Chapter Text
Edward Teach had a habit of being early. From the time he'd been a pup, he’d learned that being early was the key to everything. When he’d been in school he learned that showing up before the rest of the class meant he got the first pick of free breakfast before it ran out. Showing up at class first meant he got the best seat. Getting home early meant he had time to hide before his father came home or find something to busy himself with. First to turn in homework allowed him to put his head down and sleep when he’d slept like shit the night before.
It served him well, too. Once he’d passed the bar he’d made a name for himself with that punctuality since as an omega he was frequently shuffled onto divorce or minor civil suits that omegas brought to the firm. The fact he arrived early to a meeting was what had scored him bonus points to an elderly widow omega who had recently lost her alpha. Anne Bonney was fucking insane, wealthy, and pissed off when her alpha son had tried to claim her fortune based on his standing as an alpha. The moment she’d shown up early and found Ed waiting already she had latched on and never looked back. Neither had he. It had been the start of his own practice, and a reputation.
So, on any given day or meeting, Ed tended to be at least ten minutes early. He was used to waiting around for people unless it was the other partner in his firm, Izzy, who suffered from the same perpetual early bird status. So, yeah, it wasn’t that unexpected that he was at a fancy fucking restaurant waiting for a meeting with a potential client nearly forty-five minutes early and had settled himself at the bar for a drink waiting for them to show up. That was the normal shit. And that was where normal fucking ended.
It started with a cute guy checking him out. Not a strange occurrence. Ed was dressed in a tailored black suit complete with a vest and had ended it with a twist of dark red silk tucked into one pocket to put out a pop of color. He knew it showed off his lean body, which got a few looks, but what was different was the fact the man was beaming at him. Ed wasn’t even sure he’d ever seen a fucking person beam before, but there was blondie with a smile that felt like Ed was staring into the full fucking force of the sun.
The man got partway across the restaurant when Ed became aware that two people were watching him from the other end of the bar. For a brief moment, Ed thought blondie was likely looking at friends waiting for him, but the guy didn’t look away from Ed. He was practically vibrating by the time he nearly bumped into a waiter to get around him to where Ed was sitting with his old-fashioned in hand. The smile went wider, showing the unmistakable sharp canines of an alpha.
Ah fuck. Ed braced himself for a pushy fucking idiot.
Ed knew what was coming. Probably some approach that would press the man in close, maybe a little growl that was supposed to be ‘seductive.’ Most alphas spotted a well dressed omega that gave off ‘independent’’ vibes and had a god damn power trip about putting them in their place. Ed had been dealing with that all his life, with most alphas trying to prove that they were the biggest baddest fucking person in the room. It was why he preferred dating other omegas, and really he wasn’t in the mood to start a meeting off with–
“Oh, gosh, you’re really so lovely. I’m sorry I’m a bit late, I promise I don’t normally forget time, but I couldn’t settle on an outfit. I know you said you loved flowers, though, so I tried to make sure I looked–” The alpha began talking as soon as he was within earshot, a nervous chatter that lacked the gravitas that most alphas displayed as he spread his arms as if in invitation for Ed to get a good look at his outfit.
And, yeah, fucking yum. It was pale purple with a tie done with silk embroidered lavender sprigs all over it offset with pops of blue-green needles. There was a deep purple silk square in one front pocket with what looked like real lavender pinned to it. Two little sprigs and a bit of baby’s breath right at the lapel. The suit itself was tailored impeccably to fit a broad chest and wide shoulders. And just, yeah, Ed swept his eyes over Blondie’s suit with appreciation he didn’t bother to hide.
A shame he wasn’t here for Ed.
“Hey, mate, s’alright, but–” He began before Stede continued on. He didn’t overrun Ed in a dominant way, but nervous as a pup at his first dance. It was, quite frankly, fucking adorable.
“I can see why you didn’t put your picture up, anyone who saw you wouldn’t leave you alone. And, oh, that’s probably too forward, I’m sorry! This is the first time I’ve tried a date, a bit nervous.” There was a self-deprecating smile. “Only, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Heatr is so limited–” The strange alpha continued and that’s when Ed saw the fuckers at the end of the bar.
