Work Text:
It happened again. It was the third time this week, and it would surely continue to happen.
A sleazy alpha was sitting at their booth, crowning into Charlie’s space. It was a daily occurrence for the two omegas, even though they sported each other’s mating bites in a visible spot. Due to the nature of their sub gender, the alphas rarely registered the fact that they were off-limits. If they ever displayed affection for each other, it was written off as a cute friendly gesture. If they kissed in public, Alphas would gawk, as if the two omegas were putting on a show for them. Hooting and hollering, name calling. As if an omega automatically belonged to alphas, as if they were mere toys used to please the other subgender.
And in their usual bar, it happened again. The team had decided to meet at their hangout post after a successful race, and for once, the couple were there before anyone else. Even though Babe and Charlie had been joined at the hips since they walked into the establishment, practically unable to keep their hands off each other, Alphas kept coming over in a sad attempt to flirt. And this one seemed more insistent than the others.
Babe had only been away for a few minutes to get him and his boyfriend some fresh drinks. Along the way, alphas of all genders had tried to get his attention, only backing off when they got a sneer in response. There were still some who tried to flirt, but they were quickly disheartened by a glare. Although he was beautiful and a desirable omega, he also wasn’t the textbook one. His rude behaviour usually steered them away. Babe had been described as ruthless and not submissive enough, as he was not beyond stepping on others to get what he wanted. It was characteristics he needed to perform in an alpha-dominated field and to be the best of them all. Babe was everything alphas despised in omegas. He didn’t let them take care of him or protect him. Not when Babe could do that all by himself 一 and when he couldn’t, Charlie was right there by his side.
When he reached the bar, Babe signalled for the bartender. Since his team had become such frequent customers, it had resulted in them having a running tab. It also helped that they used their winning earnings to tip well, and thus the bar provided their service hastily.
With the drinks in his hands, Babe returned to the table and felt oddly happy. So far, it had been a good night. The race had been won easily, and Charlie had scented him in the back beforehand. They had basked in each other’s presence, scenting along each other’s pulse points to stake claim of the other. It was a simple way for Babe to calm down while racing, taking in Charlie’s faint scent in the otherwise so overwhelming car. The vehicle spewed scents left, right and centre, dominating his heightened smell. But then he could smell Charlie, and everything would feel more alright.
However, as usual, something would ruin Babe’s night. This time it was when he saw an ugly sight at the table. Charlie looked mildly annoyed with an older man beside him, who was breathing into his ear. He knew his boyfriend could fend for himself, and often did so. But the table they had chosen was a corner booth, and the stranger was cornering his mate against the wall.
With quick steps, Babe walked towards them, but the conversation he heard only made him angrier.
“What do you say, little omega? Isn’t it time to head back to my place?” the man said, his fingers getting dangerously close to Charle’s arm before Babe ripped it away. “What the fu-”
Babe sneered at the stranger, rage surging in his eyes. The stranger was yanked up from the booth, stumbling until he stood before Babe. Since the omega was taller than him, the man tried to size him up, broadening his shoulders.
“Get the fuck away from my mate, before I break your hands,” Babe growled out, pulling the man close by the front of his shirt.
It was already bad enough that they had barely been there half an hour, but the men were growing more bold. As if the mating mark on their necks meant nothing. As if it was simply a joke, a cute thing between friends. How loud were they forced to scream that they were mates before someone listened to them?
The alpha looked scared for a second, until he sniffed the air. Babe’s scent of gasoline and dark chocolate might have thrown him off for a second, but the undoubted sweetness was still present underneath it. It gave away his subgender quite easily. The alpha relaxed and leaned in close to sniff him again.
It was disgusting, seeing his twisted face think it was okay to do something so intimate.
“Oh, why didn’t you say you wanted to join us?” The alpha purred, a smirk growing on his face. “I can take care of both you and your friend.”
