they can’t control themselves and feel that they MUST follow that Alphas wishes. No matter what. They make up 10% of the population since their mistreatment often leads them to an early death. Omegas can mate with each other to produce Omega offspring if the two are the opposite sex, but that is illegal. Omegas that are mated with an Alpha can produce Alphas, Betas, or Omegas. Same goes for if they’re mated with a Beta.

Scents: scents can be covered up by using suppressants. They are most popular among Omegas since it can allow them to blend in more with betas. Chest guards also help them blend in with betas.

Mates: Alpha/ Omega: they are the ideal mates. It’s expected that any respected Alpha has a beautiful Omega below it. And it’s also expected that every beautiful Omega has an Alpha above it. Omegas that don’t have mates by age 50-ish (when they stop getting heats) are relocated to an Omega institution where they live to please Alphas and paying Betas.

Beta/ Beta: also the ideal pairing.

Omega/ Omega: illegal and punishable by execution. Nowadays, it would be impossible since pretty much every Omega is circumcised.

All other pairings are just normal.

If you have any other questions, please comment ☺️🐞

😰 that was a lot of info. Now, please enjoy the story!

Chapter Text

“It’s been a month, Kuchel. What are you going to name the omega?”

“I want the name to be something special. Something really fit for him. He’s so beautiful. Strong. I want his name to be perfect.”

Although Sara could see where Kuchel was coming from, it still sounded crazy to her that the woman not only had 9 months to think, but is also taking an extra month now that she’s seen the boy to name him.

Currently, said nameless child was lying in Kuchel’s arms, happily sucking a tender nipple, big grey eyes never leaving his mama’s face.

“Are you upset that he’s an Omega?”

“…”

Sara knew the question was a little insensitive, but she was Kuchel’s best friend, and she’d do anything to convince the old beta running the brothel to give the Omega to a wealthier family on the other side of the underground. Sure it was heartless but she knew that boy would only cause trouble for his mama. A single omega with an omega child? What were the odds of her surviving? And furthermore, would the alphas that payed for them at night want to sleep with an omega that has already been knocked up? Would Kuchel even have to heart to circumcise the boy? She know the answer to that. No. He best friend was out of her mind.

“I mean, you heard the boss, he can only stay if you promise to circumcise him. If you just give him up, you won’t have to deal with that kind of-“

“My little boy will do great things one day.” Of course she wasn’t even listening… “I can see the fire in his eyes. He looks like he’s going to start something big. A better life…”

“Kuchel, I don’t know if-“

“Levi.”

“What?”

“It’s a strong short name. He’ll love it. Levi”

And Sara had to admit. He was a cute kid. He glanced at her for a second before turning his attention back to Kuchel. She was right, like always. The kid has a sort of look to him that you don’t see often down there.

Levi.

Levi Ackerman.

Chapter Text

“Mama, I don’t wanna serve Alphas, they’re mean!” An angry three year old Levi was not having his first lessons on how to be a “proper Omega” and Kuchel was getting irritated. She knew that all Omegas went through these first feelings. Heck, when she was a toddler, and had other toddler Alpha friends, she too couldn’t handle the thought that they were above her.

“Don’t talk like that, Levi darling. Can you please just try it? For mama?”

“NO! They come at night and then you cry! And they say all those naughty words!”

“You’re supposed to be asleep then, honey.”

“I’m not sleeping!” Kuchel wasn’t sure how to deal with this situation. Her mama died in childbirth and her dad left most of the explaining to Kenny. Who in turn left the explaining to his Omegan friends.

“All you have to do is pour the drink into the cup and sit on the floor. Can you please do that for mama? Not for the Alphas, for mama?” She could see the gears turning in Levi’s head, and she knew she’d won.

Levi, without responding, poured the bottle of alcohol into the big cup and sat on the floor. Kuchel ignored the tears in his eyes and continued the lesson.

“Good job, my smart little angel! Now, let me show you how to greet an alpha or a beta when they come in the room.” Kuchel walked to the closed door of their small room and slightly bent her knees, keeping her back straight and head down. She briefly glanced at Levi to make sure he watching her. He was. “Your turn. Come on, it’ll be fun.”

“No mama.”

“Please? Just once for mama?”

“I don’t want to.”

“Levi, you have to. If you don’t listen to me, I’m going to have to give you a smack on the hand. Do you want a smack?”

“…”

“No, you don’t, baby, so please come over here and show mama what I’ve taught you.”

“I DON’T WANT TO!”

“YOU HAVE TO!”

Upon hearing his mother yell at him for the first time, he quickly ran into the closet tears pouring down his small face.

Kuchel sighed, deciding to give the little boy some space and instead started sweeping the room.

However, after a couple minutes of guiltily listening to the sniffing in the closet, she decided it might be time to apologize.

“Boy, I wish someone would help me with making the bed.” It was Levi’s favorite chore. “It’s definitely not as fun without a little boy here to help. Guess I have to do it all alone.” Turning her back to the closet she smirked when she heard the creaking of the wooden door being opened behind her.

“Oh! This is sooooooooooo boring without my little helper. He always helps me… I wonder where he went?” She heard another sniffle behind her, but his time it wasn’t muffled by the door. She felt a pang of guilt in her chest. This was the first time she herself made her little boy cry.

She knew it wouldn’t be the last though. There was a lot of things he’d have to learn.

“I’m almost done,” Kuchel sighed for dramatic effect. She then proceeded to pick up the pillow and fluff it, purposely doing it ‘wrong (for Levi’s standards).’ “I really do wish that little boy would help me fluff this pillow. I guess he’s not coming toda-” Bingo. Levi pulled the pillow from her hand.

“Mama, you’re not doing it right.”

“I’m sorry, Levi.”

“It’s ok.” Levi mumbled his answer. A silent hint saying it’s really not ok, but also not wanting to make mama sad by telling her that.

“I shouldn’t have yelled at you. Mama got mad and instead of taking a time out, she took it out in you.” Hugging her child, Kuchel knew that this age, might not be the right time for Levi to start learning how to be a “proper Omega.”

I’ll try again in a few days.

____________________________________

“I want him circumcised by the end of the week.”

Kuchel swore her heart stopped beating.

“He’s only three years old, sir.”

“I’m not asking Omega, I’m telling you. Your boy will be fine, my Omega was circumcised at one year old, and I always hear you bragging to the others about how strong your kid is. If he’s so strong. Get it circumcised by the end of the week, or so help me, I will kick you and the kid out.”

“But he’s only-!”

SMACK

“If I hear one more word out of you…”

Kuchel touched the new bruise on her cheek. Surprisingly, though, her first thought was wondering how she was going to explain the new injury to her son.

“Yes sir.”

She got up, tears pouring down her face and hurried back to the room where her only child was peacefully sleeping.

They’d go the day after tomorrow.

He won’t remember this it’ll be fine.

Still, Kuchel couldn’t seem to stop the tears from running down her face as she brushed her fingers through her baby’s hair. She knew it wasn’t a circumcision. It was a mutilation.

Chapter Text

It was early Wednesday morning and Kuchel was trying her best not to cry. She didn’t tell Levi why they were going out so early today. He was too excited to be getting out of their little room again that he didn’t give her a chance to explain what was happening.

She wondered if circumcisions have changed since she was a little girl. She didn’t have any antibiotics or drugs, she could only hope that maybe they’d give some to Levi, though she knew that was a pretty unlikely prayer.

“Can we get apples while we’re outside!” Levi was so excited that she couldn’t even look at him. She’d risk backing out completely, bursting into tears, or possibly throwing up.

“Mhm.” She couldn’t trust herself to speak.

“Yay!!!”

Kuchel, much to Levi’s annoyance, took 10 extra minutes to eat her breakfast of bread and a few saved berries.

“Mama! Hurry up!”

“Ok, baby. I’m coming.”

____________________________________

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Levi didn’t know why his mama was acting weird about going outside. The few times they left their room together were fun. They got apples and bread and even picked a few flowers that grew along the walls.

But mama wasn’t excited. She looked kinda sad, but Levi didn’t want to bring it up. It might ruin their day.

Once outside Levi ran ahead of his mama a little bit, to their usual apple stand that sells the best red apples.

“Let’s go this way today, Levi.”

Catching up to his mom, Levi pulled her hand. “But you said we could get apples.”

“We will, but we have to go somewhere first. Then, we’ll get the apples.”

“Ok, mama. Where are we going?”

When mama didn’t answer him, Levi got a strange feeling of dread in his heart. He suspected that today wasn’t going to be as happy as the other two times they’d gone out. Were they going to meet an Alpha? Levi looked up at his mama and squeezed her hand. Usually, she’d look at him and repeat the action.

She didn’t do that this time.

After walking for a little bit, they came up to a building. It wasn’t much bigger than the other buildings that surrounded it, but it Levi had a bad feeling about it.

“Mama, I changed my mind. I want to go home.”

“We will after we run this errand, ok baby?”

Once they walked into the building, Levi saw another Omega. She was a little older than him and was licking a lollipop. She didn’t look worried so Levi chose to ignore the feeling.

A beta led them to a room, excitedly whispering to mama.

“Good decision…….. every Omega should……. Won’t remember……… perfectly safe…………….. beautiful boy…………. Happy Alpha one day……….. good mother.”

The hallway was long and dark, with only a few lights overhead. Once they got to a room at the end of the hallway, they entered through a big wooden door, and on the other side, an old female beta greeted them. She had a strict look on her face and stood up once they trio entered the room.

“Lay on the floor and pull your trousers off, child.” She looked at mama. “Hold his wrists.” Her eyes shifted to the other beta. “You hold his legs open. Let’s get this over with.”

At this point, Levi was really starting to get scared.

“Come on, baby.” Mama pulled him to a small towel in the center of the room, but Levi didn’t want to lay on it. It looked dirty.

“Mama, I don’t want to lay down, I want to go home. I don’t care about apples, I want to go home.”

“I know, baby, but we can’t go home until we run this errand first. Can you please lay down?”

“No.” Levi stated towards the door. Determined to just go home. He didn’t want apples anymore. He wanted to go back to the room with his clean bed and cozy closet.

Mama, however, had different ideas. She picked Levi up and laid him across the towel. Holding his wrists cross crossed across his chest. The beta that walked them to the room, slightly smiled at Levi before pulling his shorts and trousers off, setting them on the towel. They didn’t fold them.

The beta then pulled his shirt up to his chin and held his legs in the air, spreading them apart. “Don’t worry, little omega, you’ll be glad you did this. Just close your eyes and count to 20.”

Levi looked at mama. She wouldn’t look at him, but she did take off her head scarf and cover his eyes with it.

He heard the older beta talking. He was sobbing and confused at this point. He really wanted to go home.

“You shouldn’t cry miss. He’d have a harder time finding a mate if he wasn’t circumcised. Omegas that don’t undergo this procedure are vile.”

“Mama I want to go home!”

Mama didn’t reply. Instead, he felt a searing hot pain in his nether regions. Struggling, he tried calling out to his mama. They were hurting him so why  wasn’t she stopping it? He was screaming and crying and for some reason he, couldn’t think about anything but the pain and the fact that his shorts and trousers were crumpled on the floor.

They were going to get dirty.

Crocodile tears ran down his face and somehow, he knew mama was crying too.

Finally, after what felt like forever, something was wrapped around private parts and his legs were released. He could feel his trousers being slipped back on, along with his pants, and mama pulling him into her arms.

He hid his face in her neck and sobbed. He hated this place. He wanted to go home. He wanted to take a bath. He wanted new clean clothes.

“Set him over there, Omega and clean up the blood.”

“Yes ma’am.”

Levi curled in the corner of the dirty room. He didn’t want his mama to set him down but he also didn’t want to prolong their stay there any longer. The younger beta came over and stroked his hair. He wanted to push the hand away.

Kuchel held a sobbing Levi. Carrying him back to their room. The other Omegan prostitutes didn’t even turn their heads when she’d come back. They’d all heard the boss’s request. They’d all went through the cruelty themselves.

She carried Levi back to their room and set him on the bed. Turning to their table where she’d laid out a little milk and rum to help her son sleep.

“Honey, can you drink this, please? It will help stop the ouchie.”

“M-M-Mama, w-w-why did-d-d you d-d-do t-t-t-that?”

“I’m sorry baby. But I had to.”

“Mama it hurts.”

“I know, sweetie. If you drink this milk, it’ll stop hurting.”

With a sob, Levi too a sip of the milk and fell asleep a few minutes later.

“I’m sorry, baby.” Kuchel kisses Levi’s head as she picked him up, and put him in the closet where there was a makeshift bed for him.

She then got ready for her first client of the day.

Chapter Text

It’s been a few days, and although Levi is still sore, he’s relatively back to normal.

Except for the night terrors that have begun waking him up in the earliest hours of the morning.

The first time it happened, Levi woke up to hear a bed creaking and grunting. He didn’t want to move, since he was still suffering from extreme physical pain.

However, after a few days, he could bring himself to move again. He wanted his mama to hug him after that nightmare, he was also curious to see what that noise was. It happened almost every night, but he never knew what was causing it.

Rolling over and slowly sitting up, he wanted to listen to the noise before getting in mama’s bed.

“Ngh!”

“Shut up, bitch.”

Levi knew that alphas came to their room at night, but he’d never heard them talk before. The only thing he knew about them was that they made mama cry.

“Damn, it must be tight.” A new voice spoke.

“She sure is, I’ve, ah, half a mind to mate this bitch right now and take her home.”

“Yeah right, you don’t have the money to pay for this dump’s property.”

“Ow!” Was that mama?

“Hurry up so I can have a turn with ‘er.”

“Please, ngh, keep your voices down.”

“Shut up, slut!”

Smack

Levi bursts the door open.

“Leave my mama alone!”

“LEVI, GET BACK IN THE CLOSET!”

But the little Omega was already angry and horrified with what he saw. There were two alphas. One was sitting at their table with his dirty boots resting on the surface.

The other was holding his naked mama down against the bed and pushing his crotch on her bottom.

He ran to the one holding his mama, punching and kicking and biting him.

“Let mama go!”

“Get off me runt!” The alpha at the table grabbed  Levi and threw him on the floor.

“I didn’t know this bitch had a bitch.” He laughed, grabbing Levi painfully by the hair and yanking his head close to mama’s. “Look, they’re spitting images of each other!”

Levi slit his eyes open a little to look for his mama, hoping he did enough damage to the alpha so he wasn’t hurting her anymore. She was still struggling against the hands that were gripping her neck and holding her arms behind her back.

“Please! Please! Please let him go!”

“Hmm, I don’t know if I should. He’s kinda pretty. What do you think, Stan?”

“Haha! I didn’t know that fucking toddlers was your thing. Sicko.”

“PLEASE! Free! I’ll do anything you want for free! Please, leave my baby alone! He’s just a little boy! He was just circumcised! YOU’LL KILL HIM!”

The man threw Levi on the bed and stripped him. “Damn, the chick is right. The wound’s barely healed.”

Levi didn’t like that mama was crying. He didn’t like being naked in front of these Alphas. He started crying too.

“Let mama go!”

“Please! Alphas! Masters! Sirs! Give me your big cocks! I’ll do anything! Free of charge! Please don’t hurt my little boy!”

The alpha that was holding Levi down slapped mama in the face. “Relax bitch. I was just fucking with you. I myself don’t fancy runts.”

“LET MAMA GO!” Levi bit the man’s finger, hard enough to draw blood.

“LEVI DON’T!”

“ACK! Fucking bitch.” Levi had never been punched in the face before. He’s seen it happen on the streets but has never experienced the force of it himself. But when the Alpha’s fist connected to his face hard enough for him to fall off the bed, he only had one thought:

I’ve felt worse.

Levi was about to stand up again and run to mama, but the Alpha grabbed his arm, dragged him to his closet, and threw him inside. Placing a chair under the handle to keep him in.

“LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT! LET MAMA GO!”

He heard mama sobbing, thanking the Alphas. Levi cried in confusion and pain. His face hurt, and he didn’t know why his mama yelled at him. He didn’t do anything wrong! Those alphas were the ones that came into their room and started hurting them!

“Let me have my fucking turn. We need to get out of here.”

“Let me out! Mama!”

There was a bang on the door. “Little bitch, if you don’t shut your mouth, we’ll pull you out here and fuck you till your legs don’t work. SHUT. UP!”

“Ma-“

“SHUT THE HELL UP, LEVI!”

Levi’s mouth quickly shut. Laying on the ground, he began crying, not understanding why his mama was so angry at him. He wanted the Alphas out. He wanted to get out of the closet. He wanted his clothes back.

“Ah! I was guessed right, she is fucking tight.”

Smack

“Beg for it, pretty little slut.”

“Please Alpha! Give me your big wet cock. I need it. I need more. Please. Ngh. I love it.”

Levi couldn’t believe his ears. He hoped this was a nightmare. Hoped that he would wake up so that he could go cuddle with his mama.

Instead, he cried.

- - - - - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -

“Here’s some extra money, bitch. Buy your kid something nice.” The Alphas laughed.

“Thank you.” Kuchel was sore. She could barely move from where she was kneeling by the door.

Once the door closed, she slowly hid the extra money under a loose floorboard, put her dress back on, gathered her sons clothes and crawled to the closed closet door. Hearing her son whimpering.

“Levi baby?” Mama whispered. “Are you still awake?”

No reply. He was scared.

“I’m so sorry, baby. You weren’t supposed to see that.”

Still no reply.

“Oi oi oi?”

She waited for what felt like forever for her little boy to repeat after her. A little game they’d started playing.

“Oi oi oi.”

Quickly, Kuchel opened the door and and pulled Levi into her arms. Carrying him to the table to check his bloodied nose.

She guessed she didn’t look much better than him because as soon as he saw her face, eye swollen shut and bruises littering her face, he burst into tears.

“I’m sorry, mama!”

“Don’t be sorry baby, you did nothing wrong. I’m the one that should be sorry. I’m sorry I scared you.”

“Mommy, I don’t like when they make you sad, please don’t let them in anymore.”

“I know, baby. I know. We’ll figure it out.” She gently kissed him in the head stroking his hair and humming a lullaby. Cleaning the dried blood under his nose too.

Kuchel carried her son, cursed from the day he was conceived, to the small bed in the center of the room. She slipped an old shirt of hers over his body and held him until he found rest.

The next night, after Levi fell asleep in the closet Kuchel, placed a chair underneath the handle. Making sure her son wouldn’t be able to leave the small space.

She went to greet her next client.

Chapter Text

Some days, mama can’t even get out of bed.

“I’m just tired, baby. Do you mind going to pick up dinner from the boss?”

“Yes, mama.”

A four year old Levi slipped out of the room to do as his mama requested. He didn’t much like the boss but he gave them their meals for the day. On nights like tonight, where mama was too tired to get out of bed, Levi would take up the chores that she used to do. He’d get breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He’d collect the money mama earned. And he’d deliver any messages that the boss needs to tell mama.

Throughout the day, Alphas and Betas trickled in and out of rooms, talking to the boss and flirting with Omegas. Whenever Levi went out to the lobby to run errands, he’d keep a close eye on his and mama’s room, wanting to make sure nobody sneaks in and hurts mama while she’s resting.

At this moment, he was climbing on one of the stools next to the boss’s counter, waiting to be noticed. He learned a while ago that the boss doesn’t like being interrupted by children when talking to his clients.

“What’d you want, runt?”

“Dinner…sir.” Mama told him to always say ma’am or sir at the end when talking to Alphas and Betas.

“Your mama’s still in bed, eh?”

“Mama’s sick, sir.”

“She’s lazy is what she is,” the boss mumbled. This annoyed Levi and he had half a mind to lash out at the idiot for calling his mama lazy. She does so much by herself! But Levi also had enough sense to know that if he back talked, he’d risk no dinner, and he knew mama was hungry since she didn’t eat breakfast or lunch either.

“I don’t know if you two deserve dinner today.” Levi didn’t even realize he was glaring. Quickly changing his face and casting his eyes down, he’d try anything to get his mama some food.

“Please, sir. Mama is really sick. She hasn’t eaten anything today.”

“She hasn’t done no work for three days. Now get. You’re wasting my time.”

“Can I do work to get dinner?”

The boss glanced at him, seeming to be thinking for a moment. Finally, he handed Levi a brown paper bag and pointed behind him. “Two buildings down. Give this shit to the Alpha living there.”

Excited as he was to be of use, he was also really nervous. He’d never been outside without mama before and he knew that he should probably tell her where he was going. But what if she said no? Then they wouldn’t have dinner and Levi was hungry. He could do this. It was just two buildings down. He’d be fine.

“Do this and I’ll give y’all your dinner.”

Quickly, Levi left the lobby and building before he chickened out. It felt darker after dinner than it did after breakfast, more shadows. There were also way less people walking around.

I’ll just hurry up and get dinner and then go back to mama. I don’t need to tell her.”

He passed the first building and was now walking up the steps for the second. Knocking quickly, the door opened and he was met by a chubby, dark skinned girl, about his age. An Omega, Levi knew, although he’s never actually talked to one his age.

“Here’s your shit.” He wouldn’t tell mama he said a naughty word either.

“Our dad isn’t home right now.” A taller Alpha appeared behind the girl. He looked older too. “He’s down the street at that slut place.”

“The boss told me to give this to him.” Holding out the paper bag, the alpha looked inside it, then back at Levi before bursting into laughter.

“You’re also from that slut place! Little whore! Guess they’re teaching you Omegas early, huh?”

“Shut your mouth, Gilbert!” The omega that opened the door said before looking back at Levi and yanking the bag from his hands. “Don’t listen to my brother. He’s just angry daddy said that he couldn’t go with him.”

Levi’s mouth hung open. He knew that if he’d said anything like that to an Alpha, mama would make his palms red.

“I didn’t know there was an omega my age living close by! You should come over and play with me! Auntie Rose made me three dolls and so we should play dolls together.”

“You Omegas are so dumb. All you play are stupid games. Useful people, like me, play real games.”

“Dolls aren’t stupid, you-!”

“I don’t like playing with dolls,” Levi interrupted. Although he found the two children rather annoying, they were the first kids his age that he’s having a long conversation with. “I like running.”

“Race you!” The omega girl took off running in the opposite direction of the brothel, her brother taking off after her.

“The whore won’t be able to catch up!” Yelled the alpha, easily getting ahead of the two omegas running head to head.

“Don’t call me that!” Levi was quickly taking the lead. He knew he was fast. Three times a week, mama would take him to a place in the underground where there was a big whole, and the sunlight would shine through.

“The sun makes you strong.” She’d told him.

“As strong as an Alpha?”

“Stronger.”

“As strong as God?”

“Haha, maybe not that strong. But definitely as strong as his strongest angel.”

Levi was quickly catching up to the Alpha boy, coming so close that he could reach out and touch him. He almost did when the Alpha hit a solid object and crashed to the ground in front of him, causing Levi to trip and fall as well, scraping his knees.

My pants got dirty.

The Omega came to a stop a few feet behind them.

“Well, well, well, look who it is, fellas. Gilbert and two bitches.”

Levi looked up and saw three older Alphas, older than Gilbert, standing before them. Two boys and a girl.

“We should be heading home our dad is probably worried about us.” The omega girl said behind them.

“Oh can it, chubby!” The girl alpha said. “You shouldn’t speak to Alphas unless spoken to.” Levi realized that the three were slowly surrounding them. He needed to get home. He needed to get dinner. Where was even the bag? Did Gilbert set it inside the his house?

“What’s this you got here?” The lead Alpha picked up the bag and shuffled through it. “No way man! These are literal smokes!”

“Let me see that.” The girl grabbed the bag and looked. “Where the hell’d you get this?” She said with a smirk.

“It’s for my dad, he payed for it. Give it back.”

If their dad doesn’t get what’s in the bag, mama won’t get dinner.

Levi tackled the lead Alpha, quickly getting on top of him and beating his face. “GIVE IT BACK!”

His two new friends followed suit. The little Omega girl tackling the alpha girl and Gilbert tackling the third alpha male.

Still sitting on top of the leader, Levi tried to reach for the paper bag. However, he failed to notice the alpha underneath him grabbing a rock.

Time slowed.

Levi’s eyes moved to the right when the movement was caught. It felt like a second went by. Then another one.

Then darkness.

Pain.

A scream.

Another scream.

More screams.

The screams turned to ringing. Then there was no sound at all.

My pants are still dirty.

I need to go back to mama. She’s sick. She didn’t eat breakfast or lunch. She needs to eat dinner.

Why’s mama so sick..?

Chapter Text

Down here, the acronym ‘STD’ floated around like the word ‘hello.’

And Kuchel was terrified she’d be found out. She felt so weak all the time, and Levi kept telling her that the boss demands she start work soon.

Omegas that got an STD were almost always either killed or sent to an omega institution. Although she was legally required to tell the boss about her suspensions, she couldn’t do that to Levi knowing they’d either kill him or have him take her place in finishing the brothel’s contract. She recently sent word to her brother and so she knew, Kenny would be coming in a few months to “visit.” She didn’t mention Levi, assuming he believed her son died in childbirth.

She didn’t tell him about Levi because she wanted to make sure he came. Kenny wouldn’t be heartless enough to leave her little boy here, but he was heartless enough to avoid meeting him altogether.

It was only when five young children brought her son back to her room, head bleeding and unconscious, that she really realized how little she could ever do to protect her son.

The five were sobbing, trying to tell her what happened.

“Just messing with them.”

“Trying to fight back.”

“He was hitting me. I didn’t mean to hit him that strong.”

“We’re sorry!”

“I’m really sorry.”

“Is he…

Dead..?”

The boss sent them away without giving an answer and Judy was called to her room to clean his head.

“Don’t worry, Kuchel, he’s going to be fine, just a little headache.”

The words did nothing to reassure Kuchel. Kenny would be coming in a few months time but looking at her son right now, unconscious on the bed, bandages wrapped around his skull, the mama was determined to get the omega out of here. Out of this part of the underground, at least.

Over on the east side lived the wealthier scum. They didn’t live like kings and queens, but they could afford small houses, food, and few luxuries. Thankfully, there were also more MP’s that would surely keep crime at a low.

Once Levi was peacefully sleeping on the bed, she wrote another letter to Kenny.

Brother,

In my last leter I didn’t tell you the reesen I am asking you to visit by the end of the year. I suspect that I won’t be arownd much longer and befor I go, I need you to do me a favor: pleas take my sun to the East Side of the undergrownd. I’m not asking you to take care of him, but if you know a kind welthy family over ther that wouldn’t mind taking in an Omega boy, I’d aprecsiate if you wood leev him there. He can cleen, that shuld be enuff to ern his stay. Just pleas, do not let him starv or becum a sex slave. I want him to have a better life than us .

Your sister,

K.

Kuchel cringed a little at the amount of words she didn’t know how to spell, folding the paper, she sent a little prayer to God asking him to help Levi get an education some day.

Now she had to figure out how in the world she’d get this message to Kenny. Last time, she was strong enough to give this message to Alder, a long time friend(ish) to the Ackerman siblings, letting him deliver her letter, but now she felt too sick to do so. And she wasn’t going to send Levi out alone after what happened today.

*knock* *knock* *knock*

“Boss?”

The door opened and in it’s place was a tall Alpha. He resembled two of the children that brought her son back. Black with a fuller looking face and slightly chubby body.

“Are you, that little Omega’s mom..?” His sentence trailed off when his eyes landed on Levi, still unconscious.

“Yes, sir.”

“Mind if I chat with you?”

“I’m sorry, I’ve been really sick lately and am not taking clients until tomorrow night.”

A quick blush spread across the alpha’s cheeks. “No no! Not like that miss, I mean talk. Just, a quick chat.”

Kuchel looked at the man for a second more before beckoning for him to pull the chair up close to her bed.

“I just wanted to apologize for my children, they really didn’t mean any harm. They’re very upset right now and begged me to come by and explain the situation for them. They were just trying to play with your son. If there’s anything I can d-“

“Yes. Please deliver this letter to Max Alder. He’s an alpha that lives in a green house a few miles left of here.”