They looked identical save that one balding and the other had long hair pulled back into a pony tail, but both were laughing to one another and whispering while their eyes were locked on Stede. Ed’s eyes narrowed as he saw the cruel glint in their eyes, the way one of the bastards took out a phone and aimed it towards them. Ed’s eyes narrowed immediately as he felt a curl of anger form in his chest before looking back at the alpha who was nervously fiddling with his suit like an overeager pup on his first date. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what had happened. Those fuckers had set him up.
“How’d you recognize me, hmm?” Ed asked with a warm smile, hoping to put the guy at ease. He would be damned if he let those assholes make him into some sort of fucking joke.
“Oh you’re um–” Stede gestured at the pocket square in Ed’s suit. “I was worried you might have left, but then I saw the red silk and realized I really had lucked out for my first date.”
“Leave a cute alpha like you?” Ed huffed out which earned an adorable flush of pink on Stede’s cheeks. “I’m Edward Teach, by the way.”
Please, please let them not have given a real fucking name. He thought while the bald one of the pair started to look sour as Ed leaned closer to Stede.
“Oh! Yes, Lucius told me I shouldn’t use my real name online.” Stede crinkled that cute nose up. “I’m uh, well, Stede Bonnet, obviously not The Gentleman Alpha, but I am a gentleman!”
And the absolute fucking maniac reached out, took Ed’s hand in his impossibly soft one, and lifted it up to brush a kiss on his knuckles. Ed, who had literally commanded entire courtrooms with a cold smile and unyielding voice, blushed so hard that he felt dizzy with it. Stede smelled of sharp bergamot and good brandy musk, just a bare hint that teased Ed’s senses. And it wasn’t a scenting, it was just a gentle touch that was the softest greeting imaginable.
Ed might have lingered on the sweetest fucking greeting he’d ever gotten longer, but he could see the two shits getting up. He set his glass down and stood up, grinning to find he was only a little taller than Stede. It didn’t seem to bother the alpha either, his hazel eyes crinkled up at the edges almost immediately.
“Well, I have a table waiting for us. Go on ahead and make sure no one snakes it out from under us?” Ed asked as he drew out his phone to waggle back and forth. “Just gotta text someone that you’re here and make a quick stop in the restroom.”
“Oh, yes, safety is important with online dating. I’ll go give the hostess your name while you check in.” Stede offered with a bright smile–and then his fucking ears popped out. Soft furry canid alpha ears just out there in front of God and everyone.
And not just the ears. He had his tail out, the soft wag of it swayed back and forth with barely constrained happiness. Ed blinked rapidly as Stede turned around so he got the full fucking effect of that particular extra. And, holy fucking shit, that fringed tail was cute against the pale purple pants.
It wasn’t like it was rare for someone to show their extra bits, but for alphas to do it when they weren’t using them like a threat display? It felt odd and kinda thrilling. Ed felt almost flustered by the casual reveal while unlocking his phone to message Izzy to handle the potential client. He ignored the string of curses before pocketing his phone and he set his sights on the other problem.
Stede was still chatting to the hostess when Ed casually walked around the bar towards the two fucking morons that were standing beside the bar arguing with one another. They were whispering in hushed voices as he acted as though he were about to go to the restroom.
“You told me this would work! We had the livestream going–”
“Don’t blame me, I don’t know who the fuck that was!”
“Baby Bonnet will blow it, we’ll stick around.”
“No, I don’t think you will.” Ed growled low in his throat as he paused behind them, startling the bald one into nearly slipping off his stool. “You’re gonna get up, get the fuck outta here, or I’m going to call the cops for stalking.”
The long haired one gave him a look, narrow-eyed and disdainful as he flared his nostrils. Ed knew they were going to try and dismiss him. He bared his own teeth in a smile before reaching into his jacket pocket to find one of his solid black business cards, flicking it out gracefully to offer them.
“I suggest you take the advice, mates.” He purred mockingly as the bald one took the card, glanced down and then froze as he picked out the elegant lettering. “Because I’ll be damned if you’re going to stick around for my date.”
Ed had to assume fuckers that smelled like old money would know his name. Fuck, he was in literal history books. Bonney vs Bonney hadn’t just been in the local courtroom, it had swept all the way to the Supreme Court in a landmark decision that had overturned states laws about omega property ownership. And from there he had specialized in handling cases that caught the news. Nonconsensual mating bites, suppressant denial, forced marriages, everything and anything that gave omegas a leg up.
