Two sparkling eyes, the eyes of a child, stared filled with wonder and amazement.
She was graceful and elegant. She moved about on the tips of her toes, the soles of the ballet shoes worn but she was like a delicate fairy. Her hair glistened like starlight and was kept neatly atop her head and her eyes reflected her child's, like two emeralds. Her feet moved with precision across the floor as she twirled about coming to stop in front of the enraptured child.
The child sat up excitedly.
"Is it my turn Maman, can I try?" The little one wore a pink leotard with white tights underneath.
"Of course, my little Alpha." She picked them up off the floor, their body small and light like a four-year-old would be.
She warmed them with a hug and kissed soft hair before setting them back on the ground. Her little one was still young but yearned to be taught to dance just like their mother.
The two danced together, clumsy feet following well-trained ones to the soft orchestrated music within the dance studio. She was graceful like a swan and her child was like a little cygnet chasing after their mother.
It wasn't long until the two were interrupted by the ornate wooden doors opening.
In walked a brunette-haired Beta male, young like the woman, and with him his child of the same appearance dressed in tights and a leotard as well, but a few years older.
"Tata! Tiza! Papa said to ask you if we can come over for dinner tonight, can we please?"
The boy ran over to her and hugged her tightly around the waist. She wore a complicated expression and her eyes shifted to the man still in the doorway. A single parent with their hands full, just like her, although his brother was the reason why she was raising her child alone.
A delicate hand patted the boy attached to her.
"That would be the third time this week."
"Sean says your food is better than mine," The man sauntered in, he was clean-shaven and his short chocolate locks weren't a hair out of place, "I hate to intrude Melody but you know how picky he is."
"Sean! Sean! Look what Maman taught me!" Tiza copies what they had seen their mother do before the two were interrupted. They spun around and bounced about the floor, the only correct part of the dance sequence was when they returned to first position.
"Tiza you have to do it like this!" Sean repeated what the young child tried to do but with a little more poise.
"She's too young to do something that advanced correctly, don't push her." Melody looked at her child and reassured them that what they did before was perfect.
"Tata, why do you keep calling Tiza a girl before you even know if they're an Alpha yet? My teacher says you're supposed to use 'they or them' for Alomegas. It's polite."
She laughed at the mild scolding from her nephew.
"It's because Tiza will be an Alpha. If you say something enough it'll come true. Besides, Omega males are very rare."
Alpha females and Omega males were impossible to tell apart from birth. Both had dual genitalia and reproductive systems, but as they matured one genitalia would become more prominent. Alphas by nature were breeders and Omegas could give birth, so the way their bodies matured would reflect this. These babies are dubbed Alomegas until they began to mature around the ages eleven to thirteen.
Melody scooped up Tiza into her arms again.
"Tiza's going to be the most beautiful and elegant Alpha. She's going to be a prima ballerina, right my little Alpha?" Her lips pecked Tiza's nose and they smiled.
Melody named Tiza after her idol, Tiza Rees, a world-renowned prima ballerina, and Alpha. She was positive that her child would have the same success and commanding prowess as her. Melody herself was a prima ballerina for some time but ultimately retired from the theater after having Tiza. Her company adored her and she was widely popular as far as Beta ballerinas go, her face was easily recognizable around the European dance scene.
For being so young and talented some admonished her for foregoing her career to have a child, but the child was the last thing her husband gave her before he left. Her love for him transcended the betrayal he gave her in return. So she cared for her child, seeing a little bit of her lost love in them. She now worked as a ballet instructor for the company that adored her so much that they couldn't let her go, hiring her in hopes her talent would rub off on the hopeful pupils she taught.
Her most devoted fan had been her child. Tiza loved to watch Melody's ballet recitals, bouncing excitedly in front of the television whenever she would put the DVDs in. Usually, children wanted to watch silly tv shows filled with crazy characters and colors but not Tiza. This drive for ballet gave Melody hope for Tiza's future. She had given up her career to be with her child, but maybe one-day Tiza would take their place in the limelight and do what she couldn't; have the long fulfilling career she had wanted.
The little Alomega nuzzled into their mother's neck feeling safe and at home. Every waking moment was filled with her. Her beauty, her voice, everything about her was the center of who Tiza was as a person, they truly idolized her. Truly loved her more than anything.
A year later and that love would only grow stronger but only due to being painfully ripped apart from each other. Tiza, being so young, couldn't understand anything. Why did Maman have to be in this place? Why did she have to stay in that pretty box in the ground? If those men kept putting dirt on the box they were going to get the dress she wore dirty!
The little Alomega kept screaming at them to stop, that they were going to get her dirty and she was too pretty to be dirty. Sean held onto Tiza in a vice grip, worried that the other would run over and fall in the deep hole by accident. The Beta's consoling words didn't reach Tiza, but in reality, they were empty to him as well. His Tata was the closest thing to a mother that Sean had and she was his idol as well. She was the dancer he wanted to be when he grew up, he in turn felt like a hole had ripped through his chest seeing her being lowered into the ground.
