Miles said that he’s going to check in with Robin by the end of the week, but Robin has no clue how. When Jude said that Robin isn’t leaving his side, he fucking meant it.

It’s Friday now, and Jude has kept true to his word. He waits for Robin outside his classes, walks him places, the sort. He is making damn sure Robin isn’t alone, and Robin is unsure how to feel about it. Why? He feels like he’s being protected, like Jude is his bodyguard or something. This is a feeling that Robin is used to hating, but for some reason... it doesn’t bother him as much as before.

This concerns him.

Enjoying the protection of an alpha is an omega thing, and it’s something Robin has resisted. The medicine has always aided in it as well, and he wonders why its influence is not as strong anymore.

Is it... possible to build a tolerance? If so, Robin can’t help but to feel a bit scared. It would explain a lot, though.

Robin has been having a difficult time ignoring his omega instincts lately. It would explain why he’s so affected by Jude’s scent, why he’s okay with being protected, why every time he’s around the guy he feels so relaxed, why for some reason lately Jude has been the only thing on his mind, why Robin constantly just wants to submit and do what Jude says and why—

Okay, woah. Robin. Calm down.

This is what he’s talking about, though. He really shouldn’t be surprised. He was bound to begin to develop a tolerance at some point, he just needs to make an appointment with his doctor to figure it out.

Robin has decided he needs to be more careful, now. At least until he can raise the dosage on his medicine, he needs to really think things through. His best friend is an alpha, and he’s an omega, which puts him more at risk of acting suspicious—and he really should have seen this coming but he’s still caught off guard.

Avoiding Jude isn’t an option, either. As stated previously, Jude isn’t letting Robin out of his sight. This is becoming inconvenient, because Robin thinks it would be a good idea to talk to Miles about this whole situation, maybe even try to reason with him. Also, Robin needs to make a doctors appointment. He wants to solve this medicine issue as soon as possible.

Robin runs a hand through his hair, sitting at his kitchen table, a bowl of cereal in front of him. He has to go to school in like twenty minutes, and he’s been waiting on his mom to come downstairs so he can ask her about going to the doctor.

Hang on.

Okay, so Robin sometimes forgets that he is in fact eighteen years old and can make his own appointments. He does not need his mom’s permission. He’s actually quite happy he realized this, because he does not like talking to his parents. Especially about anything omega related.

Robin takes out his phone and dials the doctor’s office, surprised when the woman picks up and notifies him that they can fit him in tomorrow. He’s not used to them making appointments for him so soon.

Either way, it makes him happy. He thanks the lady, and she requests a few more details before they hang up. It’s only a couple minutes later that Jude arrives to pick him up.

The ride to school is pretty boring, the two just listening to music the entire time after exchanging greetings. Robin is pretty tired, due to not getting much sleep the past few days. At this point, maybe he should actually look into insomnia medicine. He should get his current situation sorted out first, though.

Robin has a rough time focusing during his classes, which doesn’t surprise him. See, nowadays just about the only things he can think about or focus on, would be Jude and Miles.

To be more specific, the Miles situation, and the new developments between he and Jude. It’s been a wild week, and he’s so happy he only has today left. Then, he has to get through next week, exams, and graduation. After all that, he will finally be free.

Robin honestly probably wouldn’t even go to graduation, if it were up to him. His parents most likely won’t be there, and it’s not like he did anything special during his time here. However, he needs to support his best friend. Jude will be valedictorian—Robin will make damn sure of that—and that means awards and speeches and shit. So, Robin is going.

Robin sighs, sitting in his last class before the bell. Jude notified him that he has to talk to one of his teachers after class, so he will just meet Robin at the car. This means that Robin will be alone for a few minutes, and he’s kind of looking forward to it.

Robin zones out most of the class, but the bell ringing snaps him out of it. He drops his pencil, and realizes that everyone already has their stuff packed up, and are making their way out of the class. Robin curses his lack of paying attention, and begins putting his stuff away.

After he does so, he and the teacher make awkward eye contact as he leaves. While walking down the hallway, he sorts through his things to make sure he grabbed it all in his haste. This is why he doesn’t realize that he’s walking into a deserted corridor, and also why he doesn’t notice the person standing in front of him until it’s too late.