The long haired one glanced at the card before his jaw flexed down angrily, but Ed swept by them. If they tried to follow he’d call the cops and happily sue the fuck out of them, take them for as much as he could on whatever charges he could make stick. But right now? Right now he wanted nothing more than to sit down with the intriguing alpha whose tail began to wag the moment he saw Ed approaching him. Fucking adorable.
The date was, without a doubt, the best thing that had ever happened in Ed’s life. It wasn’t just that Stede was adorably sweet and nervous, he was also intelligent and fascinating. He’d once been the CEO of some fancy fucking real estate firm until he’d tossed it all out the door to buy a high end clothing store after divorcing his wife and, briefly, fleeing to Barbados to live like a beach bum for a few months.
Normally, Ed went on dates that were two-parts awkward and one part waiting for the point he’d take the person to bed or escape out the back door. They’d never been easy. They’d certainly never involved a spirited debate on what shark was best or what type of toppings were acceptable on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (bananas and marshmallows, duh.) And they’d certainly never involved laughing so hard a waiter had to come over to see if Ed was okay.
And Stede wasn’t just interesting. He asked thoughtful questions, and engaged in conversations with Ed that were lively. They talked about Ed’s work, with Stede looking gleeful when Ed recounted some of his wins that had been especially clever. And, okay, yeah, Ed kinda picked out the best stories to impress Stede with. He felt like puffing himself up a bit, wanting to coax more smiles and laughter.
And Stede didn’t once comment that Ed had done well ‘for an omega.’
It was only when dessert came that Stede looked thoughtful, and a little pensive. It happened just after he’d glanced at his watch, flicking away some notifications, but then his scent had gone slightly bitter. When he looked up at Ed there was such a wistful look on his face that Ed damn near climbed the table to kiss it the fuck off his face.
“Thank you,” Stede said softly with that tight, sad smile. “I know you weren’t really my date, but thank you for sticking it out anyway. It was very kind of you.”
“Those fuckers message you?” Ed growled with a spark of rage. Oh, he was going to find out who they were and bury them.
“Yes, I–I should have known better, Chauncy and Nigel were far too excited about my first attempt to date.” Stede gave his head a shake. “I’ll still pay for the meal, it was lovely company, and I’m sorry you got saddled with me–”
“Saddled with you?” Ed startled. “Mate, this was the best fucking date of my life. Hands down. Yeah, I wasn’t who you thought I was, but if you think for an instant I was sitting here being some sorta martyr you got something else coming.”
“Oh.” Stede perked up hesitantly.
“Yeah, man, fuck, the last date I went on with an alpha, the fucker kissed me and then panicked, thinking I was going to sue him or some shit.” Stede gave such an outraged look that Ed grinned. “I enjoyed myself.”
“What sort of arsehole does that?” Stede muttered under his breath. “Anyone would be lucky to have you kiss them.”
“Yeah, well, people hear about Bonney vs Bonney and suddenly they’re scared I’m just out to fuck up an alpha’s life.” Ed shrugged before Stede’s eyes went a little wide. “Oh, shit, you didn’t know?”
“Gosh, no, I–I mean I know the case, obviously.” He gave his head a shake while Ed braced himself for the other shoe to fall. “Then I suppose, if you–I mean obviously you can say no, but maybe if you weren’t terribly busy, and if you weren’t totally bored or annoyed or–”
“I’d love to have a second date, mate.” Ed purred the words, throat vibrating with his pleasure before Stede’s ears appeared again, his tail wagging so hard he nearly nailed a waiter in the junk. Ed was enchanted.
So, yeah, the first date they’d ever had was a mistake. The second date wasn’t a mistake, or the third date. The fourth date had been less gentle kisses and conversation and more Ed’s body burning up like a fucking inferno. He’d shamelessly invited Stede to his house to watch a movie. They’d never turned on the TV since the second Stede had walked through the door Ed had him backed against the wall in a searing kiss that had turned into more. Ed had gone into work the next morning with donuts, a pleased smile and a smug little saunter that had made Izzy hide in his office all day.
From there it had blossomed so naturally that over six months later Ed couldn’t imagine a life that didn’t have the odd alpha in it. He lost count of the amount of dates they’d had, how many times they met up just to see each other. Ed began to count on the alpha in his life. What the fuck had he done before he got good morning texts? Or calls at lunch to remind him to eat between cases? Or flowers, oh god, the fucking flowers. Ed was bathed in them!
