Requests and Challenges - White Balloons: Chapter Two
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Title: White Balloons
Author: girlgotagun
Pairing: Dean/Sam (Unrelated)
Chapter Two: Fallout
AN: This is one of those nifty moments that demonstrates that intermittent fills may still get updated more than once each week; just all of the updates will surface on their assigned day. Sometimes throughout the week if I have some time and my scheduled fills are done, I may pull up a doc and write out some of the stuff I've been planning, and it eventually builds up into multiple chapters. Not always; no promises. But sometimes. :)
. hold on .
Dean woke up as the early-morning sun began to wash over the clearing. Satisfied with claiming and breeding a heating omega, his more feral side had settled in, once more mostly dormant, in the back corners of his mind. He sat up, hissing as his limp cock slipped from the omega’s warm heat, and stood up to right his clothes. He looked around, trying to find anything by way of clothing that may belong to the omega, and finally located a pair of jeans, a long sleeve tee shirt, and a hoodie folded up a few yards from the spot the ritual had been performed in.
He searched through the pockets and finally found a wallet. He opened it and pulled out the state-issued ID-Vermont, so the kid was a local. The card told Dean that the omega was twenty-two years old-four years his junior-and that his name was Samuel Wesson. In the picture, the omega looked young, happy and carefree; nothing like the wanton, lust-wracked heating creature he had been the night before. The Alpha felt a stab of guilt in his chest. Seeing the man’s name, his birthday, that kind warmth in his eyes on that little plastic card somehow made him more real. Which made what Dean had done more real, as well.
Most omegas presented at fourteen. That meant that Samuel Wesson had been through approximately thirty-two heats in his young life, every one of them as brutal and intense as the one Dean had witnessed. But the omega was a virgin-according to the requirements of the ritual, anyway. It wasn’t that unusual for an omega to be unmated at twenty-two, but to be a virgin…to get through thirty-two heats without being mounted-that was unusual. Most omegas got help from betas to get through their heat, or hired heat studs-Alphas who were, for whatever reason, incapable of reproducing but who could still knot them. It was really rare for one to manage to just suffer through. The omega had to have been doing it for a reason.
That made Dean feel lower than dirt. Samuel Wesson had been saving himself, probably until he found his true mate or something, suffered all of that, only to be snatched up by a bunch of witches for their twisted ritual and then claimed by Dean while he was out of his mind with the fever of his heat. Awesome.
The Alpha sighed and carried the clothes over to the omega’s still-sleeping form-or, that was what he thought. He crouched down, planning to wake the younger man, and before he could process what was happening he was being knocked back as the omega suddenly twisted around, hopping to the balls of his feet and springing at him, all of his weight slamming into Dean’s gut.
He went toppling to the ground, the snarling omega on top of him gripping the collar of his shirt tight as he drew back his fist and punched Dean square in the jaw. Dean, taken by surprise, couldn’t react for a moment as his vision spun. His instincts kicked in and he released a wave of scent, aggression and rage coursing through him. The omega tensed, a low whimper escaping his throat, and then he was pulling himself up-with some difficulty by the looks of it-and scampering backwards away from the Alpha.
Dean sat up, rubbing his jaw as he stared incredulously at the omega, crouched close to the ground and snarling at him.
“You…” the omega ground out, fury lacing the word. “You ruined everything!”
Dean didn’t know what to make of the bristling, spitting creature in front of him. He had never seen an omega act like this before. “Listen, kid, I didn’t kidnap you and try to sacrifice you to some demon, alright?”
The omega bit out a harsh laugh. “No one kidnapped me!” He was shaking in rage, potent anger rolling off of him in a cloud that could rival that of some Alphas. “I was chosen. He chose me to carry his son! And you ruined it!”
“Wait, wait.” The wheels in Dean’s mind were spinning, trying to find traction. “You’re telling me you volunteered for this?”
“I was chosen.” Samuel spoke slowly, as though sure that Dean were stupid. “Out of the whole coven, he chose me. It was an honor.”
“Okay, as much as I’m enjoying this special brand of crazy, you’re not making any sense.” The Alpha kept a careful eye on the omega as a snarl ripped from his throat. “You know that those witches were going to kill you, right?”
“They were my family.”
Dean sighed. “And I thought I had some messed-up family.” He turned this all over in his mind, trying to stay calm. He knew from years of experience hunting and keeping his instincts in check that if he got upset, if he panicked, that he would only find some way to make the situation worse.