The alpha flushed again and Kutchel wondered if he was sick. It was then that she noticed a carton in his left hand.

“Oh yes of course, I almost forgot,” he handed her the small dinner. “Your boss told me to give this to you. Said yer boy earned it.”

Kuchel couldn’t help the pride that swelled in her chest hearing that. Although she wished Levi didn’t leave without her knowing, her little boy was able to earn something by himself. That’s more that some adult Omegas could say.

“Thank you,..”

“Mack. And your name is?”

“Kuchel.” She felt her cheeks flush too.

“Pleasure meeting you, miss. Uh, if you ever need anything, your boy knows where I live. Two houses down.” He smiled, adverting his eyes. “Um, I’ll deliver this message, tomorrow morning.”

“That’s alright. Thank you. I mean it.”

“No problem. I hope we can talk again soon. Get better.” With that he hurried out.

Kuchel also hoped they could talk again soon. The alpha was cute, but she wouldn’t trust him.

Chapter Text

Levi squealed as Kuchel continued attacking his ribs with her fingers.

“The tickle monster is eating you! Raaaaar!”

She took a break for a second to let her son breath. His face was red and small giggles slipped out of his mouth.

Setting him to the side of the bed, she laid back down.

“Mama, let’s keep playing.”

“I don’t feel so well, Levi, I need to rest for a bit. We’ll keep playing later.”

“But you said you’d be better by now. Boss is getting angry. He hit me yesterday.”

The pang in Kuchel’s heart came back. “I know Levi, mama just has to get her strength back.” Closing her eyes, exhaustion was washing over her once again. “Why don’t you go hang out in the lobby for a while.”

“I saw Mack yesterday.”

This caused Kuchel to open her eyes again. “Really..? He… didn’t come to see me…” Mack had come back the day after they met to check up on the two Omegas, bringing with him some shoes for Levi that his son outgrew. Since then, he payed Kuchel visits almost every day, sometimes bringing his kids to play with Levi.

“Boss told him to get lost.”

Closing her eyes again, for the first time in a while, Kuchel felt pure rage. She knew what the boss was doing. He wasn’t an idiot and could probably tell that the two were catching feelings for each other.

“Mama?”

“Mhm?”

“Are you guys gonna mate?”

Kuchel’s eyes popped open and she let out a small laugh. Her little boy was smart too.

“No, baby, probably not.”

“Oh. Jazzy and Gilbert told me that Mack says he likes you, like, really likes you. So we were going to ask that maybe we could move in with them. Jazzy says I’d be like a sleepover every night, and I think it could be a good idea too.”

Kuchel turned her head to the side. Hoping to shield her face and the tears forming in her eyes. “No baby, I’m sorry but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

“But-“

“Why don’t you go to the lobby, Levi.”

“…”

Kuchel knew she wasn’t being fair to Levi, but she didn’t want him to worry about her being upset. She also really likes Mack. He’d begun bringing her flowers, with small gifts for Levi, mostly clothes. They’d even shared a small kiss. But she also knew it wouldn’t be fair to him if she continued the relationship. She’s glad the boss sent him away. How could she die and just leave Levi with him? It’s for the best. They were getting too comfortable with each other.

“Yes mama.” Was the last thing Kuchel heard before falling asleep.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Levi sat by the window where he liked to play with a few rocks to pass the time. He was really hoping that mama would say that the idea he and his friends came up with was a good one, not only was he hoping, but he was sure mama would say yes. Levi really likes playing with Mack and his kids. He’d never gone inside his house before but Jazzy tells him that they have a big basement that they made into a fort that he really wanted to see. Mack always gave him a piggy back ride when he came a over.

He never had to bow for Mack or Gilbert.

Once, he even messed up and called Mack “dad,” mama made him apologize to Mack. One time, Jazzy slipped up and called mama “mama,” Mack started stuttering and made her apologize too. Levi didn’t see the big deal with the small mistake, but he never did it again, even though Jazzy has called mama her mama quite a few times. Gilbert did it once too.

Levi built a small tower with his rocks, knocking them over he decided to go find company. There were lots of hiding places in the lobby and although mama tells him not to sneak back behind the rooms, Levi tends to find himself in the rear of the building in those long hallways. His favorite game to play is ‘spy.’ He’s gotten in trouble with the boss a few times before for sneaking around even through Levi keeps telling him it’s just a game. He likes hearing what people are saying. He likes being included in on all the other Omegas’ secrets.

He knows lots of them. And he’s a very good secret keeper. He hasn’t told anyone that Maybella is meeting an Alpha tonight and plans to run away with her. Or that Roger has been stealing extra bread to give to a stray dog that lives behind the building. And he definitely hasn’t told anyone that the boss doesn’t pay his taxes. Whatever that means. He asked mama once but she didn’t really explain it that well.

So now here Levi was, once again playing spy. He decided he wanted to hear was Lavender was up to. The woman was a gossip and Levi loves talking the her. She tells him everything that she hears in exchange for Levi doing her hair and makeup for her. Even though Gilbert calls it dumb, Levi enjoys weaving the hair around. He doesn’t much enjoy the way that Lavender always pinches his cheeks when he’s done. Saying how good of an Omega he is.

Today however, when he came to her door, he heard whispering inside. Pressing his ear to the keyhole. He listened in:

“Kuchel isn’t going to last much longer. What’s going to happen to the kid?” Levi knew it was Lavender speaking.

“He’ll probably just take her place until the year is over and her contract is up.” Dan’s voice. Levi knew Dan well. He was really nice, but kind of a scaredy-cat.

“I can’t even imagine how she got ********. The boss is usually really careful about clients. An Omega here hasn’t gotten an STD in over two decades.” Mama got what? Levi didn’t know that word.

“And poor Levi. His mama is his world. I can’t imagine what he’s going to do once she’s gone.”

“I’ll probably let him live with me. At first I thought the runt was just trouble, but he’s grown on me. Still hard to believe tho that Kuchel’s gonna be dead soon. Maybe even this month too.”

Levi ran back mama’s room tears rolling down his face. What were they saying?! Mama was fine! They were just playing a few minutes ago! She just had a little flu! She’d be fine!

She hasn’t been out of bed in over two weeks.

Once Levi arrived at his room he threw himself on mama.

“Mama? Wake up!”

“Hm? Levi, baby? What’s wrong?”

Levi just laid in her arms and sobbed in both relief that mama was still here and fear that mama might be gone by the end of the month.

“Levi. Sweetheart, tell me what happened.” Mama ran her fingers though Levi’s hair. Holding him close. “Is this about Mack? Did boss hit you?”

But Levi is a very good secret keeper. So he never told anyone what he heard about mama that day. Not even mama herself.

Chapter Text

Boss said Levi’s birthday was in two weeks. Christmas. He didn’t know that.

He’d be five years old but he didn’t care. Mama hardly talked to him anymore. All she did nowadays was sleep. Levi himself barely ever left the room. He hasn’t seen Jazzy or Gilbert or Mack since the day before he heard Lavender and Dan use that word. That was a while ago. He found himself spending hours laying by mama or on the floor watching her sleeping face. Every so often making sure her chest was still slowly rising and falling. She’s waken up a few times in the past few weeks but Levi’s never understood what she was saying.

“Baby, go under the floor.”

“What do you mean mama-?” Oh, she fell asleep again.

Mama’s started to smell bad and she’d begun wetting the bed too. He tried washing her but she’d told him to stop.

“The floor. Get money…”

Tears welled in Levi’s eyes. He didn’t know what she wanted him to do. There was no money on the floor. “Please wake up, mama. My birthday’s soon. You told me that I’d get to have apples.”

Mama didn’t open her eyes.

“Mama I’m hungry.”

Still, no reaction.

“MAMA! WAKE UP OR I’M GOING TO RUN AWAY!”

Nothing.

Levi crouched next to the wall, his vision going blurry. His clothes were all dirty, and he was too scared to ask the boss how to clean them. He didn’t want to ask the other omegas either. Didn’t want them to ask about mama.

Currently, he was wearing one of mama’s old shirts. It smelled like her and it was clean enough so it would do for now.

“Levi…”

“Yes mama!” He ran up to her. He knew she might say something strange but he didn’t care, he just wanted to hear mama’s voice. Wanted her to tell him that she felt better now and that they’d be ok again.

“Levi…….

I……..

Love……..”

“I love you too, mama. Can you stay awake now? I don’t like being awake by myself.” No reply.

Oh. She must be asleep again.

Levi saw that he could hardly recognize her anymore. She looked like she didn’t have any muscle on her. She looked… scary.

The Omega crouched back down against the wall.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Levi hasn’t gotten up from his spot on the floor for anything except to use the bathroom in the closet. He didn’t want to go outside and leave mama. He was scared that if he left and came back, mama wouldn’t be there anymore. Or worse, an Alpha would be here hurting her.

He’s been falling asleep sitting in that position too. Knees pulled to his chest, head resting in between. He’s also been having the same dream every time he falls asleep.

It’s of mama. She’s holding him and muttering that word he heard Lavender say.

What was it..?

Sister?

No.

Cider?

No.

Something with a ‘liss.’

“Syphilis”

She says the word over

And over

And over again before she face starts morphing into what it is now. Not mama. A scary looking doll.

“Syphilis”

“Syphilis”

“Syphilis”

“Syphilis”

“Syphilis”

“Syphilis”

Levi always wakes up shaking. Fighting the urge to jump into mama’s arms. The bed was covered in poo and pee. Mama’s been too week to go to the bathroom.

Levi gets up now, legs wobbly from being in the same position for so long.

“Mama?”

As Levi got closer to the bed, he squinted his eyes. He didn’t want to see mama like this. Didn’t want her to make his nightmare true.

At least in the nightmare, she was holding him.

Standing next to the bed, Levi let out a sob. Then another.

Going back to the wall and crouching back down on the floor, he didn’t want to tell the boss, but he was so hungry. But if he left the room, boss might ask him about mama. He might go in and see her…

If he saw her, he might take her away.

Levi stood again. Walking over to mama, with a pair of scissors, he cut some of her dress off. He wanted anything close to mama that he could get.

He looked back at her one more time before returning to his spot by the wall.

Mama’s chest wasn’t rising and falling anymore.

He realized it hasn’t been for a few days.

Levi crouched on the floor again. Tying the piece of dress around his wrist.

Chapter Text

“She’s dead.”

Kenny almost missed it. Looking to his left, he saw a small omega, crouched by the wall.

Oh yeah, Kenny remembered Kuchel wanting him to take the brat to the Eastside. Kid looked like death.

“And you?” The brat looked up. “Are you alive?” Receiving no reply, Kenny agitatedly asked, “Aw give me a break, you’re not deaf are ya? Can you hear me or can’t cha?”

Kenny didn’t remember Kuchel ever mentioning anything about him except that he was an Omegan boy.

“Ya got a name?” A friend of the alpha’s once told him that if he wanted to talk to a traumatized brat, he’d have to ask easy questions. Ease em outta shock or whatever. He figured that seeing yer dead parent being eaten by bugs was a pretty traumatizing thing. Kenny would know. Least he and the runt had one thing in common… A name was easy enough.

“Levi. It’s just Levi.”

After talking to the brat for a second more, he went over and plucked him off the ground. “Well brat, yer going to be with me for a while.” Holding Levi on his left arm, Kenny walked up to the piece of shit running the brothel. “The Omega woman in there is dead. I’m taking the kid with me.”

He seemed shocked. This dude’s an idiot. “Wha..? Dea..?” He glanced in the direction of the room before his eyes drifted to Levi. A grin spreading on his face. “Well you gotta pay for the bitch then, he’s still property of the business after all. Tell you what, since it’s your first time, I’ll accept a payment of about -“

Kenny slit his throat. He heard a few screams coming from the other omegas and clients but he didn’t take the time to look back. He also heard the small gasp that left Levi’s mouth.

Walking out of the brothel, the runt laid his head on Kenny’s shoulder. Kuchel really thought he was going to leave the brat with some fucking wealthy family on the east side? He might not like kids but the runt was family after all. He wasn’t about to let him become some sex object for forty year old sleazed shit bags. She genuinely thought there were some kind wealthy families over on that side of town. Kenny lived there himself, (better people to steal from) and would tell anybody that down there, nobody is honest and nobody goes outta their way to be “kind.”

His little sister had always been a little naive and he can see that trickling in to Levi’s personality too. The runt literally just let Kenny take him without any proof that he knew his mama? Red flags shoulda at least been raised in his head when he killed that asshole, anyway. It was either the omega really thought Kenny was a good ol’ guy that was going to help. Or he simply didn’t care what happened to himself anymore.

Kenny didn’t know which was worse.

It was fine for now. Kenny, after careful consideration, decided to teach said brat how to survive underground by himself.

And he’ll start by teaching him how to stea-

“Who’s this?” Kenny turns to the kid so quickly he thinks he got neck lash. The little brat had already picked through his breast pocket and was now holding a picture.

Sticky fingers. He thought, a little surprised that he didn’t even feel nothing. Not much to teach him about stealing then…

“Little brat. Don’t stick your bony, little, stick fingers where they don’t belong.” Kenny said, snatching the photo and stuffing it back in his pocket.

“Who is it?”

“None of your business. Now shut up and enjoy the ride.”

“Where’re you taking me?”

Not to the East Side to leave you be. I’ll tell ya that right now.

Kuchel may have given up on the thought of omegas being able to fend for themselves, but Kenny will never forget the day where a small omega brat killed two of his friends.

Kenny didn’t blame him. He had a good reason after all. Kenny, Joe, and Maddie were sixteen year old, drunk, hot headed, idiots looking for trouble. When they came across a small runt of an Omega in the alleyway slightly smelling of a heat. The three went crazy. Kenny doesn’t remember half of it but he does remember small pictures: thinking it was their lucky day, they held the omega down who somehow got hold of a bottle and managed to smash it on Kenny’s head before using it to stab his friends. When Kenny came to, he had been brought to a little shack of a house where his head wound was cleaned and water was provided. The Omega felt no remorse as he explained what he did to his friends. Kenny himself found that he felt no rage, nor grief. It was that day that the alpha’s entire attitude towards omegas was changed.

Those bastards were insane. He wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up ruling the whole fucking world one day.

Long story short, he began fancying that pretty little murderer, who in return began to fancy him. Pissing off a few people, Kenny made more than a few enemies, and eventually, those enemies found out his weakness and used it against him.

Of course the alpha, in return, killed them, and made sure it was painful too. He was eighteen. The Omega was seventeen. Both in the picture and in the grave.

He never got over his little Luka. That was fine. He didn’t want to.

“We’re going to whatever bar I see ‘round here. You look like you’ve never had food your whole damn life.”

“And then?”

“Why so curious all of a sudden? You already let me snatch ya, idiot, say I’m just gonna take you home and kill ya. What’ll you do ta stop me?”

“Are you gonna do that?”

“Depends on if you keep pissing me off.”

“…”

After a few more minutes of wandering around trying to find somewhere to eat, Kenny figured that the runt fell asleep. Hearing a whisper, however, he was right guessing that the kid was smarter than meets the eye. Staying awake and aware of his surroundings. He was an Ackerman after all.

“Where we going after we eat?”

“Home.”

Chapter Text

“We’re sleeping here for the night kiddo,” Kenny said yawning and scratching his ass. “I call the bed so you take the chair.” He snickered.

Surprisingly, Levi put up no argument, sitting on the chair, he started playing whatever new game was going on his head. This knew game seemed to just be staring at Kenny, much to the alpha’s annoyance.

“I’m just kidding brat, geez. You can have the bed. I’m not even tired yet. Hotel gave out some free alcohol samples. Time for happy hour.”

Levi didn’t even crack a smile.

“You must be fun at parties.” Kenny muttered, taking a shot of one of the samples. Tasted like shit.

“You gonna stare at me all night, kid?”

Levi didn’t answer, just continued to stare.

Alright. Two can play at this game. Kenny sat down in the other chair across from Levi. He stared right back, neither of them breaking eye contact.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

This Omega’s insane.

10 minutes. It’s been 10 minutes and they were still staring at each other like sociopaths. Kenny was beyond pissed at this point, refusing to lose to a fucking toddler. Levi didn’t break eye contact, and after about 20 minutes, Kenny wondered if perhaps the brat fell asleep. Suddenly, Levi waved his hand in front of Kenny’s face, causing the alpha to startle a little and blink back in surprise. Maybe he’s the one that fell asleep with his eyes open..?

“I win.” Levi got up and started for the bathroom.

“Oi oi oi!” That’s cheating, you little-“

Kenny stopped talking when he realized that Levi stopped walking. He was now standing just outside the bathroom, head down.

Kenny heard a sniff and the runt reached his arm up to wipe tears. His other fist clenching. “Aw come on kid, I’m not actually pissed if that’s why you’re crying. Cheatin’ is a clever trick.”

In response, Levi ran into the bathroom and slammed the door.

Kenny had no idea how to talk to kids. The back his mind was telling him that Levi wasn’t crying cause he yelled a little. The runt wasn’t that sensitive. Did he hit a sore spot? Was the events of the day catching up to him? He trailed Levi with his eyes once he walked out of the bathroom and got into the bed. Although Kenny couldn’t clearly see his small face in the dim lighting, he could tell that the brat’s expression was schooled back to the neutral look he had on before.

Whatever his reason was for suddenly crying, it ain’t my problem now. Kenny thought. Pulling his hat down over his eyes and letting sleep claim him.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“HM!”

Kenny wasn’t a deep sleeper. At that slight noise of his nephew in the middle of the night, he quickly gained consciousness and positioned his hand over his knife in case there was something wrong. The motel’s lock was broken after all.

“Sto-“

Oh. The runt was just having a nightmare. None of Kenny’s business.

Pulling his hat back down, he tried to go back to sleep, but when the brat on the bed wouldn’t stop twisting around and crying out, the alpha realized that it would be virtually impossible.

“Oi, brat! Wake up, yer botherin’ me.”

Levi didn’t wake up. Instead he twisted on the bed again. “No! Mama n..!”

Kenny walked over to Levi, grabbed him by the legs, hung him upside, and shook him.

“Ahhhh! Stop! Kenny!” That woke him up.

Placing him back down on the comforter, Kenny began trying to ‘tuck him in’ since he messed up the bed. “You whimpering and crying in yer sleep is annoying as hell. Shut up.” Turning around he sat back down in his chair. “You keep doing that and I’m gonna make you take the chair and I’ll steal the bed.” Glancing back up for a sec, he saw the brat staring at him again. This time he had tears welling in his eyes, lip beginning to tremble.

“Aw come on brat, don’t pull that lip out on me again.” He stood up and once again made his way to the bed. Levi flinched a little, causing Kenny to stop in his tracks.

“Hey, hey, man. I’m ain’t gonna hit ya or nothing, just came over to make ya lay down again.” Kenny glanced away a little. He was really bad with kids. “Damn must’ve been some dream…”

“Don’t tell me shut up anymore.”

“Huh? That’s what this is about? Me telling ya to be quiet ‘for you wake up the entire motel?” Kenny couldn’t believe that he was wrong. Levi was some sensitive, little brat. “Also you don’t tell me what ta do, runt. I’ll tell ya ta shut up as many times as I want.”

Tears rolled down Levi’s face. Seeing as he started to tremble now, Kenny put the finger he was waving down. Damn it. He felt like his old man. Bet he looks like him too.

“They used to say ‘shut up’ to mama before…”

Kenny could connect the dots pretty quickly after that.

Oh. Guess he’s not as sensitive as I thought…

“… before they hit her. Bad… sometimes, boss would hit me…”

Kenny didn’t say anything. Didn’t look at the omega either. He simply took his hat off and placed it on Levi’s head.

“Yea, my old man hit me when I was your age too.”

And Kuchel. Popped into Kenny’s brain as an afterthought, although he wasn’t stupid enough to upset the kid more by letting him know that.

“Guess it’s just the shitty way of things, huh? I’ll let ya sleep with that tonight. And just for tonight. I don’t wanna be woken up again, ya hear? I mean it.” He could see the hat bob up and down in agreement.

“Good.” Kenny sat back in his chair as the kid laid back down on the bed.

Levi fell asleep again that night. Kenny didn’t.

Chapter Text

After a day, they got to the East Side where Levi must’ve gotten tired of being carried around and insisted on walking. Well more like being dragged by Kenny, for the runt tried to stop every two seconds to look into the shops displaying toys, cakes, and other gadgets. The place was noticeably better than the West Side’s slums.

“Brat, if ya keep stallin, Ima just grab ya by the leg again and carry you upside down. You’ll see all the shops later. Right now, I gotta make ya look less like a street rat I stole from a drug dealer.”

This side of the underground crawled with MP’s considering it was closer to the stairs that led to the surface. That didn’t mean less crime, however. In fact, the MP’s were half the time the ones causing trouble. ‘Specifically for Omegas. Although Kenny tightened his grip around Levi’s little hand, the alpha wasn’t too worried. Sure there might be some newbie soldier here or there that was actually worried about the residents of this dump, they all usually just turn a blind eye when it came to Omegas being dragged through the streets.

“Kenny, look.”

“Already seen it.” Was Kenny’s reply without even glancing over to wherever Levi was pointing. He’d lived over here for years, before Levi was born, in fact, so whatever stupid shop Levi was pointing into, Kenny’s seen it. And probably stole from it.

Looking back at the kid, his eyes skimmed over his malnourished appearance for the fiftieth time since they’d met. Seeing his bare feet, and realizing he didn’t have any runt sized clothes in his house, he entered his usual bar, knowing the woman that runs the place had a kid and kept all his old clothes like a freak of a mother.

“Dolores! You got rags for midgets?” Kenny picked up Levi and set him on the counter for the alpha woman to see.

“Oh Heavens! Kenny! Where in the world did you get this child?!”

“None of your business. Hurry up and get me the clothes before the runt pisses himself or something. Also a beer. I need a beer.”

“Why would you assume I have free clothes for some Omega? Go find something elsewhere! My little Johnny’s clothes wouldn’t fit him anyway. Me and my son eat well.” The woman said with a huff after lifting Levi’s skinny wrist in the air and dropping it like it was dirty. Crossing her arms, she gave Kenny a mug of beer after a second more of sticking her  big nose in the air.

“Yea, we can all see you eat well.” Kenny muttered, taking a swig of the precious nourishment, looking pointedly at her gut.

“Well! I’ve never, EVER, been given that kind of disrespect! I demand an apology!”

“How ‘bout I promise not ta slit yer throat in exchange for the midget clothes?”

“You may get away with talking to other Alphas like that, Kenny, but in MY bar, with MY name on it, you get your act straight! Ya hear me, young man?” Kenny almost grinned, remembering that’s how she used to scold him when he was still a brat himself.

Nevertheless, Dolores plucked Levi off the counter, placing him on her hip, she started up the stairs to the little two room apartment above the bar, muttering something about role models, disrespect, and dirty Omegas dirtying her counter.

Kenny watched Levi glance back at him before disappearing behind the wall. The alpha gave a mocking salute to the boy before taking another big gulp of his beer. Peaking around the corner to make sure Dolores was actually in her apartment, Kenny snuck behind the counter, helping himself to another, bigger mug of beer.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

After about 20 minutes of waiting for the two and sneaking more beer, Kenny stole a few more pints for his flask before kicking everyone outta the bar, and locking the door, making his way upstairs afterwards. Dolores always hated when he did that like “he owns the place,” but Kenny figured she’d just reopen it later. Didn’t want anyone else sneaking beer after all. There’d be less for him if that happened.

Upon arriving at the door, he heard Dolores’ bellowed laughter ringing through the walls.

Damn, she hadn’t laughed like that since playing with Kuchel…

Opening the door he knew was always unlocked, Kenny was met with the sight of Levi standing on an old wooden beer box dressed in what looked to be some makeshift cowboy costume, complete with a lousy toy gun and broken, old hat.

Sitting beside him, laughing her ugly face off, was Dolores, “Fucking look Kenny! He’s like a mini you!”

“The hell?! I don’t dress in cowboy costumes! Take it back, you old horse’s ass!”

Dolores however continued laughing, adjusting the hat on Levi’s head. “He looks just like you! I can’t tell the difference!” Even Levi was softly smiling. And Kenny found the corners of his own mouth starting to twitch as well.

“Shit…” walking into the other room, he grabbed a broken full length mirror that was kept in the closet. Careful not to cut himself, be brought it over and slammed it down in front of Levi, “ya think I look like ya, brat? I’m wearing a fucking fine ass trench coat! You’re wearing a joke! Might as well dress up like a pirate next or fucking Peter Pan!”

“Oh, yea right! You know, you’ve always been stubborn you -“

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Kenny and Dolores began arguing again, Levi got up close to the mirror and studied his own face. He hadn’t realized it before now, but he’s never actually seen himself before and was kind of shocked at his own image.

He knew his hair was black since mama told him, however, he didn’t know his eyes were grey. Blue? Levi couldn’t really tell. He had big dark bags under his eyes and looked white as paper, especially compared to the red plaid shirt he was wearing and the black hat. He had long eyelashes, and thin eyebrows. Mama and the other Omegas were always calling him pretty, but now seeing himself for the first time… Levi would call them liars.

To himself, he looked hideous.

I almost look like how mama did before she…

Levi turned away from the mirror. Dolores and Kenny were still going at it so he to busy himself, he shuffled through the pile of outfits Dolores had taken from the closet and folded them, finding his favorite outfit to be between a grey poncho with grey pants that were too big for him, a red hoodie and brown overalls, or a hoodie that looks like it used to be purple but all the color washed away over time, mama had a dress like that, paired with brown shorts and a grey t-shirt.

As for the Pj’s that Dolores brought him, he quickly discarded the two ugly, babyish onesies, favoring the simple white, long sleeve shirt and loose black pants.

He heard Dolores gasp behind him and turning around he saw her staring at the neatly stacked pile of folded fabrics. “You fold clothes perfectly! I never learned how to fold so I always just rolled the outfits up! We might just have to put you to good use, Omega. I bet my bottom dollar that you can clean too.”

She got up and went to the makeshift kitchen area, grabbing a rag and tossing it into Levi’s lap.

“I’ve been meaning to clean that stove for ages now but just haven’t had the time to do it. Since I gave you all those clothes, I expect you to be done with the kitchen by the time I close my bar. That’s an expectation I expect you to meet, you hear boy? Don’t be like Kenny here and lounge around all day. ‘Else I’ll pull yer pants down and bring you over my knee. Isn’t that right Kenny?”

Levi grinned a little as Kenny began another heated argument with Dolores about having a filter. Levi himself was never spanked (a slap on the wrist was enough) but imagining big old Kenny over Dolores’ knee, getting his ass handed to him was a funny picture.

He stood up, rag in hand and pulled on Dolores’ skirt and she held her hand up to Kenny’s face, signaling for him to stop taking, which caused him to start yelling about respect. She bent over to Levi’s height meeting him face to face.

“I don’t work for free.”

The woman immediately stood up again and grabbed her big belly, laughing from her gut. “Don’t work for free. Don’t work for free! All omegas do is work for free! Ain’t really a choice! I tell you to do something boy, you should get yer ass over there and do it, but you ‘don’t work for free!’” She laughed in between words, sitting down on the bed and slapping her knee.

After a moment when she caught her breath, her eyes looked Levi up and down, “I gave you yer clothes, remember? It’s an exchange.”

“Kenny said it was in exchange for him not slitting your throat, though.”

This time, Kenny to spit out the alcohol he was drinking from his small flask. Doubling over and laughing out loud himself along with Dolores, was just about ready to bust her gut.

Levi felt stupid. Here he was dressed in a costume being laughed at by two, drunk, adult alpha’s. He almost just up and went to the kitchen to get to work.

A dumb omega. He thought about to start walking over there to do as he’s told.

Before he could, however, a big fist clamped over his, turning the smaller hand, palm up.

