Chapter Text
Akaashi Keiji had always known that someday he would be married off to create or strengthen some sort of alliance between his kingdom and one of the many others on the continent.
It took him a while to come to terms with the fact—twenty-three years to be exact—but now, he’s at peace with it. Some of the prospective Alpha princes from neighboring kingdoms are handsome and nice to look at, even if their personalities are a little worse for wear.
And, probably the most important part, they at least were civilized.
The man—the barbarian—he actually has to marry is most definitely not.
The kingdoms and the barbarians have been on bad terms for many, many years. The brutes refuse to come into the walls of their kingdom and integrate into their society, preferring to live their wild lives deep in the woods.
That in and of itself would be fine and dandy with the kingdoms. The only problem is that they think the lands outside of the kingdom is theirs. Anyone who ventures out of the walls on a trip, or to gather herbs or precious jewels is swiftly scared back with empty hands and many wounds.
Which is why this marriage to create an alliance between them and the barbarians was made in the first place.
Akaashi had thought their military was strong enough to eradicate them, but there had been rumors fluttering between the soldiers and servants of a barbarian Alpha strong enough to command not just Omegas and Betas, but Alphas, too.
Besides, his father values peace above anything else. It’s much easier to command Akaashi to marry a barbarian so they can access ‘their’ lands rather than sending their own people to the slaughter.
At least in this scenario, only one person suffers.
Him.
He wonders, can the Alpha even speak his language? Can he even speak? What if he just talks in grunts and groans? That may just be him catastrophizing, but the life he just came to terms with had been flipped on its head in a simple one hour meeting.
In the weeks since the marriage had been agreed upon, many people have been talking about his barbarian-to-be. He’s apparently ugly and littered with scars. He’s never been around Omegas much, so Akaashi can guess what the man will try to do once he sees him. And, worst of all, he’s apparently downright horrible.
Great.
To top it all off, he’ll have to sleep with the brute in front of six people—three witnesses from their kingdom and three from the barbarian’s, in order for them to make sure the marriage has been consummated and therefore ‘real’ so the two leaders can actually get what they want.
That little stipulation was proposed by the barbarians—which comes as no shock to him. It was apparently non-negotiable, too.
He’ll be watched as he gets his virginity taken and probably man-handled and used by a barbaric Alpha. He doesn’t expect it to be gentle.
Akaashi sighs as he looks out the window of his room. The summer sun barely juts out from the horizon, turning the sky pink, yellow, and orange.
He’s getting married tomorrow. His future husband is supposed to be arriving very shortly, being escorted by the kingdom’s entire legion, no doubt. He really isn’t allowed to be doing this, but he wanted just one look to know what he’s getting himself into, to prepare himself.
He has a perfect view of the front gate, and it’s hard to miss the grating echo of the chains being loosened to lower it over the moat that surrounds the castle. His heart pounds as the bridge thuds against the other side of the moat.
A couple of figures appear, escorted by a multitude of royal guards.
Akaashi is a couple of stories up from the courtyard, so he doesn’t have to be quiet when he unhooks the latch from the window and pushes it open, warmth washing over him immediately. It creaks loudly, but the sound is swallowed up by the breeze as it ruffles his hair and soft pajamas comprised of a tank top and shorts.
Two men lead the little precession.
One of them is practically hobbling along the stone pathway. His head only has little tufts of hair, his back is hunched over so he looks smaller, his eyes are large and sunken, thick dark eyebrows sit in a permanent scowl, and scars litter his face.
Based on the description he’s heard from everyone, that is his future husband. His father never mentioned the fact that he was old enough to be acquainted with dinosaurs for God sake.
His stomach feels a little queasy, his dinner threatening to come back up. Him marrying that man is worth some jewels and herbs?
Akaashi’s eyes flick over to the other man at his side.
Good lord.
Akaashi’s mouth grows dry, his inner Omega suddenly very interested, brushing up against the confines of his skin.
The first thing he notices is how big and broad the man is. It looks as if he was forced to wear a shirt since the white tunic he has on is a couple of sizes too small, ripped at the sleeves and revealing his narrow hips.