The coven was Samuel’s family, and he had been a fully-willing participant in the ritual, which Dean had then interrupted. Then, to make matters worse, Dean had claimed him, ensuring that the demon spawn wouldn’t survive to be born. Well, no wonder the omega was pissed off. Still, he had missed one very important detail-
Dean stood up, his eyes narrowing as he stalked toward the omega. He could see the increasing effect his scent had as he grew closer, pressing down on the younger man even as he continued to glare at Dean. “I’m still your Alpha, bitch.” His words were a low growl as he towered over Samuel. “Whether you like it or not; whether you think it’s fair or not; whether you think I pissed on your little crazy party or not. You’re mine. I claimed you, bred you, and if you ever hit me again, I will end you.”
The Alpha looked down at the cowering omega, guilt twisting his gut. He wasn’t one of those insecure asshole Alpha stereotypes who got off on exerting his natural ability to control omegas. He knew he was powerful; didn’t need to pick on the more vulnerable statuses to reassure himself of it. But if everything this omega-his omega-was saying was true, he had gotten himself into a very dangerous, very bad spot. He, a hunter, had mated and bred a witch. If he didn’t do something to stop it now, the next thing Samuel did wouldn’t be to hit him-he’d try to kill him.
“Get dressed.” He muttered, letting up on the scent enough to allow the omega to move as he reached into the pocket of his leather coat to take out his cigarettes and lighter. He got the feeling that he was going to be practically chain smoking for awhile, what with this crazy-ass situation he had found himself in.
He watched as the omega pulled on his clothes and then turned, signaling for him to follow Dean through the woods and back to the Impala.
. hold on .
Two hours later and Dean was about to crawl out of his skin. The air in the car was thick with Samuel’s irritation and hatred towards him, and while their mating had the happy perk of allowing Dean to control the omega, it unfortunately meant that the omega’s scent affected him as well. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel anxiously, fighting his instinct to try to soothe the younger man. If he wanted to be a bitch about all of this, that was fine. Let him. Like he had some reason to be mad. Dean had saved his life, and what did the Alpha get out of the deal? A witch for a mate. Peachy.
Wait until Bobby heard about this new development. Dean nearly groaned at the thought that followed. Wait until his dad heard about it. He’d be the laughingstock of the hunters, the butt of every joke. Or they’d kill him. Or they’d kill the omega. That thought sent his hindbrain raging, screaming about his omega and his pup.
Oh fuck. The pup. He wanted to beat his head against the steering wheel. There was a terrible sort of irony in the fact that just last night he had roared in pleasure at the thought of knocking up the omega. Yeah, that was what he got for thinking there might be a good point to what had happened.
How the fuck could he trust this guy to carry his pup? He couldn’t even trust him to do something simple like not turn out to be a crazy-ass evil witch!
Maybe it hadn’t taken. The thought occurred to him suddenly, sending hope fluttering through his chest. Yeah, maybe he had mated Samuel; claimed him. Maybe he could have bred him, but with the whole rejecting-the-antichrist thing, his womb hadn’t…absorbed Dean’s seed. Or whatever. Dean hadn’t paid very close attention in the omega portion of his health class in high school.
He let out a slow breath. He had already all but convinced himself that Samuel wasn’t really carrying, and with that concern dismissed, the other issues seemed manageable. Okay, so the omega had been part of a coven. And okay, he had offered himself up to incubate a demon spawn. Everyone makes mistakes.
He glanced at the omega and then back at the road, trying to think of something to say. After a moment he figured he’d better just start at the beginning. “My name’s Dean.” It seemed so ridiculous to be introducing himself to his own claimed mate that he nearly laughed. “Dean Winchester.”
The omega didn’t answer him, slumping lower into the passenger’s seat.
Well, that was fine. Dean would just continue. “I’m a hunter. I guess you already know that, though, given the situation. I spend most of the time on the road, but when we’re not hunting my dad and I stay at our friend Bobby’s place, which is where we’re going now.”
“Just stop, Dean.” The omega’s voice was quiet, weary. “I don’t have anything to say to you. Don’t want to know you.”
Well. That hurt. Dean sighed. “Look, Samuel-”
“Sam,” the omega snapped. “No one calls me Samuel.”
Dean scoffed, remembering that he had been forced to find the name on Sam’s ID. Not one of the witches last night had used his name. “The way your family was talking, I was surprised your name wasn’t the omega.”
Sam shifted uncomfortably. “They uh…when we decided to perform the ritual, the others stopped using my name.” He shrugged. “Makes it easier; sort of like…you know, you don’t name a calf if you’re gonna butcher it.” The omega was quiet for a moment, and when he spoke his voice sounded tight. “You’re the first one who’s actually used my name in three years.”
Dean breathed slowly, working to calm his mind as he sensed the vulnerability in the omega’s words. But as quickly as it had appeared it was gone, the omega’s hard exterior snapping back into place like a shield.
“All for nothing,” he spat, his voice bitter.