One coin was placed in the center.

Looking up in awe, Levi met Dolores’ gaze. She was wiping tears from all the laughing but giggling, she said, “Ok Omega, you get your way. I understand. You don’t work for free is a good concept to have down here. Just don’t forget it when you gotta start spreading yer legs or something.” She burst out laughing and Kenny annoyedly rolled his eyes taking another sip from his flask, still chuckling himself. He winked at Levi.

The Omega was ecstatic. This was his first  money payment for a job. He had earned money! Quickly running over to the stove, he wanted to do a thorough job and prove that he was worth the money too.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Leaving Levi to clean the stove, Kenny and Dolores went back downstairs.

Wiping the counters and tables down once more before opening the bar to let the customers that we’re waiting outside the door back in, Dolores went back behind her counter, refilling the beer again and glaring at Kenny, knowing he took more than what he paid for. She tuned her back to him to keep at her task

“He’s Kuchel’s, isn’t he?”

She smirked upon hearing the other alpha choke a little.

“Damn Devil. The hell do you think that? Could just be a brat I picked up to fuck. How do you know I’m not into that kinda shit?”

“I’ve known you since you were his hight, Kenny. You may be a sociopath but not a perv. Kuchel too. He acts like her a whole lot. Kinda looks like her.” She started chuckling a little. “‘I don’t work for free.’ He said. Kuchel once said: ‘what’s in it for me, ma’am?’”

Kenny remembered that day. Dolores had ordered Kuchel and himself to clean the entire bar. While Kenny, grumbling and bitching, had started working, Kuchel, who was five at the time, angrily asked why she should waste her time doing that when she could be playing with her friends. Kenny backed her up and eventually Dolores caved. In exchange for their service, eight year old Kenny got to try his first beer and Kuchel got a brand new doll.

That day, he was proud of himself and his sister for earning something.

Today, he was proud of Levi for sticking up for himself, no backup, and earning a dumb old coin. It couldn’t buy him nothing but a piece of candy, obviously, but he could see that kids little face trying not to beam.

Dolores gave him another beer and a cookie.

“The biscuit’s for Levi, Kenny. Don’t eat it.”

For once, Kenny listened.

Chapter Text

This was not how Levi wanted to spend the day before his tenth birthday. Christmas Eve.

“Do it again. Do it right this time.” Kenny lazily said, leaning against the wall. The two were back behind one of the bars that is commonly inhabited by MP soldiers. Levi didn’t know why they chose this spot to practice, he guessed it was because Kenny was looking for a fight, an act the boy found immature and petty. Why go out of your way to beat on someone? Although he knew that very soon, an MP was going to come over and say something to Kenny about how it was illegal for Omegas to wield weapons, he didn’t argue with the man. If there was one thing he’d learned about Kenny, it was that he was an extremely stubborn jackass.

Sure enough, after practicing his knife swinging for ten more minutes, four MP’s made their way over to them, stepping out of the bar.

“The hell is going on over here?” The man who said that looked at Kenny, who didn’t move from his spot on the wall.

Levi didn’t like the way the other three were looking at him like a piece of shit they found in their soup, personally, he didn’t see anything wrong with Omegas having weapons.

“Nothing ‘P. I’m just teaching this kid here how to defend himself against pieces of shit like you.” The four MP’s had now surrounded them cornering the alpha and omega against the wall of the building.

“Is that so? We should give ya a fine for illegal activity but…” He finally turned his eyes to Levi, looking him up and down, before focusing his gaze back to Kenny. “How much you want for ten minutes with the bitch?”

“Each.” A female Alpha added next to him.

Levi’s blood went cold. He turned to Kenny but his face didn’t change. He kept staring at who seemed to be the leader. Pulling his hat down over his eyes and crossing his arms, Kenny said, “Why don’t ya show em what I taught ya, Levi?”

And he did. Immediately, he went to cut their ankles, also managing to deeply cut the thighs of three of them before the fourth alpha kicked him hard in the back. Now on the floor, the woman was about to stomp on his face, Levi, however, quickly rolled towards her other foot, cutting her ankle.

Letting out a shriek, she fell to the floor and, in a flash, Levi was behind her Hand twisted through her hair, he snatched her head up and held the blade to the exposed neck. He felt a little bad upon hearing her sobbing and begging but then again, she didn’t seem like a very good person to Levi.

“Go away or I’ll cut her.”

The other three alphas were holding their hands up, trying to slowly inch towards Levi like he was a wild animal.

A feral omega.

“Woah! Come on, omega, we were just kidding around. Alphas kid around like that, you wouldn’t understand. Just let her go and we’ll go too.”

Kenny, hat still over his face, finally stood from the wall and began walking towards Levi’s direction. “Let’s get outta here, kid. I’m bored as fuck with these so called MP’s.” He muttered as he passed. Loud enough for the soldiers to hear, though. The alpha disappeared into an alleyway as Levi threw his prisoner on the ground and raced to catch up with him.

“Kenny, can we get a Christmas tree?”

The older man distractedly took out a smoke. Placing it in between his lips he replied, “no.” Before lighting it.

“But it’s Christmas and my birthday tomorrow.”

“Don’t care.”

Upon arriving at Dolores’ bar, Levi immediately went behind the counter to check for dropped coins. He’s been saving up his money for a tea set that he thinks he’ll be able to buy by next month. He won’t use his lucky coin though. Kenny might think it’s bullshit but Levi’s pretty sure that the coin’s been giving him some kind of success ever since Dolores gave it to him for cleaning her stove when he was four.

Not only was he looking for coins but he also wanted to look at The Rifle. Even though the alpha woman tells him and Kenny they aren’t allowed to shoot it, Kenny’s promised that they’d snatch it one day and take it for a spin.

“I keep telling you, little rat, to stop sneaking back here for loose coins!” Speak of the devil and she shall come. Levi stood up and sat on the counter where there was a gap between the shelves that held the beer.

“Levi single-handedly fought off four MP’s just now.” Kenny said, stealing a cookie behind the display counter. Levi glared at the old man. Whenever the alpha told Dolores about him fighting, she always freaked out at him. S colding him. Today though, instead of her usual “Good Heaven, Levi! You shouldn’t be letting Kenny make a fool outta you..!” Followed by the same old rant, a grim looked passed over her face.

“Did you win?” Both Kenny and Levi stared at the woman in shock. Sharing a look, Kenny jokingly waved his hand in front of her face.

“You high or something, Dolores?”

She slammed her rag down. Slapping Kenny’s hand from his face, she turned to glare at Levi, grabbing his chin to make sure he was looking at her, she hissed, “Did. You. Win?”

“Yes ma’am.” He muttered.

The woman let go and went back to making more biscuits. “Good.” She muttered.

Her new attitude had Levi on edge, so without thinking, he added, “it was a dirty win, though…”

Dolores didn’t reply, only nodded.

“Damn,” Kenny said taking another swing of beer. “What the hell crawled up your ass..?”

“Levi, you’ve got blood all over you. Go upstairs and take a bath.”

“Thanks, ma’am!” At the mention of a bath, the ten year old excitedly ran up the stairs.

“Omegas don’t rush!” She called out behind him but Levi was already in the apartment. He went through the old wardrobe and took out a pair of trousers, socks, shorts, an old T-shirt and sweater, quickly making his way to the bathroom, and stripping the dirty cloths off himself.

Although the water was always a little cold, Levi didn’t mind. The one room, one bathroom home that the omega and Kenny had been living in for six years, didn’t come with a tub. Instead, the two had to find a big old tin bucket to fill up with the freezing hose water to get clean. It was rare when Dolores let Levi use her bath to clean himself, believing that omegas should wash with natural water. Levi wasn’t sure what that was supposed to mean but he didn’t care to ask.

Once the tub was filled, Levi got in and began scrubbing away the dried blood, sweat, and dirt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The newspaper slammed on the counter.  After reading and rereading it just to make sure he was reading that bullshit right, Kenny chugged the rest of his beer and looked at Dolores. She was looking down, an underlying angry expression on her face as she finished up serving one of the other costumers at the bar.

Said customer turned to Kenny, and asked for the crumpled copy on the table.

“Maybe you should sneak Levi to the surface and give ‘im to one of those Omega institutes, Kenny.”

“No way in hell am I doing that. It might not be common knowledge, old lady, but fifty percent of the omegas brought up there die by thirty-five. Either raped to death, beat to death, or they die delivering children.”

Dolores looked saddened at that but not exactly surprised.

“Then, what’ll you do with Levi? Once he… you know.”

“I know exactly what I’m gonna do with Levi. I got it all figured out, Dolores. This shit may not be legal anymore but neither is beating on MP’s. Levi’ll be just fine.”

“But this one is going to be strictly enforced. What if you can’t get any before he..?” Dolores stopped herself, taking a deep breath she said, “he’s becoming that age, Kenny.”

“Kid’s a late bloomer. Ima guess I still have a few years before anything gets serious.”

The older woman glared at Kenny now.

“But what if-“ She cut herself off as Levi passed behind her.

Damn, I didn’t even see him coming back. Kenny thought, snatching the newspaper from the other costumer’s hand before crumpling it up and tossing it into the fire place.

“Dolores, where’d you get that Christmas tree?” Levi asked pointing to the one currently decorated in the corner of the bar.

“There’s a stand by the market that sells a bunch of small ones, child.” She suddenly snapped her head up to glare at Kenny. “It’s this brat’s birthday and Christmas tomorrow and you refuse to get him a goddamn tree?!”

“Oh give me a damn break, Dolores, money doesn’t grow on candy canes!”

Speaking of candy canes, as they fought, Levi went over to sit by the tree, trying to see if it still had any hanging on it. Finding none, he took the pouch tied around his neck, emptying it out on the floor, and once again began counting the coins he had collected for the tea set. Currently, had 7. He needed 15. Putting them back in the pouch and placing it around his neck again, he laid his head back on the wall and closed his eyes, trying to think of some way to make more money. Perhaps he could get a job? Not many places hired omegas but he’s sure he’d be able to find a few desperate businesses that need some cleaning or deliveries done. Yeah! That could work, he could get a job for a few more coins and then definitely buy the tea set. He just needed eight more…

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A kick to the side of his thigh woke him up. Before even opening his eyes, Levi quickly but stealthily slid his fingers up to where he kept his knife, making sure he had easy access to the hidden weapon. Finally he cracked his eyes open.

Oh, it was just Kenny.

“Come on brat, ya fell asleep so I left ya here all day while I went runnin’ some errands. Let’s go now.”

Levi stood up and followed Kenny out of the bar, saying a quick goodbye to Dolores and thanking her for her work. She was big on omegas saying please and thank you.

When he caught up to Kenny, the two walked for a few minutes more before Kenny spoke up, “I’m glad ya took a nap, runt. We might be up for a while.”

“I don’t mind.”

Kenny gave a nod of approval before lighting a cigarette.

They walked for about 20 more minutes before Levi started to get cold and finally, after 30 minutes of walking, Kenny must’ve decided that this was the place he wanted to stop.

It was a small building atop some stairs. Walking up to the door, Levi didn’t recognize this place at all and didn’t know why Kenny wanted to come here, especially so late at night. Briefly, Levi wondered what time a day it was out on the surface. Before he could ask where they were, Kenny looked him in the eye saying, “Stay up out here. When I need ya, I’ll call ya in. I mean it, Levi, I don’t want any games while we’re on this part of the underground.”

He waited for Levi to nod before disappearing inside the building. Leaning against the wall, the Omega could see him through the window. The alpha had begun talking to a group of thug looking dudes playing poker and for a split second, it looked to Levi like he was about to slice them all up. He tensed when Kenny shot his thumb at Levi and the whole table glanced at him. Relaxing again, after they start dealing Kenny in, Levi took a look around. The city lamps were off, indicating that it must be evening up top. A few people walked around but everyone seemed to be minding their own business.

That’s when it hit Levi. They’d been waking northeast. He heard Dolores say something about northeast when he was little.

“Don’t you go bringing this child down there with you, Kenny. Down in the northeastern side of town, the drugs run wild. You want em, they got em. No way am I letting you take this omega down there. Drugs will ruin his pretty little face up..!”

Levi had slept at Dolores’ that night.

Looking back at Kenny, the omega began to grow nervous. Drugs were a foul thing to be messing with.

“Hey, sexy!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter Text

“We’ve always been fair to you, Kenny, tell you what, we’ve played four games thus far. Each of us won once. If you win this next round. I’ll give you these suppressants half off. The guard’ll be free.”

Kenny knew that was a damn good deal. He also knew that he was going to be able to make it.

It’s always been like this with Kenny. He learned at a very young age, it’s best to be good. But not too good. No one wants to make bets with ya if yer too good. The alpha could easily beat these three thugs.

Stuffing another cigarette in his mouth, he lined up his cards. “Deal.”

No sweat

Earlier, Kenny realized that no matter how many MP’s Levi is able to beat up, he’s just been thrown a huge disadvantage. And he didn’t even know what it meant, yet.

Breaking News

Government just declared a ban on all Omega suppressants!

We quoted from Daniel Buller, “Omegas are quickly disappearing within our society. And based on recent studies, we can pinpoint why: suppressants have been handed out to them like candy. As soon as the suppressants go, Omegas will be able to safely conceive and bare more offspring.”

The ban is set starting now. Any business continuing to sell suppressants to Omegas without a doctor’s blessing, after New Years, will be fined.

Any Omega continuing to use suppressants after New Year will be put on trial.

Reading that, Kenny realized that Alphas really had lost their minds.

That’s not gonna help bitches “safely conceive.” That’s just gonna get em raped in the streets and forcibly mated by said rapists. Kenny thought.

He won’t let that happen to Levi. He’ll get the kid suppressants and then teach him later on how to smuggle ‘em himself. Kenny plans to get the brat a chest guard too. The drugs’ll cover his omega scent, and suppressing his heat when that time comes, while the guard’ll be fastened over his chest, making it broader and more square shaped instead of flat.

Both those things combined, and he can turn the runt of an omega into a runt of a beta. The boy didn’t have to start taking the suppressants now, but it wouldn’t hurt to introduce the guard to him, let him get used to it or whatever.

Oh yea, they need to measure Levi’s chest. Looking outside to call the brat in, he sees something that makes his blood boil.

Levi was leaning against the wall, talking to an older alpha with a dumb haircut. The boy couldn’t have been more than twelve but that’s a whole two years on Levi’s tender age of ten. (Not even since his birthday was tomorrow) The alpha brought his arm up, resting it on the wall above Levi to lean over him. Taking the omega’s right hand, he placed a kiss on the knuckles, Levi looked away, blushing slightly but face remaining neutral.

Kenny’s had it. How dare- how fucking dare this alpha lay an unworthy finger- no,  fingernail on his nephew. How dare he even breath in his direction.

Standing up so quickly, chair falling over, he stomped his way over to the front door of the place. He opened the door as aggressively as he could and grabbed Levi’s forearm.

“Ke-?”

“He’s got rabies.” He told the young alpha before slamming the door in his face. There he took care of the problem.

He handled that pretty well.

“What the hell, Kenny? We weren’t doing anything, just talking!” Levi hissed up at him trying to yank his arm out of Kenny’s grasp.

“Just talking. Just talking?  Sure, just talking . That wasn’t just talking , y’all were past the just talking stage. Wayyyyy past that stage. Too far past that stage for your age. In fact, I think yer shorts are a little too short, hm? Don’t cha think?”

Levi stared in disbelief and embarrassment as Kenny finished his rant.

“Now, go sit over there and wait till we’re done.” Kenny said, jutting his chin to the side of the room that a window seat occupied. Walking back to his table, Kenny kept muttering, “just talking. Pft, y’all were basically fucking each other right there in front of everyone. Probably already carrying babies…”

Upon sitting back down, the gang looked at him, to Levi, to him, to Levi and burst into laughter.

“I ain’t never thought I’d see the day Kenny goes all ‘dad mode’ for some scrawny Omega!” One of them wheezed.

“10 outta 10 parenting right there.”

“Is his t-shirt to revealing for ya too, Kenny?” One asked smacking his knee.

“Ya, he’s showing a little too much fingernail showing, doesn’t he?” The one next to him finished.

“Laugh all you want, asshats. It’s your fucking move, Louie.” Kenny glared at his cards.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As the other Alphas laughed, Levi sat on the window seat. Looking out of it, he felt absolutely mortified. Crossing his arms, he willed the burning in his face to go away.

Rabies.

Wow .

Levi had no idea what’d just gotten into Kenny for him to start acting like a psychopath. The alpha was nice to him. Kinda cute, too…

Glancing over at Kenny to make sure he wasn’t paying attention, Levi pulled out the 7 coins the alpha had given him upon hearing that he was saving up for a tea set.

“Eight more, eh? Tell you what, I’ll give you the seven spare coins in my pocket. And in exchange, you have to let me kiss your pretty little hand. Deal?”

Levi blushed again at the memory. Adding the seven more to the collection, he took out all the coins and recounted them. Currently, he had 14 coins. He needed 15.

“Fucking!” One of the alphas playing poker banged his fist on the table. Standing up and roughly sitting back down.

A single coin fell out of his pocket.

It rolled.

And rolled.

And continued rolling until it was at the windowsill.

Levi was ecstatic. Picking up the coin, he added it to the pile and counted again.

And again.

And again.

15 coins were in his possession meaning he got to buy his very own tea set, complete with the teapot and five packets of tea leaves.

“Kid, I won, get over here so we can measure ya.”

Levi put the sack back around his neck and walked over to Kenny, refusing to acknowledge him. One of the thug Alphas pulled a tape measurer across Levi’s chest. He then nodded, went to the back of the building and came back with some weird looking chest mold.

“Try it on.” He said handing it to Levi, who hesitatingly put over on his chest. He didn’t know what to do with all the straps.

“Hm…” A different alpha looked him up and down before pointing to the thug on his left. “Go get Gwen.”

A few minutes later, an Omega woman was teaching Levi how to fasten the weird mold on.

“It’ll take some time getting used to. I know the edges kind of dig into your skin a little but don’t worry you’ll be glad you bought this. See,” she lifted her shirt up, revealing her square shaped mold for her breasts. “I have one too.”

Once they left, Levi looked up at Kenny, completely forgetting about his refusal to talk to him. He was already wearing the ‘chest guard’ as they called it, under his T-shirt, trying to readjust it so that it wouldn’t pinch into his skin.

“Why do I need to wear one of these?”

“I’ll explain later, ’m tired now.”

But Levi didn’t care for the explanation. After all, he already knew there was no way in hell he was going to wear this thing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Walking home, Kenny realized that maybe he over exaggerated a little. He didn’t mean to embarrass the runt, he was just trying to look out for him. Kenny was a twelve year old alpha male once. He knew what he and his friends were like…

Looking down, he saw Levi’s eyes linger on a decorated Christmas tree in someone’s window. It was small and pathetic but Kenny had to admit, it was pleasing to the eye.

“Come on, brat, this way.” Kenny began walking in the direction of the market.

Levi followed without hesitation. The kid wasn’t dumb, Kenny knew he knew where they were headed.

“Kenny?” The alpha looked down at the omega, clutching a pouch that was tied around his neck, Levi had stopped walking once they got to they center of the market. “I’ve been saving up for a tea set, I’ll be right back.”

“Meet me by the beer stand when yer done. I ain’t gonna be walking around like some holly jolly elf trying to find the ‘perfect tree’ or whatever.”

Levi nodded and ran off. After a month of saving up, he was finally going to get his very own tea set!

“Mama, you said we’d have dinner tonight.”

Levi stopped in his tracks.

“I know baby, I’m sorry. Tomorrow. I promise.”

“But it’s my birthday.”

“I know but-“

Levi peaked into the alleyway where the voices were coming from. Clutching her child was a mother, wrapping her daughter up in an old dirty blanket. Both beta.

Levi kept walking.

That’s just how the world is… he thought to himself. Coming to the tea shop, he saw the set. His set. Right there for 15 coins only. An exclusive holiday deal.

In the shop across the street was a small grocer. A pack of Christmas cookies for 8 coins. And two warm blankets for 4 coins each.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kenny saw the brat’s empty hands before he saw his face.

“What the hell, brat? I thought you were gonna buy that tea thingy or whatever?”

“Ya. Let’s go get the tree now.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Walking home, Kenny carried the small as fuck tree over his shoulder. Levi held the few ornaments under his arms.

“Someone steal yer money?”

“No.”

“Ya drop it all?”

“No.”

“Ya regret doing whatever ya did?”

Levi thought for a moment about the bright smile on the little girl’s face and the tears of appreciation that ran down the mother’s.

16 coins. 8 coins for the cookies. 4 for each blanket.

The 15 plus his lucky one.

Although Levi knew that the cookies wouldn’t even last them a week, and the blankets would be worn in a few months, he still couldn’t help but thinking about how much he’d wished for dinner on the nights mama couldn’t get it for him.

“No.”

Chapter Text

Levi was now twelve and a half years old, once again making his way to Dolores’ bar… to beg for a job.

If there was one thing Levi realized in the eight years he’s lived over here on the East Side, it’s that these alphas would rather shoot themselves in the balls before letting an omega work in their businesses.

And it was really starting to piss Levi off.

He’d thought about taking Kenny’s advice and just stealing money… but that would make it dirty money…

Levi wanted to be worth his work. Not someone else’s.

“Please ma’am? What’ll it take for you to let me work here?” Levi followed Dolores around as she worked quickly set up behind the counter.

“Absolutely nothing, boy. You know I don’t believe in a omegas running around doing an alpha or beta’s job.”

“I can be a server. I’d make a good waiter.”

“Levi, my opinion still stands. Omegas don’t belong in bars at all, so get.” She shooed him out. The boy, knowing better than to argue with the close minded woman, continued his walk down the street. It was worth a shot he guessed, buying an apple from a cart he was passing.

Turning into an alleyway Levi went behind the buildings to see if there were any odd jobs he could do. Last week, an old beta woman gave him 20 coins in exchange for a thorough house cleaning before having guests over. And the week before, he modeled for some aspiring artist’s painting. That took 6 hours every day for 10 days. He got 500 coins.

After a while, before Kenny’s weekly alcohol nights, Levi would count up a few coins short. Upon realizing the old bastard was stealing them to gamble, he used the floorboards to hide his money and other valuables. Under the floor was a great place to hide money.

The omega knew that it would be much easier to get a job if he’d start wearing the guard that Kenny bought him. But that thing was extremely uncomfortable. Even Dolores told him that although those things themselves were legal, he could get trialed for misguiding an alpha if he was caught trying to get a job pretending to be a beta.

He’ll never wear that thing.

Kicking a rock at box, he continued on his way. Knocking from time to time on a few back doors to see if the residents needed any chores done, the conversation would almost always go the same way:

“Does your alpha know you’re here..?”

“I don’t have an alpha, miss. Would you like me to do any chores around your home? I can cook, clean, and take care of children.”

They’d always say the same thing:

“That sounds lovely… but go and get an Alpha’s blessing to be earning money, first.”

Then the door would close in his face.

The thing was, when Levi tried to get a blessing from Kenny (he didn’t even entertain the thought of asking Dolores), the alpha told him, “You don’t need my fucking permission! Go back over to those bitches and demand to clean! Demand JUSTICE!” Kenny was drunk then but Levi thought his words were true. He didn’t shouldn’t need any alpha’s permission to make a fucking cent.

Over the years, Levi’s just been picking things up on the spot, but he’d love to have an actual job with a steady income. He was trying to save up his money for another, much more expensive tea set not just that, he also had long term goals in mind. Firstly, wanted to learn to read and write (Something Damn Devil Dolores refuses to teach him).

Secondly, he wanted a better house than the old, small one he and Kenny lived in.

Lastly, he wanted to open a tea shop.

Dolores’ bar was like a second home and he planned to hopefully buy a small Maisonette apartment where he can run a business like Dolores’ Instead of selling beer, he’ll sell tea. The apartment above the shop, he’d always keep clean and he’d have a whole tea collection just for himself.

And yeah, Levi knew it was illegal for Omegas to own businesses and houses, but he could just ask Kenny to sign his own name on the documents, and Levi would simply give the alpha the money to pay the bills. Kenny would be the ‘face’ of his tea shop, and Levi would be happy working in the background.

Not very ideal, but it’s the best I can do….

“Excuse me,” a voice said behind him.

Tuning around, Levi looked up to see a beta male dressed in working clothes, displaying a clean, kind looking face. He couldn’t have been very much older than Levi himself, though.

“Do you mind helping me stack some crates in a warehouse a few blocks from here? My brother is sick and it’d be a big help. The faster I get done the faster I can go home.”

“I’ll help you, but I don’t work for free.”

“Oh! Yea of course,” he pulled out a few paper bills which Levi accepts. The two begin walking. “There are only three crates but I need a partner to help me and the beta that I’m working with didn’t show up today.”

Levi didn’t say anything, he didn’t really care why this boy needed the help, he just wanted to get it over with so he could add the dollars to his savings.

For a second, he pretended like he was an alpha off to work, early in the morning like Dolores. He entertained the idea of being able to work for himself. If he wanted to have a family one day, he’d like to be someone they could be proud of.

The warehouse was a little ways away from the closest building, not too far that Levi couldn’t see it though.

“Isn’t this place abandoned?”

“That’s why we’re movin’ the crates. Gotta clear up some space before we find out what we wanna do with the old construction. I don’t actually work but if I help my father, he gives me a couple dollars.”

That’s why he’s so young. Levi thought, feeling a little jealous.

They entered the building and Levi did in fact see three big crates in the center of the floor. Walking over to them, Levi took one handle, back to the door, waiting for the boy to come around and take the other handle.

The door closed. And Levi looked over his shoulder at the kid. “Oi. The hell are you doing?”

“In those crates are the food rations. I gotta close the door or risk thugs wandering in here and snatching em.”

Levi knew it was a reasonable answer but he couldn’t shake the bad feeling he had.

The beta pulled the wooden bar over the door’s handles. Locking it to the outside.

He came around to the other side and grabbed his handle. “You ready?”

Levi grabbed his side and together they lifted the crate.

“Actually, instead of stacking them, let’s just put them in the corners. I don’t think I can lift it high enough.”

The two shimmied over to the corner of the room. And once setting it down, Levi had to admit, it was hard work.

It was hard work.

He looked at the beta. Although kind of skinny, he was taller with light muscle.

And this was some pretty hard work.

Levi followed the boy, he took one side of the crate and Levi went to the other side, putting it between them.

“You ready?”

Levi pretended to grab the handle.

“Lift!” As the beta male lifted the side the crate by himself, Levi took out his knife and dashed for the door, stopping when he saw it was being blocked by three more alphas and one beta.

All dressed as MP’s.

“Shit!” Turning around again, hoping to grab the beta as a prisoner, Levi was tackled to the ground, wrists pinned on either side of his head and a crushing weight on his hips. A fourth alpha woman smirked above him.

Looking at the beta boy, guilt passed over his eyes as the rest came forward. He wouldn’t look at Levi but he did mutter a “Sorry.”

One of the beta handed him a large stack of cash. “Atta boy! There’s 700 dollars for helping.”

“Damn it! Bitch! I shoulda known!” Levi struggled and squirmed under the muscly woman’s grasp. He really should have known.

No one ever asks Omegas for help with hard work.

He felt like an idiot.

I am a dumb omega.

“Damn, pretty bitch is exciting. Caught on pretty fast, huh?” An alpha with bright red hair stated, stepping on the omega’s chest and twirling the toe of his boot around Levi’s nipple.

“Ngh! Stop it!”

“Or what?”

Another alpha with extremely curly hair kicked Levi’s knife out of reach asking, “What the hell are we waiting for?” He bent down and ripped Levi’s shirt open. It was his favorite one.

“Be patient, Gabe. We still plenty of time.”

Yea, well, I want to fuck him now, Zack!”

“FUCKING LET GO OF ME, ASSHOLES!”

