Chapter Text
Toji stares at the omega currently sitting on the wooden veranda, slightly shivering despite it being middle of the summer. He has dark hair falling upto his shoulders, lusterless and matted. Large eye bags under his eyes, pale ashy skin, almost looking like no blood is flowing through his body. His sunken cheeks cling to his face like his body gave up on producing fat a long time ago. The omega looks like a walking corpse. Toji's pretty sure, if he blows hard enough, the omega will fly away with the wind.
This is not what he asked for! If he wanted a corpse bride, he'd have gone to the graveyard, not spend his hard earned money on that slimy matchmaker. He should have known that old granny was conning him but Toji was desperate.
He needed a mate to help around and no decent local family was eagar to hand off their omegas to someone like Toji whose background is as clear as murky water to them. Not to mention his grumpy antisocial behavior turned off everyone.
Even kids are afraid of making fun of his disability. Toji's pretty sure he has made some kids cry just by looking at them. Parents probably put misbehaving children to sleep by reminding them of Toji.
So he kinda gave up looking for a mate in this village and went to that suspicious looking matchmaker granny.
Toji didn't have many demands. He only asked for a strong sturdy mate to help him around, otherwise he'd lose his land to that Kamo clan head, Kenjaku. Toji even specifically asked for an older mature omega, not a freaking malnourished kid!
"How old are you?" Toji finally speaks up. He should have asked for his name but he already knows that. He saw the name Geto Suguru while signing the marriage certificate in front that matchmaker. Suguru of course wasn't present as he was supposed to arrive from another village few days later.
The omega flinches a bit after hearing the alpha's harsh tone but he replies in a surprisingly clear voice. "Sixteen, Fushiguro Sama."
Toji makes a face upon hearing that. Too young! He even looks younger than sixteen due to his malnourished state.
But the omega takes it otherwise.
"I may be a bit old but momma says I look young for my age. Besides, the matchmaker said you wanted an older omega." Suguru looks up at him.
Toji's surprised to see no fear in those eyes. The alpha actually expected the omega to start crying as soon as he saw Toji.
"I did ask for an older omega, meaning someone at least in their twenties. Not a pup barely out of weaning age."
"I'm sixteen, not six!" The omega actually looks offended. Toji would have been amused if it were any other situation. Now he just rolls his eyes.
"You're not what I asked for. Too frail, too young. I asked for a strong, healthy mate, not a breathing skeleton."
"I am stronger than I look. I'm used to hard work. I can help you with anything you want. I can even give you many pups , the local healer said I'm very fertile."
Toji's scowl deepens upon hearing the last part. The thought of mating the kid didn't even cross his mind. He'd simply break the omega. But that's not the point. He's actually surprised the omega talking about having pups so casually, no blushing, no shivering.
Doesn't the thought of laying with Toji make the omega scared?
Or is he that desperate?
Judging by the plain clothes and his skinny body, Toji can guess that Suguru has came from a dirt poor family. He knows the omega lives with his mom and two omega sisters. He just didn't think the Geto family will be this much poverty stricken. Not that he's prejudiced against poor, he's not exactly rolling in gold himself. But Suguru will only burden him. And Toji is not a charity fund.
He'll have to nullify the marriage and ask for his money back.
"I've no use for your words. I'm sending you back. You won't even survive the upcoming winter." Toji says sharply. "Winter in this province is way harsher than your home back there. I can barely took care of myself and the land. How will I take care of you? I'll be sending you back tomorrow." Toji's words leave no room for argument.
Suguru's face falls upon hearing that. He stares at the alpha and knows pleading won't work. Toji looks like a man of his word and despite being disable, he's very much intimidating. If Suguru wasn't desperate, he probably would run for the hill the moment he saw Toji.
The alpha is big and scary. The permanent scowl in his scarred lips didn't help his situation either. The man reminds him of big grizzly bears. But Suguru didn't care. Toji's home looked ten times better than his own broken shack back there. At least here, he'd be able to eat three meals a day, would have a solid roof over his head instead of leaky thatched one...or so he thought.
Now the dream of having a better life has been nipped in the bud. He can't blame Toji. After all, Suguru isn't much to look at, not in his current state anyways. After barely surviving the last famine, he has lost his beauty and charm that once turned every head in the village. Now people barely spare a second glance at him.
Suguru grabs his yukata and bites down inside his cheek. He won't cry, he's not a crier. Besides, this is not his first rejection either. Toji married him cause he hadn't seen him beforehand. Now that the alpha has seen his gaudy ugly face, he doesn't want him anymore. Suguru should be accustomed to humiliation by now and yet the familiar sting still lingers.