Robin crashes straight into Miles, and he honestly should have expected this. Still, he stumbles a bit and drops his bag. Half of the contents spill out, and he curses under his breath.

Robin sighs, crouching down and scooping his stuff into the bag, which he should’ve closed a while ago but he was still trying to organize it. That was all for nothing, though. “What?”

“So what’s the verdict?”

Robin finally finishes, and stands up. He throws his bag over his shoulder. His patience is already thin, which is a bad sign. Robin honestly doesn’t even get upset very easily, but this guy is seriously the worst. He tries to keep it together, anyway. The last thing he needs is Miles telling everyone for the hell of it.

“On what?”

“You know what.”

Robin rolls his eyes, sighing in exasperation. “There’s no way he’s failing his exams. Give me something else to do.”

Now that Jude knows the situation, Robin is pretty sure the guy would be willing to play along if Miles were to demand something achievable. Something less extreme and evil.

“Like what?” Miles replies, raising an eyebrow. “There’s nothing else I want.”

“There’s gotta be.” Robin replies. “Something I can actually do for you. This is impossible.”

Miles just stares down at Robin, appearing deep in thought. Robin is glad that the guy is at least hearing him out on this, because trying to get Jude to give up valedictorian? That’s insane. Nobody should earn that title through dishonesty. Nobody deserves it more than Jude.

Miles appears to be seriously contemplating, and it’s making Robin curious. There has got to be an alternative, no way would this guy appear so conflicted if not. Robin is all ears, because just about anything is more likely than getting Jude to fail at something.

“Okay.” Miles says, and he looks Robin up and down. Something about the look in his eyes makes the omega uncomfortable. “I’ll give you two options.”

Robin raises an eyebrow, and something feels wrong. He’s not sure if he wants to know anymore, because he feels very put off right now.

“One, you make me valedictorian, or two...” yeah, Miles is definitely sizing him up. “You’re mine.”

Robin blinks, processing this guy’s words. What the hell does that mean?

“Huh?” Robin asks, beyond confused. There are so many ways he could take that, and most of them make him want to throw up.

Miles starts to walk towards him, instantly raising alarm. Robin backs away until his back hits the wall. “My omega.”

To say that Robin is shocked is an understatement. He can’t tell where the fuck this is coming from, to be completely honest. This guy has spent the better part of high school harassing him and treating him like shit, and now...

“Like... like mated? Us?” Robin asks, pure disbelief in his tone.

“I need an omega so I can inherit my father’s company. You’re the only one I’ve ever found interesting.”

Robin seriously does not know how in the absolute fuck to handle this. Mated? He and Miles? At eighteen?

Seriously, even overlooking the dude’s horrible personality, they are way too young. This sounds like the worst idea in the history of worst ideas.

Although... then he wouldn’t have to worry about his secret getting out. Then Jude’s future would be intact. Robin’s stress would decrease tenfold...

Miles is way too close to Robin now. He doesn’t have his arm pinned on his throat like usual. Nope, his hands are resting on either side of Robin’s face, the guy leaned forward so they’re way closer than necessary. Robin has never been at such a loss, not once in his life.

Miles? Miles of all people?

“Interesting?” Robin asks, because what the hell does that mean?

Robin has never really thought about being mated to anybody before. He’s tried so hard to forget he even has a secondary gender at all, let alone contemplate something as detailed as mating. He can’t imagine what a relationship with Miles would be like. The guy has caused him so much physical harm and stress, Robin doesn’t know how he could ever just forget that.

Also, they’d have to have sex. That’s how you get mated. Just the thought makes Robin feel sick.

“There’s got to be a reason Jude’s so obsessed with you,” Miles explains. Robin finally meets the alpha’s eyes, as he’d previously been avoiding eye contact. Miles is being genuine, it is abundantly clear.

“Because we are best friends,” Robin says slowly, enunciating each syllable. He has a gut feeling that it’s vital he plays his cards right, or this could all go downhill. Fast.

“Uh, no,” Miles says, staring down at Robin with a knowing look in his eye. He shakes his head, and he looks like he knows something Robin doesn’t. “Seriously? Are you blind?”

