Chapter Text
When Niki came to his office late at night and whispered "Can you walk home with me, please?" Techno wasn't sure where to hit his head.
It seemed so unlike the confident young woman he was used to but, since he could tell by the desperation in her voice that this was very serious he just went with it. It's not like he had much else to do.
So he closed his book, put on his coat and signed for her to follow him outside. Niki looked like she was shivering, it wasn't clear wether it was because of the cold or just some sheer concentrated fear.
There was a man outside the building, basically covering the door with how he was standing. Just... a full grown middle aged man standing outside a military building at 3 a.m. for no reason.
And, as soon as this weirdo noticed Niki tucked as close as possible to his jacket he rolled his eyes. "Really, had to inconvenience someone just cause you're a pussy, omega? There was no need, it was just a compliment.".
Niki just flinched. Even if it was muffled, Techno could hear the "It wasn't just a compliment..." loud and clear. That statement was so... disgustingly familiar that it felt like like somebody infused him with pure adrenaline and protective instincts.
"Fuck, you would look so good pregnant. Would be such a good sow, wouldn't you?"
"Listen, you look good enough to be someone's bedwarmer. Why don't you drop this military bullshit and just act like it?"
The idea that Niki could be in a situation even half as bad as his was genuinely terrifying. Techno's so fucking glad he took it seriously and he shuddered to think about the chance he had been home today.
He grabbed Niki by the shoulder and kept walking at full speed while the girl tried to disappear against him, not even bothering to say a word. It sounded like she was crying.
He hates how familiar he is with this kind of response. He hates how he remembers being mute for days the first times it happened, that is until he noticed that was just what they wanted out of him.
When they reached her home Niki sighed out of relief. She smiled and whispered "Thanks. Sorry for the inconvenience."
Techno cupped her face. "No inconvenience at all. It's safe for you to go home, right?" He felt the incessant urge to ask.
"Yes, it is. That dude doesn't live close to here, he was just a wandering drunk." It sounded truthful, hopefully she isn't lying and this is a one time thing.
Niki was about to turn around and go home so Techno gently pulled his arm.
Because holy shit, what if something happened and she ended up pregnant? Or if she was bleeding and needed to make sure it doesn't get infected. "Did something before you called me? Because if it did you should get certain medicines."
He was not gonna leave another person like him, scared of being pregnant by his attacker. Having to take care of a kid that looked exactly like his master had almost been scarier that the rape itself.
"No, nothing happened. Just a really bad comment." She paused and looked him up and down. "You're really informed about this."
She didn't even need to say the 'why?', it was very obvious. And maybe it's because of the event that just happened, maybe it's because Niki is an omega just like him, Techno told him the truth.
He still whispered, desperately afraid someone else will hear it. "I'm an omega and... It did happen to me, multiple times. It was before the empire but when I came here I felt like I needed to know what to do... just in case"
Niki looked stunned. "Really? I... I thought you were an alpha."
Techno huffed. "Of course, I don't exactly publicize it. Also don't tell anybody that." He bit his lips, looked to the side and continued. "If this ever happens again just know that you can come to me, doesn't matter if it's 3 a.m. and I'm sleeping."
Niki hugged him hard. "Thanks again, your secret is safe with me." She sounded so relatively carefree after a night as bad as this one.
It was nice to know he'd made an impact.
It was summer.
Actually no, it was the closest thing the empire had to summer. The temperature was still barely above 12 °C and you still had to wear cloaks almost everywhere.
Which still felt freezing to Techno but was apparently enough to encourage Phil to walk around naked every possible occasion.
It's not like he minded, not at all.
Still, maybe he should have tried harder to hide how much he's enjoying Phil's displays since right now he's basically ogling him openly. The alpha certainly isn't doing it for him to get off, why would he?
So whatever, the next time it happened Techno just kept reading his book very intensely, much more than necessary. He probably looked flushed as hell.
There was no half naked god with chiseled abs in his room, just Techno and a very good book. Maybe if he repeated it often enough he could actually believe it.
And it was working for a while, at least until Phil wrapped his arm around Techno's neck and laid his head on his shoulder. "What are you reading?" He said, clearly not interested at all.
What does he want? Can't he just be upfront and ask? Techno would have preferred it much more. "I dunno, some weird romance novel I found in the library somewhere."
Phil hummed, stopping the conversation there. He just stayed there for a while, sometimes passing his fingers through Techno's hair.