Before the man could register what had happened, Babe threw the first punch. It collided with the man’s jaw and pushed his head to the side. The only reason the alpha hadn’t dropped to the ground was because Babe still held on to his shirt, carrying his body weight. When he threw the second punch, a sickening sound filled the air. Babe was almost sure he had broken it when he heard a loud crack. With that, Babe released the man and let his body fall to the floor.
For a second, the bar stilled, before the alpha pheromones in the bar heightened. They had all already assumed that the stranger had offended or assaulted the meek omegas, in some shape or form.
In a flash, the man had been dragged out of the bar. All that was left was a pissed-off Babe, and an amused Charlie, as multiple people came over to soothe the seething omega. It was only when he had yelled for them to leave them alone that he could seek solace in his mate.
Babe sank down into the booth and gave his mate a quick once over to make sure Charlie was fine. Once he decided everything seemed alright, Babe leaned his head against the other’s shoulder.
“Fucking beasts,” Babe gritted his teeth. “I am so tired of this. We aren’t weak or in need of saving. I literally just punched him so hard that his jaw cracked! And that fucking creep knew you were mated, I swear of it.”
Suddenly, his boyfriend wrapped his hands around Babe’s wrist and nosed along his pulse point. A sweet smell of new books and rain spread around him, and Babe felt like he could finally breathe again. He hadn’t even realised how affected he had been by all the scents in the bar, but Charlie seemed to have known by his mood. He was far more resistant to an alpha’s pheromones, and the room was jampacked with alpha scents assaulting them from every angle.
“P’Babe, calm down,” Charlie huffed out a laugh, seeing his boyfriend’s hunched-up shoulders drop just from being enveloped by his scent.
Babe pulled the short man closer and rubbed his nose along his neck, scenting it to make sure he was the only one whose scent clung to the omega’s skin. He peppered a few kisses on the neck too, before he moved on to Charlie’s wrists. As Babe finished, he extended his neck towards his boyfriend, exposing his scent gland. A smile spread across Charlie’s face before he scented the omega back.
“I’m just so done with this,” Babe said, exhaustion clear in his voice. “What do I need to do to make sure everyone knows you’re only mine?”
Charlie pulled back and settled his hand against Babe’s cheek.
“Well, for starters, you could kiss me.” Charlie’s fingers swiped over Babe’s bottom lip. His eyes flickered down to the full lips before he met Babe’s dark gaze.
Babe’s eyebrows rose at the request.
“You know that doesn’t work. People see it as a show. They might stare.”
“Yeah, but I like kissing you,” Charlie pressed a quick kiss to Babe’s lips and smiled when the omega looked caught off guard. “And I don’t care what people around us think. You’re my mate, and that’s what matters. I will deal with a hundred idiots with questions or assumptions as long as I get to be with you.”
Babe hummed at the words, preening at being called Charlie’s mate. He belonged to Charlie, and Charlie belonged to him. It was a delightful feeling and made him all the more aware of the mating bite on his neck, which he proudly displayed.
In response, Babe settled on closing the gap between them and pushed their lips together. They had left their chaste kisses behind a long time ago, and now they were only filled with passion. Even if someone decided to watch, it didn’t matter as long as they were together, wrapped up in each other’s arms.
Charlie’s lips were soft against his own, moving feverishly. Their bodies pressed close to each other, flush against the wall of the booth. Warmth blossomed in Babe’s chest as Charlie’s hands moved against his skin, gripping him tightly by the neck to bring him impossibly close until they breathed the same air. His mate liked to nip against his bottom lip, catching Babe off guard. Babe’s lips parted slightly, and Charlie used it as an opportunity to deepen the kiss.
When the rest of the team finally came, they found Babe straddling Charlie’s lap. As it often was, Charlie’s hand was tangled in the omega’s hair, and his other hand was settled on his waist. It was a usual sight for them, no matter where they were the two omegas were attached to each other. So the team settled on ordering drinks first, in hopes the mated couple would have separated to breathe some air once they returned.