He was the happiest he’d ever been in his life. The boredom at work eventually faded into the background because every weekend he’d be out with Stede. Ed learned to take time for himself, and every time he did, he felt a little lighter for it. He learned how to laugh easily and enjoy things such as decadently soft robes to lounge in and fine pillows. He learned how good it felt to be greeted with a deep rumbling purr coupled with the sweet scent of bergamot and brandy musk.
Ed had never made it a habit to date alphas as a general rule. There was something about them that always felt like they were hovering on the edge of violence. Some of that was his own history, but he also had to deal with them in the courtroom. Most of them got a sniff of Ed’s scent and immediately tried to dominate him. They wanted him subservient, and half of them acted personally fucking offended that he didn’t immediately bare his neck or some shit.
Stede didn’t want him subservient. He delighted in Ed’s strong opinions, easily letting Ed arrange more than half the dates at the start. And, yeah, Ed could admit those had been tests, trying to see where Stede would finally snap to reveal the dominant nature that most alphas had. It never happened. He didn’t push to take away Ed’s agency. He didn’t even try to drag his scent all over Ed after a date to make sure that he was laying claim.
Well, not unless Ed started it. Because instinct screamed at him to mark Stede as his. And, fuck, he loved the way Stede blushed and huffed happily when they scented each other. Slow, long sessions with intimate glides of their cheeks or wrists, or inner thighs. Stede always left purring with that long fringed tail wagging behind him cheerfully.
The relationship was utterly unlooked for, perfectly unique. Ed started to feel himself slotting into Stede’s life and vice versa. They began to meet one another’s friend groups, expanding their relationship into something that would overlap other areas of their life. He met Lucius, Stede’s best friend and the person that told him Stede had literally been doodling Ed’s name on his work notes. Stede had met Izzy, and the pair of them were either going to eventually be friends or kill each other. Ed was still up in the air on that.
He met Stede’s pups. And, yeah, that had been a bit of a shock. Mary was a lovely omega, according to Stede, but one interaction between the pair of them sort of jolted him away from jealousy. They acted more like siblings than people who had been married. And as for the pups… Ed wasn’t sure about pups in general, but Alma and Louis were fun and fucking interesting, and–in Alma’s case–sort of terrifying.
Everything, for a long while, went along so smoothly that Ed sort of fucking forgot that sometimes shit went wrong. He forgot that he wasn’t exactly a nice normal omega. And because he forgot, he found himself slamming into a roadblock so hard that it punched the air from him.
“Can I ask a question?” Stede murmured as they lounged in bed together, the weight of Stede’s knot decadently stretching him out while they exchanged lazy kisses.
“Mmm?” Ed hummed an affirmative while fingers slid through the long spill of his hair. Stede loved his hair, could even braid it.
“It’s not–” Stede hummed to himself as he stopped. “I just wondered, are you happy with me?”
“What?” Ed jerked his head up to see soft hazel eyes peering up at him, hesitant and nervous looking. “Mate, ‘course I’m happy with you. I l-like you, a whole fucking lot.” Ed didn’t say love, too fucking early to drop the love word, but it was there. Lately, being around Stede had him wanting to say it, to whisper it into one of those silky ears.
“I like you too.” Stede’s floppy gold ears twitched back. “I just–you never present?” Ed watched Stede's cheeks go a little red as a finger traced the human edge of Ed’s ear. “And you don’t have to! I just–I wondered if I was doing something–”
“Oh.” Ed drew in a breath before tipping his cheek into Stede’s palm, rubbing his scent into it with an indulgent drag. “That’s.. Mate, s’not you.”
Stede made a little noise, confusion clear on his face while Ed tried not to shrink in on himself. He sort of wished this conversation had come up while he wasn’t firmly seated on the alpha’s knot, but he’d sort of known it was coming. The last few dates there had been lingering touches along the spot where his own furred ears should have been or he’d caress the line of Ed’s back right at the tailbone lightly.
All omegas presented their ears and tails when they were happiest, when they felt secure and safe. You saw it in pups and kits all the time. Omegas with their feline features and swishy tails, little tufted ears or alphas with wagging tails and wildly varied ear types. Though alphas also presented their extras when they were feeling angry or dominant, showing them was largely viewed as a matter of trust and happiness.
The thing was, the world eventually got to you. Made you hide those vulnerable pieces of yourself away from the public eye as you realized it was a dangerous fucking place. Most adults didn’t let their ears and tails out anywhere except with a trusted loved one. Ed wasn’t most people.
