амега (peterick)

cinq.

"Who let you in through the staff entrance?" Buzz muses as I stumble breathlessly into the bar.

I groan, anxiously glancing back over my shoulder to make sure I'm not being chased by a stampede of half-clothed, giggly Omegas. "I don't know which is worse. An eternity in hell, or an eternity in there, with them."

"They're treating you well, I see."

Wishing I didn't have to reminisce the recent memory, but knowing full well that it's going to haunt me forever, I silently maneuver myself out from behind the bar and slump onto one of the barstools. I face the stage, just for a moment; Patrick is already striking eloquent poses in time with the opening of his first song. The sharp, brass sound is like something out of a James Bond movie, the tempo accelerating as the crowd of sweaty Alphas quickly thickens below him. I grimace and rotate to face Buzz. "Just give me my free beer."

He does as requested. "How much longer are you going to make me serve you free alcohol?"

"I'm currently babysitting one of your employees," I say. "This is how you're repaying me." I chug a few mouthfuls, enjoying the tingle of the liquor as it hits the back of my throat. Hiding just behind the humped neck of the bottle, I spot the dark quiff of a second person that I hadn't quite caught on my way in. I lower my drink and nod. "Evening."

Buzz gazes dreamily at the taller boy. "Oh, this is Dallon," he greets on my behalf, though his tenor suggests he's reminding himself of the man's existence rather than introducing me to it. "He just started working here part time."

Dallon's facial expression is rigid. He inspects me warily from behind the bar, like he's sizing me up.

"And he's your Alpha," I add. I make a note to myself not to say anything stupid.

"He just started working here part time," Buzz persists, as if I hadn't heard him the first time.

"Like I said. Your Alpha." I smirk and wiggle my eyebrows suggestively, before turning to face the newcomer, holding my hand out to him over the bar. "Pete," I say. Dallon doesn't respond and stares at my hand like it's been poisoned. I force a tight smile, grinding my teeth. If you were standing far enough away, you probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between this guy and a cardboard cutout. "Quiet one, isn't he?"

Buzz sighs. "You really have no idea how to do this dom thing..."

I roll my eyes and bark out a laugh. "Enlighten me, Buzz. Last time I checked, you were a normal, which means you aren't giving poor Dallon here full range of his domination charms." I can't quite tell whether the other Alpha is just socially anxious, or irritated by our banter. Presumably the latter. He's clearly doing something of a sensible nature that I'm missing out on completely.

"I assure you he's using his domination charms to the very best of his ability," Buzz slurs.

He turns to his now-boyfriend whom I've never met before and loops his arms around his neck, though he has to hop two feet in the air to do so because he's so goddamn tall. Remarkably, Dallon actually reacts to the human interaction and slides his hands around Buzz's waist, clasping his fingers together tightly. He shoots me the most terrifying side-eye before bowing his head to mutter something into the smaller man's ear, and my stomach knots, because I just know he's judging me. My suspicions are soon confirmed when Buzz glimpses at me from the corner of his eye and giggles.

Perhaps Dallon is simply being defensive over his boyfriend in the presence of another Alpha. Is he expecting me to big myself up too? Am I not making it obvious enough that I have no interest in stealing his Beta?