"Then why are you laughing?"
"No, it's just that I'm thinking..., you're my childhood friend, an omega, but you don't have any cute side—, not at all. Isn't it that in romance novels alpha and omega childhood friends would end up together and live happily ever after, but look at you, my childhood omega friend..."
Looking at Merlyn who stared at him, scanning his body from top to bottom, Adam grunted in annoyance, he hit the table again, the bottle on it almost fell to the ground but luckily it was empty. "Shut up you perverted alpha who has a fetish for malnourished looking omega!"
"Hey!"
There was an awkward silence after that for a few moments, Merlyn gulped down his drink, Adam lost in his own thoughts. Merlyn sighed, he felt he had to defend himself from this huge accusation. "Who said I like malnourished looking omega? Are you.. are you dumb?"
"Hah?" Adam gave him a stern look, he was remembering something that had happened in the past, then finally opened his mouth. "You said it yourself."
"When?"
"You said, and I quote, 'I like it when omegas lean on me, I like it when they look weak and need to be protected, an omega who will call my name whenever s/he needs help. Small omega who's warm and huggable.' — fuck I almost vomit repeating your words."
"I didn't say malnourished!"
"Then what's the difference?! you want someone who's weak and small, bastard!"
"Of course it's different! There's no way I will let my partner be malnourished!"
The sound of the bar door being opened silenced both of them, the sun was already setting, so it was only natural that the bar would be full of other knights looking for some time to relax.
Merlyn just noticed that Adam was ordering another drink, Adam did not usually drink that much. So maybe something was weighing heavily on his mind, or maybe it was because the day he went to Barlow was approaching, however Merlyn felt like that was not all this hot-tempered man had in mind.
"Come on, just say it." Merlyn reopened the conversation. Adam looked at him sullenly, like 'what do you want me to say?' but Adam still closed his lips.
"... It's nothing," He mumbled quietly, but Merlyn did not miss the way his face turned red at the moment he answered, Merlyn became more and more curious, excitedly asking him again and again like a child bothering his brother, but Adam repeatedly refused, persistently shutting his mouth.
After guessing around, at the time Merlyn popped out the name. "Is this about Prince Jacob." Instantly Adam's face was getting redder to his ears, he did not answer verbally but his body seemed to answer Merlyn's question.
"Are you for real? Is he that handsome to the point that an omega like you blushes like this."
"Shut up or I'll break your nose."
Not my nose please, Adam's reaction was very interesting, it was the first time in Merlyn's life to see his friend blush like this, he shuddered slightly, the friend in front of him looked not like someone he usually knew. Adam was an omega who was never swayed by the seductions of alphas, who even looked at alphas with contempt— out of nowhere being fascinated by prince Jacob. Rumors had it that prince Jacob was indeed very handsome man, to the point that many people said; You won't be able to forget his face even if you look at him for a split second.
"Do you like him?"
"Huh?" Hearing that question Adam finally glared at him like he was about to punch him in the face, "Me? liking an alpha? Don't be ridiculous."
"Ouch, as an alpha I feel a bit offended."
Merlyn laughed, well maybe Adam has a bit of a cute side. Sometimes he thought Adam would never be interested in anyone. He was a bit relieved to know his friend was still a normal person.
The door opened again, but now a figure stepped closer to their table. A man with a cold gaze but a stiff smile on his lips, stared at Adam. Merlyn knew who this man was, assistant commander, Adam's assistant. He did not really understand the man who seemed to be always smiling, but his smile could not be called a smile at all, to be honest, this man's aura was a bit creepy.
In the brief moment his eyes met Merlyn's the smile on his lips vanished, he then glanced at Adam again who was now playing with an empty bottle. "Adam, have you prepared all your needs? You will leave in two days, I will help you."
Oh wow, Merlyn was not the type of person who demanded to be respected by others with lower rank, he did not even like being called by honorifics, but he was the alpha commander of the left wing. The fact that Adam's assistant always ignored him did not just happen once or twice, whenever Merlyn was near Adam, this man always had an unpleasant face.