And Stede was the exception to that rule. He unabashedly had them out any time he was especially pleased by something. He might have them pop out because of a perfectly made cup of tea or felt a particularly fine fabric at his clothing store. He’d walk down the street with his tail wagging because Ed had held his hand. Ed had asked about it once, a little amused after Stede’s tail had knocked over half the little fidget toys on his desk.
“Why would I want to hide when I’m happy?” Stede had sniffed. “It seems quite silly to me. I spent over forty years hiding my little joys and I’m quite pleased to be done with that.”
So, yes, it wasn’t unexpected that Stede eventually asked. Ed had been dreading it, hated the question and hated the way it made his stomach swoop. Stede’s nose twitched and his ears popped out of view. Just like that. Magic, physiology, whatever it was they just disappeared as Stede scented Ed’s distress and pushed up onto his elbows with a worried frown on his face.
“I didn’t mean–”
“No, mate, s’fine.” Ed drew in a breath and let it out. “I don’t… uh, I don’t do that. Presenting.”
“Oh?” Stede blinked rapidly. “You mean with another person around?”
“Uh, nope, not at all.” Ed shifted back, whining a little as Stede adjusted them so he was sitting in the alpha’s lap and Stede was braced against the headboard.
“At all?” Stede asked with his brows furrowed together in a deeper frown that made Ed immediately tense up before looking away.
And here it was. The moment Ed had been dreading, when Stede would figure out the fucked up person he was and had been since he was a kit. Because the world beat out the freedom of presenting from most adults, you learned to hide your soft ears and expressive tail away from the world. Ed had it literally beaten out of him as a child. He’d learned to hide any hint that he was an omega, every breath of feline characteristics that would set his father off. He hadn’t had a safe home to be himself in.
He’d gotten out. He’d gotten free. He’d made a life for himself with a law firm that gave him more riches than he could shake a stick at, but he’d never presented. He’d never gotten over the fear of it, the dread that came with displaying the most vulnerable pieces of who he really was. The world wasn’t always that kind or gentle to omegas, and he’d wanted to be the best. He’d wanted to rise up. That required sacrifice.
“No, mate.” Ed sighed a little as he briefly closed his eyes before opening them to face the concerned hazel ones. “I just don’t do that. Not with anyone, not even by myself.”
“I see.” Stede’s words were soft, but his eyes were full of gentle sympathy that made Ed want to squirm. So he did.
Stede hissed out as the movement tugged at his knot, moving his hands to cup Ed’s hips, but it easily slipped out. Without Ed being in heat, it didn’t really swell the way it could. It was just enough to catch Ed’s sensitive rim to stimulate pleasure, not enough to lock in place.
The slow drag and stretch, the empty feeling as Stede slipped free left Ed’s stomach twisted up. He began to slip off the bed to clean up, maybe prepare himself for the way Stede would give him a pitying look before telling him that things weren’t going to work out. After all, everyone fucking presented in private, it was an expression of trust exchanged between two people. He’d basically told Stede he didn’t trust him, didn’t care enough, didn’t–
“If that’s how you’re most comfortable, darling, that’s how you’re most comfortable.” Stede murmured before a hand slid around his waist, drawing him back to the bed. “I just wanted to be sure I wasn’t misreading things between us.”
“No, you’re… you’re not.” Ed breathed out while he was nestled into the warmth of the alpha’s solid body. “You’re really not.”
“Good.” Stede brushed a kiss against his cheek before Ed flinched, dragging out the piece that was likely going to be a deal breaker.
“I don’t go into heat.” He managed under his breath, which did make Stede go still beneath him. “Just, if we’re doing hard truths.”
“You stay on suppressants?”
“What? No!” Ed swallowed and tucked his head against the alpha’s chest, hating even talking about this, all of it. Because there were pieces of him that were broken, and if Stede were looking for an omega for anything normal, it wasn’t going to be him. “It happens sometimes, if uh–if an omega isn’t–you know.”
He trailed off, because he didn’t want to drag out that particular story. Male omegas went into heat when their bodies felt safe and secure enough for pups. He’d had exactly three heats in his life, all when he’d been in his teens and they’d been mostly perfunctory, a sort of systems check on his body than anything else.