And then, as soon as he was getting used to cuddling while reading, Phil just hit him with "You're so pretty, I can't believe you're even in my bed..."
Oh... Oh... So he was the dumb one.
Phil had been trying to get something going and now Techno looked like he had just done his best to avoid it at all costs. He was probably so fucking done with him, probably thought he was a weird disgusting little prude or something.
He closed the book immediately. "Oh really? Well, I can't believe that a God somehow came in this room and started to claim he's my dear Phil."
The alpha chuckled. "Don't say that, my head's gonna get too big and I'm gonna become an egomaniac."
Phil probably liked it. He's an alpha, they like this kind of shit, love being told they're strong and would be a good mate.
Making out with Phil always has always felt like a duel. They are both trying to rile the other up as quickly as humanly possible with any means necessary, from somewhat artificial moans to teeth that barely scrape his lips to "accidental" gropings here and there.
It's so hot. Yeah, Phil gets to feel him up and see one of the most vulnerable moments possible but Techno can do it too, he isn't just an object to Phil's satisfaction. In fact, the alpha seems to only enjoy it if Techno also is.
Yeah, alphas aren't supposed to be like that but who cares? It's hot and it reminds Techno that this isn't like in the past.
What's different is at some point, after they are forced to take a break since they are barely breathing, Phil slowly moves his hand towards Techno's shirt. "May I?"
It sounded like a plea, a desperate and filthy plea. A plea that he wholeheartedly accepted.
Techno had never really been naked around people of his own volition. It had always been on someone else's order.
He thought he didn't like nakedness. He thought he would never even let someone pass his fingers over his clothes, nevermind trying to take them off.
But this... This felt natural, sacred even. Phil had never been violent or demanding and, even if he didn't believe their relationship to be serious, Techno still immensely trusted Phil to make this good.
Phil stroked his finger against the omega's chest. "You're amazing..." His tone is low and... Fuck, it feels so genuine, so true in any way possible.
It makes Techno wish this was his first time even approaching sex. It's not, his first time's always gonna be back in the Nether with his 30 year old master but... He can pretend, just for tonight.
And it's nice... It's nice not to think about all that for once. It's nice to not care about what he's supposed to do.
He pushed Phil against the bed instead of trying to think about a response and it was amazing, he moaned so nicely Techno really couldn't help it if he immediately started playing with his belt.
Taking off his pants was awkward, especially since neither of them really wanted to stop touching each other. It was relaxed, Techno giggled a few times, there isn't any pressure to look good or anything.
And then he turned towards a now naked Phil. It's... Weird... Definitely weird. Phil definitely doesn't look like his master, they're as different as they come both in looks and attitude. Still, he can't... He can't stop thinking about it.
It's weird because... he can't find a specific reason for it. It's just... the fact that someone he recognizes as an alpha is standing there naked and erect, very erect. That's it, it's so stupid.
He should be happy about this, Phil wants to fuck him and finds him attractive. It still feels bad, he can't stop thinking about what would happen now if he was back there.
"Stop moving and give in, I don't have the energy. And be quick about this or there will be consequences."
"I don't care that you're tired, you do remember that an alpha experiences pain after they reach a certain level of arousal. Repeat it to me so it gets through that thick skull of yours. Ugh, act all smart and shit while you can't even understand basic laws of nature."
Whatever, he was sure he could push through this. This was gonna be fine, Phil is nice and this is all gonna be fine, this wasn't going to be like the last time he saw an alpha completely naked. He won't think about that, it would just spoil the fun.
So he tried to soldier on through it. It was probably gonna be fine as soon as they get back to it, right? Except when Phil kissed him and started to lightly grind against him Techno doesn't feel anything but hot white panic.
He wanted this a few seconds ago.
He doesn't want it anymore.
He isn't sure what to do.
Phil had specifically said that it was fine to ask to stop if he ever didn't like the sex, right? He should do it.
It's not like he's naive enough to think there wouldn't be any consequences based on what he does but... It's Phil, the worst he could do is never speak to Techno again and, while it would be terrible, he'd experienced so much worse.
He should ask.
He wanted to ask.
But how do you do that? Is there a protocol or a code or something? Or do you just tell your partner you don't feel like it? It's not like it's an option that Techno has had before coming here.