Smack

“Mmm, I like em feisty.” The built, female alpha said. “Grab his arms so I can flip him.”

“Why’s Tara get to go first?” One asked, as Levi was flipped over onto his stomach.  He scanned the room and people around him.

They were obviously newbies, around sixteen or seventeen.

The beta that tricked him was still standing by the door, looking very uncomfortable. In all, there were 6 of them. 4 alphas and 2 betas.

1 alpha on top of him, 1 beta by the door, 1 alpha pinning his hands to the floor above his head, 1 more alphas in his line of sight. The 1 alpha somewhere behind him. He could see the second beta if he turned his head a little more.

“Tara goes first cause she caught it.” The beta who said at was also a girl. She bent down and grabbed Levi’s hair yanking it up off the ground painfully, causing him to let out a slight whimper. “He really is cute.” Dropping his head, chin painfully contacting with the cement.

“Arg,” he grit his , struggling harder now, “Get off me!”

One of the MP’s groped at his ass, yanking his pants down the knees.

“Wait! Just wait a second!” His hair was yanked again, lifting  his head up. He was met by the red head… Zack.

“Ngh!” He leaned in close, using his other hand to pinch Levi’s nipple. The omega bit his lip hard enough to draw blood.

“Yes, pretty, little thing? Is there something you want to say?”

“Come on, you don’t have to do this.” Levi whispered it to Zach. The soldier whispered back:

“You’re right, we don’t. You’re welcome.”

He slammed Levi’s face back on the ground.

“Be sure to make him scream. I won’t get hard if it doesn’t scream.” An Alpha with bright blonde hair said, putting a cigarette in his mouth.

“Manny, I got you.” The built female alpha, Tara, replied. Adjusting herself, she was now laying atop the person under her.

When he felt the tip pressing against his entrance, he struggles with everything he had.

Smack

Smack

Smack

The second girl kicked his face while Zack held his head under a heavy boot, denying any movement.

Face bloodied, Levi looked back at the beta by the door. He was looking down, sweating with a distraught look on his face. Behind him was the locked door. Behind that, was the closest house, too far away to hear what was going on.

Levi knew this was going to happen. Knew all he could do was lay there and take it.

He didn’t expect to scream that loud.

Hadn’t expected it to hurt that much.

Tara laid into him with no mercy, thrusting hard and fast. Levi’s face scraped against floor, the boot securing his head getting heavier by the second. He tried to lie there, still and obedient in hopes of not turning them on, but as the female alpha came to her climax, she wrapped her hand around his neck, squeezing until he started foaming at the mouth. Her knot swelled inside him, the other alphas cheering, loud and happy.

Levi glanced back to the beta at the door, using his eyes, pleading with him to get help.

Zack noticing where he was looking, glared at the door.

“Furlan! You want a go?”

“No! You guys already had your fun now, right?” The beta yelled from the door. “Can we please just go now?”

“Are you serious?” The one called Gabe asked. “I don’t care about the rest of these suckers but I’m getting my fair share of that ass.” He looked back to Tara. “Hurry up and pull out.”

She laughed,  “My knot’s still in, asshole.”

“Your turn is up, pull out!” As he said this, Tara tugged a little on the knot. Excruciating pain shot through Levi. It reminded him of his circumcision.

“ARAGH! Stop! Please just-!”

Tara ripped it out and Levi swore he died out for a second because when he came to again, Gabe was over him, biting his ear and thrusting.

Furlan still at the door.

Levi sobbed through his teeth and Gabe delivered a harsh smack to Levi’s ass, getting a whimper out of him. Replacing the boot was his hand, nails pressing sharply into his skull, pushing his face into the bloody concrete.

“Ah… sounds…so sexy when you’re in pain… ah! Manny give me that cigarette.”

Once it was handed to him, Gabe took a drag, blowing it in Levi’s face before digging the burnt part into his wrist.

He screamed and sobbed and begged but the alphas, the soldiers , cheered again. Gabe licked the tears from his face and finished up too.

That’s only two to them…

He let out a sob when Manny took the place of Gabe, yanking his hips up, he also grabbed his hair, painfully pulling it up, makings his chest rise too. Levi felt so weak. He could barely use his arms to keep himself up.

“I want someone to fuck his mouth while I go.”

“No!” Levi sobbed, mouth forced open. When it entered, the omega gagged, feeling bile running up to his throat.

He looked up to see which of the alphas it was. Zack’s eyes glared back down, “If you bite me, we’ll fuck you twenty times over and then slowly kill you.”

With someone thrusting in both his mouth and ass, Levi slammed back and forth between the two. His throat was raw and he could feel the blood running down his legs.

Levi didn’t bite. Instead, found himself staring at Furlan. He was sitting by the door now, crouched with his chin in his knees, hugging himself.

When Zack came in Levi’s mouth, most of it fell on the floor. His face was pushed into it and he was demanded to lick it up. When he didn’t, a hard kick to his ribs and a few more cigarette burns on the wrist persuaded him.

Levi couldn’t even tell what was happening anymore. Blurred voices taunted around him.

“Such a good doggy.”

“Much prettier than that surface bitch we did.”

“I’d have mated him now if he’d had his heat yet. Damn bitch is such a tease.”

Hands ghosted over his back, his hips, his legs, his ass, his face, his arms.

They slipped under his stomach, glazed over his nipples, wandered down, down, down, down, so far down that Levi let out dry heaves that’s raked his body. Bringing him his misery gifting the Alphas and betas, soldiers, teens  rapists their joy.

Everywhere. Even when the hands were removed to occupy a new location on his body, Levi still felt them both in the new place and in the old one, burning into his skin, leaving little reminders for later.

Zack took Manny’s place, shoving his fingers so far down his throat, he heaved again.

“This is gonna hurt.” He casually told Levi,

It did.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The last one, whoever it was, pulled his pants back up for him and spit on his face. Taking out some dollars and coins, they tossed it on one of the crates.

“There you go bitch, hope you appreciate us giving you a head start on the only job you’ll ever be able to get. Buy yourself something nice.”

Dirty money.

Laying on his side, Levi trembled, aching everywhere.

As the MP’s walked out, fixing their clothes and talking about dinner like nothing happened, Zack stood above Levi. He couldn’t see him, but he could tell it was Zack.

“You probably shouldn’t tell anyone about this, whore. You’ll be shamed. It’s your fault anyway, walking in here alone like that. Dressed like that.

My dumb little sister was raped, told my father, you know what happened? He beat her and locked her in the basement. We all knew she enjoyed it, was just trying to get attention or something. We all know you enjoyed it too, you. Sick. Disgusting. Slut. Getting into our heads and making us do that.” He kicked harshly at Levi’s stomach after each word and left.

Levi pictured Dolores scolding him for this.

Pictured Kenny giving him a disgusted look.

Pictured mama’s horrified face. Shame washing over her because Levi was her son.

His eyes drifted to the crate that had the money.

Dirty money.

He looked back at the door. Furlan had left.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Hours later, walking back home, Levi prayed with everything in his power that Kenny would be off somewhere, but God seemed to never be on his side.

“What the hell happened to y-“

He knew Kenny probably saw the blood between his legs, the cum on his face, the tears that couldn’t seem to stop, the limp, the bruises, the burns. Maybe he even saw the ghosts of their hands.

Levi didn’t answer, he kept his face neutral instead, limping to get to the bathroom, hose in hand, ready to fill the tub.

He knew he didn’t deserve to be clean. Now, he was nothing but a street dog.

I’ll have to beg Kenny not to tell anyone. I don’t want to be the cause of his shame. A disgusting dog that he’s forced to live with. Maybe he’ll just up and leave me. I’ve already contaminated the place. He might leave me, then he wouldn’t have to deal with the feral Omega.

The dog .

“Levi. I want a fucking name. Right. Now.”

Blocking his was to the bathroom, Kenny crouched down and looked Levi in the face, trying to make eye contact with him. Levi couldn’t look at him. He’s only pretending to care. Deep down he’s disgusted. If I look in his eyes and see disgust I might just…

Kill myself .

It’d be easy. He’d drown himself in the tub. Or slit his own throat. He’d go to hell.

“I don’t know their names.” Yes I do. But I can’t tell you. Would you find them and thank them? Or kill them over a dog?

“Their?”

Levi winced. Kenny gripped his forearms.

“Then give me their fucking faces.”

“I didn’t see.” Yes I did. While the hands are all over me, I can still see their faces.

Levi remembered every. Single. Detail. From the birth mark on Zack’s right arm to the highlights in Tara’s hair.

He could feel Kenny staring at him. See it in his peripheral vision. Searching him out.

Maybe this is one of his stupid tests. The ‘Let me make sure you’re not going to tell anyone no matter what’ test.

Levi knew Kenny knew he knew the names and the faces.

“Levi, I’m gonna ask you one. More. Time: what were their fucking names?”

Staying silent, after a long moment, Kenny sighed, stood up and moved out of the way. Levi continued to the bathroom, filling the tub with freezing water and being thankful for the numbing cold. He could here the front door slam shut and as he sat in the water, knees pulled to his chest. He couldn’t close his eyes. He’d see them. He couldn’t keep them open. He’s see himself. He thought back to Furlan.

I used to be a Furlan.

Levi could still remember, pretending to be asleep in that closet, listening to his mama  having sex getting raped , just to put food on the table.

At the time, he didn’t understand the full situation. He only knew that at the end, she would check up on Levi, making sure he was asleep, and once she closed the door again, she would cry.

That was the usual sound that Levi went to sleep with. Not lullabies or rain. Just the soft crying of mama.

Levi cried now.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

When Kenny retuned, Levi pretended to be asleep, unfortunately, Kenny was smarter than that.

He sat at the edge of the bed, back to Levi, he said, “Levi, I don’t ask too much if ya. We train, and then I let ya go off and do yer own thing. Today, I’m asking ya to tell me a name. I just need one.”

Levi stayed silent.

“I know you ain’t asleep, Kiddo. I know you went through some shit today but if you don’t give me something, I’ll call Dolores in here and trust me, she’ll make ya talk even if she has ta whoop your ass to do it.”

Levi softly smiled at that. He’s only been spanked by Dolores once in his life. He was seven at the time, and had managed to climb on top of the shelves in the bar. His arm slipped causing his to knock over about 10 bottles of beer, breaking them. When Dolores asked what happened, he’d lied and said it wasn’t him.

If there was one thing Dolores hated more than her shit being broken. It was lying.

“Bring the belt.”

Levi, not yet accepting his fate, had brung her a flimsy belt, one made of cloth. She marched him right back up stairs, got the thickest, leather belt she could find, and bent him over her knee. He’d only gotten seven licks and not even on his bare ass, but at the time, he’d genuinely believed she was planning on killing him.

Despite the threat, Levi stayed silent, eyes closed. Motionless.

“Levi, if you don’t tell me, some other O is going to get raped too. It’s just gonna keep happenin’ until someone cleans up the swine. Ya understand me, kid?” Kenny stood up. “If ya won’t talk to me, I’m going to get Dolores, I don’t want to but I will.”

After giving him a moment to let the words sink in, Kenny turned back towards the door. Beginning to unlock it, he heard a small sniffle, followed by a small voice.

“They were MP’s.” It was a whimper, so soft it was almost silent. Kenny’s gripped the knob tighter, blood boiling over. “I… I didn’t know until….”

Kenny went over to Levi now. His eyes were still closed, face neutral but brows slightly furrowed. He was tense and trembling. Tears ran down his face and onto the pillow.

Taking off his hat, Kenny placed it over the omega’s small face. “Ya don’t have ta tell me the details, kid. It’s ok.”

Levi was silent for another few seconds more.

He’s not ashamed of me…?

“Gabe. Rapist . Zack.  Tara. Rapist.  Rapist . Manny. Rapist . Kay. Rapist . F- that’s it.”

Furlan didn’t do anything to Levi. Levi didn’t do anything to his mama. But they both still watched. Not making a sound. Pretending not to know.

I used to be a Furlan.

Kenny patted his shoulder and left. An action he usually did, only when he was really proud of Levi. Like when he executed a technique perfectly or shined the knives without being asked.

Levi breathed in the familiar scent of the hat. It smelled like shampoo and power. Cigarettes and alcohol too. It smelled safe.

Levi went to sleep, a little more at peace being absolutely positive that Kenny, at least, was staying on his side.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kenny’d been gone for a few days now. And Levi had suddenly begun wearing his chest guard.

If no one knows I’m Omega , I won’t stand out. I won’t even be considered shameful . I’m a beta. That means I’m good. I’m part of society. I’m a person Not a dog .

Today, Dolores was letting Levi eat breakfast at the bar before it opened that morning.

“Boy, if you keep picking at yer food, I’m just going to give it to that dog outside.”

“Sorry ma’am, I’m not hungry.”

Taking the plate from him, Dolores went to the window, scrapping the food off the plate.

“Even so, I want those dishes done.”

Levi stood up, trying to school his limp as he went to the sink. Despite feeling like shit, cleaning had always been a stress reliever for Levi, he liked seeing all the dirt and grime getting washed off to reveal a clean surface again.

“Is there something you want to tell me, Levi?”

Damn Devil.

“Not really, ma’am.”

There was a pause and Levi could feel the woman behind him. She was still as scary as she was when they’d first met. Levi was only four, and only met her wide hips. Now, although she wasn’t a very tall alpha, Levi only came up to her breasts at most.

“Levi, is there someone that usually comes to this bar that I need to poison?”

“I think Kenny’s already killin’ em….”

Finishing the dishes, Levi was wiping the counters down when Dolores stood in front of him.

“Tell you what, Levi. The bar stays closed today and you and I spend some time together.”

“I’m not sure I’m up for it, ma’am.”

“We can shoot the rifle.”

- - - - - - - - - - - -~~~~~~

Once the two arrived in a big open space, a little aways from the buildings, Dolores taught Levi how to shoot with deadly accuracy and he got to practice a few rounds in before the female alpha called a break. Sitting down next to some rocks, they drank lemonade.

“That was my big daddy’s gun.”

Tuning his full attention to Dolores, he waited for her to continue. Although Kenny always rolled his eyes when Dolores started telling stories, Levi was always intrigued. The woman wasn’t a big talker about herself, instead very opinionated about others so when she did open up, Levi loved hearing stories from her childhood.

“He had brung it from the surface when we moved down here. I was only four years old but I still remember how beautiful the stars were at night.”

“Why would you come down here to this dump?”

“We had to run.”

“From what?”

“Our own home.”

Levi stayed silent. He wasn’t very sure what she meant by that.

Was Big Daddy a criminal? Or just in the wrong place at the wrong time?

“I have a vivid memory of the night it happened. My family was very wealthy. I had a big room that was a baby blue color.  And a ginormous doll house over on one of the walls. I had a whole shelf of beautiful porcelain dolls and a thousand clothes for each of them. I had a magnificent bed with a translucent canopy. My window overlooked our land. The stars were out every night and after my bedtime, I’d grab my favorite doll of the day, and sit by the window to watch them twinkle. My kitten would join me sometimes too.”

“Wow.” Levi couldn’t image such luxury. It sounded amazing.

“Wow indeed. I was an only child. Big Daddy spoiled me rotten. Making sure I had the prettiest clothes and the best tutors. I loved having my friends over to show off my house. I was a very social little girl so I had friends of the rich and the poor. I gave away anything someone asked for because I knew Big Daddy would buy me another one if it was my wish.”

“Is that why you opened a bar? Cause you’re a social person?”

“Exactly. I feed off other people’s emotions.

One night, I was playing with my dolls when Big Daddy burst into my room, picked me up, and said:

‘We must go!’ We didn’t have time to grab anything but a throw blanket and our kitten. Daddy set all the horses out of the stables, then we got on our best horse and ran away. I do remember turning around and seeing the house on fire. I also remember crying for my lost dolls.”

“What did you do once you came underground?”

“I lived my life. Daddy told me not to tell anyone I was from the surface.” She laughed a little. “When I accidentally slipped up and told one of his friends, Big Daddy used his big belt and gave me the whooping of my life, bare ass right in front of his mate. I couldn’t sit for a week.”

Levi snickered at this. As Dolores continued.

“It wasn’t easy to adjust at first but then I made friends and realized that the homemade dolls we made together were just as pretty as the porcelain ones. I Fell in love. Mated and betrothed a beautiful omega girl, she gave me my Johnny.”

“What happened to her?”

Dolores was silent for a second.

“She slapped an MP that was groping her. Got shot in the head.”

Levi focused his gaze on Dolores’ ring. It wasn’t anything fancy but he could knew she kept it nice and polished.

“Sorry.”

“This is why I try to tell you, Levi, please don’t do anything that’s gonna get you into trouble. I know I’m hard on you cause yer an omega but you don’t understand the mentality of some of us alphas. I’ve seen everything. An Omega being raped in the middle of the street, nobody stopping to help. Another one chocked to death for not kneeling at the floor. I saw an Omega running down the street, so happy with flowers in her hand. Shot in the neck. For running . I just, want you to be safe. I’m sorry if I’ve ever made you feel below an alpha or beta, but if you’re not a perfect little omega, something will happen to ya.”

Levi didn’t even realize there were tears running down his face until Dolores wiped them away.

Looking down, Levi weeped into his hands, “I just wanted a job.” Dolores scooted over and put her arms around him.

“I know child. Whatever happened, it wasn’t your fault. You’re the last person to blame but you need to let that dream go. It’s not going to happen. Maybe it can happen one day somewhere to some omega but down here. There isn’t even a one percent chance. I’m sorry.”

Dolores was right. It wasn’t his fault. He just wanted a fucking job.

I didn’t force those Alphas to have sex with me rape me. I’m not a dog I’m fucking Levi. Son of fucking Kuchel. It wasn’t my fault, some people animals are just crazy Rabid. I didn’t deserve that.

The world wasn’t fair. There were no lucky coins. No was no clean money. No dirty money. No clean wins. No dirty wins. It all boiled down to weather or not you survived or not.

And although what Dolores was saying made sense. So much sense, he couldn’t bring himself to accept the fact that the only way to survive was by kneeling at an alpha’s feet or spread his legs for their cocks.

The world wasn’t fair so he had to cheat. And Levi realized if it wasn’t legal for him to earn what he wanted. He had to take it.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kenny came back a week later. It was the middle of the night, the last asshole that put his hands on Levi was being eaten alive somewhere by dogs. Kenny still wasn’t satisfied but there was nothing else he could do. They were burning in hell now.

Opening the door, he saw Levi at the table counting his money. He had earned quite a lot.

“Whatcha doin, Kiddo?”

Not turning around, Levi took one pile and handed it to the alpha.

“The hell is this for?” He asked, still taking and pocketing it…

“It’s clean money. I don’t want it, it’s never gonna help me.”

“Hey, kid, just because some lousy Alphas may have said that-“

“I’m paying you to teach me how to kill someone. A person. I don’t care who.”

Oh.

Chapter Text

“I’m paying you to teach me how to kill. A person. I don’t care who.”

“Let’s go find someone then.”

Now don’t get Kenny wrong, sure he didn’t hold the same beliefs as Dolores when it came to how Omegas should live their lives, but he also didn’t want his nephew running around killin’ anyone who looks at him the wrong way. He’d teach Levi to kill but only the people who deserved to die.

He didn’t want the omega to grow up and be like him.

The two walked for a couple hours. Kenny wanted to get to the center, the most populated part of the underground. Glancing back at his nephew every few minutes, he was relieved to see the kid was still wide awake, taking in his surroundings without getting too distracted.

Just like I taught him.

Kenny sharply tuned into and alleyway, Levi still hot on his trail. The kid has pulled his hoodie over his head, all Kenny saw was his slightly frowning mouth. He used to be nervous, walking around in unfamiliar places. Right now, he gave off a confident aura. Hands stuffed in his pockets, no doubt gripping his old knife.

Eventually, Kenny saw some sorry sap leaning against a building. He was obviously high and had no idea what was going on so the alpha figured he’d be a good target. Stopping in front of the guy, he first checked if he was actually alive, before turning to Levi.

“Kill him.”

“Huh?”

“Ya ain’t deaf are ya? I said kill him. Take yer knife and slit his neck.”

Kenny leaned against the opposite building as Levi took the knife out of his pocket and clutched it in both hands.

“Hurry up, we don’t have all night.”

After a moment, Levi turned to Kenny, a tear running down his face. “I can’t.” He whispered.

“And why not?”

“He didn’t do nothing. He’s just sitting here, why’re you telling me to kill him?”

“I thought ya said, you ‘ don’t care who.’ ”

Levi put his knife back, making up his mind. “I didn’t mean it like that… I meant teach me how to defend myself. To kill but only when necessary.”

Bingo.

Kenny took off his hat and placed it on Levi’s head, surprising the omega. “Good deal, runt. You never let go of that mentality. Let’s go find some real asshole’s throat to slit.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A month later, Levi finally grew the balls to kill an alpha. The man was in the middle of raping an omega woman in a dark alleyway and Levi saw red. Kenny didn’t even have to tell him, he silently walked over to alpha. Yanking his hair to first get him off the poor woman, he slit his throat before the bastard even knew what was happening.

While Levi was searching the man’s pockets for any cash.

Dirty money.

The female omega quickly crawled over to Kenny and began kissing his shoes. Thanking and praising him , as if he was the one that saved her. And although things like that usually annoyed Levi, he found himself genuinely glad that she wasn’t praising the him for taking someone’s life.

“It’s good that you’re not proud of yourself.” A little shocked, Levi was paused from his task of wiping their knives down when Kenny suddenly commented.

Relieved by the statement, Levi said, “I thought I was supposed to be…”

“Absolutely not. You may have done something that can and probably will benefit you in the future, but not being proud of it shows that you’re not a little sociopath.”

“I’m not proud of myself. I feel sick.”

“Good.”

“Did you feel sick the first time you killed someone?”

“Yeah.”

“Good to know. I still think you’re a sociopath, though.”

Chuckling, Kenny got up and threw a small box over to Levi.

“That’s a ‘Good job on not being a Sociopath,’ gift. I’m going out.” Kenny left Levi sitting at their small table, just him and the present. Levi’s first gift.

He didn’t even want to look inside it. Completely content with the fact that he was given an actual gift. Not an exchange of objects, not something he bought for himself, but a gift.

Ten minutes later when Levi was laying in bed, he took the gift out from under his pillow for the tenth time. It was a thin, shiny knife. Elegant. Light. Easy to hold. Easy to hide.

Levi swung it a few times to test it out (again), flipping it around his hand.

When he finally fell asleep, still sick to his stomach, he had the same nightmare he’s had almost every night since he was raped: He was surrounded by MP’s, but couldn’t see their faces. He was naked and they were all whispering the same thing at him.

Syphilis

Syphilis

Syphilis

Syphilis

Syphilis

Syphilis

Syphilis

Syphilis

Syphilis Syphilis Syphilis SyphilisSyphilisSyphilisSyphilisSyphilisSyphilisSyphilisSyphilisSyphilisSyphilisSyphilisSyphilisSyphilisSyphilisSyphilisSyphilis SyphilisSyphilisSyphilisSyphilisSyphilisSyphilis SyphilisSyphilisSyphilisSyphilis —

The forbidden word got louder each second.

This time though, in the nightmare, Levi was clutching a shiny new knife and wearing a green cape.

He also wasn’t that scared.

Chapter Text

Kuchel’s birthday was tomorrow and Levi had no idea.

Every year Dolores would scold Kenny for not wanting Levi to know when his mama’s birthday was. The runt was 14 now and Dolores was, once again, up Kenny’s ass giving him a hard time about it.

“It’s that boy’s right to know, young man.” While it often annoyed Kenny that the old devil still scolded him as if he was a child, he did appreciate being call a “young man.”

“Give me a break, Dolores. How’s that knowledge gonna help Levi? Hm? What the hell’s the point of upsetting him more?”

That wasn’t really the reason Kenny didn’t want to talk about it. He knew if he told Levi what day it was, the kid would start asking questions and he didn’t need that today.

“Well are you ever going to tell the brat?”

In response, Kenny just took another swig off his beer.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Every year around this time, when Kenny got snappier than usual, Levi learned that it was best to just shut up and do what he said. Right now, however, Levi was not. In. The. Mood.

The young omega was entering his teenage years, and although he was a late bloomer (not that he’d ever admit that), he was still moodier, more stubborn, and rebellious.

Levi knew it wasn’t completely his fault. Last year, when he had just turned thirteen, his heat hit him for the first time. It wasn’t a big deal… he simply popped a suppressant in his mouth and went on his way.

Of course nobody told him about the side effects.

Not only was he hungrier, he was also angrier, tireder, and jittery. All in all, he was not in the mood for Kenny’s bullshit. For the alpha was taking the omega bar to bar for no other reason than to pick some fights.

“Kenny, I’m goin’ home. If you wanna keep running around fighting like an alpha in rut, go right ahead.” Said Levi. After about three fights, the alpha merely had a bruise on his cheek while the omega, was a literal piece of art. Bruises covering his arms and legs.

“Aw ya can’t keep up, eh? Well how about in this next place, you just kneel at my feet and cheer me on since you obviously don’t want to fight like you’ve got some balls.” Kenny quipped back. That comment was completely unnecessary.

Asshole.

“Look old man, I don’t know what your problem is this time of the year, but you don’t gotta go taking it out on everyone else. You look like a child throwing a temper tantrum.”

Kenny shoved him to the ground before they entered the next bar. “Go home then.” He walked inside leaving Levi brushing off the dirt from his pants.

Rolling his eyes Levi began walking in the direction of the small house they shared. Although Kenny was a bitch that pissed him off to no end, Levi was very thankful that he treated him as more of an equal than the usual alpha over omega statues. He let him sleep on the bed, eat at the table, walk around unescorted. He also appreciated that Kenny wasn’t filtering his life all that much anymore. Once Levi had killed for the first time, Kenny began treating him as an adult, even if he was just coming out of childhood. When Dolores tried to send him away so her and the alpha could talk about gruesome shit, Kenny insisted that he stay and listen in on what was happening in the underground and surface, much to Dolores’ dismay.

However, it wasn’t until Levi had come home one night with a blood stained shirt, that Kenny stopped worrying about him so much altogether, not waiting up late for the boy to get home and not asking where he’s been or what he’s been up to anymore:

Walking through the door, Levi carried the hose in hand, hoping to go to bed as quickly as possible. He knew Kenny would be up, not excited to tell him what had just went down.

He walked through the door and Kenny, who was polishing his shoes, looked up. Upon seeing the blood on his shirt, his eyes immediately looked to his crotch to see if the same thing that happened a year ago occurred again tonight. When he saw no blood, he looked again to Levi raising an eyebrow at his T-shirt.

Levi quickly explained, avoiding eye contact, “Dolores sent me to find some old bottles. I went looking behind an alleyway and some drunk alpha jumped me….. I…..killed him.” Levi didn’t tell Kenny the part where he had froze for a hot second when the heavy male was trying to pin him down. Didn’t tell him how he threw up in a barrel a second later, still not being able to stomach the thought of taking someone’s life. Again.

Levi was thirteen then. His first kill without Kenny being there to make sure it didn’t go wrong. I really could’ve gone wrong.

Levi wasn’t proud but he was happy that Kenny let him wear his hat the day after, even though he couldn’t stop throwing up at the thought of the life draining the Alpha’s body.

Walking back onto his block, Levi snatched an apple from the vendor without him noticing and stepped inside the dirty hut. Eating half and giving the rest to some dirt stray cat sitting on the window, the Omega tied a bandana around his hair, nose and mouth and got to work.

He usually does his weekly cleaning on Sundays, but two days ago, he barely had any energy, due to his heat, to get out of the house, let alone drag a big bucket of water around and clean it. With Kenny out, it was the perfect opportunity. He started with wiping the corners and windows and table, next, sweeping and moping the wooden floors. Lastly, his favorite chore, he made the bed and went to the bathroom to give that a thorough cleaning too. Once done, he started on the laundry.