It wasn’t like he couldn’t have pups. Even without going into heat, technically everything still worked, his doctor had assured him of that, it just wouldn’t be easy to manage. And, honestly, it wasn’t like it was a bad thing. Not really. When he was younger he’d been relieved, as he’d grown older he’d just grown resigned. Hell, when he’d turned forty his doctor had outright told him that if he wanted pups he should look into chemically induced heats.
Ed had not reacted well to the suggestion. At the time, he’d never imagined a point where it would fucking matter since he’d never had a partner he cared enough to think about having a family with and chemically induced heats were brutal. Until now. Until he stared up at Stede watching him with such gentle eyes that Ed felt something impossibly tender stirring beneath the surface.
“Isn’t?” Stede prompted, his fingers sliding into Ed’s hair to scratch gently, working along his scalp with gentle touches.
“S’just happens sometimes.” Ed muttered before the other hand tipped his chin up, the warm hazel eyes studying him with patience. “Sometimes trauma fucks shit up, okay? Makes hormones and bullshit mess up, so it just doesn’t happen to me.” He drew in a breath, rattling off something his doctor had said. “It’s not uncommon. Just, you know, you deserve to know.”
Before you get in too deep. Before you think about us matching our heats and ruts like a normal couple. Before you make a mistake. Ed thought before Stede let out a low rumbling growl that radiated from deep in his chest outwards, his lips curling back as his ears promptly disappeared.
“Who hurt you?” The words were thick with a spike of protective scent that should have fucking triggered every anxiety Ed had about alphas, but it wrapped around him like a protective blanket.
His father had always stank of anger and rage, the scent had screamed that he was about to hurt someone. Stede’s spiced musk smelled of protection and the promise that he would kill someone to keep Ed safe. The difference made him swallow before huffing out a laugh, burrowing his nose into the warm neck.
“He’s dead, mate, but just wanted to be honest here. Because you’re right, things are uh–yeah, I think they’re going in a serious direction.” He admitted while Stede’s rumble didn’t stop, his hand slid down Ed’s bare back smoothly. “And I get it, if that’s a deal breaker–”
“Edward.” Stede pulled back and two warm hands cupped Ed’s cheeks as he peered down. “It’s not a deal breaker, no, I’m glad you told me. But if you’re comfortable, that’s all that truly matters.”
Ed let out a soft noise before he was drawn into a kiss, slow and sweet. It tasted like a promise and he took it like one, letting himself simply relax in the warmth. Yeah, he’d dated people before. He’d done the whole relationship thing, but no one had tried like Stede tried. No one just offered fucking acceptance. Stede did. Stede gave it without reservation and a purr that spilled so sweetly between their kiss that Ed echoed him.
IloveyouIloveyouIloveyou. The words stayed trapped behind his lips as Stede’s deep purr began to fill the air.
~ ~ * ~ ~
Ed tried to put the conversation out of his head. He really fucking did. The problem was that he couldn’t forget it. Every time he saw Stede with his soft ears out and the fringed tail wagging he’d think why the fuck can’t I do that? It ate at him as they pushed past their six month anniversary and Ed felt as though his entire body was crawling with ants. The only thing that had changed was the conversation, and now it was like a stupid song he couldn’t escape.
Stede didn’t mention it again. Didn’t bring it up or act like anything had changed, but Ed wasn’t an idiot. Stede would eventually get tired of it. He’d realize that he couldn’t be with someone that couldn’t be trusted or trust him in turn. Or he’d suddenly realize that he’d never really knot Ed. Never share the most intimate thing an alpha and omega could. Never see all of Ed. All because Ed was broken.
He knew he’d sort of trained himself out of a lot of habits a lot of omega’s had. The soft happy chirps of a doting omega when they were pleased just didn’t exist for him. Hell, trilling didn’t happen either. He knew others did it, that soft sweet little noise of an omega searching for a packmate, but that had absolutely no place when you were in a courtroom. So, he had trained himself out of making the noises. He didn’t think he could make them even if he tried.
He started to see people with their tails or ears or both out, which would set him in a mood. They were almost always omegas, parading around with their curling tails or pricked ears, happy smiles on their face with their bellies all pupped up or on the arm of a doting alpha. It was like the moment he thought about it he saw every omega in the country displaying their extras.
He thought about it when he was getting dressed and he saw the elastic slit in the back of his pants and underwear designed to make room for his tail, if he ever showed it. Fuck, even Izzy had shown his tail and ears before when Roach had surprised him! Only Ed seemed to be defective.