His hair is two different colors, a darker gray and a lighter one, and is spiked straight up on his head. Even with the sleekness of it, his cheeks and nose are rather soft, though his jaw is sharp. From what Akaashi can see, his eyes look rounded and golden.
He lets out an involuntary sigh. His Omega hounds him to get a better, closer look, and Akaashi is happy to oblige. He puts his hands on the windowsill, leaning out of it slightly. He logically knows he’s too far away to catch any sort of scent, but he still tries to do it anyway.
The wind ruffles his hair and clothes again.
Is he a guard of some sort? Or maybe a witness? Maybe Akaashi can stare at him as the fossil of a man does whatever he wants to him tomorrow night.
Abruptly, the Alpha stops.
His nostrils flare, shoulders and chest puffing up as he inhales deeply.
The Alpha snaps his head up and makes complete, direct eye contact with Akaashi, who’s leaned out of the windowsill even farther at the command of his Omega.
Akaashi’s heart stops, body tensing. He didn’t think he could be scented from all the way up here. He makes a surprised noise in the back of his throat before leaning out even farther, grabbing the window and slamming it closed.
His hands are trembling as he puts the latch back on, breathing out a long breath. Akaashi’s entire body thrums with the happiness of his Omega at simply being looked at by an Alpha like that.
He should not have looked out that window.
Akaashi gets himself under control, reminding his Omega—and himself—that the Alpha isn’t his husband, and, most of all, that he’s still a barbarian, no matter how attractive he is.
α
Bokuto Koutarou never thought that he would be married off to some enemy prince in his life. Growing up witnessing the tense relations between them and the kingdom, he’d been raised to fight efficiently and ruthlessly if it ever came to a war.
And when he presented as a Prime Alpha, one able to command anyone of any designation, he was swiftly made the heir to the Chief of their clan.
He thought that entailed following in the Chief’s footsteps of scaring off people from the kingdom whenever they stepped onto their land, even though the snobs didn’t see it that way.
Just because their way of life was different—or ‘uncivilized’ as they liked to call it—didn’t mean they were any less. But the people from the kingdom, and especially the royals, always looked down their scrunched up noses in disgust at them.
Which was why Bokuto was surprised when his Chief told him he was to marry the prince of the kingdom for an alliance between the two opposing sides.
The treaty laid out all the stipulations. The land outside of the walls was rightfully theirs, but they asked for permission to gather the precious materials that they needed. In turn, they had supervised access in their Kingdom—as well as their Omegan prince and heir.
So long as there was a marriage and witnessed consummation, there was no backing out of these conditions—unless the marriage was dissolved, of course.
Bokuto was extremely hesitant at first. He wanted to be able to choose who he married, ideally someone he loved. And the fact that he was marrying an enemy, someone so different from him that it would be impossible for them to love him, made it all the worse.
But when your Chief gives you an order, you follow it. The years of experience they have garnered in their lifetime makes their words and opinions treasured and incontestable, no matter how much Bokuto is opposed to it.
And when his Chief had mentioned a male Omega, he couldn’t deny the interest his inner Alpha had.
Being raised as a fighter mainly kept him with other Alphas. He’s never really been around a lot of Omegas before, and the ones he did know were his sisters, his mother, and other mothers within their clan.
They didn’t have a male Omega in their clan. They were as rare as could be. And his Alpha couldn’t stop thinking about what it would be like to meet him, to bury himself inside of him and—
Bokuto tried very hard to get the image out of his head. While his Alpha has a more commanding presence because of his Prime status and is completely instinctual and… horny, that doesn’t mean Bokuto lets him dictate how he acts.
Most of the time.
The agreement happened two weeks ago, and they spent the time preparing everything. Clothing, who would go with them, how to behave and act, everything.
And on the fateful day before the wedding, the borderline entirety of the kingdom’s army came to escort them inside the walls and towards the castle. It was nearly a whole day’s walk from their settlement to the imposing building, the sun beginning to set on the horizon, bringing him closer to the wedding and consummation.
He walked beside his Chief, as always. The man didn’t say much, as always, but his face was set with a determined and almost excited edge. He couldn’t imagine what the man would be excited about, except maybe the fact that their land will finally be recognized as their own.
