Chapter Text
The Great Hall of the Institute of Cognitive Excellence had once been a cathedral.
Nobody remembered which faith had built it, only that the University had looked at soaring marble columns, stained-glass windows depicting radiant couples gazing adoringly into each other's eyes, and a vaulted ceiling that made every footstep echo with divine importance, and collectively decided that it was the perfect place to hold the annual Presentation.
Apparently, if one intended to stage what was essentially academic matchmaking for the world's brightest alphas and omegas, it helped if the room already looked as though destiny had personally signed off on the occasion.
The administration insisted the ceremony celebrated instinct, compatibility and the continuation of exceptional minds.
The students usually described it somewhat differently.
"Science, Engineering and Eugenics," Dunk thought dryly. "The University's three faculties."
His wolf huffed.
Don't be mean.
"I'm not being mean. I'm being accurate."
It's romantic.
"It's a government-approved breeding program with scholarships."
His wolf ignored him with practiced ease, but there was a restless, shameless edge to it tonight, as if the air itself had gotten under its skin.
Look how pretty everything is.
Dunk looked.
The hall really was beautiful.
Sunlight spilled through stained glass in ribbons of crimson, sapphire and gold, painting the polished marble floor in shifting pools of color. Hundreds of students filled the room, the single alphas seated in ascending rows on one side, the omegas waiting opposite beneath banners embroidered with the University's motto.
Knowledge. Excellence. Legacy.
Dunk had always suspected they cared most about the last one.
The Institute accepted fewer than one applicant in a thousand. Intelligence tests. Psychological evaluations. Medical examinations. Genetic screenings that absolutely, definitely were not genetic screenings according to the University's legal department.
Graduates became Nobel Prize winners, CEOs, ministers, researchers, inventors.
They also, rather conveniently, tended to marry each other.
The University insisted this was simply what happened when brilliant people studied together.
The Presentation merely... encouraged nature.
"Naturally," Dunk thought.
A bell chimed.
An omega several rows ahead stepped gracefully into the aisle.
Halfway across, he gave a theatrical little sway before collapsing directly into the waiting arms of a grinning alpha.
The audience applauded.
An administrator smiled.
"The bond has revealed itself."
Dunk watched the pair beam at one another.
"They've been dating for two years."
They're still happy.
"They're still acting."
Those aren't mutually exclusive.
Dunk hated when his wolf made a good point.
The Presentation had existed for centuries.
Legend claimed that an omega standing before their fated alpha would simply... faint.
No fear.
No hesitation.
Just instinct.
Reality was considerably less poetic.
Nobody fainted anymore.
Well... nobody by accident.
Every year the omegas who were already dating simply took a convenient tumble in front of their chosen alphas. The alphas dutifully claimed them, everyone applauded destiny, and the newly recognized pair received one of the University's coveted bonded apartments.
Free housing.
Shared classes where possible.
Official recognition.
Permission to begin courtship.
In practice, most people skipped straight to behaving like newlyweds.
The University pretended not to notice.
Another omega swooned.
More applause.
A second administrator dabbed discreetly at the corner of her eye.
"Someone should give the drama club extra funding," Dunk muttered.
His wolf sighed, but it was distracted now, attention snagging on every alpha in the room as though each one might somehow become relevant.
I hope whoever claims us looks at us like that.
Dunk almost laughed.
"Nobody is claiming us."
His wolf's tail drooped, though not quite convincingly. There was a flicker of irritation there too, beneath the sulk.
That's... a little sad.
"Not particularly."
Wouldn't it be nice?
Coming home to someone warm and caring... maybe pups later on?
"No."
Someone bringing us flowers?
"Flowers die."
Someone making us tea?
"I know how kettles work."
Someone loving us?
Dunk's smile disappeared so quickly that even he barely noticed.
"Irrelevant."
His wolf fell quiet.
The silence between them lasted until the Dean of Students stepped onto the stage.
"Unclaimed omegas," the elderly alpha announced, his voice echoing through the cathedral. "When your name is called, you will walk the aisle. Should instinct reveal your destined partner, tradition grants the alpha the right to acknowledge and claim the bond."
Nobody laughed.
Not because the speech was inspiring.
Because everyone had heard it since childhood.
Dunk had known about the Presentation since he was six years old.
His mother had adored telling him about it.
"One day," she would sigh while adjusting his hair, "some exceptional alpha is going to sweep you off your feet."
His father had been more practical.
"Preferably one with influence."
Then, when Dunk turned sixteen, "Preferably one with influence and money."
At twenty, "Honestly, Dunk, we didn't spend all this money raising the most intelligent omega in the country for you to marry a researcher making grant applications for the rest of your life."
His mother's favorite phrase drifted through his memory.
"You don't stay young forever."
His father's followed immediately after.
"If you insist on remaining single after graduation, don't expect us to finance that stubbornness."
Their financial support came with conditions.
Marriage.
A suitable alpha.
Preferably rich.
Preferably powerful.
Preferably someone who would improve the family name.
Dunk intended to disappoint them on all three counts.
His original plan had been simple.
Stay single.
Become a researcher.
Disappear into a laboratory filled with expensive equipment and people who considered silence a form of affection.
Unfortunately, his parents had decided to weaponize his tuition.
So...
He had adapted.
Optimization was, after all, what he did best.
If the University insisted on giving him an opportunity to choose an alpha...
He would choose one himself.
Not for love.
Love was unreliable.
Not for attraction.
Attraction was temporary.
Certainly not because of destiny.
Destiny had never paid anyone's rent.
No.