Doesn’t work if you’re broken, idiot. He thought one evening when Stede invited him out to a bar where one of his employees was playing the guitar for the evening. Which was an entirely different problem.
It was jarring to realize how different he and Stede really were. Stede was a person that wore his heart on his sleeve and attracted like minded people. He kept his hidden from sight, protected and secure where no one could ever touch it. Stede was the first person he’d ever let himself open up to. The first person that made Ed feel the urge to do unthinkable things like surprise him with fancy tea and sweep him off to dinners. To do anything to see him smile or blush. And he wanted to show how much that meant.
The problem was, that after they talked, Ed began to feel distinctly restless and off. The discussion had opened up a can of worms that left him waiting for the other shoe to drop. He’d spent most of his life cutting out the instincts that had to do with his secondary sex. It wasn’t like he’d ever dreamed of a life where he’d settle down with an alpha, get bitten, have 2.5 pups. And now, they were sort of there. Just in the back of his mind, but there was no hiding that something primal was stirring.
It began when he showed up at Stede’s house and found the alpha’s den had been changed about with fresh blankets and sheets. The moment Ed hadn’t smelled himself there he had–yeah, there was no classy word to say he’d turned into an utterly insatiable slut as he’d pushed Stede back and ridden the alpha until a neighbor had hammered on the wall. Which was saying something since Stede lived in a fancy fucking sound proofed apartment.
And then there was the day he’d stolen one of Stede’s shirts. Not his proudest moment, but Stede had been getting ready to go to a convention and Ed had stayed the night. The next morning he’d been grabbing his stuff when he’d noticed the alpha’s shirt on the floor where he’d left it and it was like a fugue state. Ed had stuffed it into his bag, taken it home and tucked it immediately into his nest.
So yes, Ed was going a little insane. He eventually chalked it up to the fact he’d never dated an alpha this long in his life. The few times he’d tried things had fizzled out after a few dates and the omegas he dated were, generally, just less complicated to have a relationship with. He did his best to control those instincts, but at the same time, it made him hopeful. Maybe he could return Stede’s trust, maybe he could expose those soft vulnerable parts of himself to an alpha that he cared about.
Loved, if he were being honest with himself. Which meant making himself vulnerable.
Ed invited Stede to his house. It wasn’t the first time he’d invited Stede over, but it was the first time that he had a plan. He’d read some studies about presenting ears and tail, the science behind it, the fact an omega just had to be comfortable and safe. That you didn’t just forget you had the bastards, just that it could be hard. And he did trust Stede. He really really did.
Things did not go as planned.
Well, it started fucking great. Ed pushed Stede into his nest and began to make out, heavy with tongues twining and fingers roaming. And yeah, after that, it was all low moans and eager hands as he swallowed the alpha down to the knot until he was coming down his throat. Which meant he got Stede’s tongue on his hole, and it was a sinful fucking tongue, one that drove Ed over the edge into more than one orgasm.
It was the sort of lazy, sweet lovemaking that just made a day feel warm and perfect. Where he was left spent and sweaty, sprawled over his alpha while Stede turned on the TV knowing Ed liked the background noise without being asked. He let himself go boneless while feeling the warm hand stroking down his back, the scent of alpha filling his nose beautifully. It was all perfect, just perfect, the sort of moment that left him so pliant and limp that his purr was vibrating before he even knew it was happening.
“Such a sweet kitten.” Stede murmured as he neatly cared for Ed with such warmth that he felt as though he were going to melt. Cared for, adored, held in warm arms and listening to the rich purr of the alpha.
And that was it, his big moment. He snuggled into the broad chest, kicking out a soft pleased purr before closing his eyes and envisioned his ears. Those would be easiest, less vulnerable than his tail. He tried to remember how it had felt to have them out. He relaxed and wrapped every thought up with the trust he felt being with Stede. He was safe, fully safe here, he was loved and cared for with an alpha that meant the world to him. He could let out that hidden piece of him. He concentrated on letting go, of how much he loved Stede, how good his well-fucked body felt.
It wasn’t even an option. There was no feeling of release, no relaxed muscles as his ears appeared for the man he loved, nope. He laid there being stroked and caressed with Stede’s adoration pressed into his skin, safe in his own fucking nest, and Ed was just like he’d always been.
Broken. Defective.