The castle looms in front of them, made of light cobblestone. Countless spires jut out from the ends of the building, topped with pointy roofs bearing the flag of the kingdom.
As they walk through the courtyard, Bokuto can’t help but admire everything.
The sweetest, softest scent flitters through the breeze, teasing his nostrils. His inner Alpha is immediately on alert, bringing all of his limbs to a complete stop.
He inhales again, deeply, trying to pull as much of the scent into his lungs as he can—and to try and figure out who or where it’s coming from.
Bokuto snaps his head up—
Holy shit.
All the breath leaves him as he makes eye contact with the most beautiful Omega he’s ever seen. He’s leaning out the window, clothes nearly see-through in the dimming light of the sunset. His black, curly hair rustles in the wind, sending even more of his pheromones his way.
His Alpha scrapes at the edges of his mind, suggesting that he scale the damn walls to get a better look and smell of the pretty little thing.
Bokuto’s vision is just good enough to recognize when the Omega’s pretty blue eyes widen; his hearing is just good enough to listen to the small sound of surprise that leaves his throat before he’s leaning out the windowsill even more to grab the window and swing it shut loudly.
He stays staring. Who was that? Was it the prince? No—there’s no way. If it was the prince, that look of surprise would have been one of disgust and contempt. Bokuto knows the castle employs servants, so maybe it was a maid?
The fact that this kingdom has two male Omega’s within the castle walls is… pretty lucky.
“Bo, move.”
Bokuto’s best friend, Kuroo, shoves at his shoulders from behind. It immediately spurs him back into motion, despite his Alpha trying to get him to stay and wait for that window to open again—if it even will.
He should calm down. It doesn’t matter how beautiful or good that Omega looked and smelled. Bokuto has to marry the prince, no matter how much he doesn’t want to.
For his clan and people.
After arriving at the castle, their procession is searched for weapons. While they all wanted to bring them, doing so could have been taken the wrong way, and the war they’ve been trying to avoid would have started.
The entire time, the guards eye him warily, as if he’s a bomb about to go off. Do they think he’ll just command them to do anything for no reason? It irks him to no end—he’s not some feral animal that is beyond reasoning with.
He supposes he should get used to it, though. His future Omega may look at him the same way, except the gaze might be mixed with a bit of disgust and contempt, too.
Bokuto prepares for that same gaze to be settled on him by his future in-laws as he, his Chief, Kuroo, and Konoha, a Beta who’s acting as their clan ‘advisor,’ are led to a meeting room where the King and Queen are waiting for them.
When they arrive, Bokuto can’t help his eyes from flitting over everyone in the room. King, Queen, people who look like advisors. One thing he doesn’t find that has his shoulders deflating in disappointment is an Omegan prince.
Tension curls around the room as the two opposing sides simply stare at each other. The King and Queen, both sporting black hair, the King with brown eyes and the Queen with blue, are the first ones to break the tension like a piece of glass as they incline their heads in acknowledgement.
Bokuto is honestly shocked that they were the first ones to do it. While the inclination was just enough to be acknowledgement and not respect, they were still the ones who conceded first. He wouldn’t have expected that from them.
Everyone in his group incline their heads in the exact same way. The message it gives isn’t a good one—their heads should be dipped a bit lower to mean acknowledgement and respect, but he knows his Chief would rather die than show any of that to the royals.
“Washijo,” the King says, smiling lightly. “We’re so glad you could make it. Was the journey okay?”
“Fine,” his Chief clips. “Where is the prince?”
Bokuto meets Kuroo’s and Konoha’s wide eyes over Washijo’s shoulder before they all burn holes in the back of his borderline bald head. He knows this is the whole reason they came here, but he couldn’t have led into it a little better?
One would think the Chief is marrying him with his enthusiasm, not Bokuto.
Although, he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t wondering the same thing. His Alpha can’t help but push at the confines of his skin, wanting to know what the Omega looks and smells like. If he has big hips for holding pups—
Bokuto reels his Alpha and pheromones in, willing them not to seep out into the room. He’s already reeling them in as best as he can so as not to affect everyone with how strong and dominant they actually are.
His Alpha is only interested in the physical and instinctual—he doesn’t understand that there won’t be an opportunity to have pups since their Omega will likely be disgusted by him.