Behind them stood Sean's father. His eyes glazed over and distant, he paid no mind to the children. He didn't care about them, the only thing he cared about was now six feet under him.
Tiza lost a loving mother and with no other family besides a deadbeat father that walked out on them the day Tiza was born, they went to live with their uncle and cousin.
As children tend to do, Tiza remembered nothing but happy memories about their mother. Glimpses of her played out in their dreams often after her death. Tiza would see her dancing on stage, her outfits sparkling like her hair under the stage lights. They would see her smile while she watched Tiza dance and hear her laughter when they were at home playing games.
Tiza saw her get stabbed.
They heard the words, 'This child is the reason you quit the ballet? Then I'll get rid of them so you can come back!' 'I'm your biggest fan, I love you!'.
Tiza saw the tears roll down her cheeks as she held onto her child for dear life and could feel the warmth of her blood seep into their clothes. Tiza could hear the blade of the knife clatter onto the cobblestone and footsteps running away, but the words 'my little Alpha', barely a whisper, were louder.
............
Tiza woke up to warm tears trickling down his face. He rubbed at his eyes in a sleep-induced frustration. How could he still be so upset about something that happened so long ago; about someone he spent so little time with? He felt weak and like a failure to her. He wasn't that beautiful and elegant Alpha his mother wanted him to be or a prima ballerina to a big dance company, but this mess of an Omega instead.
'What high expectations to put on a child', he thought morosely.
It had been a while since he thought about her; since he saw her angelic face in his dreams. The Omega drifted back to sleep thinking that a lot of things from his past were rearing their way back into his head. After spending years locking things behind doors in his mind, the appearance of a single person could start to pick at the locks he so carefully put in place. He spent so long separating himself from Alphas but now that one was in his life again his mind decided it was time to relive this trauma that plagued him.
He blamed Aosh. He blamed him because he was an Alpha, he was what Tiza was supposed to be, but deep down he knew it was his own weakness that kept letting all these skeletons out of his mental closet. The Omega tossed and turned all night unable to sleep, the weight of the past, and seeing the Alpha later that day keeping sleep at bay.
..............
Donovans' was a small diner that, although screamed 'American golden age' from the outside, had been remodeled from the inside to give the whole restaurant a modern twist. Everything was sleek with accents of black, red, and chrome everywhere. Most of the staff were college kids so the atmosphere was lax and carefree. The fare was classic American and they claimed to have one of the best burgers in town, not that Tiza would know. He only picked this place because it was close to where he lived.
It was eleven fifty and Tiza had just rounded the corner where Lake Street and Gatlin Avenue intersected. He walked alongside the building to get to the front entrance, only to catch a familiar smile in the window next to him.
Aosh smiled at him from where he sat at a booth, giving a small wave of his hand. Tiza really shouldn't be surprised he was already there, it seemed like the other was a stickler for being on time. The smile wasn't returned but he gave a curt nod of his head and made his way into the diner.
Tiza slid onto the squeaky pleather of the booth and gave the waitress his drink order when she came up right after him. She came back with water and the milkshake Aosh had ordered before Tiza arrived. Leaving them with time to look at their menus she left the two alone.
"I hope you weren't waiting long."Tiza didn't really care if he was but thought it would be courteous to say it anyway.
"Nah, just a few minutes." Aosh grinned behind his straw, then took a sip.
"Mmn, well get whatever you want. It's on me," he said, flipping through the menu.
"What?"
"I'll buy you lunch and we'll call it even. No more buying my coffee and groceries."
Tiza sipped his water as well, giving the other a critical eye from across the table. As much as he liked not having to pay for things, Aosh was coming dangerously close to sugar daddy territory. Tiza was not in the market for a mate, let alone a sugar daddy.
Aosh sucked at his straw thoughtfully for a moment. It wasn't exactly even, considering how much he'd spent pursuing Tiza, but he wasn't about to push his luck. Although he was a little putout. Did the Omega also mean he couldn't come to the coffee shop anymore?
"Are you banning me from the coffee shop? That's a little much don't you think?" he joked. Tiza huffed out a dry laugh.
"I'm not going to tell you where you can or can't go, I'm not your parents. Just stop buying me shit."
The waitress came up again ready to take their orders.
"What can I get for you, hun?" she asked, laying a manicured hand on Aosh's shoulder. Aosh slowly shrugged off the hand while he turned the menu's page, and then looked at her with a smile.
"Can I get the double cheeseburger, no tomato, and extra crispy fries."
"Sure, sure no problem," her gaze became less soft turning to the Omega, "And you?"
Tiza tried not to glare at her, he really did, he's not sure it came across that way though.
"I'll just have a B.L.T, no mayonnaise, on whole wheat."
"Ok boys, it'll be out in a few." She said tapping her pen on her notepad and turning on her heels headed towards the kitchen.
There was an awkward silence between the two, neither man knowing where to continue the conversation they had before.
Tiza stirred the ice in his glass around with the straw.
"So did you find a new gym, or are you just not going anymore because of me?" He said bluntly.