So he just opted for grabbing Phil's arms and whispering "I don't... Can we please stop?" Even if he logically knows he is safe, for a second Techno can only think about the truly dreadful idea of Phil ignoring what he just said and going on.
It didn't happen, Phil kept his promise and immediately stopped touching him. "Ok. Everything alright? Did I say or do something you didn't like?"
Phil shouldn't blame himself, he has been so nice and caring all throughout. It was just Techno and his stupid head to blame for this not happening. "No, it's my fault, you did everything right."
Phil shushed him. "Nobody's at fault, you weren't enjoying it and we stopped. Nothing bad happened, it's alright." He hugged Techno hard.
The alpha kept insisting on being nice the whole night for some reason. He got some maids to bring them very expensive sweets and prepared him an hot bath himself.
It was... It was so unnecessary. He hadn't even asked for food or a bath, he just expected Phil to fall asleep beside him while he didn't sleep all night.
But it helped. A lot.
He was able to fall asleep in the same bed as him, quite an achievement really.
Techno had just spent three hours in the training ground because this knight named Skeppy that he didn't really know kept insisting on rematches to prove he was stronger. And it had been fun, genuinely.
As soon as they heard the bells ring 5 times Skeppy started to shout a string of cuss words. "Shit, I was supposed to home an hour ago. Fuck, Bad is gonna kill me."
Techno tries to find anyone by the name of Bad somewhere in his memories. He comes up empty handed. "Who's Bad? Is it actually his name?"
Skeppy laughs. "He's my husband, you know, the one I married last year. And of course his name isn't Bad, his son used to call him that and it just kinda stuck."
It's weird, newborns usually don't speak that much but maybe human babies are more advanced or something. "You already have a son after one year? Congrats"
Skeppy looked at him weird. "Nah, Sapnap's from a previous marriage. Lovely kid, we get along and all but he's not mine."
Techno flushes. "Oh... Sorry, I didn't know." He also didn't know omegas who had had previous partners could mate with someone else.
Where he was from that was a huge taboo. If your mate dies you have to remain celibate and if there's even a rumor that you have broken it you can and will be cast aside by the community, even your children.
Apparently in the empire really important, respected members of society can marry omegas with full ass kids and barely anybody gossips about it. He hadn't even heard about it untill now and he tried to pay attention to what people whisper about.
A small part of him cheers at that. If that had been ok maybe it meant Techno could also do it. Maybe Phil could be with him forever, maybe they could marry and have children and all the other stuff Techno wasn't allowed to do back home.
Probably not though. He was and still is an emperor, they have higher standards for partners that anybody else. They have to produce heirs worthy enough to lead the biggest empire in the world.
He curses the world for giving Phil that title. If only he'd just been a general...
Maybe then he could have had all the thing his teenage self had thought were out of reach from him.
Maybe he could have had all the things his teenage self secretly wished for in his dreams.
So... Techno was talking to Niki, something that he did a lot now. Mostly about politics as there were so few omegas there and a lot of alphas had different political choices.
And he easily recognized something.
Niki didn't seem to realize that discrimination against omegas wasn't just done by alphas. Every time they talked about his past she seemed to only ask what alphas had said about a situation.
"You do know that a lot of omegas are just as vicious as alphas when it comes to discrimination, right? Because I get the feeling you don't realize how prevalent it is." He asked at one point.
He could tell you from experience that a lot of omegas are just as sexist as alphas, sometimes almost more just because of their sheer focus on it.
Niki looked at him weird. "Is it that prevalent? In a place as bad as where you're from?"
He almost laughed at the idea that omegas would be less sexist back there than here, where they had rights and weren't taught to act like objects all their life. "You'd be surprised. They have a whole ass different kind of misogyny to use, it's fantastic."
"What do you mean? A different brand of it?"
Techno nods. "Yeah, it's a thing. They usually act like the good ones that know their place and are prepared to teach their fellow omegas just that. Make me wanna barf to be honest."
"You really have no value, why would you give up everything that would have made you a good omega? Trying to join the military, so absurd. Of course you ended up as a pleasure slave."
He shuddered because holy shit, that's not something that he wanted to remember. That's not someone he wanted to remember.
But whatever, the disgust was not going away. Might as well talk about it.
"There was this one who was the worst of them all. She was like... my master's wife or something. She'd just given birth to her 7th child and so they had this celebration because she was good at breeding or something."
Niki jumped from where she was sitting. "Seven?! How is she not dead?" Techno shrugged. Let's just say, there was a reason they were celebrating it.