The King smiles, but it isn’t as warm as the first one. “We have a tradition here that the bride and groom aren’t supposed to see each other until the ceremony.”
Bokuto tries his best to school his features. That isn’t a tradition in their culture at all—the married couple will get the other ready to bring out everything they love about their counterpart before doing the ceremony.
However, he can definitely compromise on that. It would be weird doing such an emotionally intimate tradition of his culture with someone he just met.
And, the royals agreed to the public consummation, which isn’t in their culture. In Bokuto’s culture, they have a public mating ceremony so the Alpha can show everyone in attendance how well they please their bride.
His understanding of ‘consummation’ as the royals see it is that it makes the marriage legitimate. It could be short, a completely unsatisfactory experience for the Omega, but as long as there’s penetration, it counts as real. And the Omega would just have to accept it.
It irks Bokuto to no end. Where’s the reverence for an Omega in that? In their traditions, they only count the ‘consummation’ as real if the Omega is borderline delirious and close to tears from pleasure. If you can’t do that, then clearly you’re not a good enough Alpha.
Bokuto wasn’t exactly told what path to take at the consummation tonight. He doesn’t know whether to follow their way or his way. But, when in doubt, he’s going to follow his culture and traditions.
“This isn’t exactly a traditional marriage ceremony,” Washijo says.
Bokuto immediately steps forward then, inclining his head once more because he doesn’t know if he should again or not. His palms are sweaty and his heart is racing. “I’m sorry,” he says quickly. “I understand we’ve both made compromises on each end when it comes to all of the ceremonies. I accept not seeing the prince until tomorrow.”
The room is so silent you could hear a pin drop. His Chief’s gaze burns into his back. The King and Queen are looking up at him with eyes wide in astonishment.
The King clears his throat. “We appreciate that. You must be my son’s future Alpha.”
Bokuto’s chest puffs up at that. He may not have wanted this, but he will never not be anything less than a good Alpha to an Omega he ends up with. “Yes, sir. I mean—Your Majesty.”
He nearly stumbles when the King holds out a hand. Bokuto notes that there’s no hesitancy or disgust when he grasps the monarch’s hand and gives him a strong shake.
“It’s great to finally meet you,” the King says.
“I’m sure Keiji will appreciate what he sees,” the Queen quips, voice light. A couple of people laugh good-heartedly around him as Bokuto’s cheeks grow a little hot with the compliment.
Keiji. That’s a pretty name. He wants to test it out in his mouth for himself, but he knows that’s his given name. Saying it would probably be a pretty big insult or offense, and he doesn’t need that after what his Chief just pulled.
“I hope so, Your Majesty,” he says, and means it.
The royals aren’t what he expected. Bokuto is clearly not what they expected either. A small flicker of hope sparks in his chest—maybe the prince will be the same.
Maybe this marriage could work out after all.
Ω
Sleep doesn’t give Akaashi the small mercy of dragging him under at any point during the night. It leaves him in his bed, staring at the ceiling, multiple scenarios of everything that may happen tomorrow circling in his mind like a tornado. He doesn’t think his heart finds a normal pace once.
What if he says or does something wrong that starts the war? What if he can’t hide the way he feels from his fossil of a husband? His pheromones won’t exactly be ones of interest. And what the hell will happen at the witnessed consummation ceremony?
It’s not until his bedroom door opens at some point does he sit up in bed, momentarily distracted by his thoughts.
His long time best friend and court advisor stands in the doorway. His yellow eyes meet his blue ones and the small Omega sighs. “You have to get ready in an hour, you know.”
“What time is it?”
“Five in the morning,” Kenma says, slipping into the room. He pads over to him until he sits at the edge of the bed. His brown hair that falls to his chin follows his movements as Kenma tilts his head. “I’ll stall for as long as I can, but you need to rest.”
“I’ll be fine—”
Kenma gives him a look, urging him to lay down by putting his hands on his shoulders. “Not just your body, but your mind, too.”
The Omega begins to scent the glands at Akaashi’s neck with his calming pheromones. The scent of orange blossoms fills his nostrils, causing his already bloodshot and heavy eyelids to grow exponentially heavier. Each blink gets longer and longer and longer until they finally cease to open.