"No, uh, I just needed a break from weight lifting for a bit. I've been running, trying to build up strength in my legs." Aosh scratches his head, avoiding eye contact from the other who was currently eyeing him.
"Mmn. So I assume whenever you decide to come back you're going to take your ballet exam?"
Aosh was surprised. Tiza was willing to teach him again?
He grinned, "You think I can still do it? I have been out of practice for about a month. When you brought it up I think all my joints started hurting."
"Do you know who taught you? Don't insult my teaching skills so easily, if you fail it's because you're built like a tank." Tiza huffed.
"Sorry, sorry. Just let me know when I can bother you to take it."
The waitress arrived with their orders, setting them down in front of the men.
"Let me know if I can get you anything else, ok?" She bats her long eyelashes at Aosh, but the only one to notice is the Omega sitting across from him. Aosh digs into his food not giving her second notice.
Tiza scrutinizes his food and notices she got his order wrong.
Grabbing the wrapped set of utensils next to him he arduously scrapes away at the offensive condiment that was left on by 'accident'.
"So, I have some questions." He wipes the knife on the side of the plate and sets it aside.
"You said you wanted to continue our 'game' right? I'm all ears."
Aosh forcefully pushed down how excited he was that Tiza was interested in knowing more about him, little did he know he hasn't stopped smiling since he laid eyes on the Omega from the other side of the window.
"How long have you lived here?"
"Most of my life, I grew up in the suburbs."
Tiza took a bite out of his sandwich.
"Mmn. Any siblings?"
"Only child."
"Are you in school?"
"Yea I go to the college not too far from here like everyone else in this town. Thinking about changing my major to agricultural science and my minor to landscape architecture though, my parents need help with the family business." the Alpha says between bites.
"Family business?"
"My family owns the largest landscaping business in the area. My Pops took over when my grandmother died years ago."
It made sense, Tiza thought. Aosh worked at a farmers market and was getting a degree in agriculture in hopes to help his family business. It was far from what Tiza expected going off how the other looked. First impressions were everything as they say, and Tiza's first impression of Aosh was: Alpha thug who probably has a total of three brain cells. It sounded like he had his shit together though, unlike Tiza.
"I'm sorry." He said, taking another bite.
"It's ok."
Aosh picks up his milkshake and takes another drink and Tiza catches a glimpse of his name etched on his forearm. The food in his mouth turns sour, and he swallows it before he has the chance to spit it back up on the plate. Suddenly he's not hungry anymore, the rest of his sandwich looks unappetizing and wrong.
Taking a big swig of water, Tiza wondered why being in such close proximity to Aosh the last couple months hadn't revealed that mate mark sooner; and why he was having such a violent reaction every time he saw it. Well, he knew why, he just didn't know why he was so weak and couldn't get a grip on these emotions. He felt like his body was betraying him.
"Did you hear me?"
"Huh?" Tiza hadn't realized the Alpha was talking.
"I said do you have any plans to go to school or are you going to keep teaching ballet long term?"
Aosh had long finished his burger and picked at the scraps left on his plate. Looking at him, Tiza's eyes were drawn to that forearm like a magnet. Even if he couldn't see it anymore he knew it was there.
"I..uh. I don't have the money to go to school right now."
He forced his eyes to look someplace else, anyplace else lest he throws up all over the table. His eyes landed on that flirt of a waitress approaching their booth once more.
"Here's the check," she hands the check to Aosh, "Is there anything else you need from me?"
"Yea, can we get him a to-go bo-"
"I'm fine," Tiza grumbled out and snatched the check from the Alpha's hand.
He only grew more annoyed when he looked at the check. If he didn't have to take this stupid piece of paper up to the front to pay Tiza would've thrown it in the trash, that bitch had her phone number written on here!
Getting up, Tiza went to the front to pay. Seeing him get up in a huff Aosh promptly ignored the waitress and followed. The Omega looked angry and Aosh tentatively asked if he was alright.
Walking out of the diner Tiza chucked that piece of paper into the nearest trash can.
"I'm fine."
He still couldn't look at the Alpha, but his stomach ache was starting to subside. Tiza turned to walk down the street towards his place and gave a short goodbye. Aosh followed him down the street until he whirled around to ask him why he was following him.
"I, uh, can I walk you home? I mean it's on the way to my place, right?"
Tiza relented and let the other accompany him home, both silent on the way there.
Aosh didn't know why Tiza had gotten so angry and Tiza was too busy trying to compose himself to make idle conversation. Coming to a block before Tiza's street, the Omega came to a stop and looked back at the other following him.
He looked into Aosh's dark eyes, trying not to let his own drift back down to the source of his discomfort.
"We'll part ways here." Tiza didn't want to chance being seen with Aosh by his brother.
"Ok, um, thanks for lunch it was nice. We should do it again sometime." Aosh was probably pushing his luck with that last part, but he said it anyway.
"Mnm."
Aosh watched Tiza's back as he went down the street. Solemnly he thought that as far as first dates were concerned, this was probably the worst. But he remembered they were just friends, and that lunch wasn't a date. Somehow that didn't make him feel any better.