"Are you going to sit there all day? Come inside." The alpha's sudden voice startles him. Suguru blinks for a moment, he didn't expect to be allowed inside. Childish part of him wants to pout and stay put but he can't afford to be childish, so with a sigh, he gets up and steps inside of Toji's house.
As expected, it's way much better than Suguru's home back in the village. There aren't much furniture inside but it's enough for one person to live comfortably. It’s not extravagant by any means, but to Suguru, it feels like luxury compared to the drafty hut he left behind.
He carefully puts the bundle of clothes that he brought with him on the floor. There's no point opening it anyways.
"Are you hungry?" Toji knows it's a silly question. Of course the omega is hungry. Anyone with eyes could see that. So he doesn't wait for an answer and heads to the kitchen. He may not want the omega to stay but that doesn't mean he has to be an asshole. Suguru is still his legal wife and Toji ows him this much.
Maybe tomorrow he'll give him some money before sending him away. Besides, seeing Suguru's face fall upon hearing his rejection made Toji feel odd. He expected begging or crying but the omega simply expected his fate, like it's not the first time he's been shooed away like unwanted pest.
Toji knows how it feels...he is way too familiar with the feeling. Was he too quick to judge?
Shaking his head, Toji serves what's available inside. He prepares cold noodles, it'll feel good after a long hot journey. Instead of placing one egg, he puts two. The kid could use some protein and fat. Then tops it with fresh cucumber and a handful of dried meat.
"Eat." Toji says with a gruff voice as he sets down the food but it's not unkind.
Suguru's eyes widen as he stares at the large porcelain bowl. He didn't expect this much generosity from an alpha who doesn't want him. He glances at Toji's face, unsure if this big bowl of food is really for him or they're going to share.
But Toji's currently busy opening a wooden box, not paying attention to Suguru.
"Thank you Fushiguro Sama." He gives his sincere gratitude and in reply Toji simply grunts, not even bothering to look at him.
After a bit of hesitation Suguru picks up the chopsticks and starts eating. He didn't realize how hungry he was until the food hit his stomach. For a moment he forgets that he's going to be kicked out tomorrow, and focuses on the comfort of food. It's been so long since he had such tasty meal. It doesn't take long for him to finish the bowl.
A burp escapes his mouth and he blushes when he finds Toji staring at him. Was he eating too uncouthly?
But Toji doesn't comment about his lack of dining manner and simply gets up from the tatami mat.
"I'm going out. Won't be back until nightfall, don't wait for me and don't touch anything." Toji says brusquely as he heads out, closing the shoji door behind him, without waiting for Suguru's reply.
The omega sits still for a moment, not knowing what to do. He fiddles with the hem of his yukata for a moment, then finally gets up and heads to kitchen to clean the bowl.
There he finds remnants of chopped vegetables and egg shells. A small mess and Suguru decides to clean it up. It's the least he can do. He wonders how Toji managed to chop vegetables in one hand. He was unaware of his disability as the matchmaker never told about this. Not that Suguru cares, even without one arm, the alpha seems to be doing well enough of his own. Yet a small part of Suguru feels a bit sorry for Toji.
Suguru has seen Toji's farm on the way. It wasn't vast like those clan owned estates but it was big enough. Living alone in such isolated place and taking care of everything while being disable is a mammoth task.
No wonder Toji doesn't want him around. Suguru will just be nothing but burden to him.
Sighing softly Suguru goes back to the main house. He feels sluggish and sleepy, probably because of the huge meal he just had. His stomach feels full for the first time in months. But his chest feels heavier.
His family probably starving as they don't usually have any food for lunch. He feels so guilty and the memory of his younger sisters’ hollow faces gnaws at him. But what hurts even more is imagining their expressions if he returns. His mom would probably feel disappointed and cry. Suguru recalls how happy she was when the matchmaker brought the proposal.
Now if he returns tomorrow, he'll add more burden. Suguru clenches his fists when he enters the living room.
No, he won't return. He'd rather work in a brothel. He's old enough to work there. The pimps used to scout for omegas from poor family but Suguru's mom refused to do so even when she was starving. He can't burden her more. He'd join a brothel and send money to his family. He'd lie and say it's from Toji. They wouldn't have to know the truth. Suguru wants to be useful for once.
Making up his mind, he decides to take a nap. He needs to store his energy for the long journey ahead tomorrow.