Kenma manages to stall for fifteen minutes. It’s not much, but Akaashi is surprised he even managed to stall at all. It’s important to show up on time for a wedding where being late could potentially start a war in their very castle.
A knot sits in Akaashi’s gut as attendants flit around the room, bathing him, doing his makeup, getting his wedding kimono ready. The makeup is subtle but enhancing—lip stain, mascara, and a bit of blush. Even too much makeup could have his future barbarian husband thinking that he’s fake and calling off the wedding.
If Akaashi’s entire life has felt like he’s been walking across a tightrope with how poised and perfect and passive and submissive he has to be, the situation he’s in now has the rope fraying, ready to break at any slight mistake.
Akaashi cannot be anything less than the perfect Omega today. Right up until after the Alpha is done taking his virginity, when the marriage is consummated and neither of them can back out.
He’s been the perfect Omega since he presented. He can do it for a full day to stop an imminent war.
α
“I’m choking.”
Kuroo looks over at Bokuto like he’s an idiot. It’s a look that’s shared between them pretty frequently. The Alpha reaches over and shoves his finger between Bokuto’s neck and the collar of his velvet and embroidered tunic.
It’s the most expensive thing he’s ever worn. And the most constricting. He thinks whoever made it for him got the measurements a little wrong. It’s so tight against his chest, shoulders, back—everywhere. He’s scared one little movement will rip the seam of the black and silver garment.
“Oh, yeah,” Kuroo says, trying to jimmy his finger to go deeper, but he can barely reach where Bokuto’s pulse is. Bokuto growls in warning, and his friend quickly takes it away. “At least it will mute your pheromones a bit. Don’t want to take out your bride as soon as you meet him.” His yellow eyes travel downwards. “Actually, you might take him out even before you can say ‘hi.’”
Bokuto puts his head in his hands. Not only is the tunic restrictive, but so are the trousers he was given. The outline of his rather large package is on full display. It leaves absolutely nothing to the imagination.
Bokuto tries to pull the seams down a bit to lessen the outline, but it doesn’t work. He’s worried he’s going to scare the poor Omega. He’s getting his virginity taken in front of six people by a barbarian, which he already probably thinks is horrible. Throwing a big cock in the mix is not going to comfort him in the least.
“You’ll get to change for the dinner,” Konoha chimes in, looking completely comfortable in a loose fitting blue tunic and black pants. Kuroo is also wearing the same thing, clearly comfortable and smirking at Bokuto because of it.
He glares at his best friend, pheromones burning with anger.
“Please don’t swing,” Konoha says almost desperately. “I actually think the whole outfit will tear.”
“Everything will be fine,” the Chief says, hobbling over. He looks Bokuto over and gives an approving but brief nod. “The ceremony is soon. Let’s start heading over.”
The words have nerves splitting under his skin, his heart rate quickening. Having such restrictive clothing sucks for someone who’s body heat is already higher than normal, because now he feels like he’s in a cocoon of flames.
A guard is at the door to lead them through the halls of the castle towards the wedding hall. Servants flit around them, giving him a wide berth. He doesn’t miss the wide-eyed stares that are sent his way. Some of fear, some of interest.
Bokuto searches the crowd of servants for the one he saw yesterday. He scents the air as subtly as he can, but he doesn’t detect those delicious pheromones that teased his nostrils and left him wanting more.
He stops himself. He should stop searching. It’s not like he’s going to pursue anything with the Omega. While he may not want the marriage he’s going to have, he would still never cheat on his wife.
When they’re led into the hall, it’s devoid of people. It’s only filled with lovely white decorations. The light brown seats are wrapped with white ribbons, the arch they’re going to be standing under is also wrapped with white ribbon and decorated with flowers. A white carpet starts just at the dais and ends on the other side of the hall, where the double doors are.
That’s where his Omega will walk through.
One of the attendants tells him what to do during the ceremony. Tells him that all he needs to do is stay still, take the veil off his bride when he gets to the dais, and follow and repeat what the priest tells him. He makes Bokuto stand under the arch. Then, he situates Kuroo, his Chief, and Konoha at chairs closest to his right. It seems the room will be divided between the opposing sides. He hopes it isn’t like that at dinner.