Robin doesn’t know what that even means, and he’s starting to get irritated. He feels like he’s stuck at a crossroads, but any direction he goes will be wrong. “We’ve been best friends since kindergarten.”

“Whatever.” Miles says, and Robin doesn’t appreciate feeling like he’s missing something. “Choose.”

Robin frowns, and he hates to admit it... but this is a difficult decision to make. Obviously he doesn’t want to be mated to Miles of all people, but... it’s starting to look like the best option. He gets everything he wants, he just has to deal with a horrible situation. For the rest of his life.

Fuck, that’s right. Mating is for life. Robin doesn’t think he could ever learn to view this guy as anything but repulsive. He won’t ever get over his natural response to run every time he sees Miles. He couldn’t be happy.

He’d have to basically lose contact with everyone, too. Becoming mated to Miles? So many people would find out, and it would be revealed that he’s an omega anyway. Although... he won’t really know those people, and Miles comes from a family respectable enough that he won’t have to deal with harassment.

His father owns some sort of software company, Robin doesn’t really know the details. Miles will inherit a fortune when he eventually does get the company from his father. Still, right now?

This is awful. There are so many pros and cons to any decision he makes here, and he doesn’t win in any of them.

“Now?” Robin asks, curious and also trying to buy himself more time. “I’m eighteen.”

“When I take the company. Couple years from now at the latest.”

Robin glances to the side, and he hates how he’s genuinely thinking about this. He feels like there is some sort of alternative solution to his predicament that he’s not seeing, but he genuinely can’t think of one. Giving his entire future to Miles Novak of all people seems a bit much, and he’d really love to hear Jude’s thoughts on this.

Well, actually, how would he even tell Jude about this? The guy can’t know he’s an omega.

Robin doesn’t like making decisions on his own, though...

“Can you give me time to think about it?”

Robin reluctantly meets Miles’ eyes again. The guy is studying him, and Robin doesn’t appreciate being put under all this pressure. He’s seriously going to need some time before making a decision like this.

“How much? Exams are in a week, you’re running out of time.” Miles tilts his head, and Robin presses his entire body as flat against the locker as he possibly can. He’s not even trying to hide how uncomfortable he is, either.

“I don’t know, Miles,” Robin says, feeling somewhat exasperated. “This is a big decision.”

“How?”

Robin looks at Miles like he’s lost his entire mind. “You are blackmailing me into mating with you for life. That means sex and probably marriage and... and it’s a lot.”

Wow, Robin is starting to actually feel sick. Miles raises an eyebrow at him; “this is barely blackmail. I’m giving you a choice.”

That pisses Robin off. Previously he’d been a bit annoyed but mostly uncomfortable. Those words, though, they turn it all into anger. Is this guy fucking serious? The way he’s acting like this entire situation isn’t completely insane is about to drive Robin crazy. He’s acting like the concept of mating isn’t as big of a deal as it is. Like some sort of necessity or inconvenience or something.

“You’re giving me a choice?” Robin asks, and even he can hear the anger and frustration in his voice. “I can either betray Jude, let you fucking mate me, or otherwise allow you to tell everyone I’m an omega. Those are my fucking choices. Are you kidding me right now?”

Miles raises an eyebrow at Robin’s words. He seriously doesn’t understand how fucked this entire situation is.

“Watch your tone. Think about it and let me know, but stop taking so long.”

Robin glares at Miles, and it’s taking everything in him not to snap. He needs to remind himself to not talk to Miles like that, because this guy has some serious shit over him. Robin, come on, you can do this. Be cordial. At least wait until you’re away from Miles before losing your cool.

“Whatever,” Robin says, trying to calm himself down.

Miles reaches out, running his hand along Robin’s neck. Along Robin’s scent glands, more specifically. Robin is having a difficult time containing his disgust, but he somehow manages.

After a minute, Miles pulls away. Robin still remains against the locker, and he watches as Miles takes a few steps back. He sizes Robin up and down again, before getting a cocky look on his face.

“Good luck, Bird Boy.”

Miles leaves. Robin watches him the entire time, and the amount of self restraint it’s taking for him to keep it together is exhausting. He can’t believe what just happened. Seriously. He’s still processing it, even as he begins making his way to Jude’s car.

Good luck.

Yeah, Robin’s gonna need it.