"Anyway, she decided to use that day to teach other omegas a lesson. I..." He has to force himself to remember that it's fine, Techno can tell her about your experience, she's not gonna exploit it.
"She casually caught me when I had just become one of her husband's sex slave and... I had just tried to escape and had been whipped, was still bleeding and all. She pointed to me and started going on and on about how if I had just acted like an omega should everything would have been fine. It was..."
"Oh... Wow, that sounds traumatic." She sat closer to him and tried to put his hand around his shoulder. "She sounds terrible..."
Techno shrugged. "Yeah, she was. Thing is... She was also a victim. She was like 13 or something when she got married to a 30 year old and I don't think I've ever seen her not pregnant for more than a month altogether."
He laid down on the bed and spread his arms. "It's hard to reconcile what she did with what happened to her. She's... I'm not sure which of her actions should be counted more."
Niki nodded. "It's weird when the victim becomes the bad guy."
And the thing is... Techno isn't sure if she had the real chance to become a better person. He isn't even sure if she realized how oppressed she was.
It's... It's fucked up is what it is.
Phil was acting a bit weird. Way too happy and cheery for a guy that had to sit in his uncomfortable throne for nine hours today.
He'd also stopped Techno from going in his office to get some documents and insisted to grab them himself, which was completely unnecessary. He was adamant that everything was alright and they should meet today at 7.
Techno tried to trust him but it was so fucking obvious he was hiding something. Phil had clearly found a replacement, that's the reason he was smiling all lovestruck today. It had to be.
They'd probably done it yesterday on that fucking way too big and way too soft bed. Phil probably talked shit about him after he'd done it, about how he was a fucking already used prude that isn't giving him what he needs and probably will never be albe to since he was ruined.
Yeah, that seems about right.
Why the fuck was he insisting on meeting today? Was he already going to tell Techno what a bad partner he'd been?
Techno was a mess. He barely even ate all day and he cried while he was changing. He was putting on his good clothes just to have Phil break up with him and it was fucking with his brain.
"I don't care that you're sad, an omega should always look presentable. You think alphas will care about your feelings? You're his bitch, you don't get to have off days."
He just hoped that Phil miraculously changed his mind during the day. He wasn't sure if it was best for him but Techno definitely wanted him to.
He was acting so selfish. It's fine if Phil doesn't want him anymore. It's fine if he wants to cast him out and never talk to him again. Techno should only care that the relationship, or lack thereof, is good for Phil.
As soon as Techno opened the door he noticed that Phil was acting exactly the same and was incredibly disappointed. He didn't even look tired after 9 hours of working with nobles and insisted on going on a walk outside when it was already dark.
While they were going wherever Phil wanted them to go, the alpha just kept talking on and on and on about weird and boring topics. He usually only does this when he's nervous as shit.
Also Techno had no idea where they were going which didn't help his mental situation at all. Why couldn't they just do it inside, maybe in Phil's room. He was gonna have to grab his clothes from there anyway, there's no reason to do it somewhere else.
Phil finally stops at a door and his wings definitely puff up in excitement. He grabs Techno by both his arms and gently leads him inside.
There's... The room's some sort of closed garden with a whole ass fish pond. There are freshly lit candles all over and there isn't a single fallen leaf anywhere. This place was definitely prepared a few hours ago at most.
What the fuck is happening? This isn't usually the place you would use to break up with somebody.
Phil visibly exhaled. "So... We've been together for a long time, haven't we? And... You know... Fuck, I forgot what I was supposed to say." He stopped for a second to collect his thoughts. "As I was saying... almost 2 years already. Everything's going fine and we're pretty serious so... I thought this was time to... make it official, you know?"
What the hell? Phil... Phil isn't trying to court him, right? He can't be trying to court him. This is not supposed to happen, he should be breaking up with him, Techno doesn't deserve this.
Phil shoved an hand in his pocket and pulls a rectangular box that probably contains a necklace. "I know this isn't the best speech ever but... I love you a whole lot and I want this to be forever, what do you think?" He was holding the box in front of himself with both his hands, arms outstretched towards Techno.
"Sweetie, honey, nobody is ever going to want you to be their mate and nobody ever wanted you to. The fact that you lost you virginity doesn't change that, you're way too smart and you talk too much. That's not how good omegas act, do they?"