As the room starts to fill with other people, his heart starts to race. Sweat clings to his back and arms, the velvet sucking it up. Each person from the royal side gives them looks that seem passive on the outside, but Bokuto can detect the hint of disdain in it. Bokuto stays staring at the carpet so each look stops piling up, making his chest hurt.
It only takes about twenty minutes of waiting until the left side of the room is filled. Bokuto’s side only has three people—each a witness for the mating ceremony tonight.
When the priest and Queen come in, and Bokuto sees a flash of white on the other side of the door, his heart threatens to burst out of his chest. Nerves swarm under his skin like butterflies as he swallows thickly, trying to get himself under control.
It’s time.
Ω
Black spots dance in Akaashi’s vision from how hard his blood pumps in his veins. The white and blue flowers he holds in his hands are close to withering from how hard he grips them. His white wedding kimono amps up his body heat, making him sweat more than usual.
He stands in front of the door that will lead him to his fate. To the old man he has to marry and later have sex with.
He thought he could do this, but standing here, on the precipice of it happening, he doesn’t think he can anymore.
War can happen. Hell, he’ll even fight in it if he has to. He’d honestly take grave injuries over having to go through tonight with a fossil and live out his days with him. Well, it may not be very many days, but still.
He wishes Kenma was here to help calm him down, but he’s already gotten his seat in the front row. The only person he has is—
“Son,” the King’s, his father’s, voice fills his ears. His voice is gentle, sympathetic. “Are you ready?”
Akaashi looks up at him, at the borderline sadness in his eyes. His father clearly didn’t want to do this to him, but in his mind he had no other choice.
Well, he can’t run away now.
He nods, slipping his hand in between the crook of his father’s elbow. His father pats his hand with his large one, sending him what is supposed to be a reassuring smile. But his arm tightens on his hand—making sure he doesn’t high-tail it the other way.
“I know you can do this,” his father says. He nods to an attendant to signal that they’re ready. As she slips through the door to let the others know, Akaashi has the urge to drag her back. “Adjust your pheromones, okay?”
Akaashi nods numbly, trying to reel in his sour, anxious ones, trying to make them neutral, sweet, alluring.
Just as the doors open, he adjusts the veil over his head. It’s so opaque that all he can see are shadows, and it covers his entire face.
The music begins. It’s played by a lovely organ, but it seems to grate against his ear drums.
His father takes that first step to lead him. Akaashi hesitates, just for half a second, before taking a step into the room.
α
Bokuto’s golden eyes hone in on the Omega as soon as the wooden double doors are open.
The Omega’s body is completely covered with a white, silk kimono. It’s intricately designed with embroidered flowers of different varieties. His head is covered by a white veil, and although it’s sheen, it’s still too opaque for Bokuto to see what he looks like, or even what color his hair is besides the fact that it’s dark.
Bokuto’s fingers itch to take it off. His nose strains to catch any hint of pheromones coming off of him. He doesn’t want to sound shallow, but what if he isn’t attracted to him? What if he doesn’t like his pheromones?
The Omega walks slowly, and Bokuto would have figured it to be teasing with how much it’s riling him up. Given the circumstances, though, it’s so clearly hesitation. Each step is unsure of the next one.
It makes an uncomfortable knot form in his gut.
Nerves hum under his skin with each passing second, and before he knows it, he starts bouncing on his feet, tapping his fingers, doing anything to expel the anxiousness that seems to eat him alive. Did the length of the hall suddenly grow longer or something?
He realizes the Omega is in front of him when the music cuts off abruptly, snapping him from his thoughts.
Bokuto cranes his neck to look down at him.
Gods, he’s tiny. Probably close to a head shorter than him. He has to keep his Alpha from stirring inside of him at the size difference, at how easy it would be to carry him and maneuver him to present—
He blinks, coming back into the world. He hasn’t even spoken to the Omega, hasn’t even seen what he looks like, and his thoughts are veering straight to horny.
It’s very clear he hasn’t been around a lot of Omegas in his life.
The priest clears his throat.