Climbing up to the roof of the house, he clipped the wet cloths on the line and sat next to the dumb cat on the windowsill. He knew he probably shouldn’t have been sitting so openly without his chest guard on, but it was drying with the rest of the clothes and almost everyone in this neighborhood already knew about the omega that Kenny brought home. Around him, people went along their way, selling anything that could be remotely valuable, playing games in the street, or simply sitting there wishing for a better life.

Levi thought back to his mother. When he was still a kid, he sometimes got embarrassed at that thought that she was a prostitute. He’s matured a lot since then and now Levi thinks about her often and how much she did for him. She’s by far the strongest person he will ever know and really wished for her to be here with him now that he was developing (slowly but we don’t talk about that). Currently, he was wearing her shirt, the one that came off his shoulders and was ripped at the bottom.

The one he had on when Kenny found him.

He clutched the hem, watching some MP’s play poker and drink drinks. Levi had once asked Dolores and Kenny if he could get citizenship to the surface if he became a scout or an MP and while Kenny said yea, Dolores started lecturing him again on about how omegas weren’t supposed to do ‘this’ and should only do ‘that’ and all that other stuff.

“Hey! O! Get over here!” Levi knew the soldiers were talking to him. There was only one other older omega in the neighborhood and he barely ever showed his face. Levi tried talking to him once when he was eleven, excited that there was someone else of his race around but the male’s alpha quickly shut him out.

Still though, Levi was in the mood to have a little fun and playing stupid was always the best way to get their panties in a twist.

He looked at them and confused and pointed to his own chest. Seeing their faces, he could tell that they were young. Newbies. Only few years older than himself.

“Yeah you! Get over here!” Levi put a hand to his ear, pretending not to be able to hear them. When they started motioning with their hands for him to go over there, he waved back, acting like he thought they were trying to say hello. If those bastards wanted to talk, they could come to him.

Exasperated, they stood up and walked over. “Come on, we all know you ain’t as stupid as ya look.”

“Hello sir, would you help me pick my cat up off this windowsill. He’s awfully heavy.” Ignoring what they say always makes them mad and Levi found it amusing how their faces would redden.

Why are they so upset? Don’t they like keeping omegas stupid? I’m just giving them what hey want.

“Well, if we help ya carry your fat cat, you should do something for us in return.” His eyes glazed over Levi’s shoulder and the omega resisted the urge to pull his shirt up.

“A favor? Oh! I would love to show you how to do your hair properly!” Levi exclaimed, subtly insulting them.

A dark look passed over the leader’s face. “What the hell is your problem, bitch? You ain’t got two brain cells to rub together?”

“I only have one brain.” Levi widened his eyes and whispered, “D- Do you have two?”

The alpha states at him in disbelief before waking away with his mindless followers. Except one.

He stayed in front of Levi, arms crossed and watching the others walk away, gathering their cards and leaving.

“Ben! Are you coming or what?”

“You guys go ahead! I’ll catch up!”

When they disappeared behind a corner ‘Ben’ turned back to Levi, leaning against the wall on the other side of the cat. “Sorry about my friends there, that was pretty funny tho, not gonna lie. Sometimes people just need to be knocking down a few notches.”

“Yeah and not only your friends it seems. What makes you think I wanna chat with you?”

Chuckling, the alpha replies “heh, you probably don’t want to. Let me start again.” Ben walked away a few steps, turned around and walked back to Levi. “Excuse me, but are you a time traveler? Cause I see you in my future!” He winked, making the omega stare in disbelief for a hot second before covering his mouth to contain laughter.

“Does that shit usually work for you?” He asked through his snickers.

“What you don’t like that one? Let me try again.” Walking away a couple steps, the alpha turned and approached Levi again. “Can I follow you where you’re going right now? Because my parents always told me to follow my dreams.” This one earned an eye roll and a grin.

He shook his head and said, “Last shot.”

The alpha laughed scratching the cat that Levi was also petting, his fingers grazed across the back of the omega’s hand. “If you like this last one, do you think I can take you out and buy you lunch or something?”

“Hmm, I don’t know.” Levi tapped on his chin, pretending to think hard. “I’m not sure if I’m hungry...”

Backing up for the last time, Ben approached Levi and asked, “Did the sun come out down here, or did you just smile at me?”

Levi laughed again at the cringy joke. He was about to accept when his eyes trained on the patch stuck to the alpha’s arm. The Unicorn stared back at him. He remembered the Unicorns on the jackets in the warehouse. It was a quick flash but it was enough to make him look away, down at his hands, trying to conceal their trembling.

Why the hell am I talking to this guy?

“Look, I should get going now.” Without looking at the alpha, Levi started making his way to Dolores’. The cat follows close behind. Both underground creatures leaving the surface male standing at the window.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“It’s always a confusing time, trying to figure out what liking someone means.”

Damn Devil

Levi turned around. “What do you mean?”

Dolores clicked her tongue. Poking Levi’s cheek, she chuckles and says, “Levi, you walked in here with rosy cheeks and conflicted look. Care to tell me about a certain event that caused the ‘oh so tough Levi’ to blush?” She wiggles her eyebrows and the omega looked away again to hide his heating face.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, ma’am.”

“Oh? So if nothing happened, that means you were thinking about something naughty.”

Backed into a corner, Levi told Dolores everything.

“Hm. Yeah, those MP boys are smooth talkers. Don’t dwell to much, child, there are plenty of fish in the sea.”

“Also plenty of rats in the sewers.” Making a grand entrance, Kenny walks into the bar, obviously drunk. “What’s this about the fish in the sea? Brat’s got a partner now or something?”

“No, Kenny , Dolores was telling me stuff. It’s none of your business.”

“Aw don’t be like that runt. I like havin’ a quick gossip too!”

Levi turned around again, wiping down the counter for the thousandth time, and intending to leave Kenny out of the loop. The less people to hear about this embarrassing situation, the better.

He heard whispering. Whipping around, he caught Dolores sharing the entire event to Kenny who had his eyes open wide, both adults looking like nine year old school girls talking about who had a crush on who.

“Dolores!”

“Gotta go.” The old female alpha scurried upstairs, hand over mouth and trying to contain her giggles.

When Levi looked back at Kenny, expecting the jackass to start bullying him. Instead, it seemed the man didn’t find the story as amusing as the other alpha. Seemingly to have sobered up instantly, he stared at the omega for a second before beckoning him close. “Listen, brat, I don’t want you fraternizing with those damn MP’s anymore. Ya hear? If I get a whiff of you flirting with one again, I’ll kick yer little ass straight to the west side and back. Understood?”

“Damn it, Kenny, I wasn’t flirting with anyone. Quit actin’ like every time I talk to an alpha I’m whoring myself up.”

Kenny’s eyes darkened. He gripped Levi’s forearm and pulled him closer across the counter. “I didn’t ask for back talk, boy. I asked if you understood.”

Levi stayed quiet for a moment but when Kenny squeezed his forearm, he decided it would be best to cave. It was that time of the year after all. Whatever this time meant to Kenny really upset him so…

“Yea, I understand.”

Kenny stood, leaving the bar.

He didn’t come back that night.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The next night Levi laid in bed, wondering how Kenny could ever think he’d flirt with MP’s. Since day one, the alpha’s warned the Omega to stay away from them. Hell, he was raped by them. Of course fraternizing with any one of those cowards was out of the question.

But then he thought of when he came back to find a single rose, perfectly placed on the windowsill. There was a note attached too but he just pocketed that since he couldn’t read, and asking Kenny or Dolores wasn’t an option. Levi held the rose now, turning it over in his hand as he laid in bed.

Kenny’s words from yesterday still fresh in his mind, Levi got up and threw the rose back outside, watching as rats grabbed and scurried away with it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kenny woke up with the biggest hangover of his whole. Fucking. Life.

He admits, last night was the most he’s ever drunken and he couldn’t remember a damn thing that happened after arriving at the bar and a pretty female beta giving him a lap dance.

Kuchel’s birthday this year was somehow tougher than most years. Kenny won’t admit it, but he thinks it’s because Levi truly is a spitting image of his sister.

He didn’t want to snap at the kid for talkin’ to some MP brat, but he couldn’t let Levi start with that.

Not after Kuchel made that mistake.

She’d also fallen for some MP. They got pretty into it too. One day, Kenny caught the bastard forcing his little sister to give him a blowjob.

Kuchel never dated again after that.

He also remembers her letter:

‘I want him to have a better life than us .’

Opening his eyes, despite the pounding headache screaming at him not, Kenny takes in his surroundings.

Oddly he’s not on the chair, but the bed.

Weird. I must’ve been really drunk.

Looking to his left, he doesn’t see Levi sleeping next to him.

There is, however, a bloody belt.

Flashes of last night come rushing back to the alpha as he jumps out of bed and rounds to the front.

Levi lays there in a fetal position, shivering from the cold. Beaten and bloody.

looking at his fists, Kenny realizes, they too, are bruised.

Chapter Text

A fourteen year old Kenny is sitting up, facing the head of the bed with his wrists tied to the poles. His father continued to whip his shirtless back with a belt for spilling the old man’s beer.

He didn’t cry.

Or scream.

Or beg.

All he did was take it and be grateful it was him and not Kuchel. Thankful the girl was safely hiding under the bed. Thankful his old man couldn’t hear her soft whimpers with each crack of the leather.

Thankful he didn’t know it was Kuchel who  actually spilled the beer.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Levi had fallen asleep quickly after throwing the rose out. Now, however, he was all too soon awakened to the sound of the door slamming shut.

Sitting up, he clutched his thin, elegant knife that he kept shined and polished 24/7. But upon seeing it was just Kenny through the dim lighting, the weapon was slid back under the pillow. He didn’t need it now.

The teen annoyedly noticed he was drunk and tracking mud onto the floor. “Kenny! I just cleaned this place, you keep dirtying it up!”

“Shat up, runt.” The alpha keep walking around, taking off his coat and hanging up his hat.

“Kenny! I’m serious, stop! At least take your shoes off!” Getting out of bed, the Omega made his way to the Alpha, who already had another bottle in hand. Trying to rip it away, he said, “And quit it with the alcohol! You’re already drunk enou—“

Slam

Levi didn’t even process that Kenny had punched him with all his strength until he was lying on the ground, bleeding from his nose.

He scrambled up. Noticing for the first time how drunk the alpha really was.

“Listen here, brat. I don’t need some bratty little omega telling me how much to drink, got that!”

Levi nodded, trying to inch his way towards the door.

I gotta get out of here. He’s too drunk this time. I shouldn’t have picked a fight.

“You think it’s polite to try and run out while I’m talking? Huh?”

“No, sir.” Almost close enough.

He quickly turned around, about to reach for the door nob when a painful crack met the flesh between his shoulders.

“Ah!” He would have fallen against the door if it weren’t for Kenny grabbing his collar and bringing him close. His other hand clenching a leather belt. “Don’t you dare get fucking smart with me, slut !” A backhand caused Levi to fall to the floor again. He could taste the blood on his lip.

Before he could even think about crawling away a heavy, muddy boot connected to his ribs.

Again

And again

And again.

Tears sprang into Levi’s eyes as he heard multiple cracks. “Kenny, stop!”

“You’re always trying to tell me what to do aren’t you? Think your some big man now, don’t ya? Huh? Don’t ya?!”

He kicked Levi over onto his back, connecting his fist to his nephew’s face until his right eye swelled shut, until his nose was broken, until he knocked out a tooth.

Levi tried fighting back. He knew it would make Kenny angrier but he had to try.

How do I fight the person who taught me to fight?

Kicking him in the stomach, he managed to at least knock the drunken alpha over. Despite the excruciating pain, he got up and ran to the door. However, Kenny recovered a lot quicker than expected and kicked Levi back to the floor.

“You. Disrespectful. Little. Bitch!” He licked Levi with the leather weapon after every word until his arm, leg, and back were covered with welts.

“Kenny, please! Stop! Please!” Levi sobbed.

He’s going to kill me.

“Begging like a little bitch doesn’t get you outta pain, brat! You always start crying like the little bitch you are. You disgusting dog! Can’t even keep yourself from spreading your legs for those goddamn MP’s! Sluts don’t get to cry. You better lay there and take it like a man!”

He continued to whip Levi until his exposed left side was bleeding through his clothes. The omega was curled in a fetal position, trying his best to protect his head and face when Kenny started kicking him again. Multiple times on his chest. Every Omega’s weakest spot.

Black circles danced in Levi’s vision.

Kenny grabbed the boy by the hair and dragged him to one of the muddy foot prints. “You want to clean so badly, lick it up, mutt!” He smeared his face around the floor. Levi almost vomited when he forced his mouth open and smeared some of the dirt on his tongue.

“If you don’t fucking eat it, I’ll kill you, boy.”

Whimpering, Levi slowly stuck out his tongue and licked the floor.

“You disgusting rabid dog. Bark like the bitch you are!”

“Woof.”

Humiliation.

Pain

Fear.

Gagging, The omega watched with his good eye as Kenny picked up the belt again.

He did what his mentor told him to do.

He took it.

He couldn’t stop the tears that snuck their way out of his eyes, though.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Looking down at Levi, it was the first time in decades that Kenny wanted to cry. He didn’t even want to when he saw Kuchel’s dead body.

Now he did.

The alpha looked at his hands again. At the belt. At the boy. His boy.

His pride and joy.

Bending down, Kenny carries Levi to a chair at the table. Going for the first aid kit on the counter as well.

Levi coughed out some blood, waking up to rest his head on the smooth surface. He was trembling.

Kenny bent in front of him again, taking a cotton ball. “You mind looking at me, kiddo?” He asked the question softly but it still caused the omega to flinch and tremble harder.

Slowly, he brung his face to meet Kenny’s. Eyes remained glued to the table.

Gently, Kenny put the cotton with alcohol on Levi’s cuts, said boy’s fists were balled so tight they drew blood from the palms.

He was trying to hold in whimpers from the sting of the liquid to his cuts.

“You don’t gotta hold it in, Levi.” Grey eyes flickered up to him and back down. He sniffled but that was all the pain he allowed himself to show. “Let me see the inside of yer mouth.” Still speaking softly (a very new concept for Kenny), the alpha looked at the boy’s teeth and saw one missing. Getting up he realized that he didn’t have any ice so he grabbed a cold beer bottle.

Pressing it to Levi’s jaw from behind him, the Omega flinched so hard it knocked the wine out of Kenny’s hand, smashing on the floor.

Levi hunched his body, expecting a hit. He was breathing too hard and tears were now streaming down his face, trying not to start full on sobbing.

“It’s alright kid, here, let me take ya to the bed and I’ll come back with some ice.” Kenny turned around, crouching so that Levi could get in his back. Once he was on, Kenny laid him down, causing Levi to groan.

“I’ll be right back…” Kenny grabbed his hat and tried putting it over Levi’s face.

A flinched.

He put it on his own head and walked out.

- - -

Upon returning, Kenny was appalled to see Levi on the floor cleaning the muddy footprints and blood from last night. He was clutching his ribs and upon hearing Kenny enter, he began violently trembling again, not pausing from his task. Kenny saw the knife he got Levi laying next to him. The silent warning to Kenny was more painful than the flinching.

Taking his shoes off, he leaned against the door and slid down, just like he did on the day the two Ackermans first met.

Levi moved to clean the next footprint, wincing painfully at the shifting of the surely broken ribs.

Neither of them said anything for a moment. Kenny sitting there and Levi cleaning.

“I didn’t mean what I did and said kid. I was too drunk to know what I was doing.”

“That’s a shitty excuse.” His voice was hoarse.

At least he was talking to him now.

“Ya, I know. But it’s the only one I got.”

Levi stopped cleaning for a second, slowly going to lean against the leg of the bed. The knife moved with him.

“The day before yesterday was yer mama’s birthday. May 20.”

Levi lifted his head up, angry tears running down his face. “And don’t you think I had I right to fucking know that?”

“Dolores did too.”

“Dolores knew?! Why didn’t you bastards tell me?”

Kenny looked at him now. He looked……. regretful. Upon making eye contact, Levi quickly snapped his head aways.

“I would’ve….. we could’ve…… celebrated it or something…..” He hissed, staring at the knife now. “Why’d you have to fucking drink and—…..?”

“I always drink more on yer mama’s birthday… I didn’t mean… ya know.”

“No, Kenny, I don’t know!” Levi looked up, holding eye contact this time.

“You called me a dog! Said I spread my legs for MP’s! Did you think I wanted to get… jumped… like that!? Is that was you really think!? That I’m a slut!?”

“No.”

“No what, Kenny? No to what?”

“No, I don’t think you’re a dog. No, I don’t think you spread yer legs for MP’s. No, I don’t think it was you fault. No, I don’t think yer a slut.”

“Then why’d you say it? And if you say ‘cause you were drunk,’ I’m going to smash a beer bottle over your head.”

“Cause that was the shit my old man said to me and K— my siblings. I was just sprouting it back out to you.”

“…”

Levi looked at Kenny’s boots, sitting neatly against the wall before his eyes flickered back down to the muddy shoe prints.

“If you don’t think omegas are beneath alphas, why’ve you been avoiding apologizing to me…” tears slid down his face again.

“Sorry, brat.”

Levi shook his head, slowly standing up, he limped over to the table, snatching the first aid and limping to the bathroom.

“It doesn’t count if I remind you. It’s not sincere anymore.” He closed the door.

When he came out again, Kenny was gone.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dolores came by about 30 minutes later. She tried to school her emotions when she saw Levi, trying to clean the glass on the floor with only one good eye, but Levi knew she was shocked too. He’d seen himself in that big shard of glass that he and Kenny called a mirror. He looked horrific, remembering how mama looked once after a night with a particularly rough client. They’d both cried together.

“Heavens child, come off the floor and lay down.”

He obeyed. Trying to find a comfortable position to lay that wouldn’t irritate the welts covering his body, he simply decided to sit up, listened to Dolores singing in the kitchen as she made him some soup and dumplings.

“Dolores?”

“Yes, Levi?”

“Can you read this note to me?”

The woman came over and took it, giving it a once over before giggling.

“Is this from Mr. Pickup Lines?”

Levi shrugged.

She dramatically cleared her throat. “It says, ‘To the beauty that let me speak to him. I do apologize if I made you uncomfortable, but don’t worry I took the hint. I won’t bother you anymore if that’s what you please. I do ask that you take this rose in exchange for our delightful conversation.’” Dolores looked around. “What rose?”

“I threw it out.”

“Why on earth would you do that? It was a gift.”

“If Kenny saw it—“ Levi cut himself off. He was going to make a joke saying if Kenny saw it he’d get his ass kicked.

It wasn’t very funny anymore.

~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~

Kenny watched in the crowd as Levi beat on some asshole in the middle of the street. The man had smacked his ass when the two were passing and Levi was making it clear to him and everyone in the audience that that was not going to be tolerated.

His pride and joy.

He kept his eyes on Levi as the crowd cheered him on. Every hint of the incident from a few months ago, except for a scar here and there from where the belt broke skin, was gone.

Kenny scoffed at himself. ‘ Incident ’.

I beat the shit out of a kid. My kid. Kicked him half to death and then whipped him. Couldn’t believe I did it. Couldn’t even apologize.

While neither Dolores nor Levi held any resentment towards him (except for the fact that Dolores won’t let Kenny go over three drinks at her bar anymore), Kenny still felt like crap every time he looked at Levi. It was already July.

Kenny was smarter than that. He heard the nightmares Levi sometimes had about that night and Kenny would be damned if he always have to leave the house.

I ain’t fit to be no damn parent . Kenny thought as he watched Levi pound the man. He can take care of himself now. He’d be better off.

Kenny hadn’t even realized he was walking away until he was gone. Leaving the crown cheering, he doubted the brat even noticed he left.

The brat. The only thing he would brag to other assholes about.

“ My runt did this…”

“You know what my brat did…”

The brat.

The runt

His pride and joy.

Chapter Text

When Levi watched Kenny walk away, somehow, he knew he had no intention of coming back.

At first, the omega was in denial. Laying awake in bed at night watching the door until the early morning. Eventually, he realized that even if he hadn’t left.

He had

Even if maybe he hadn’t left, the alpha would be gone for a while and rent was due. For this month, Levi could pay it off with the bills Kenny has left. The man didn’t take anything….However, before next month, he had to get steady income if he wanted to keep the old house.

It was November now, and the teen had come to terms with the fact that his mentor had abandoned him. He needed money.

Slipping off his chest guard to go to sleep, ideas races through his head.

Stealing is an option . But not really a steady income unless it’s an organized thing.

Although Levi had gotten over the childish thoughts that stealing was for criminals and losers, he still didn’t like screwing others over to get ahead.

Dirty money.

He slipped on mama’s old dress, pinching the hem in between his fingers. Looking at the shirt, another obvious option came to mind.

I could….

Dirty money.

But there was no such thing as ‘dirty money’ to Levi anymore…

No. He quickly threw that idea out the window.

The idea caused his thoughts to drift to mama, how unhappy she must’ve been. Needing to make money the only way an omega could, getting pregnant and then with a useless omega no less. If he’d been born an alpha or beta, Levi would’ve joined the military and brung mama upstairs. Instead his hard working, beautiful mama got a shitty omega to take care of.

What a blessing, the teen thought bitterly.

He looked down at the way his shirt fit his body now, faintly remembering how huge it was when he was a kid.

Gosh, I was such a runt…

Going to sleep, Levi tried to think up more ideas.

If I don’t come up with something by tomorrow, I’ll just sell myself. It can’t be so bad. Not like I’m a virgin so…

It wasn’t like he couldn’t ask Dolores for the money, but his pride was too big. He was fourteen. He should be able to go out and work for himself. Even if that work only gave him dirty money.

Laying in bed, Levi let sleep consume him.

║▌ │ █ ║▌ │ █ ║▌ │ █ │ ║▌║▌ │ █ ║▌ │

“Baby, go under the floor.”

“What do you mean mama-?”

“The floor.

Get money…”

The Omega jolted awake shaking and in a cold sweat.

Under the floorboards was a great place to keep money…

Had I gotten that from mama? She was telling me to get some money hidden in a loose floorboard. How was I so stupid..?

Levi didn’t understand at the time. But he did now.

He was going back to the West side. That was his answer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dolores had just locked up the bar when Levi came knocking on the window, sliding it up and climbing through.

Like how Kenny used to do. She thought, amusedly. Taking a sip of her nighttime tea.

Looking at Levi now, she couldn’t help but think about the first time she saw the runt. Sitting on her counter, looking like a starved rat with a mop of black hair. He’s grown into a fine looking young man now. Delicate features, sharp grey eyes, petite, little nose and small, smooth lips. She wasn’t surprised that he was the center of attention every other day when the young Alphas came for a drink…

Or to see Levi. Who knew?

Not only that, but the boy had been sporting the same haircut since he was eleven. The undercut, however, was a new thing started last year. Somehow it worked well, made him look a little more like the fourteen, almost fifteen year old young beauty he was than a twelve year old brat.

“Dolores, I’m going to the West side.”

She spit out her tea.

“No you ain’t, boy.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am but I made up my mind. I have to go back and get something. I’m leaving tomorrow before midnight.”

With that, the runt crawled right back out the window and disappeared.

The female alpha concludes it would be a good idea to add a little whiskey to her tea…

For the nerves... She told herself, heading upstairs to bed. This was a problem for tomorrow.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Shit, she should’ve dealt with this last night. For right now, she sat at the table in Levi’s small old house (if you could call it that), trying to convince him that he will get rabies and die if he made this trip. No matter how much she tried to convince him though, be kept packing a small old tote bag. Already dressed.

“Levi, it’s a long ways away! What if you get hurt? Who’s gonna help ya? Kenny—“

“Is gone and I gotta pay the bills.” Levi had explained the situation: apparently he suspected that his mama left him a decent sum of money.

“Maybe she even left me a will or something. A place to inherit?”

“That’s crazy, boy, and you know it. If she had a place to live, why stay at a brothel?”

“It was her job…” even as Levi said it, he knew that the possibility of there being anything besides a small amount money under that floor was slim. Maybe he was in  denial.

Maybe I just wanna see the shitty room I grew up in. Was born in.

“Levi, please. It’s much safer over here than it it over there. Here, we have more law. More order—“

Levi turned, “I was raped by MP’s so don’t you dare give me that law and order crap. Those pieces of shit could care less. It’s no different here than there.” He snapped. Quickly, he tuned back around to find that he had finished his packing. Picking up his knives, he tucked one in the belt on the side of his shin, covering it with his pants, and one in the belt on his hip.

“I’ll be back in at most two weeks. If I’m not. I’m dead, so don’t bother looking for me.”

Fully ready, he looked at Dolores one more time.

He looks so grown up now… when did that happen…?

Levi was dressed in thick black pants that came down over the black boots he wore, a thick belt holding them to his thin waist. His T-shirt was also black and fitted, tightly tucked into his pants. Black arm warmers that only showed off a little bit of skin just below the shoulder. Everything trapped within a dark brown cloak, hood pulled over his hair. The chest guard securely in place under everything. Thankfully, he looked and smelled like a beta. Nothing more, nothing less.

The alpha had tears in her eyes but deep down, she knew that Kenny had taught the midget well. He could handle himself.

Two weeks.

Standing up, just as Levi was about to walk out the door, Dolores stepped in front of the boy and hugged him. She felt him stiffen a tiny bit but ultimately squeezes her back.

When did he get taller? The top of the omega’s head was now up to her nose. He smelled clean and sure. Dolores almost weeped, remembering how she used to plop the little runt on her hip as she worked around the bar.

“If I ain’t gonna stop you, I might as well support you.” She lifted his chin with her fingers. “You are going to be just fine, young man.” Her pupils darkened. “You better not hesitate to kill, if two week go by and I go lookin’ for ya, because I will , I better not find ya dead in an alleyway. I’ll whoop your ass so hard you’ll feel it from the grave. Understood?”

Levi slightly smiled at that. “Yes ma’am.”

Together they walked out of the shack, Levi locked the door, seeing the fat cat waiting for them outside as Dolores took off back to her bar.

Securing his bag under his cloak one more time and feeling for the suppressants he knows are there, he begins walking west.

A small piece of Mama’s old dress tied tightly around his ankle.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

After a while, the fat cat had stopped following Levi, getting the hint that he wasn’t going to be giving it any attention. Levi, now completely alone, continued on, only stopping when he got too tired to be 100% aware of his surroundings.

It’s not like both Levi and Kenny hadn’t slept on the street before, but that’s just it, it was Levi and Kenny. Each one taking turns to keep watch. Right now, however, it was just Levi. He knew he could keep himself easily hidden but the thought of someone something sneaking up on him made his blood run cold. He could try and get a hotel, but if they found out he was an omega trying to misguide the business owner, it could get him into some deep shit.

Sitting by a crate in an alleyway, Levi curled up as small as he could expecting sleep to take him. Instead he felt restless. In truth, he didn’t care much about the money, he just wanted to go back to the place where he didn’t feel like a complete outsider.

Even if it is a whorehouse.

He was surrounded by Omega there but in his new home, the only other one he’s seen wouldn’t talk to him. He wondered if it was even still running? He wondered about all the other omega. What happened to them? Lavender. Dan. Other faces he couldn’t remember the names of.

Mack. Jazzy. Gibson. All lost faces from when he was a young boy.

Finally, exhaustion won the battle against his thoughts, the victory sending Levi into a light sleep.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Eating the bread he snatched from a vendor, Levi peered into a tea shop. The place wasn’t anything fancy, a few simple set displays were modeling in the window. The teen remembers wanting one like them as a child, almost laughing at the memory of when he did manage to buy one himself, he practically forced Dolores and Kenny do sit down and have tea with him. The female alpha praised the tea serving skills “that every omega needs to know” she had said, but as he sat down, and lifted the cup, it broke in his hand, cutting and burning the soft flesh.

He still had a few scars on his left hand from that event and traumatized, Levi had adapted to lifting cups by the rim instead.