He had chosen according to data.
Months of it.
Academic records.
Disciplinary reports.
Student gossip.
Family histories.
Among dozens of candidates, one name had survived every elimination.
Joong Archen.
Quiet.
Harmless.
Average.
Comic book enthusiast.
Socially awkward.
Frequently described as a weirdo.
Rarely described as dangerous.
Exactly the sort of alpha likely to freeze if a complete stranger collapsed into his arms.
Dunk only needed three seconds of hesitation.
Long enough for confusion.
Long enough for embarrassment.
Long enough for him to quietly leave.
Everyone would assume he'd fallen for Joong.
His parents would stop introducing him to wealthy idiots.
Future suitors would respectfully back off.
Joong would politely decline.
Everyone won.
Simple.
Elegant.
Efficient.
His wolf had called the plan...
Extremely stupid.
Dunk preferred creative.
"...Dunk Natachai."
His name echoed through the hall.
Every conversation stopped.
Wonderful.
Time to commit fraud.
He stepped into the aisle.
Hundreds of eyes followed him.
He barely noticed.
People stared.
They always had.
Not because Dunk smiled sweetly or fluttered his eyelashes.
Quite the opposite.
He had a low voice for an omega, sharp cheekbones, and the unfortunate habit of looking mildly offended by the existence of other people.
His classmates described him as beautiful.
They also described him as terrifying.
Dunk privately considered that an efficient combination.
His wolf considered it tragic.
Smile a little.
"Why?"
We're making friends.
"No we're not."
The wolf sighed dramatically.
Hopeless.
Dunk walked steadily between rows of watching alphas.
Faces blurred together.
Some openly admired him.
Some looked nervous.
Some looked as though they had already begun imagining wedding invitations.
Absolutely not.
Then he found him.
Joong Archen.
Tall.
Very tall.
Broad shoulders that looked slightly too large for the neat university blazer.
Dark hair that had clearly been brushed that morning before giving up halfway through.
Glasses.
A comic book peeking shamelessly out of his satchel.
He sat alone despite hundreds of students surrounding him.
No one leaned over to whisper jokes.
No one waved.
No one smiled.
It wasn't that people disliked him.
It was almost worse.
They simply...
forgot he was there.
Joong noticed Dunk looking his way.
His eyes widened.
Oh.
Oh.
He hadn't expected...
Dunk Natachai?
Looking at him?
His heart forgot how to beat for a worrying second.
He knew who Dunk was.
Everyone did.
The brilliant omega.
Calm.
Independent.
Beautiful enough that people lowered their voices when he walked past.
Joong had admired him quietly from a distance for months.
Quietly being the important word.
Looking too long at an omega felt rude.
Approaching one without invitation felt worse.
So he hadn't.
He'd simply accepted that some stars were meant to be appreciated from very, very far away.
His wolf sat up immediately.
Mate.
"Don't start."
Sexy mate.
"He isn't even walking toward us."
The wolf looked deeply unimpressed.
Observe.
Dunk continued walking.
Straight toward him.
Joong's stomach flipped.
"He's probably looking at someone behind us."
Observe.
There wasn't anyone behind him.
Dunk stopped.
Their eyes met.
Up close...
Joong realized the rumors had all been wrong.
People called Dunk intimidating.
He mostly looked tired.
Like someone who had carried the expectations of other people for far too long.
Without really thinking, Joong smiled.
A tiny, awkward smile.
Just enough to say,
Hello.
Dunk blinked.
His wolf practically combusted.
HE'S ADORABLE!
"He's adequate."
Look at him!
"Focus."
Three steps.
Two.
One.
Dunk let his knees give way.
For one impossible heartbeat, nobody moved.
Then instinct, real instinct this time, took over.
Joong lunged forward.
Strong arms caught Dunk before he could strike the marble floor.
The omega weighed almost nothing.
Far too little.
Joong held him as though he had been handed something priceless.
"...Are you all right?" he whispered automatically.
The question was ridiculous.
The omega had clearly fainted.
His wolf looked positively smug.
Mate.
Joong barely heard the roaring silence filling the cathedral.
Hundreds of students stared.
The Dean stared.
The professors stared.
Tradition settled over the hall like a physical weight.
Joong knew what everyone was waiting for.
If an omega fainted before an alpha...
The alpha could claim the bond.
His heart hammered.
Dunk...
had chosen him?
No.
Surely not.
People didn't choose Joong.
Most people overlooked Joong.
They forgot him.
Laughed at him.
Moved to different tables.
Yet here, in his arms, lay the omega everyone admired.
His wolf looked at him as though he were the slowest creature ever born.
Obviously he chose us.
"Are you certain?"
Completely.
"What if I'm misunderstanding?"
You're misunderstanding how long you're taking.
Joong looked down at Dunk's peaceful face.
Something warm settled quietly inside his chest.
Not excitement.
Not triumph.
Gratitude.
And, inconveniently, a sudden, fierce urge to keep holding him.
Someone...
wanted him.
His throat tightened.
He lifted his head.
His voice shook despite every effort to steady it.
"I claim this omega."
For half a second...
Silence.
Then the Great Hall erupted.
Students burst into applause.
Someone from the upper balcony yelled,
"ARCHEN?"
Another shouted,
"The loner actually got a mate!"
Whistles echoed beneath the cathedral ceiling.
The Dean smiled broadly.
"The bond is recognized."
Still limp in Joong's arms, Dunk experienced what was, in his opinion, a perfectly reasonable reaction to unexpectedly becoming unofficially engaged.
...Oh, for the love of science.