Silence envelopes the room, as if two hands are choking the life out of it. No one dares breathe. Bokuto realizes he’s been staring at the Omega for a beat too long—any sort of hesitation can be seen as backing out of the alliance, and this whole room will be coated in blood and bodies.
Bokuto hurriedly but gently reaches down to grab the end of the veil, which ends roughly at the Omega’s chest.
A collective release of relieved breath from both his tribe and the royals echoes around the room, those clamped hands of silence loosening ever so slightly.
With his heart hammering in his ears, Bokuto is careful not to touch the kimono, his skin, anything but the veil as he pulls it up and over the Omega’s head.
The veil wafts the Omega’s sweet pheromones his way. Very familiar pheromones that have his Alpha instantly perking up.
And perking up even more when the veil lands behind the Omega, finally revealing his face.
Gods help him. The Omega is even more stunning up close.
An audible stuttering of his breath in his throat reverberates around the hall.
Dark blue eyes stare up at him, splashes of darker green reminding him of the unrelenting ocean he’d occasionally see on long journeys. They’re almond shaped, widened just slightly in recognition, framed by long and thick lashes that cast shadows on his cheeks. His skin is on the pale side, looks smooth and soft. Black, wavy hair falls over his forehead. A soft nose, a prominent cupid's bow into full lips—Bokuto’s eyes flit over his face in seconds, trying to take all of him in.
Bokuto’s nostrils flare as his scent invades his senses, much stronger with their proximity, the smell of flowers and honey sweet in his nose and making him dizzy. Fuck, he smells good.
He tries to reel in his own pheromones that clearly portray his interest if the Omega’s flushed cheeks are anything to go by. But the prince’s own pheromones tick up in obvious interest as well.
It takes everything in Bokuto to not raise his hand to his nose and mouth like some pubescent Alpha, to cut off the way the pheromones are making him feel.
There is no damn way they sent this Omega to marry him. This must be some sort of sick joke or trick from the royals to humiliate him, to put the prettiest Omega with the best smelling pheromones right in front of him before plucking him away and stabbing him for good measure.
Some deep, instinctual part of his Alpha stirs, wanting to reach out and make sure the Omega stays right where he is.
No. No. Actually, instead of staring at him like a fish out of damn water, he should probably greet him, like a normal and chivalrous Alpha would upon meeting someone for the first time.
“H—”
“We are gathered here today to celebrate the marriage between the Crown Prince Akaashi Keiji and future Chief Bokuto Koutarou.”
Bokuro almost snorts. The only thing they’ll be celebrating is the end of an imminent war. Which, of course, he is thankful for as well, but he doesn’t like how the words are being twisted as if this is an actual wedding ceremony between two people who love each other.
It makes him feel hollow.
A throat clears. Bokuto tunes back into the world to find the Omega looking at him with a quizzical look on his face, blue eyes bright, but it seems that look is to mask the blush high on his cheekbones.
Bokuto realizes that he’s been staring at the Omega while he had turned to face the priest. Which is what he’s supposed to do, as well.
He quickly twists to face the priest, his own face and neck heating up in embarrassment as amused murmurs roll through the crowd. They probably think he’s some idiot barbarian that doesn’t have any thoughts the moment a pretty Omega is in front of him.
He definitely feels that way. Everything about the Omega is throwing him off kilter.
Bokuto tries not to move as the priest drones on and on, reading passages from their religious book about how important the sanctity of marriage is. It feels as if they’re almost trying to trick everyone in the room, even him and the prince, that this marriage is real so it will work out.
The priest turns to him. “Will you have this Omega to be your wife, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, being faithful to him as long as you both shall live?”
Bokuto turns to Akaashi, heart racing, chest heaving with each beat. It takes only a split second to weigh his options—peace or war, peace or war. While he never expected this to happen, the answer is still a no-brainer.
“I do,” he says, gaze locked on the Omegas, trying to read any little movement on his face.
It remains passive, as unmovable as stone, as he averts his eyes. A sign of submission. Bokuto has to clench his hands so hard that his knuckles turn white to keep a satisfied growl from rumbling in his chest.
The priest turns to Akaashi. “And will you have this Alpha to be your husband?” He repeats the rest of the vow, the words echoing off of the high, white walls.
