((the smart part of me absolutely hates omegaverse because it feels like the patriarchy but worse. The freak part of me though...))

There wasn't much about Viktor that screamed 'alpha'.

And thank Janna for it. In all honesty, the whole concept of separating people into reproductive categories just seemed odd to him. Not in the 'we're all the same in the end' way, but in the 'systemic categorisation depending on a physical and unchangeable factor leads to a lack of understanding and respect on both sides' way.

But tough luck, he wasn't a beta. He couldn't just brush it off as a fact of life that happened to other people, but not him. Hell, being an omega would probably be better in this situation. Poor little Viktor, all frail and innocent, blah blah blah... It would definitely be less shocking.

No, damn it all to hell, he just had to be an alpha. And although far from the stereotypical big, strong protector type, he still had all the miserable instincts that came with the role. And the ruts. Goddamnit.

So, like any self-respecting scientist who could definitely not afford having his 'alpha emotions' get in the way--yes, someone did say that to his face once--he went on scent blockers. And looked into getting his scent glands removed. And stayed at home during his ruts.

But of course, science rarely waits.

That's why Viktor was at the lab, at eight o'clock on a Tuesday morning during one of the worst ruts of his life, sweating like a sinner in church. Honestly, there was a good chance that it was only this bad because it was the first time in a while that he had to be out of the house for it. Oh well. Nothing he could do about it except roll his sleeves up and pretend nothing was wrong.

You had been particularly annoying--sweet, really--about it too. Asking him if he was sick, telling him he should go home, bringing him coffee so he didn't have to get up, the works. But the experiment you had been preparing for a month now was finally about to be ready, and he couldn't miss it for anything. So as well as he could, Viktor tried to reassure you that he was completely, totally fine.

Until his scent blockers wore off. It must have been because of the sweat. And now he was well and truly fucked, because he wasn't sure how to explain to you that no, the lab wasn't burning down, the weird smell of burning wood was coming from him.

It was somewhere halfway through the afternoon that you finally noticed. Or, in any case, that you finally looked like you'd say something about it. And the moment your mouth opened to mention a possible fire, he beat you to it.

"It uh, smells a bit like smoke, doesn't it?" Viktor remarked lightly, pretending to look out the window. "Must be some house. Somewhere."

Hopefully, he wanted to add. Because if you got too curious, it would be over for him.