"Oh, who's this coming! Adam's assistant! Little Angelo."
The man gave him a quick glance, his eyes rolled in disgust. He quickly drew closer to Adam again and repeated his question, ignoring Merlyn who was smiling brightly and trying to be friendly.
The man's name was Angelo, somehow the name suited his small and pretty face. If he had not been acting arrogantly like that, Merlyn would probably have considered him as his type. That pretty face was a scam.
"I said.. don't call me with that name."
Angelo turned around gritting his teeth, giving him a death glare. Adam was already standing in front of the exit and Merlyn blinked at the man with crimson hair and green eyes, natural curled eyelashes on them that made his face look like a doll. If only he was not aggressive maybe more people could appreciate his beauty.
Adam and Angelo walked out of the bar together. In two days Adam would go to Barlow, which meant in two days the position of right wing knight commander would be vacant. Then—
"Angelo will fill in as a commander... but he's small and short."
At his own muttering, Merlyn laughed.
"No, no, no. we're talking about someone who passed the physical test with a perfect score and passed the archery test with a perfect score as well."
He ordered another drink, drinking alone without bullying Adam was a bit boring, he missed his childhood friend even before he left to Barlow.
*
Grumbling through the long halls, Angelo who walked next to Adam, looked questioningly into his face but he remained silent. Only hearing the occasional grunts of Adam cursing harshly, and nodding a little.
He did not fully know what happened when Prince Jacob visited Grithda, but he knew that Adam was asked to become the representative of the omega knight from Grithda.
As a symbol of Grithda's alliance agreement with Barlow.
"Angelo what did doctor Leika say?"
"She said she made you a special suppressant for your condition before you go to Barlow."
Adam never showed it but his face was clearly anxious about what his future would hold. Angelo tried to smile at Adam but Adam clicked his tongue. "You don't need to help me pack my things. You'll be busier than me after this, Angelo."
At that implication Angelo raised an eyebrow. His face was then expressionless again.
"You don't need to follow me, I'll go to doctor Leika myself to get my medicine, I also want to talk to her, privately."
He stomped his feet, leaving Angelo standing alone in the empty royal hall. "And oh—" he stopped for a moment and looked back at Angelo, "Try to get along with Merlyn, he's a pervert but he's not a bad person. He will be your partner after all, if you become the commander of right wing."
Angelo's face scrunched up in disgust.
—
Adam quickly opened the door to Leika's doctor room, the woman pouted after seeing who had come, a medium-sized black bag was on the white table.
He went inside, sat down in one of the empty chairs and folded his arms across his chest. "So about my condition .."
"I checked your fluid, so that time, it was just a heat flash."
Adam's face was red, but he tried to look as calm as possible. Heat flash, what the fuck, he was not a teenager anymore.
Doctor Leika opened one of the drawers, took some papers from inside, she reread them then put the papers on the table. She pointed at them, "Read that later."
Adam nodded in understanding, he also looked at the black bag, Doctor Leika who was aware of that finally took the bag and placed it near Adam. "Yep! you're right, this one is for you. Inside is lube, dildo, and medicines, complete with how to use it—"
Adam straightened his body, snatched the bag quickly ignoring doctor Leika's explanation, his face heated up, this was normal for omega but still, he felt embarrassed.
"Adam!" doctor Leika called, Adam's hand which was trying to pull on the doorknob stopped.
Seeing doctor Leika's hand holding the sheets of paper. Adam came back inside, snatched the paper from her, and stuffed it all grudgingly into his bag.
Unfortunately, as an omega he needed this, he did not know what life was like for the omegas in Barlow, and perhaps he would ask Harris all that later. Thinking about it made his stomach a little queasy, being in a new environment sounded like shit, not to mention Barlow was an unsafe environment for omega. He did not like this. No way.