It takes a little longer for Akaashi to answer. The seconds seem like hours as once again people hold their breaths for the answer. He swears he can hear the guards gripping their weapons harder, just in case—
“I do.” Even his voice is pleasant to Bokuto’s ears.
The priest also seems to let out a breath of relief, shoulders visibly relaxing as he gives both of them a reassuring smile. “Please bring the rings.”
Two people hurriedly bring the rings, each laid out on a red velvet pillow. Bokuto is motioned by the priest to grab the one meant for Akaashi first. He picks up the shiny golden ring very carefully.
Rings aren’t normally used in marriages between Alphas and Omegas. A mating mark on the Omega’s neck, carrying the scent of the Alpha that claimed them, is the equivalent to a ring. But Washijo was very adamant about there being no claiming or mating marks. He even went to great lengths to prevent it from happening by making sure Bokuto was the farthest away from his rut as possible so he isn’t influenced by his Alpha during mating.
“As you put the ring on your bride, repeat after me: ‘I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.’”
Akaashi lifts his left hand slowly, jutting out his dainty ring finger. Bokuto feels a bit like an idiot as he takes a steadying breath to prepare himself to touch him. He gently takes his hand, trying not to show a reaction to how his whole body lights up at the simple touch, though his pheromones give it away.
A blush taints the Omega’s cheeks from his pheromones clearly going haywire, but Bokuto can scent a change in his pheromones too, just a bit more sweeter than they were throughout the readings. He’s pretty good at masking them, though.
Bokuto slides the ring on his finger. “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine,” he murmurs. This is a bit more intimate than he would have liked for meeting this Omega not even twenty minutes ago.
Akaashi picks up the matching ring to his and takes Bokuto’s hand. It’s smaller and smoother than Bokuto’s own calloused one from hours of training and holding weapons, but his fingers look as if they might actually be longer than Bokuto’s.
The Omega looks pointedly away from him as he repeats, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”
Bokuto has to take a couple of calming deep breaths. These vows feel like a gut punch. Alpha’s are very possessive, and hearing the prince say he’s his makes his blood pump extra hard in his veins.
”You may now kiss your bride.”
Bokuto swallows thickly. He almost forgot about this part. He’s going to kiss this Omega before even saying hi to him, before learning anything about him.
He’d be lying if he said he didn’t want to do it, though. Just the thought of the pretty Omega’s lips on his own, even just for half a second, has his pulse racing. He wants to know what it feels like.
Akaashi’s pulse is so quick that Bokuto can see it hammering against his throat. He wrings his fingers, the golden ring glinting from the light. Seems to be a nervous habit of his.
As soon as Bokuto reaches his hand out to grip the back of his neck in a gentle, possessive gesture, he can already tell the change in Akaashi’s body language.
A barely there flinch, his muscles tensed but not enough for others to notice, just for Bokuto to feel it under his fingertips, his scent turning the tiniest bit sour. He wouldn’t have recognized any change if he wasn’t so close to him—Akaashi must be very skilled in hiding the way he feels.
Bokuto leans down, eyes flicking to Akaashi’s for a split second.
No matter how much he might want to kiss him, he can’t. Not with this reaction. He has to do a lot more than just kiss him tonight, so the least he can do is not take this in front of everyone.
At the last second, Bokuto maneuvers his thumb to get a hold of the Omega’s jaw to tilt their heads just right. His lips land on the corner of the Omega’s mouth, stay there a couple of seconds. It still sends an embarrassing full body shudder through him at the tiniest contact before he pulls away.
Applause rings out through the room, so loud that it’s almost like thunder. Not specifically for them, not really—but the fact that they won’t have to go to war.
Bokuto barely hears it. He just looks down at the Omega, hand falling away from his skin. What looked like a kiss to everyone else wasn’t actually, and Bokuto just wishes he could also fake what comes tonight.
He hopes Akaashi understood what he tried to do. From his slightly wide eyes that search his face, he must. Bokuto offers him a shaky, reassuring smile.
Akaashi doesn’t return it, probably still shocked about what just happened. But just before he turns away to look out at the crowd, Bokuto catches the soft frown on his face.
It feels as if ice water has been poured all over his body. Maybe this marriage won’t go as smoothly as he stupidly hoped it would.