He walked inside the small shop.

“Hello,” a kind older looking beta male greeted him. “You looking to buy something?”

“No. Just looking.”

Going from shelf to shelf, Levi looked at the sets, trying to decide his favorite one.

“You’re an omega aren’t you?”

Stiffening, Levi began making his way back towards the door before any more trouble could become of this.

But then he heard a small whisper. “Me too.”

Shocked, the teen whipped around, staring at the man and looking at his chest then back to his face. The frail gentleman winked. “What are you doing unescorted, little man?”

“I’m trying to find something my mother left for me.”

The guy nodded, smiling. “Well good luck to you then, it’s nice to see young omegas being independent.”

Levi nodded at the man, quickly leaving the store. Something was eerie about that guy. Off. Maybe it was all in his head.

Levi shrugged it off.

- - - - - - - - -

When night came once again, Levi was once again restless.

The look on that omega’s face was… weird. He’d seen it somewhere and gotten a feeling of nostalgia.

The overwhelming need to go back and check on him almost over took Levi’s body, but he was too far ahead now.

Fuck it.

He turned around.

Walking back, he remembers why the look seemed familiar. He’d seen it on the same woman that was being raped by the first person he killed.

It was a cry for help.

Upon arriving back at the shop, Levi peered through the window but saw nobody. The door was unlocked.

Weird—

Suddenly, he heard a small cry from behind the building. Running back behind there, five, built, twenty year old alphas were bullying the frail old shop owner into eating a piece of dog shit.

“Please, don’t make me—“

“Aw, come on old bitch, you know the deal. You let us do whatever we want and in exchange, we won’t tell anybody your little secret.” The tall leader put his foot on the back of the man’s neck and smeared his face in the vile substance.

Levi took out his knife and stabbed asshole who was keeping the omega down, stepping in from to the shop keeper, he hissed to him, “get out of here.”

He looked at Levi in awe before running as quickly as he could. The Omega readied himself to fight.

“You fucking ass! You stabbed out friend for some dumb Ome—“ stepping to close for comfort, Levi stabbed her too.

The last three jumped him. Pulling his hair, and punching his chest, they seized Levi’s knife. The Omega kicked back, hitting one bastard’s balls before flipping the second one. As he turned to deal with the third piece of scum, he was seized by the hair once again, and dragged over to a nearby fountain.

“Why don’t you cool off a little, beta?” Dunking his head into the water, Levi struggled to pull out. When the Alpha lifted his head again, he heard the two friends approaching the scene.

“Dunk his face again!”

“Hold him down!”

His head went back underneath the water.  Someone captured his arms and pinned them behind his back. The person with his hair pressed against his ass, holding him in place.

Once again lifting his head up, one of the friends took a look at his face, violently coughing. “Wow you’re sexy. For a beta I mean.”

“Then let’s have some fun with this hero since the old man got away.”

Once again dunking his head, Levi felt cold hands roam under his shirt and slither up.

Up.

Up.

They found the guard.

Levi kicked and squirmed but they three wouldn’t let up. He could feel a heavy bulge pressing against his clothed backside, foreign legs forcing his own apart.

Please. God, not again.   

They had his head under for too long.

The Omega felt the boner disappearing before blacking out.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kuchel rocked Levi to sleep. It was the day after his circumcision and he was angry at his mama.

“Why would you take me there! I’ll never forgive you!”

“Baby, I’m really sorry. Please. I had to.”

Crossing his arms, Levi pouted.

“What will it take for you to forgive me?”

…

“Promise you won’t do it again.”

Mama kissed him. “I promise.”

“And an Apple.”

Mama laughed and kissed him again. “And a juicy red apple, just for you.”

Mama was forgiven.

║▌│█║▌│ █║▌│█│║▌║ ║▌│█║▌│ █║▌│█│║▌║ ║▌│█║▌ │█║▌│█│║

Levi woke up and immediately tried reaching for his knife, only to discover his hands were tied above his head.

Shit. Dolores really is gonna kill me.

Opening his eyes and looking around, Levi saw that he was in an…. attic(?) of some kind. It was old and dusty with mold in the corners. He was also laying atop a blanket on the floor, completely clothed, thank God. Over his head was a makeshift canopy. A single lamp by the door.

“I’m going to untie you. I just need a chance to explain before you try and stab me.”

Whipping his head behind him, sitting there was the last face he expected to see.

The child he used to be, hiding in mama’s closet while she was raped.

“I know you recognize me. I doubt you remember, however, that my name is —.”

”Furlan. Yeah, I remember.”

Chapter Text

”Furlan. Yeah, I remember. And you still can’t look me in my goddamn eyes. Untie me.”

“I will… just please, give me a second—”

“Listen, beta, if you don’t undo these ropes, I will myself, and I won’t be as kind as I will be when you let me go. Right.  Now.”

Furlan hesitatingly moved the few feet to Levi and started on the knots.

“Goddamn it. Is this some kink or something? Use my fucking knife to make it quick.” Levi sees it lying close by and Furlan, flushing a little due to his stupidity, reaches for it, quickly slicing the ropes.

Sitting up, the Omega rubs his raw wrists and watches as the beta slowly sets the knife down and backs away. “I’m not some feral animal, Furlan.” He stands up and leans against the door, at most only ten feet away from the other teen. “You said you wanted to explain, I want to hear it. Start talking.” Levi made it a point to keep fidgeting with his knife. Making sure the beta knew who was in charge this time around.

Furlan was still taller than the omega, face having also matured in the two years since they’d last seen each other. Even though he’s older, the beta seemed… less sure of himself. Not as confident. Levi didn’t know why he felt pity for the asshole.

“Well firstly, I just wanted to say nothing happened at the fountain. I was able the sneak up on the last three assholes and kill them.”

“My hero. Stop stalling and get to the point now.”

“I’m sorry.”

Levi didn’t respond. When Furlan glanced up, he was still staring at the beta, waiting for him to continue and obviously not impressed with his half assed apology.

“I’ve screwed people over my whole life, only thinking about myself and my dad. After……… after the warehouse.. I couldn’t stop thinking about how disgusting I was. I couldn’t stop thinking about how you didn’t deserve that.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “After my dad was killed, I decided to turn things around. Try helping people more. I’m not asking you to forgive me, I just wanted to tell you that.” Once finished he looked at Levi.

Upon realizing the beta was done talking, he straightened himself up, tucked his knives away and opened the door, intending to leave the situation at that.

“Wait—“

Levi almost done fell to his death. Instead of a floor, there was a short railing right against the frame. A stain glass window a few feet in ahead. Looking down, Levi realized that this was some secret hidden compartment in the tall roof a church.

Seeing the floor between the few feet from the railing and the glass, his chest squeezed. Levi has always had a small fear of hights.

“We have to go through the window.” Said the other boy, gesturing behind himself, opening it, and stepping a leg out, “I’ll show you how to get down.” He held a hand out for Levi to grab, only for it to be flicked away by said teen.

Following Furlan across a thin bridge with no rails, they got to a thin ladder. Upon climbing down, Levi took out his handkerchief to wipe his hands. “Does the church know you live up there?”

“No. I figured it wouldn’t be a huge deal, though...” The two went to the back door, Levi in the front, before putting his hand on the knob, turned around and socked Furlan hard in the face.

“Uuuugggghhh!” He moaned on the ground holding his bloodied nose. “Yea,” he grunted.  “I deserved tha—“

“Thanks.”

Shocked Furlan looked at Levi, he was staring the beta in the eyes, brows turned slightly downward.

“I guess I appreciate what you did back there.” With that, the omega opened the door a crack and slipped out, swift as an elegant black cat.

“Wait!” Running after him, Furlan quickly found Levi walking down an alleyway, “Where’re you going? This is a pretty decent distance from the East Side.”

“None of your business. Get lost.”

“I think I can help you. Please, I wanna make up for what I did.”

“Really? Well I think if I keep talking to you, you’re gonna screw me over. Get lost.”

“One of them isn’t dead.”

Levi stopped in his tracks. Looking back at Furlan, waiting for him to continue.

“Her name wasn’t Kay like she’d said. It’s Bridget. Whoever killed those MP’s wasn’t  able to find her. She’s still doing some bad shit, Levi…. I thought…. My friend and I had thought we could do something but out attempts didn’t work. Now they have her.” He looked up, “I was thinking we could help each other out. You get your revenge and I get my best friend back.”

“Nice try, Furlan.” Levi kept walking. He had no interest in revenge.

“Please, Levi! I’ll leave you alone after if that’s what you want, but at least hear me out.”

“Why should I?” Levi asked back. Still walking, he turned into another alleyway.

“I’m trying to be better. Make up for the things I’ve done.”

“Sounds like a you problem. I’ve got my own shit to worry about. Get lost.”

“My best friend and I were trying to save an omega girl that was recently kidnapped. Both her and my beta friend are trapped there. Please. The omega’s name was Jazzy—“

“Jazzy?” Levi turned now to look at the beta. “Her name was Jazzy? She’s black?”

Furlan nodded. “You two know each other?”

“….

Why the hell should I trust you?”

“….I can’t give a reason….I’m just asking you take the chance.”

Levi kept walking. “Tell me the location. I’ll scope the area first. Meet me back at your church.”

Furlan breathed a sigh of relief. Putting his face in his hands, he said, “thank you. Thank you so much, Levi.”

“Don’t thank me yet. If you’re screwing me over, I’ll buttfuck you with an old, rusty pipe and leave your corpse to the dogs. Am I clear?”

Furlan, with a determined face, nodded.

“I’ll also take your boots.” Levi said, they were pretty nice.

“You can have them!” To Levi’s dismay, Furlan actually began slipping off the shoes.

“Put your goddamn shoes back on! And stop kissing my ass. Once we do this, we go our opposite ways. And Jazzy comes with me. I don’t trust that you won’t just sell her for money too.”

After Levi was given the location, the two split up.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It was a pretty nice house for the underground, Levi had to admit. A two story that was pretty decently clean. Looking into the window, it had furniture and food laid out. Nobody was inside so Levi walked around the house, peering into windows to try and find a glimpse of this female beta Furlan was going on about. Not only that. His main priority was Jazzy. His childhood friend.

She couldn’t have been any older than him now.

Wonder what has become of her after all this time. Levi could only hope that she has a happy life to return to.

Seeing no sign of them, a small voice in the back of Levi’s head almost tried to call Furlan’s bluff. But then the basement door opened making Levi duck down and listen in.

“We got a bidding for the omega up on the surface. Some fat pig named Willy or something likes em young.”

“And for the other one? The beta?”

“If nobody buys her, we’ll just kill her and sell the organs or something.” This was a new voice. No, not new.

Levi remembers it. Creeping back to the window’s glass, he looked inside and saw her. Kay. Rapist . Bridget. Whatever her name was leaning back in a chair, feet propped up on a table.

Levi started back for the church.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Did you see th—“

“Get your shit ready. They’re gonna be gone by the end of the week. We need to act tonight.”

“What’s the plan, Levi?”

Thunking for a second, the Omega knew they couldn’t just bust in there. They didn’t know how many adult alphas there really were in that house. “We need to lure them out.”

“I had kept an eye on the place for a few days. At least 7 are always in there at the same time.” He frowned and clenched his teeth. “Protecting the merchandise or something. How do we lure them out?”

“I’ll do it. You’ll have about ten minutes before those dicks realize I’m tricking them. Maybe less. In that time, get the two out of there and bring them to the church.”

“And… you-?”

“First, we need to get Bridget out of the picture. She might not even recognize me but we can’t take that chance. When you were watching the place, were there any times she left the house?”

“When she had to go back to the surface. She’s an MP after all. Has to report to duty every night. She leaves around 11:00.”

Levi didn’t say anything. Instead he tried to control the ice cold feeling he at the mere thought of the beta woman.

“How do you plan on leading them out, Levi?”

“Get me something skimpy to wear.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“I said skimpy not some flat out sex outfit!

“… what’s the difference…”

Levi slapped him. Furlan came back to the church with the outfit in tow. The omega and beta planned to leave and execute the mission as soon as Levi changed. Levi, of course, thought that when he said ‘skimpy’ the beta would bring him an outfit that might revel a little more leg or stomach or chest or whatever.

No.

Levi overestimated this idiot’s brain cells, because in the beta’s hand was the most provocative traditional Omegan sex outfit that the younger teen had ever seen in his life.

“There’s no way in wearing that. Go get something else.”

“There no time! We have to go now, it’s already 10:30. It’ll take us at least 20 minutes to get there! Please Levi! I’ll give you my first born child, whatever you want! Just please!”

Grudgingly, Levi knew Furlan was right. They didn’t have the time and Levi couldn’t afford to be some spoiled brat right now. Snatching the outfit from the beta, he told him, “turn around, asshole.” Before putting on the outfit.

Levi almost felt sick at how much skin was showing. How many scars he had…

Slipping on his cloak, he shoved Furlan towards the window. “Let’s go.”

The two made their way back to the small house.

10:55.

The door opened, two boys readied their knives. Sure enough, Bridget, dressed in her MP uniform stepped out, about to use her flying gear that the military wore.

Not being able to afford her getting away, Levi grabbed her around the neck, covered her mouth and dragged her back behind the building next to the house.

“MmmmmMmmMmmm!” She struggled but Furlan also kept her from being able to get away.

“Remember me?” Levi wanted her to remember him. Needed her to see that she hadn’t broken him.

Her eyes widened in realization, tears falling down her checks.

“Where’re you keeping them?” He let go of her mouth just enough for the female beta to form coherent words.

“Baemnt.” Basement. So they were down with the two when the omega was scoping the house.

Levi slit the woman’s throat, making sure to be careful to not get blood on himself. It would cause suspicion.

The two stood up and Furlan his in the shadows by the side of the house. Levi took off the cloak and went to knock on the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Furlan had to admit, when he saw a Levi, he wasn’t expecting the little omega to have grown as much as he did. Back at the warehouse, he wouldn’t have called him… hot. More like… cute. A cute neighbor that you’d hang around with and liked but wouldn’t necessarily date.

When he saw Levi in that outfit standing under the headlight, he had to look away to keep his head clear for the mission.

Levi was hot, but then and there, Furlan swore to himself that he would never try and get with the omega. He could he after what he did? He didn’t deserve him.

The door opened. And a few whistles ringed out as they caught sight of Levi’s outfit.

It made Furlan unexpectedly very angry.

“Hello. Do you Alphas know where this address is?” As planned, Levi handed them a piece of paper containing an address to a building in a sketchy neighborhood. And as planned. The Alphas offered to take him.

“Well, pretty little O. This place is very dangerous. Not somewhere a sexy Omega should be going to all by himself. I’ll walk you.

“No I’ll walk him!”

“No me! I saw him first.”

Timidly, Levi kicked at the ground. “I’d feel better if… you all walked me.” He looked up through his parted bangs. “Maybe we can play once we get there…”

And just like that, all except three angry guards were out of the house.

“Damn it, why couldn’t we go! This is so unfai—“

Quickly stabbing he three, Furlan stole the keys off one and opened the basement door.

“Furlan!”

“Come on. I’m getting you guys out of here.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Levi had to admit , he was terrified.

There were six alpha’s surrounding him, one had his hand on the small of Levi’s back and another had hers on his shoulder. They felt like they were burning into him. Leaving marks for later.

Like after the warehouse…

Levi stopped thinking altogether. If he started thinking about it, he’d start shaking and then the whole jig would be up. For now, Levi had to pretend to be a little slutty omega, ready to have sex in an old building.

Upon arrival. Levi turned to the alpha’s who have just closed the door. It was dim in the building, Levi’s disadvantage since omegas don’t have as good night vision as alpha’s and betas.

“This is the place you’re looking for? Why pretty, little O?”

Levi shrugged. “I’m meeting someone here but I guess they didn’t show.”

Someone wrapped their arms around him, hand slithered up to glaze against his barely covered chest. “We can keep ya company…”

Levi looked up smirking. “Ok alpha, I think there’s a bed upstairs… maybe we should go make sure it’s comfortable…”

Grinning, the alpha follows him upstairs, turning telling his mates that they can get a go after.

Of course he didn’t ask me tho….

It was fine. It was part of the plan. Once upstairs, Levi slit the alpha’s throat.

Making moaning noises for a few minutes, Levi called the next one.

Then the next one.

And the next one.

Finally with the last three, he yelled at them to come up and all six could gang bang him. Obviously agreeing with the idea, they walked up the stairs to meet their deaths.

For a moment, Levi had thought he’d gotten past the sick feeling he always felt when he killed. That wasn’t true, however, as he hurled up whatever he’d eaten that day onto the bed.

Shaking a little bit, he tucked his knife into the thigh strap that came with the costume and left the building. Running back to the church and praying that nobody saw his embarrassing getup.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Before entering the meeting spot, Levi doubled over to dry heave one more time.

Dammit, I have to see Jazzy again dressed like a whore?

Entering, Levi yelled out, “Furlan?”

No reply. He called again.

Nothing.

Levi ran out of the church again, chest tightened at the thought that something went wrong.

Something always goes wrong.

Chapter Text

Running back to the house where Furlan must have run into some trouble, Levi really wished he’d have grabbed a coat. Not only was he cold, he was also risking drawing attention to himself. Thankfully, he managed to grab a pair of big, heavy boots by the door to avoid destroying his feet on the broken glass that was in the back alleyways.

Arriving at the house, Levi peaked into the window once again and found three guards there. They had blood on their knuckles.

Great. Not only were the two kidnapped girls most likely hurt, but Furlan too. Or worse…

Looking around, Levi’s eyes landed on the dead body of Bridget, her hand was resting on something. Taking a closer look, Levi found it to be one of those long blades that they must use to kill titans somehow. An idea ran through his head.

Grabbing a rock, the Omega crashed it through the window (thankfully one of the few that actually had glass) before pressing his back close to the wall.

“What the hell!”

A head popped out of the hole and Levi quickly stabbed it.

“Hey!”

Running around the back of the house to the front, Levi could hear the other two thugs close to their dead friend. Or he thought he did, until he crashed into one of them on the last side of the building before he reached the front door.

“You little bitch!” He swung his fist to the right of the teen’s head only to make contact with air. Levi, who had ducked just in time to avoid the blow, head butted the alpha in his crotch, effectively doubling him over enough to grab him by the hair and knee him in the face. Clutching his head and slamming it on the ground until he was knocked out, Levi thought about listing his throat for a second, eventually deciding against it.

I’ll be too sick with myself. Can’t risk not being at 100% when fighting this guy. He knows I’m around here after all.

He opened the front door a creak and luckily still saw the last dude at the window, trying to find who did this to his partner. Slipping in, not making a sound, he hid behind a nearby chair. When the man didn’t budge, the omega crept closer until he was sure he could stab the guy.

Quick as a flash, the thug had the teen pinned to his back, foot pressed against his throat. “You think it would be that easy, Omega? You might have fooled my mates into believing you were some innocent little slut but I know better than to underestimate your kind.” Levi choked and squirmed on the floor as the pressure was increased. He’d dropped his knife just below the length of his hands, fingers itched to try and reach it.

Seeing black spots and beginning to foam at the mouth, Levi desperately tried to get the boot off of him by hitting the alpha’s ankle. He realized he couldn’t be stupid about this. His thoughts ran wild and he tried to calm them as he looked around to find something to kill this guy with. Lack of oxygen making it difficult to think straight.

Seeing an empty beer bottle, he reached for it, but the alpha caught his movement, lifting his boot and flipping Levi on his stomach, before laying on top of him. “I guess I could have some fun with you since you’re squirming so prettily under my shoe.” Levi coughed and gagged, trying to fill his lungs with air as the alpha bit his ear and licked his neck. He could hear him jerking himself off, eventually, yanking Levi’s shorts off just enough to line himself up. While distracted, the Omega quickly grabbed the bottle and smashed it over the thugs head, knocking him unconscious and making him bleed through a head wound.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

That was too close.

After struggling to pull himself out from under the heavy man, Levi pulled his shorts back up and wrapping the alpha’s coat around himself. Taking his knife back, he searched for the keys to the basement.

Opening the door, a relieved “Levi!” Was called out, Furlan running to him, looking like he was about to hug him but ultimately deciding not to. “Sorry, the plan didn’t go as expected… we needed to wait until—“

“We just need to get them out of here—“

He heard a baby’s cry. Looking to the corner, there was Jazzy looking at Levi with wide, teary eyes and holding a newborn baby close to her chest. On the floor, was a placenta and amniotic fluid. Next to the other omega, was a red headed young beta girl, maybe eleven years old, also staring at Levi, more with awe than anything else.

Creeping closer to his childhood friend, Levi bent down and looked at the naked baby. A replica of Jazzy.

“Levi……?”

Realizing that they didn’t have time to be doing this right now, the omega stood up, “Furlan, go find a clean blanket for the baby. You two, come upstairs and be careful not to step in any glass. Jazzy, I’m gonna help you up and take you to a church. Ok?” Jazzy nodded and the three left in the basement, making their way upstairs as Furlan came back down with the object that Levi requested.

Placing the child on the couch, Levi swaddled her, before handing the girl back to Jazzy. “Can you walk for about 20 minutes?”

Jazzy, still in a little bit of shock, honestly shook her head.

“I’ll carry her.” Furlan volunteered.

Off the four… five….kids went. Furlan carrying an exhausted Jazzy, Levi holding the newborn, the red headed beta girl at his side. Upon arriving at the church, Furlan maneuvered Jazzy onto his back, climbing up the ladder and slipping her through the window of his little hideout. Levi made sure to tightly wrap the child to himself before also making his way up to the room, the beta following close.

The questions started once he slipped inside, immediately after handing the dirty infant back to her mama.

“Levi! What happened to you! I thought they killed you and your mama! What the hell!?!”

Furlan raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. Isabel was still weirdly staring at Levi, eyes bright with a big smile on her face.

“Someone came and took me to live on the east side with him.”

“And Kuchel?”

Levi shook his head. “She’s passed, Jazzy.”

A sad look passed over the female omega’s face. Looking back down, she said softly, “I’m mated now. This is her baby.”

“What do you plan on naming it?” The red headed beta piped up, earning a small shove from Furlan.

“I don’t know yet, Isabel.” Jazzy laughed. “I’ve been deciding between Kayla or Lauren.”

“We need to clean her before you decide anything. Furlan, is there a bathroom somewhere in this place?”

“Yea, come on.” The beta replied, sticking his leg out of the window as Levi tied the baby to him again.

“I’ll come too!”

“No Isabel, you stay here with Jazmine. You guys need rest.”

“I feel fine!” She whined but ultimately plopped down next to a chuckling Jazzy.

They walked around to the back of the church where there was a storage space containing clothes and a bathroom. Placing the baby in the sink, Levi began washing the vernix off while Furlan stood in the background.

“I can wash the baby if you want to change into cleaner clothes—“

“No.”

“…”

Levi glanced at him over his shoulder. “Get the idea that I actually trust you out of your head. We may have done this but that does not make us friends. I’m getting Jazzy back to her mate and you and Isabel can go do whatever. Period.”

Furlan looked at the ground as Levi took the baby out of the sink and dried her off, shushing her when she started whining. Leaving the beta in the bathroom as he went to go grab some clothes for himself and the kid. She was an alpha. Beautiful and strong.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

That night, the two betas let the two omegas share the cozy little space under the makeshift canopy as they slept just outside of it.

With the baby in between them, Jazzy and Levi whispered to each other late into the night.

“My alpha, she treats me like her queen. Very sweet. I met her when Gilbert had her over for a school project. She was really looking forward to seeing our baby. I can’t wait to go home.”

“Congratulations, Jazzy.” Levi whispered back, stroking the curls atop the newborn’s head. She was trying to catch his finger.

“What about you, Levi? What’s been happening with you since the brothel was closed down?”

“It closed down?”

“Yea. The owner was killed so they closed it down. The omegas that were there went and found other places to stay. It’s an abandoned building.”

After a second, Levi whispered back, “I was staying with an alpha who knew my mama….But now that he’s gone, I have to go back to the west side and grab some money she left me and pay the rent.”

“You could always come live with me and Mia. We wouldn’t mind. Also, you’re great with babies.” She laughed a little as her daughter began whimpering the second Levi took his hand away from her.

“No, I don’t want to invade your little family. I’d rather get my own place. Find a way to make money for myself.”

Jazzy nodded, yawning before her eyes fluttered shut and she fell into a deep sleep. Levi stayed awake, wanting to make sure Furlan wasn’t going to try anything. He was also mesmerized with the way the little girl’s eyes shined and danced. Hiding so much intelligence behind them.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Early the next morning, Levi kicked Furlan awake.

“A- hey! What?”

“Get up. We need food and I’m not letting you stay here with Jazzy and her brat.”

Levi was already dressed in the clothes he’d found in the closet yesterday. A simple light grey T-shirt that was way to big for him, falling off his frame and revealing his shoulders. Pants that were loose and black. He’d also slipped his own boots and arm warmers back on. Chest guard causing his normally flat front to protrude just enough for others to believe he was a beta.

Furlan couldn’t help but think he looked really good as the two made their way to a nearby diner, ordering water, some fruits, and bread with the little amount of money Levi had.

Making their back to the church, Isabel jumped in front of them. “Aha! I followed you guys and you didn’t even know!”

“Isabel! You’re supposed so be back at the church!” Furlan angrily scolded the young girl, shocked that she’d snuck up on them. Levi merely continued back, throwing one of the breads they’d bought to a hungry, begging kid at the side of the road.

“Why’d you do that, bro?”

“Bro?”

“Yeah! Bro! We can all be a team now!”

“Isabel—“

“Let me talk, Furlan. I heard last night that you’re trying to go to the West side! Luckily for you, I know my way around there great!”

“Isabel! You know you shouldn’t eavesdrop!”

“You two aren’t coming with me.”

“But it’s dangerous over there and—“

Levi turned to her. “Exactly it’s dangerous and I’m not going to be babysitting a kid while also having to look around for creeps.”

“I’m not a kid! I’m almost as tall as you!”

Levi cringed at that. It was true, the beta wasn’t much smaller than him. Beginning to walk again, he tried to excuse the stupid comment about his biggest insecurity.

“And besides. I followed both you and Furlan all the way over here and neither of you noticed! Having another pair of ears would make your journey a lot safer!”

Levi had to admit, she had a troubling point. Both boys hadn’t even heard the girl following them and they’d walked about two blocks to go to the food.

Maybe she’s right… I could consider the extra help.

“Isabel, stop bugging him about it.”

“But bro will change his mind once he hears what a great thief I am!” She pulls out Levi’s knife from behinds her back. “I snatched this!”

Both boys mouths dropped and Levi checked his pocket. Sure enough the knife that Isabel was twirling in her hand was the omega’s. Angrily, Levi reached for it, only for Isabel to hold it away from him.

“So can we go with you?”

“Absolutely not, you little rat. Give me back my shit.” This time, he was able to snatch it back from the girl.

“Well, if that doesn’t impress you, Furlan here is an excellent liar!”

“Isabe—“ Once again, Furlan was cut off by the younger beta.

“He can literally con anyone!”

“Isabe—“

“Get anybody out of anything just by opening his mouth!”

“Isabe—“

“In fact, I bet he could fool you too—“

“Isabel!”

She stopped talking, realizing that Furlan was actually upset. The trio walked back to the church in silence.

When they arrived back, even Jazzy could feel the tension and also decided to not start up any conversation. The four… five… of them ate breakfast in silence before heading out to take Jazzy back home. She only lived 30 minutes away from the church.

They walked in silence for about 20 minutes before the female beta piped up again. “Did I say something wrong? Furlan? Bro?”

“Let’s just not push the issue, Isabel. If Levi would rather do it alone… don’t push it.”

Levi rolled his eyes. The gesture not missed by Furlan.

Once they arrived at Jazz’s house, the omegas said their goodbyes, made their promises to visit and then headed on their way. Once the church was in their line of sight, Levi finally spoke.