Shit, that's actually happening? Did Phil just go mad? He can't genuinely want this, he can't want Techno of all people. He's just a taboo fling, right?
Techno exhaled and inhaled a couple times. "I think we should break up."
The thud the box made as it fell on the ground was so loud Techno is pretty sure he could hear an echo.
Phil's looking at him, pure distilled desperation in his eyes. "You're joking, right? Please tell me you're joking. I don't... Is it too early for you? I can wait if that's the problem. We can talk, we can find a compromise, can't we?" He slowly moves to cup Techno's cheek.
It's the first time Techno's ever flinched away from him. "You... I... We shouldn't even be together, you can't be asking me to court me. You shouldn't."
Phil's eye started getting wet, he was actually about to cry. "What do you mean when you say I shouldn't? What's the problem?"
Why was Phil this desperate? Couldn't he just call Techno a bitch and leave? This doesn't make any sense, Techno should be the one begging on his knees.
"I... You aren't... We can't be together." Why can't he understand this? The problem's so obvious, he should know exactly what he's referring to. "We can't be together... I've already been used by other people before and it's clearly effecting the relationship negatively. You also need someone the people will be ok with...somebody that's definitely not me... It's fine... It's just how it is, I won't blame you."
"Techno... Techno, you're a person. You can't be used or bullshit like that. You were raped... You're not some sort of toy." Phil's wings open wide, almost knocking over some of the candles. "And even if it had been consensual, so what? Your sexual history doesn't influence my decision on wether I want to court you or not."
What? No, that can't be right. That can't be true.
They said any alpha would care, they told him that any man would be intensely repulsed even just speaking to him, they told him that if he told any possibile partner they would use it as an opportunity to do it too.
And to top it will off they also apparently fucking lied. "Whatever you say..." It can't be false, way too many people told him that. It had to be true.
Phil grabbed him by both shoulders and stared intensely. "Tech, you know how many people I've been with, right?"
Techno nods. "Yeah, I do." He isn't sure if that's supposed to make him feel better, the reminder that Phil didn't want something serious.
Phil's wings close up a bit. "Did that stop you from getting in a relationship with me?"
"That's different..."
"And why is that?" Phil took yet another breath and stared at him with so much pity he wanted to vomit. "I did because I wanted to, it was all my own choice and you... You didn't get to choose. Why is what happened to you bad for our relationship and what I did isn't?"
It seemed so obvious Techno feels dumb explaining it. "It's because you're... You're... you know... You're an alpha and..."
It's like somebody just slapped him in the face. Why did it make so much sense in his head? As soon as the words left his mouth they felt foreign. This was not something that he believed, he would never tell someone else that, not in a million years.
It... It sounded too similar to what people used to tell him and... it had messed him up. A lot. And now he was turning around to tell Phil the exact same thing.
He had probably just started hyperventilating, not that he noticed or cared. There were much more important things to worry about. "Shit, I can't... It sounded so logical in my head and now... Fuck, I ruined this... I'm sorry, I should go." Techno took a step back.
He just ruined this... He just ruined his only chance with Phil. He found somebody who accepted him, who didn't mind how he looked, the fact he had a job or the fact he wasn't a virgin and ruined it all for no reason.
"Nothing's ruined, not irreparably at least. I still... I'll ask again if you want me to." Phil was fucking smiling again, after Techno made all this mess and forced him to endure a lot of negative emotions.
Techno looked down. "You shouldn't have to..." He loved the idea, loved how considering Phil was of his feelings but... It just didn't feel right.
"Who cares? I love you, I'm prepared to do so much more. That isn't much, I understand what happened." He cupped Techno's face with his hand and stared at him with so much care, so much love, Techno felt like he was about to explode.
"To clarify, I don't need nor want you to stop working and have lots of kids. Because I know that's what marriage means in some countries."
Techno was even more confused at this. "Then what do you get?" Just... Why was marriage even a thing here? If what Phil was telling him was indeed true then there didn't seem to be some big incentive to get married.
"I get to be yours." Phil said, as if that were the most natural thing in the world. Man, saying this to an omega back in the nether would immediately get you branded a submissive little bitch.
Alphas aren't supposed to say that kind of stuff, they are supposed to be disgusted by it. Or so he's been told.
But he definitely believed in Phil much more than them.
Techno looked down sheepishly. "So... If the offer is still up..." He drags his boots against the ground. "Yeah, I accept."