“Sam…” Dean inhaled deeply, trying to sort out what he wanted to say, what words he wanted to use. “I know this isn’t what you wanted. And I’m not sorry I stopped it, as a hunter. But I’m sorry that you’re stuck like this, because of me. It was the only way, I swear. But I’m not… I swear I’m not a bad guy, a bad Alpha. I’ll treat you well.” His eyes flitted to the omega, who was curled in on himself in the passenger’s seat, watching Dean with guarded eyes. “Promise.”
Sam didn’t answer him, his gaze turning back to the window and the scenery flying by.
. hold on .
Fact was, Dean had been afraid of his baser self, of being someone’s Alpha. But he had still dreamed about it; still wanted it for himself one day. It was harder on omegas to be unmated, sure. Simple instinct made that no contest. But it was hard on Alphas, hardwired to protect and comfort and provide, to have no one to protect or comfort or provide for. It left him feeling like an integral part of him was missing; hard to pinpoint or identify in words it was so basic.
When he had imagined one day mating, claiming an omega, he had imagined it in a more traditional way. He thought he would meet an omega, fall in love, and then he would claim them. Like his mom and dad. He should’ve known that wouldn’t be how it played out; nothing ever did for hunters.
Still, ending up mated without even knowing his omega’s name, without even hearing him say a word, seemed a little far off from the target, even for hunters’ luck.
When they pulled up at Bobby’s place he let the engine idle, staring at the door for a few moments before he spoke. “Listen, Sam… They’re hunters. They’re not gonna like this.”
“They can join the club,” the omega grumbled, crossing his arms.
Dean smirked. The younger man had a point. “Look, what I mean is…don’t let anything they might say get to you. We’re…well, we’re pretty stuck together. And maybe that sucks, but I’d never let anything happen to my mate. So…” He took a deep breath, realizing as he watched Sam’s face that he was way more concerned about this meeting than Sam was. “Just…”
“Dean.” Sam’s eyes snapped to his, aggravation lacing his voice. “Do you really think anything they can say is going to top being mated to you on my list of completely shitty things that have happened to me today?”
A muscle in Dean’s jaw twitched as he tried to keep the anger that surged forth at that statement at bay. When he spoke, it was through clenched teeth, his voice a low growl in the small space. “Fine. Fend for yourself, then.”
He got out of the car, slamming the door hard behind him as he stormed towards the house, leaving Sam to follow him or stay in the car for the rest of his life for all he cared.
. hold on .
Dean found Bobby in the kitchen, the phone marked CDC cradled against his ear as he poked at a few eggs in a frying pan.
“I don’t care what your Chief of Medicine says about HIPA; our agent is there to do his job, and I promise you that if you make him come back your whole damned hospital will regret it.” He paused as whoever was on the other end of the line spoke, rolling his eyes as he turned to face Dean. “Yeah, that’s what I hoped you’d say.”
He slammed the phone down and heaved a long-suffering sigh.
“Garth?” Dean guessed.
Bobby grunted. “Always. Don’t nobody take him seriously. Get a call every damned time.”
Dean shrugged. “Can’t blame ‘em, though. Good kid; good hunter. Goofy as hell.”
Bobby chuckled and then looked around. “Where’s that omega?” His eyes went wide. “Don’t tell me you…”
“No, Bobby.” Dean shook his head. “Almost wish I had, but no. He’s out in the car.”
Bobby quirked an eyebrow at him. “This soon after claiming and he’s not attached to your side like a sea urchin? That’s about the shortest honeymoon phase I’ve ever seen.”
Dean snorted. “You have no idea, man.” He crossed to the fridge and pulled out a beer before sitting down at the table. “Dad around?”
“Should be, somewhere.” Bobby seemed to be listening hard for a moment and then shrugged. “He’ll be down in a minute, anyway. He’ll have heard you turning in.”
Sure enough, five minutes later the older Alpha entered the kitchen, giving Dean one of his rare smiles. “So?”
“Congrats? You have a son-in-law?” Dean’s voice was dry.
John laughed. “Know it’s not how you’d’ve picked for it to happen, son, but it can’t be all bad.” He looked around the kitchen as though he expected Sam to jump out from behind the fridge or something. “Where is he?”
“Out in the car.” Dean said, nodding at the surprised look on his father’s face. “Yeah, he’s…not too excited about us being mated.”
“Oh. Well, I’m sure it was a bit of a shock to him. He’ll come around.” John clapped his hand on Dean’s shoulder, the gesture stilted and awkward. John wasn’t a very hands-on sort of man.
Dean scoffed. “Yeah, I don’t know about that. I mean, I kind of killed his coven, after all.”
There was silence at that announcement and Dean braced himself for the explosion as he watched the two men work out what he’d said.
Continue to Chapter Three