“Get whatever shit you want to take. I’ll wait out here.”

Isabel was ecstatic, going to hug the omega but Furlan pulled her back inside the church. As the door closed, she yelled, “You won’t regret this, bro!!”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The three were sitting around a small fire, eating potatoes. Levi knew they’d be at the brothel by tomorrow, but he could also tell the two betas were getting tired, seemingly not used to staying up, walking all night.

“Bro, you haven’t eaten anything!” She shoves her potato in his face, tempting him to take a bite. In response, he ruffles her hair, turning his head to refuse.

I’ve gone longer without food and the kid needs her strength…

It’s been one week already.

Levi was sure he’d make it back before the two week deadline he gave Dolores. But as Isabel fell asleep, snuggling between him and Furlan to fight off cold, he knew they’d have to take more rest stops in order to stay alert while walking in this sketchy part of town.

“Thanks for letting us come with you.” Furlan insisted that he wasn’t tired. Instead, wanting to stay awake and talk to Levi.

“Hm.” Was his only reply. The omega too focused on cleaning his knives to have any real conversation. So Furlan stayed quiet.

…

“How’d you two meet?”

“After the warehouse. I found her in an alleyway, asleep and about to get jumped by some sleazy gross alpha. She’s stuck next to me since then.”

“How generous of you.”

Furlan knew what he was thinking: why help her and not me?

“Tell me the truth, Mr. Furlan who’s a great liar. Do you plan on trying to kick my ass and steal the money once I have it?”

They looked each other in the eyes. The Omega looking for ill intentions while the beta looked for forgiveness.

“No.” He was sure. Confident.

Furlan was forgiven.

║▌│█║▌│ █║▌│█│║▌║ ║▌│█║▌│ █║▌│█│║▌║ ║▌│█║▌ │█║▌│█│║

The three looked up at the brothel. Ten years later, the place was falling apart. Mold grew everywhere, mice and rats occupying the place, spiders and cobwebs decorated the interior.

Levi took a breath and stepped inside. Being careful not to step on any animal droppings, he made his way to his and mama’s old room, and almost cried when he saw bones lying on the bed. Clothes and a not so warm blanket still covering her.

“Hey, mama,” He softly rubbed her forehead, not giving a shit that the two betas watching from the door might deem him crazy for talking to a dead body. “I came to get the money you were telling me about. Sorry I didn’t understand before.”

He turned towards his new friends. “Check under all the floorboards. There should be a loose one somewhe—“

“Found it!” Isabel exclaimed, trying to use her fingernails to pry it off the ground. Levi came and took over the task as Isabel jumped up and made her way to his mama, talking to her. “Hi Ms. Levi! My name is Isabel Magnolia and I’m a friend of Bro! Don’t you worry about your kid, I’ll take good care of him!” She was pointing to herself proudly and Levi couldn’t help but softly smile at hearing her talk to the bones as if they were still alive. The thought was comforting. His friends talking to his mama.

Furlan still stood a little awkwardly by the door until Isabel gave him a pull towards the bed. “I’m Furlan Church. Levi’s… other friend.”

“I bet she’s smiling at us right now!” Isabel flung herself at Levi, clinging on to his neck and peering over his shoulder. “What’ve you got there, bro?”

Levi was holding an old, beautiful, wooden box. Flowers were engraved on the top and when Levi opened it, he found he was correct.

“Wow! That’s a lot of money! I bet we could buy us a nice house with that much!”

“We?”

“Yea we! We met your mom now and I think she’d think it would be a great idea if we all stuck together from now on!”

Levi reached back and handed the money to Furlan, who almost looked surprised to be given that much trust, before taking it. Holding the stack that was tied together with a pretty ribbon, delicately in his hands. Afraid the cash would disappear.

Next in the box was a letter that Levi quickly tucked into his pocket before the nosey female beta could read it.

I’ll learn to read it myself. Nobody will see it but me.

The last thing in the box was a beautiful embroidery kit. It was small but still in decent shape. There was only one completed piece. It was very detailed, though and even Isabel gasped out a “wow!”

The piece was anything but simple. It was of a raven haired mama and a small toddler of similar appearance. The two were surrounded by apples and flowers. The toddler was sitting on the mama’s lap, looking up as she stroked his hair. Both dressed in white.

Flipping it over, there were small, beautiful words stitched on he back. He waited for Isabel to read it. And once finished, the three stood up, said one last goodbye to Kuchel, all three kissing her head. Stepping back out, Levi took one more look at the place he used to call home.

“Bro! Come on!!!”

“Bye mama. I love you.”

Making their way back to the east side, Levi felt a burden being lifted from his heart. Even though she was reduced to a pile of bones now,

Mama was still very beautiful.

༺🤍༻ ━━━━━━━━━━━༺🤍༻

In a dark alleyway, Levi glazed his fingers over the stitching on the back of the embroidered picture. He lay leaning against Furlan’s shoulder. Isabel doing the same thing on the other side of the beta.

Tomorrow, he had promised them that they could meet Dolores. He’d make the two week deadline with 3 days to spare.

He tried sounding out the words once again. Using his memory of Isabel’s reading to guide him.

-My deerest Levi and me. 🖤 I love you, my sweet child.

~Mama 🌸

Chapter Text

“MY BOY IS HOME!!!”

Levi cringed as Dolores shrieked in his ear, swinging him around and crushing his ribs. Isabel laughed at the sight and even Furlan gave a heartfelt chuckle.

“FREE DRINKS FOR EVERYBODY!”

She set Levi down again as the bar cheered, “Dolores, this is Furlan and Is—“

“Isabel Magnolia, ma’am!” The female beta was quick to shake the alpha’s hand, grabbing a drink, she was about to chug it when Levi took the mug from her and handed it back to Dolores, making the beta pout.

The three sat at the bar and Levi showed Dolores the box.

“My, my, what a beautiful thing. Guess you were right about the money, huh?”

“Ya.” Levi took a sip of the tea Dolores put in front of them, listening to Isabel talk.

“We plan to all get a nice house together in the center of the underground!” Isabel exclaimed, trying to reach for a biscuit.

Dolores smiled at the girl, quickly warming up to her. “Is that so? Well you better tell me when ya find it, I plan to visit often if it’s gonna be so nice.” She ruffles the female beta’s hair before heading upstairs, just as an alpha comes and goes on the other side of Levi.

“Hey, Levi. Ya know, me and my gang really missed seeing you ‘round here. Don’t you think you should make it up to us?” The teen said flirting and smirking as he leaned against the counter.

“No.” Levi lowered his tea just enough to reply, before going back to siping.   

“Aw come on. Don’t say you didn’t miss us too.”

“I don’t even know your name. Back up.”

The alpha leaned in closer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Furlan was getting angrier with each flirting word that came out of the alpha’s mouth. Levi clearly doesn’t want to talk to the guy.

Finally when his hand slithered around Levi’s waist, the beta male snapped.

“Why don’t you get lost, asshole, he’s clearly not into you.”

“What’d you say to me, beta?”

As Furlan stood up, the alpha shoved him a little, causing Isabel and Levi to stand too. The omega got in between the two, the alpha’s gang stood up as well, ready to back their friend up.

Putting his hand on the alpha’s chest, Levi gave a small shove. “Back off. Not in Dolores’ bar.”

“Then maybe we should take this outside?” His gang cheered at the idea and Isabel nervously glanced at the stairs. Dolores still wasn’t back.

“Look man, I was just telling you to keep your hands to yourself. That’s all. Nobody wants to go outside.”

“He ain’t got the balls to take you outside, Seth!”

Furlan clenched his fists. He wasn’t gonna do this. He wasn’t gonna be like these immature assholes. He looked at Levi. The Omega shook his head. He looked at Isabel. The beta nodded her head. He took a deep breath and sat back down. “Just keep your hands to yourself.”

“Oh I get it! He probably likes Levi! But he don’t have the balls to prove it! He ain’t got the balls to go outside and fight for him!”

Once outside. Furlan was really starting to regret this dumb decision. Not only was the alpha older and taller, but Levi was also exasperated with him for acting like a hothead. The Omega was also blushing a little, clearly having remembered what the alpha said about liking him.

“You got this Furlan! Show this dumb alpha that he can’t just walk around doing what he wants!” Isabel pumped her fists in the air.

Honestly, Furlan was about to shit himself. Not really because he doubted he could win, but because if he lost, he didn’t want to see that unimpressed look on Levi’s face again. Or that look of pity.

Ever since he was taken down by only one alpha and thrown in the basement with Isabel and Jazmine. He couldn’t stop thinking about how he’d let Levi down. He saw the huge bruise on his neck. He saw that Alpha that was lying on the ground, head cracked open by a bottle and with his dick out. Levi wouldn’t have been in that situation if he’d just done his damn part.

Turning back to the alpha, he threw the first punch. Just like his dad taught him.

“You always throw the first punch, Kiddo. Never give the opponent the opportunity to get a head start.”

He connected with the alpha’s face but before he could connect his second punch, the older teen caught the fist and socked Furlan in the stomach. Doubling over, a knee met his face. He rolled out of the way when a heavy foot was about to step on him and claim victory. Quickly getting to his feet, the beta could hear Isabel cheering and egging him on. Looking back, Levi stood with a small frown on his face. His eyes, however, told Furlan one thing:

I believe in you.

Furlan dodges the kick that was aimed at his balls, turning and throwing the same move to the alpha, making contact. While he was doubled over, Furlan kicked him to the ground, flipped him onto his stomach and twisted an arm behind his back. The unsaid rule that it meant victory.

Isabel ran up and threw her arms around him. Levi stayed planted where he was. His only approval of the fight and the win a small nod before turning back to the bar, the trio leaving the angry alpha cursing at his friends and himself for losing to a beta.

Levi immediately headed upstairs with Furlan and Isabel closely following. He opened the door, seeing Dolores looking for something in the kitchen.

“Did you win, Furlan?”

“Wh- how did— ya I won…” Furlan had no idea how she knew he was fighting outside. Levi had told them she was a devil that knew everything about everything but he didn’t think it was true!

“Dolores, we’re going to head out now and find a place. We’ll come back but when we do.” Levi told the woman. Opening the cabinet and grabbing the sponges that Dolores seemed to be looking for, because once it was handed to her she exclaimed,

“Oh! My I’m getting fucking old aren’t I, omega?”

“No ma’am, not yet.”

“You three be careful. Remember to save some money for furniture!”

Leaving the bar. Furlan felt 7 ft tall. The three walked with a purpose toward the center of the city.

The male beta felt a squeeze on his shoulder. Looking down, Levi met his eyes and gave him another nod before going to catch up with Isabel who was running way to far ahead, excited for their plan.

Furlan hung back for a hot second, smiling, before running to catch up too.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

One year later the trio was hanging out in their new home. No rent. It was theirs. Only a 45 minute walk from Dolores and Isabel’s favorite diner too.

Right now, however, Furlan was out doing whatever and fifteen year old Levi was cleaning the kitchen. Windows open, laundry already done, Isabel hanging out in her room, Levi was having a chill time. Happily scrubbing the counters of the egg yolk residue that Isabel had left after she insisted on making breakfast.

“Levi!” A shriek rang out from the bathroom and immediately the omega assumed the worst. She was dead. His little sister slipped and fell, snapped her neck and now the idiot was de—“

Oh. No she was not dead. However, she was sitting on the floor, head in her hands and crying her eyes out.

“Hey, what’s wrong. Tell me what happened. Did you hurt yourself?” He started checking her over looking for some indication of blood or a lost limb when his eyes landed on her crumpled underwear. Her bloody crumpled underwear.

“I-I-I’ve b-been-n bl-ee-eeding out of d-down th-th-there for a few days a-and I f-feel r-r-really si-i-ick and I think I-I-I’m dying-g-g-g. I do-don’t w-wanna die, Bro!” Isabel sobbed through her hands.

Levi blushed. He really wished Furlan was here dealing with the thirteen year old instead.

“Isabel, you’re not dying.”

“You don’t know that!” She yelled. “I’m bleeding out! My stomach is hurting and I feel dizzy!” She stood up and began pushing Levi out of the door. “Not only that, it might be contagious! Get out! Stay away from me!”

After the door slammed in his face and the sobbing continued, Levi softly knocked and tried again.

Damn it, Furlan didn’t tell Isabel about a betas’ periods?

Admittedly, it was awkward for the teens to talk about their developing bodies. After Isabel found Levi’s suppressants and asked in front Furlan and Dolores what they were, Levi accidentally walking in on Furlan…masturbating, and Isabel being to be told by Dolores that she needed a bra, the three began an unspoken deal that whatever was happening to their bodies, stays to themselves, and out of the other two’s business.

And right now, standing outside the bathroom door and listening to Isabel in hysterics because she literally thought she was going to die, Levi knew he was going to have to break that deal.

“Isabel. Listen.” The sobs quieted. “You are not dying. This is supposed to happen.”

A sniffle. “What? No. This isn’t natural.”

“Yes it is. It means your ready to have a baby.”

It was quiet for a moment and Levi really thought he got through to her for long enough until Furlan got home and could properly explain the situation.

“I DON’T WANT TO HAVE A BABY! I’M THIRTEEN!”

That’s the usual age omegas start having kids…

The sobbing got louder and Levi was sure he made the situation worse.

“No, Isabel! It doesn’t mean you have to have kids right now. Only if you have unprotected, you know… sex.”

“What the hell is sex? Bro, you’re not making any sense!”

Shit. I dug myself into a deeper hole. Whatever. I’m just going to get this over with. Right now.

“Ok, I’ll be right back.” He told the door, walking into the room he and Furlan shared, the omega began searching for pads. He’d seen Furlan sneakily take them into the bathroom so he knew the general hiding spot. Except there weren’t just pads. Levi also found some weird sticks. A while after moving in, Levi had gathered the courage to ask Furlan if he could give him some reading lessons. Of course the beta agreed but right now, due to stress and embarrassment, the letters weren’t completely making sense.

“Tam. Pax.” He read. Letting his curiosity get the best of him, he opened the box and pulled out a scary, tube- ish? Looking thing.

Gathering both period products in his hands, Levi went back to the bathroom. It seemed to him that Isabel had pretty much stopped crying and accepted whatever fate had to offer her, so he slipped both products under the door.

“Put one or the other in and come out to the living room. Trust me, ok. You are not dying.”

Sure enough, a few minutes later, Isabel walked out of the bathroom, Levi quickly checked her pants to make sure nothing was going to stain their cheap couch before leading an uncomfortable looking Isabel to the sofa.

Shit. I can’t do this.

“Ok. Uh… so.. you’re not dying and you’re not pregnant either…. The blood is coming out of you… you know…. Vagina, because….”

Why does it do that again..?

“It’s like, cleaning itself to make your stomach ready for a baby.”

“The blood is cleaning me?”

“Yea….” I don’t fucking know. “And that’s all you need to know until Furlan gets here and explains it better.” Levi stood up, planning to retreat back to his room before Isabel had any more questions.

“Wait, but then, what’s sex?”

Levi flushed. Sitting back down. “Well… in order to be able to have kids… you would have to have sex with a male beta. And that doesn’t mean you should do it! But that’s how it works.” He stood up again.

“Ok but how do you do it?”

Sitting down again Levi used his hands to make a hole while also stretching out one finger to make a… pointer finger.

“Well… the male beta would have to….” Levi puts the finger in the hole. “Insert….himself inside of you…. But like… there’s more. He’d have to make semen come out of himself and then if the sperm goes inside of you, you’ll get pregnant.”

Still looking a little confused, she turned to the beta again. “So… Jazzy has had sex?” Levi knew his face was red.

“Yes. For her it’s different because… well. Her and I are omegas so we can get pregnant from any alpha or male beta…”

“But I can’t get you pregnant?”

Levi really wished the earth would spin into the sun right now.

He shook his head.

“Can you get me pregnant..?”

“Well, no, because… I don’t have the…. Parts….to ever get anybody pregnant…. I got them removed.”

“Well, why’d you do that?”

“That’s a personal matter, Isabel. It wasn’t a choice. But anyway, do you understand enough now to wait for Furlan to get home and help you out?”

“Yep! Thanks, bro!”

Relieved that this was over and done with, Levi stood to head to his room once again.

“Have you had sex, bro?” Oh my god…

Levi’s never blushed so hard in his life, he thought his face was on fire. “Isabel….you can’t just ask people if they’d have sex…. It’s a private thing you do with someone you really trust and love in a romantic way. And then you don’t talk about it with anyone .”

Or if you’re raped… but I can’t tell her that…

“If you haven’t had sex, how do you know all this?”

“Cause I do… now stop talking to me about it and ask Furlan.”

Levi safely retreated to his room.

That went well.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

After Furlan came home, Levi waited until the beta entered the bedroom before getting off the bed to exit again.

“Did you talk to her?” Levi asked, hand resting on the nob, back turned away from the other male.

“Mhm. She’s just moody right now…”

“Ok. Good then.” Levi knew what Furlan meant by ‘moody.’ When the male beta was having his cycle, he got especially cross when people touched his stuff, even when any other time, he couldn’t care less. Levi assumed that Isabel was the same way so he left the room and started getting dinner started. Annoyedly realizing he hadn’t finished cleaning the kitchen.

What Furlan forgot to mention, however, was that when he said ‘moody’ he meant ‘their sweet little sister had turned into the devil and was ready to commit some serious crimes.’

Not only was she ‘moody,’ she was downright… scary. So much so that she took every. Single. Opportunity. To make sure Levi knew how lucky he was to not have periods. And make sure Furlan knew how lucky he was to not have cramps.

She stomped around the house and her outburst were like ticking time bombs ready to go off. When the three of them were walking and got jumped by some thugs, Isabel single handedly fought them all off, making it clear that she was not in the mood.

Currently, Levi and Furlan were so scared to leave the safety of their room, that they had resorted to playing Rock Paper Scissors to see which one of them was going to ask Isabel if she’d seen the keys to their house. Furlan came back to the room rubbing his now bruised arm.

“How long do your things usually last?” Levi was fed up with Isabel marching around, bullying them.

“8 days at most…” it’s only been 4 days. “Hey, let’s go to the roof. To catch a breath.”

They slipped up there and looked over their neighborhood. There was a festival it looked like nearby, with dancing people and music playing. Pretty lights hanging over head.

Even throughout Isabel’s rein of terror, Levi felt at peace.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Furlan had met with their gang the other day. The trio worked as thugs to make ends meet. Not necessarily bad ones, more like the ones in that book that Furlan read when he was a kid. Robin-hood. All they did was steal food from the crates that were being taxed and shipped as donation to the Military Police, and give them to the people, children, that needed them more. Now, however, times were getting harder and he had yet to tell Levi. He’d meant to talk now while the two were up on the roof but looking over at his friend, he couldn’t do it.

Levi looked beautiful tonight. The lights were shining in his eyes and there was a ghost of a smile on his face as he watched the dancing people at that festival. Furlan hadn’t told the omega about his crush on him, worried that it would ruin their friendship, but it was times like these that made the beta want to lean over and kiss Levi’s slightly pink lips. Play with his soft hair and hold him. Times like when he sees him contentedly cleaning or when Isabel manages to get a chuckle out of him so he places a hand over his mouth and scrunches his beautiful eyes.

Furlan didn’t even realize until he did it that he’d reached over to brush the hair from the other boy’s face. Levi looked at him. “Is there food on my face or something?” He asked.

Furlan was about to lean in. Levi still staring at him.

“Hey guys!”

Isabel had bursts up on the roof, acting like she’s been a perfect little angel this entire time. She placed herself in between the two boys and hugged her knees.

“Sorry.” Levi and Furlan turned to her. “Sorry I’ve been a little snappy lately.”

“….”

“….”

“A little?!” As Furlan and Isabel began playfully arguing with each other, Levi ruffled her hair and slipped back inside the house. Feeling too tired to deal with their nonsense.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That night, the omega lied restless in bed. Back facing Furlan and listening to him softly snoring.

He almost kissed me…

How can I tell him that I don’t like him in that way…?

Chapter Text

Furlan, Levi and Jan were waiting by their usual spot to steal whatever they could from those crates. This past year, they recently discovered that not only did those wooden boxes hold food, but also drugs. The gang never used any on themselves but they made an amazing profit by selling them to the people of the underground that have already given up.

It made Levi sick but there was nothing he could do but give them the substances that helped them forget.

Now, as they were waiting for the perfect opportunity to steal the money makers, the air was tense. Levi was still a little pissed at Furlan for keeping him out of the loop for so long. It’s been two years since he and the two betas have moved in together and one year since Furlan, who’s the keeper of the money and everyone’s fair share of it, had told the omega that things weren’t going so hot in their little illegal business.

The night the omega found out, not from Furlan but from that kid that’s also a part of their gang, twelve year old Ricky, it ensued a heated argument. Now, Levi was sixteen. Furlan had just turned seventeen and Isabel was at her seventh month since turning fourteen.

Jan signaled to them that he was going to go around to the other side of the building and the two other boys nodded, turning their attention back to their target. As the alpha men counted the amount in the crates, Levi couldn’t help but feeling that there was something off about the situation that he couldn’t put his finger on, only clutch tighter to his knife, knowing this hustle wasn’t going to be a smooth as it usually is.

Damn it. We need this to go well.

They waited about ten minutes for Jan’s ready signal. Nothing.

Levi let’s a few more minutes pass before tapping Furlan on the shoulder.

‘Where’s Jan?’ He mouthed to his accomplice.

The beta furrowed his brow, the two decided to go and check on the other boy, a beta male in his late teens. This plan had to go well. If not, they’d loose a lot more money than they can afford.

‘Jan!’ Furlan called out in a harsh whisper.

“What have we here?” Before they could woo around, Levi and Furlan were grabbed by the cuffs if their necks, blades being held just under their chins. The omega quickly tucked the blade into his sleeve, careful not to let the soldiers see the weapon.

“We finally caught those little rats that’ve been stealing our food.”

Levi easily could have gotten out of this hold. It wasn’t even that tight while they were dragging the two… three (Jan it seems, was caught too) boys further away from the crates and into some empty space behind a four building intersection, dropping them all in a puddle of mud.

“Tch.” Levi ignored the mess and turned around to meet the MP’s. They were normally after them, but it was a stick in Levi’s pride that they were actually caught.

“Hey, we’re just starving kids trying to get food. Spare us. Please?” Furlan put his hands up as the leading MP stuck his blade in the beta’s face.

“No talking. We’ll wait until back-up arrives. We might not even take you in,” his eyes skimmed up and down Levi’s body, eyes landing on the guard before continuing the observation. “If you’re willing to hand over that hot beta there, we could negotiate.”

Furlan struck first and Levi quickly followed suit. Jan right behind him, though he wasn’t a great fighter.

They’d managed to disarm the three MP’s, throwing their blades away and smashing their heads until they were unconscious.

“Come on, let’s get out of here.” Jan and Furlan began running, trying to get as far away from the scene as possible. They were gonna have to let this time go, finding it more appealing to risk going without the food that to risk prosecution.

Looking back, Furlan realized Levi wasn’t following them. “Levi! Come on! Leave them!”

Said omega was trying to steal the maneuver gear from one of the unconscious soldiers. “Help me.” With that, Furlan and Jan both ran to the other two bodies and undid the straps. The three swiftly left after, carrying the stolen gear back to their house.

All three angered by the failed mission.

“What are those, bro? And why’re you guys so muddy?” Isabel asked upon seeing her friends enter. Anger trickled into her veins at the sight of her brothers looking so rough. Especially Levi, who’s always made sure to keep crisp and clean. “Did you get the dough?”

Shaking their heads, the three boys proceeded to dump the new equipment on the ground, beginning to look through it.

“What was the point of getting this again?” Jan asked peering over Levi’s shoulder.

“I’m going to learn to use it.” Was the omega’s response as he picked a few pieces.

“Really?! We’re gonna learn to use this stuff?! Awesome! Let’s go now!” Levi shook his head at his enthusiastic little sister. “We just beat up MP’s for this. If we go now, we’ll surely run into some trouble. Best to lay low.” He then left to take a bath, leaving his pouting sister in the living room.

“Levi.” Furlan caught up to him. “How exactly to you plan on learning?”

“Teaching myself.”

“And how will you do that without cracking your skull open?”

“...”

Levi glanced at Furlan before entering the bathroom and closing the door. The sound of water was heard filling the tub.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

In the middle of the night, Furlan heard Levi get out of his bed, quickly dress and leave. The beta also stood up, already dressed having suspected the omega would sneak off in the middle of the night to play with the new gear. Levi had never been a very patient person.

He followed Levi, who was cloaked and carrying the gear, also covered, through an alleyway.

“Why are you following me?” The omega didn’t even turn around, he simply stopped walking.

“Cause if you’re gonna learn right now, I want to too.”

“Me too!” Both boys turned this time at the new voice, shocked that Isabel was also following. “Come on Levi-bro, it’s not fair how you always start before us!”

“Yeah, you got to let us be a little cool too.” Furlan hooked his arm around Levi’s shoulder, only to be pushed off a little.

“Let’s go then.”

They walked a few hours to a big open space and began practicing balance. While Levi got it on his second try, and Furlan on his fourth, Isabel was having a harder time with the skill.

“Argh! I’m never gonna get it!!” She stomped her foot, glaring at the 3D Maneuver gear.

“You’ll get it eventually, Isabel. Won’t she Levi?”

Said omega turned to them, he was tightening the gear he had claimed for himself, when he looked at Isabel and ruffled her hair. “Get back on. Let me show you.”

Isabel got it back on and immediately swung upside down. Helping her right side up again, Furlan held her up while Levi coached her on what she should do with her body. “Let yourself go limp, but still tense.”

“What does that even mean, bro?” She was upside down again and Furlan was once again, swinging the female beta back into an upright position.

“Furlan hold her. Make yourself limp.” She did so. “Now tense your muscles without moving. I guess it might help to use your arms to remain upright…”

Isabel got it.

Walking back home, Levi carried a sleeping Isabel in his back, Furlan strode next to them, holding the gear hidden by a cloak.

“Money’s gonna be tight until at least next week. Maybe longer if we have to keep laying low.”

“Yeah.”

“We might have to cut back on a few meals. I worry about those families that depend on the food we get from those crates, though.”

“Yeah.”

“And those thugs that have already paid for future drugs. If we can’t get those to them, we’ll have to give back the money. Possibly risk a fight too.”

“…”

“Levi?” Furlan turned to the Omega who had stopped responding. He looked… tired. Furlan regretted filling his friend’s mind with these problems.

I’m the oldest. I’m the beta. Why am I throwing everything onto him?

The rest of the way was walked in silence.

Once putting the female beta into her bed, Levi slipped past Furlan and gave the beta a tight squeeze on the shoulder before opening the front door again. “Don’t follow me.” With that, he was gone. Furlan sat on the couch and awaited his return.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It was early the next morning when Levi finally returned, softly closing he door. Furlan saw bruises on his knuckles, he was also sporting a shiner on his right eye. Not only that, he was holding a neat amount of money.

Tossing it to Furlan, he said, “that should at least get us through the week.” Before going into their tiny kitchen and beginning breakfast.

“Where’d you go?”

“…”

“Levi, you didn’t… sell yourself… did you?”

Now Levi turned and glared at the beta. “Don’t ask stupid questions. Of course not.”

He turned back to breakfast, Furlan noticing that they were only having rice today, said, “We could buy more food with this you know.”

The Omega shook his head. “That’s for the thugs who’ve already payed us for their shit. Pay them back, today, with a little extra inconvenience cash to go with it. What’s left over is for the families that were depending on us for food.”

“Why so generous to the druggies?”

“We need to keep them as costumers. They’re our income.” He set the table, grabbing a jar of milk that was only half full and filling the other half with water.

“Aw, only rice?” Isabel had woken and was now coming into the main room, scratching her rump.

“After breakfast we’re gonna clean this place. Then practice with the 3DM gear.”

Isabel groaned loudly, digging into her rice and chugging down the milk. Not excited at the thought of cleaning before getting to the fun part. “Where’s your plate, Levi-bro?” The omega was already starting on the few dishes that were in the sink.

“Not hungry.”

A lie.

But Furlan didn’t want to say so in front of Isabel, who believed her brother’s every word and without another question finished her plate, scraping every piece of rice off before hopping up and getting ready for the day. Instead, he left a decent amount of rice on his plate, putting it down next to the sink. Levi set it aside. Furlan walked back to his rooms to get ready as well and sadly smiled at seeing Levi quickly eating the leftover rice before cleaning the plate.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

They were practicing their flying today and by the middle of it, were all bloodied and bruised from falling so much.

“Ugh, Levi let’s take a break for a second.”

“Tch.” The omega stood up again, readying himself to fly and ignoring the protests of both betas.

Launching towards the wall, that familiar lurch in his stomach that has been happening due to his phobia of heights momentarily caught him off guard. Loosing his pattern process for the buttons, Levi plummets again.

This time, however, the Omega caught himself.

His fingers seemed to be moving automatically, pushing buttons and changing the directions before his mind could even catch up. His knee barely scraped the ground before he went soaring back into the air. Flipping and changing directions again, he flew towards the city, hearing Furlan and Isabel cheering and whooping from the ground. He looked down to saw the beta male with his fists pumped in the air and his female counterpart doing cartwheels. Looking ahead again, the Omega took in the view over the city, gravity taking once again taking control, his fingers readjusted the gear to fling him into the air. Looking down, Levi realized how amazing flying was. The feeling of fear completely disappearing as he looked at the tiny people and shining lights.

Landing back in front of Furlan and Isabel, the two immediately bombarded him with questions.

“How did you do that?!”

“Can yo show us, Bro!?”

“How did the city look from a bird’s eyes?!?”

Levi ruffled Isabel’s head and squeezed Furlan’s shoulder. “Come on. I’ll show you.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1 year later.

“Thugs. They’ve been stealing food from the underground. It wasn’t a huge problem until they got their dirty hands on 3D maneuver gear.” Mike placed the report in front Erwin. “Shadis wants the Erwin Squad to take care of it. Apparently, they’re pretty dangerous.”

Erwin sighed, picking up the report. “Let’s take care of these thieves then.”

Chapter Text

There were three things that Isabel loved more that’s anything else in the world.

Levi-bro

Furlan

Flying.

She loved it when Levi patted her head, letting her know that he hears and sees her.

She loved when Furlan cleaned her wounds that have accumulated from fighting a lot.

She loved the feeling of flying full speed away from their pursuers.

However, she had to admit, when Levi accepted the deal to kill Erwin Smith, making the plan to purposely get caught and enroll in the survey corpse, she was really nervous. Not only was Bro and omega, but also a criminal. While she was sure her and Furlan might be let off with jail time. Levi would get a way bigger punishment solely because he was of a lower race.

“Heh. The Military Police again? Haven’t learnt their lesson have they?

Hey Levi-bro! What I just said was a cool line, right?”

“Are you an idiot.”

The three flew through the air as the MP’s gave chase. Isabel wasn’t particularly worried about those spoiled “heroes” as they called themselves (Levi preferred to use the term pigs), she was, however, getting a little antsy at the thought of having to outrun the wings of freedom. Only to purposely get caught.

“Furlan. Isabel. Let’s go.” As she watched Levi perform a series of amazing movements with the gear they’d stolen last year, she couldn’t help but he in awe of her brother once again. Him and Furlan were far better at this than the fifteen year old girl was but she found herself not caring.

She was flying. That’s all she could ask for.

She watched Levi for a second more, tempted to try and imitate his movements but knowing that now was not the time.

Truthfully, she’d always been a little saddened by her bros. Furlan, seemed too scared to tell Levi-bro about his crush on him. And Levi-bro always wore that damn guard to hide his omega identity. Isabel thought that maybe he was worried that others would deem him as weak if they knew his race but the female beta I didn’t know why he’d care what these sleaze bags thought about him. Omega or not he was still the coolest person the girl knew.

When those assholes took Jan hostage, bro was backed into a corner but ultimately accepted the job when the three were promised citizenship to the surface.

“We gonna do it, Levi?” Furlan had asked and the two betas waited impatiently for their lead’s reply. Personally, Isabel would do anything to get to the surface with her family. The two boys being all she’s had since she was eight. Her mama had left her in an alleyway and never came back. Isabel cried sometimes at the thought that maybe she just didn’t want her anymore. She’d cried into Furlan’s arms, not wanting Levi-bro to hear her weakness. She wanted to be strong like him. Dolores had told her that Levi was saddened because the alpha who knew his mom had left and he believed it was because he wasn’t good enough. Upon arriving home and seeing Furlan and Levi sitting at the table and cleaning their knives, she’d yelled in the omega’s face that he was good enough and not to let anyone tell him otherwise. Although a very confused look passed over his eyes, he’d ruffled her hair anyway.

They walked through the back of their home. Jumping off the stacked buildings and talking through back alleyways.

“Carry on as normal. But if, they appear just like he said they would… we’ll start the job.”

They appeared.

Isabel crashed into the crates, foot first to knock them all over while Eric took a pack of drugs.

“There they are! Someone call the Military Police!!”

“Yahoo!” Isabel caught up with her brothers, mesmerized by their flawless movements.

I’ll be as good as them one day!

“Heh. The Military Police again? Haven’t learnt their lesson have they?

Hey Levi-bro! What I just said was a cool line, right?”

“Are you an idiot.”

The Omega tripped them up with his cables, successfully ending the chase that the MP’s had on them. Pushing back against a wall to try losing the MP’s.

“It’s them. That Wings of Freedom crest…it’s the Survey Corpse.

You guys… you know right?”

“Of course.”

“It’s the job, right?”

The three split off.

Good luck Furlan.

Good luck Levi- bro.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The small beta flying in front of Mike was, in fact, exceptionally talented.

The teen quickly swung into a small window that led into an abandoned building. Coming out the other end, Mike caught Erwin trying to cut his ropes.

It wasn’t like he couldn’t smell the spicy, kind of dusty scent of the tiny beta so when he passed under a rock bridge, Mike got ahead and crashed down on him, making sure he crashed into a pile of crates to hurt him just enough to catch. However, little bastard merely flipped himself up and pulled out his knife, managing to disarm him and about to strike the dirty blonde when Erwin swooped down and blocked the movement.

At least he was able to surprise the stone faced beta.

As the fight was stuck with Erwin pushing forward on the man and he pushing back, Mike heard the yelling of the little beta girl accomplice before saw her, fighting against her captor, cursing and kicking. That had stopped the criminal in Erwin’s possession from continuing the tussle, allowing handcuffs to be put on all three of them.

They’d taken them to a big empty road for questions, meeting up with the rest of Erwin’s squad.

Only then did Mike realize how weird this beta smelled… not bad… just… weird. He couldn’t put his finger on it.

“You guys are skilled with 3D Maneuver Gear. Who taught you all that?” Erwin was getting nowhere with these thugs and Mike was running out of patience. His squad captain walked up to the leading beta.

“You’re their leader, right? Were you trained in the military?”

Instead of answering, the teen looked up only to glare at Erwin. Finally running out of kindness, Mike seized the beta’s hair, painfully yanking it up before he slammed his face into a mud puddle. Holding him down and ignoring the protests of his friends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Their trying to put us in our place. Filthy rats of the underground that should be bowing before them. It made Furlan sick to think that these soldiers thought they were so much superior solely because they were born in the sun.

What made him even more sick was seeing Levi’s face being dirtied by the puddle. His friend being dehumanized and humiliated because of some Scouts that thought they deserved to be treated like royalty.

If it was up to Furlan, they wouldn’t be taking this risk. If the military found out Levi was actually an omega, he’d be killed on the spot. Although it was a risk Levi was willing to take, it wasn’t one that Furlan was. Last night, he’d tried talking the omega out of it, but the heated discussion didn’t change their lead’s mind.

“We have nothing down here. Up on the surface we’ll be a lot better off.”

“Even so, Levi, this is our home! If you’re caught as an omega they won’t hesitate to kill you!”

“I won’t get caught.”

“Levi!”

“Furlan.” His best friend walked up and squeezed his shoulder. “Believe in me.”

So he did. He always did. He always will.

They’d told Dolores everything and the alpha woman completely protested. In a rage, she’d thrown them out of her bar when she couldn’t change Levi’s mind, telling him she wants nothing to do with it the trio if they were just going to go off and get themselves killed by titans. It was the only time the beta had ever seen the strong willed woman cry. She’d yelled at Furlan and Isabel, reminding the both of them that playing pretend wasn’t going to change the fact that Levi was still an Omega. That they’d kill him.

The whole situation had the three on edge. Levi, who wasn’t exactly used to not getting Dolores’ support was saddened, scrubbing hard on their living room floor, bloodying his hands. Despite the situation, Isabel claimed that the alpha just needed time.

Now, as Furlan kept his eyes on Levi. Face slammed in the mud, did he start regretting this decision.

They’ll treat him worse than this if they find out.

“I’ll ask one more time. Where did you learn to use 3D Maneuver Gear?”

“Not from anyone! We learned it by ourselves!”

“Self-taught, you say? I don’t buy it.”

“It’s just so we’re able to rise even a bit in this dirty garbage place! People who’re used to sunlight like you guys won’t understand!”

“That’s enough! Let Bro go! Don’t be cocky just because you’re soldiers!”

“….”

Finally, Levi’s head was let up again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was going to kill Erwin Smith. Maybe his fat old dog too. Levi wasn’t very used to being disrespected anymore but he’s realized that once they stepped foot onto the world above, things were going to change. He wasn’t going to go up there and be Levi any more. He was going to turn into the rat from the underground. But it was fine. As long as he got the job done, got citizenship, hopefully bring Dolores, Jazzy’s family, and the rest of their gang with them. He’d shove his face in the mud a thousand times over if it meant his dream would come true.

Smith kneeled down in the dirty water.

Respect..?

“My name is Erwin Smith. And yours is?”

“Levi.”

“Levi… Why don’t we make a deal?”

“A deal?”

“I will let your crimes go unpunished. In return, lend me your strength.

Join the Survey Corps.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Fine. I’ll join the Survey Corpse.”

The mission has begun. Levi was going to see it through. Even if it killed him. 

Chapter Text

“Attention, all!”

The squad leaders lined up with their squads behind them. All in perfect unison, standing at attention. While some seemed to be scowling, others looked anxious, or downright terrified. Few were indifferent to the situation. Looking down at them, Levi would have deemed them all to be nervous wrecks, but then again, they were staring at underground rats.

“From today, these three will be fighting alongside you all!

Introduce yourselves!”

Levi stole a glance at Erwin. The message on his stupid face was clear:

Cooperate or else.

The secret omega looked ahead again. “The name’s Levi.” Personally, he didn’t see anything wrong with his choice of words. He wasn’t swearing, he wasn’t even talking with a hint of sarcasm. But apparently, the three words offended many, as gasps could be heard over the group.

“Levi… the first thing you’ll need is some goddamn discipline. Next!” Isabel stepped forward. Proudly pointing to herself, she gave her introduction. “I’m Isabel Magnolia! Nice ta meetcha!”

Furlan went last, saluting the wrong way as far as Levi had seen. “My name is… Furlan Church.”

More gasps were heard in the crowd. Levi hated standing up there. Him and his family being showcased and gawked at like a bunch of circus animals. They stood tall, though. Levi had taken to wrapping his mama’s dress around his neck to make a cravat. He liked it better this way.

“Flagon, these three will be assigned to your squad.”

Damnit. Why not Erwin’s? The closer we get to the alpha, the easier it’ll be to kill him.

“Look after them.” ‘Flagon’ gave a short gasp.

“M-My squad, sir?”

“Are you dissatisfied?” Of course he is. Nobody wants the underground scum dirtying their name.

“N-No… but shouldn’t Erwin…”

“Erwin is tasked with the soldiers’ formation. The new recruits will be your responsibility. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir! Understood!” Flagon’s eyes briefly met Levi’s, the two glaring at each other. The squad leader broke his stare first.

After a brief tour of the place, where Levi got very insulted by that piece of shit, the trio was called down to the mess hall for dinner.

Isabel looked around happily, ever the extrovert, exclaimed, “We should make some friends!” She looked at Levi who only went to grab a tray and food, finding and empty table, the three sat down. The secret omega could feel the eyes on them. The whispers and rumors beginning to float.

“I bet they were drug dealer.”

“I heard they killed over half of the underground.”

“They probably killed those poor MP soldiers. That’s how they got the gear, I know it.”

“Tch.” Levi rolled his eyes. “Idiots.” It was obvious who were the ones that weren’t trying to be quite about the gossip. Smirking over at Levi’s table, they talked loudly for everyone to hear. While the negative attention didn’t much bother Furlan or Levi, they weren’t there to make friends after all, Isabel had wanted to make talk with some new people, lonely since she’s all by herself with these strangers in her barracks. The bullying was putting a dent in her mood. Which, in turn, put dents in her brothers’ moods. Levi made eye contact with Furlan.

Don’t pull any more stunts. We’ve got enough eyes on us already.

“This is what happens when you don’t have good parents taking care of you. You turn into nothing but dogs .”

“Oi! Why don’t you shut your mouths!” Surprisingly, it was actually Isabel that had lost her temper.

“Ooo this dog is going to bite us! We’re so scared.”

The group began barking at the trio’s table, making their little dog comments a point. Levi’d had had enough when tears began accumulating in Isabel’s eyes. Standing up, he ignored Furlan’s panicked, “Levi ignore them!” And walked towards the table.

He grabbed one of the boys by the hair and yanked his head back, whispering in the alpha’s ear. “In the underground we take insults like that very seriously. If you don’t cut it out, I’ll tear your hairless balls off and bury them in your backbone just like a dog would. Am I clear?”

The point must have gotten through to him because he whimpered and nodded his head. Levi sent a glare to the rest of the table, and they too quickly agreed. Satisfied, he turned around and came face to face (well, face to chest) with the asshole who dunked his head in the puddle.

Trying to go around him, the mutt stepped in his path again.

“Move.” Levi glared at him. But the dirty blonde only leaned down and sniffed him before walking away.

Weirdo…

The secret omega’s blood was still boiling. Leaving his family at their table, he stepped outside to cool off.

Dog.

Erwin was walking towards him. The sight of his face only pissed him off more. The two made eye contact. Both glaring each other down before walking past the other. Levi remembered how the alpha and his squad handcuffed him, Furlan, Isabel. How they dunked his face in that puddle of god knows what. How they looked down on him.

The one to kill him…will be me.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

That night Levi got back to the barracks late. During showers, he’d preferred to walk the 10 minutes down to the lake to bathe instead of risking being caught a naked Omega surrounded by stupid, naked alpha’s and betas.

Quietly, he sat on the bed and removed his  suffocating chest guard, finally getting his first good deep breath after all day. In the underground, usually he’d find time to take the uncomfortable article of clothing off every few hours or so. Now, he could only wait for nightfall, while everyone else was asleep. He’s be sure to wake up extra early and slip it back on, but for now, it’s been a long day. Tucking the thing securely under his pillow, Levi laid with his back to the room. Letting a little sleep overwhelm him before morning arrives.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Hange watched as Levi swung into the trees, executing moves that take years to master. They were amazing by the tiny beta but when told that he wasn’t given any actual, formal training, they lost themselves in pure awe of him.

“Everything from the way we search for titans to the way we take them down is dependent upon individual methods.” They squealed. “This is starting to get interesting!”

Hange made up their mind. They were going to befriend the beta if it was the last thing they did!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mike knew. Or, he had a hunch that Levi wasn’t who he says he is. Isn’t what he says he is. The alpha hadn’t been able to put his finger on it before but now that he really thinks about it? He knows why the beta smells good but strange.

The beta is an omega.

He went to the barracks. Wanting to find proof, the alpha searched for something that would tell him for sure.

He knew he could be wrong. Levi could just be a really good looking and smelling beta. It was possible but he continued to search. If he didn’t find anything, he’d simply drop the situatio—

Bingo. Mike held up a small pouch of suppressants.

“Oi! What the hell are doing!” Mike turned as the door slammed and locked. Turning around, Levi was coming at him with his knife, tackling him onto the bed and holding the blade to his Adam’s apple.

“Give. Them. Back.”

He was sloppy now. Mike could smell the fear trickling out of his scent glands knowing he was found out. Taking the opportunity, Mike reached forward, grabbed his neck and slammed the Omega back to the floor. He wasn’t humanity’s strongest for nothing after all.

“Argh!” Levi once again tried to stab him, but Mike quickly caught the blade and yanked it out of the smaller man’s grasp. He set the suppressants by the omega’s head and pinned his wrists above him with one arm.

“Get the fuck of me!”

“It would be best that you’re quiet. If anyone walks in, they’ll automatically know your secret.” He unbuttoned the shirt and sure enough, there was a chest guard.

Levi continued squirming under him, he was almost free until Mike grabbed one of his wrists in each hand, securing them to the ground beside the seventeen year old’s head.

“Get off me.”

“We need to talk first.”

“I am not talking to you. Get off me.”

Mike applied more pressure to Levi’s wrists, getting a small wince out of him. “What are you planning?”

“What?”

“I smell secrets among you and your friends. Do you plan to kill someone?” Commander Shadis perhaps?”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

More pressure. The omega merely gritted his teeth this time. Glaring Mike in the eyes.

Said alpha was losing patience.

“What. Are. You. Planning.”

“That’s none of your concern because as soon as you let me go, I’ll snap your damn neck.”

Mike was out of patience. “Fine.” He moves the Omega’s wrists back into one hand, reached down and tore his guard.

“No!” Levi struggled more, as Mike kept breaking one of the two things that was keeping the Omega alive in this place.

Finally, the alpha tore it off the Omega completely. Grabbing the knife, he stood and headed towards the door.

Levi immediately jumped up and blocked his path. “Stop.” Mike smelled fear.

“What?”

“Mike they’ll kill m—“

“Heyo! I followed y—“ Hange opened the door. Levi knew he was fucked.

They closed and locked the barrier before turning back to the two boys.

“Y-you’re a-he-s a— what?!”

“Sush, you shit glasses!!!” Levi was fucked.

Hange snatched the broken guard from Mike, turning it over and inspecting it before turning to Levi, eyes falling on the bare chest being revealed by his open shirt.

Blushing, Levi quickly buttoned his clothes again and  turned to Mike. “We’re not planning anything.” He hissed through his teeth. “We were offered a life up here if we joined your stupid Corpse so that’s what we did.”

A lie Levi hoped the mutt couldn’t smell.

The alpha turned to Hange. “It’s our obligation to inform his squad leader. Erwin too.”

“Excuse me?” The beta hissed.

Levi had never seen a scarier glare than the one Hange gave Mike. Even the alpha backed up a couple feet.

“And kill him? Are you crazy?” They hissed, making their way towards the tall blonde, who was now backed into the wall.

“He can’t stay here.”

“And why not? He’s good. Too good to kill. So I’ll tell you what we’re going to do, Mr. Mike. We aren’t going to say a damn word about this to anybody. And not only are you not going to report, you are going to go into town and take Levi to buy another guard since you so rudely broke this one. Am. I. Clear?”

Levi could’ve laughed at the fear in the alpha’s eyes.

“We need to sneak out of here. I need a cloak or something.” Levi was glaring at Mike who gave an annoyed sigh.

“Let’s go.” The alpha turned to Hange. “This isn’t a good idea and you know it.”

“This is the best thing that could ever happen to the military and you know it.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Levi knew this wasn’t good. As the two military men walked down the town’s street, both dressed in casual clothes with Levi concealed in burka, they looked for shops that sold omega’s clothing.

“Aw… alphas like you are selfish! Not letting others see your omega’s pretty face!”

“Hope it’s louder in bed than it is right now.”

“You feel like sharing?”

Someone even tried to grab at Levi’s burka, the long veil that concealed his entire body and face.

Levi had hidden himself as a beta for so long… forgotten what it was like to be an omega in public again.

I hate this.

A hand rested on his shoulder. Mike. The alpha squeezed it a little before pulling him closer.

Levi felt a twinge of guilt knowing that he was going to be killing his friend soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Throughout Mike’s life, he’s never really taken notice of how Omegan were treated. Told all through his childhood by his Daddy that beta were below alpha and omega were below beta and that was that.

He’d accepted this. Getting the long end of the stick was a good deal for him.

His Papa was a small omega too. Maybe a little taller than Levi. He blessed Mike’s Daddy with four alpha children, Mike being the youngest. Looking back, the alpha knew he had a great childhood. Daddy gave him all the attention in the world and Papa adored him and his siblings. The four kids lived on a farm and were spoiled rotten. Sweets and pets and toys were given to them often.

Mike loved his family and everything about it.

Except one thing.

Daddy always beat Papa.

Many days Mike would come home and Papa would have a new black eye or be limping around the house trying to get it clean. Other times, Daddy would do it right in front them. When Papa cried, Daddy would simply tell the kids,

“Omegas cry. I ain’t even hit him that hard. They cry and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Papa wasn’t supposed to eat at the dinner table. Instead, he knelt at Daddy’s feet. Holding the wine and ready to pour more if his alpha asked. Head down. Quiet while the rest of the family talked about their days.

Night was worse. He’d hear his parents’ conversation through the paper thin walls.

“Please, alpha, I don’t want to tonight.”

“Yes you do. I can see how much you want it. Don’t worry, I’ll make you feel good.”

When Mike was a child, that was everyone’s normal. All his fiends who had an omega parent said that when their papas or mamas did something wrong, they were punished. It was society’s simple law.

Now, the thought of this law made Mike sick.

Levi picked a few guards, going up to the cash register and placing them in the beta woman’s hand, she turned and looked at Mike.

“Is this ok with you, sir?”

Anger seeped into Mike’s blood.

“If he wants to buy them, I have no right to stop him.”

He could see the woman was a little surprised but the beta rang them up anyway.

Upon arriving back, Levi quickly slipped on his new guard, walking past Mike without looking at him.

“Fuck you for being a pain in my ass today.”

Mike snorted, rolling his eyes, the alpha walked in the opposite direction.

“Thanks. For saying that back there.”

The alpha stopped to look at the secret omega. Levi had already disappeared behind the corner.

The newbies’ first expedition was in a week.

Mike had no doubt in his mind that the omega was going to make it back alive.

Chapter Text

It’s been several months since the trio joined the Survey Corpse.

A week since Hange and Mike found out about Levi.

A few hours since the omega told his family that he’d be going in this expedition alone.

Now, he stared up at the clouds. Tomorrow was the expedition.

The door opened. “Bro.”

“Levi. Let’s talk about this. I can’t agree with you going alone. That’s still just as dangerous for you!”

“You said that when we first step outside, it’ll be the three of us all at once. Have you forgotten?”

“It’s the same.”

“…”

“…”

“When you can’t see the moon or stars, the sky up here is just the same as the sky down there.”

“The color of the sky, sure. But…”

“But it’s different!”

Levi turned. His sister desperately stared back at him. Needing him to believe in her.

“We know that there’s no ceiling! It’s completely different!”

“That’s right. The sky is endless. It may be just as dark, but it’s far different from the underground.”

“Look!”

Turning back to the clouds, Levi saw the moon coming out, as Isabel and Furlan sat next to him.

“There’s a difference, isn’t there?”

“Yeah.” Levi turned to Furlan on the other side of him. “We’re not underground.”

The two betas looked back up at the sky in unison. Levi followed suit.

“Levi, believe in us.” The omega looked up again. The stars had joined the moon in lighting up the dark sky. They were beautiful and Levi briefly wondered if mama could see them. If she could still see him.

“Alright.” He smiled. “I’ll believe in you.”

“Yay! Bro sure is a stubborn one, ain’t he?” The two betas laughed and Levi listened to the sweet sound of their voices. His family. They’d stay up here and live together.

Always.

Levi didn’t regret this decision.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“Not bad at all.” The air was cleaner out here. Better than the surface and especially better than the underground.

He stayed by his family’s side as they bickered and as another scout told them to shut up. When a Titan was spotted, Levi had to say he was a little surprised. The omega knew they were like big humans, but there was something off with their faces and body proportions. Hideous.

“That’s… a Titan?” Furlan asked, also shocked.

“Prepare for combat!”

As two titans gained on Isabel and Furlan, Levi turned around to take care of them, the two betas following close behind and ignoring the orders of their squad leader.

Levi killed the first Titan, wrapping his cord around its big neck to stay near the nape. He cut the weak spot and watched as Furlan and Isabel took down the second Titan.

“We did it, Bro! We did it!”

“Yeah… you guys did well.” He was proud of them. He’s always been proud of them and he made a small promise to show them that more once they made it back inside the walls.

Erwin came over and ruined the mood when he informed the new trio about how much gas they had wasted.

“You’re expecting me to take priority of my equipment over the lives of my friends?”

“You’re performing a lot of unnecessary movements. Are you beginning to have doubts?”

“Tch.” I’m going to kill the rat bastard.

“If you are, that’ll be the death of you very soon.

Am I beginning to have doubts? No. I trust my family. I believe in them. Erwin has no idea what he’s talking about.

Still, though, Levi couldn’t shake the icky feeling in his stomach.

It started raining, drenching the earth in water and fog.

“This is our chance. We’ll use this rain as cover and get close to Erwin.”

The tree said their words of encouragement to each other before the secret omega ran ahead.

He turned to look at them one last time before going to kill the blonde.

Tomorrow. We’ll have surface citizenship. Tomorrow will be a good day. If we can pull this off, we can live up here in the sun. We’ll be privileged. Our families will be privileged.

He saw Isabel waving him goodbye. Mouthing something.

Tomorrow this will all be over.

He ran his horse ahead.

Just you wait, Erwin Smith. I’ll kill you with these two hands!

He continued running, coming to a steep drop and looking over.

Bodies.

Blood.

Limbs.

Heads.

“What the hell… happened here?” A black flare shot to his right.

A Titan? An abnormal? We… passed each other… how?

Levi followed the footprints, trying hard not to dwell too much on the scattered limbs of the fallen soldiers, however, his horse fell over when it tripped on a body.

Bodies.

Blood.

Limbs.

Heads.   

Isabel. Staring into nothing. A horrific look on her face.

Where’s Furlan? Please God, don’t take Furlan too.

The Titan spit the male beta out of its mouth.

His family.

His world.

Levi saw red. Slicing up the Titan ten times over. He wanted it to feel pain. He wanted it to suffer for what it did to his family. His friends. To him. It took everything away. They had a plan. A dream. Tomorrow. They were going to be free tomorrow. This wasn’t happening. It wasn’t happening. This was a dream. A bad dream and nothing more and when he woke up, he’d be back in the barracks. And no matter how much his siblings pleaded, he wouldn’t let them come. He’d break their legs if he had to.

This isn’t happening.

This isn’t how it’s supposed to end.

No.

No!

No!

No!

Incredible power surged through Levi. Unlike anything he’d ever felt. He screamed, slicing the Titan into pieces.

This was pain.

Not the rape in the warehouse.

Not the beating from Kenny.

Not anything he’s ever felt.

This.

He cut the nape, falling back to the ground, he stood by Isabel’s head. He didn’t cry. He couldn’t. He felt numb. Tired.

Erwin’s squad rode up.

Where the hell were they when my family was being eaten alive? Isabel, she was just a little girl. She was is only fifteen. Furlan… he’d wanted to come up here more than anything. To live his dream.

Where the hell was I when my family was being eaten alive?

Useless.

Worthless.

Dog .

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

They all stayed by the Titan for about half an hour. Counting the bodies.

“So you’re the only survivor. How pathetic.”

This enraged Levi. His family was not pathetic. This alpha was.

He drew his blade and swung it at Smith, who only caught it with his bare hand, making it bleed.

“I’m going to… kill you! That’s why I’m here!”