bakerstreet | ABO Meme

ABO Meme

THE ALPHA/BETA/OMEGA MEME

In our world, sexual roles are commonly defined by genders -- male or female or other, by sexualities -- gay or straight, bi or asexual or in-between. But what if they were defined by something else entirely?

Alpha/Beta/Omegaverse is a fusion of fanfiction tropes and animalistic behavior. In this world, sexual roles are divided into three categories: the Alphas (the dominant, the protective and the aggressive), the Betas (ordinary humans) and the Omegas (submissive, fertile and able to carry children).

RESOURCES:
Fanlore on the Alpha/Beta/Omegaverse
Alphas, Betas and Omegas: A primer.

CONTENT WARNING: Below the cut contains descriptions of animalistic sexual behavior as applied to humans, situations of dubious consent, explicit situations, mpreg, and scenarios of societal oppression. Click with caution!

ROLES:
1 - The Alpha.
* Stereotypically type A personalities.
* Anatomically: Males have a penis; females may have a penis in addition to a vagina.
* Alphas knot their mates, meaning that the base of the penis swells and locks them inside their mate while they produce copious amounts of semen in an effort to breed.
* Strong sense of smell.
* Near an Omega in heat, they experience a compulsion to mate that is almost impossible to overcome.
* Alphas may go into rut, which is their equivalent of Omega heat, and drives them to mate.

2 - The Beta.
* Ordinary human being.
* Males have penises; females have vaginas.
* Can mate to anyone.
* Might be able to smell hormones of Omegas and Alphas, but will not be overwhelmingly affected by them.

3 - The Omega.
* Stereotypically submissive, quiet, intelligent and less physically able.
* Female anatomy is similar to Betas; males are self-lubricating and may have either an external or internal vaginal setup.
* Regularly go into heat, which involves being overcome by the urge to mate. They are unable to consent while in heat.
* May be made compliant by a bite to the neck. However, that may also induce a mating bond.
* Often regarded as second-class citizens or prizes to be won.

SITUATIONS:
1 - Bonding - Love at first sight. You've spotted your soulmate. You can smell them, you can feel them, you know that they'll be with you until the end of your days. Unless there's something between the two of you. It could be age - maybe one of you has to wait until the other has reached maturity. It could be that the bond is one-sided, and the other has yet to fall in love. It could be an unwanted bond, or society could have divided you into different places. Is your love strong enough to conquer?

2 - Heat/Rut - The need is coming on you strong. Everyone for a half-mile around can smell it. Better find someone to ride it out with, or hole yourself up in a room with a few bottles of water and a durable sex toy. And you'd better hope that there isn't someone out there who will take advantage of your pliable state. Best case scenario, there might be a Beta who can take care of you, or fend off anyone too predatory.

3 - Pregnancy - Whether through a heat or not, you're pregnant. Congratulations - or condolences. Is it time to start a family, or time to start panicking?

4 - Suppressants - You're using suppressants to keep yourself on an even hormone cycle, skipping heats, or maybe pretending to pass as a different class of society. After all, Omegas might want to be in the military, where they're not usually allowed - or an Alpha might want to take a job in a university or as a nurse. Shouldn't they be allowed to, if their hormones are suppressed? Just hope that you don't miss a dose.

5 - Mistaken Identity - That friend that you always thought was an Alpha, or an Omega, or a neutral Beta, turns out to be something entirely different, and your world is turned absolutely upside down. Does it challenge your preconceptions? Or does it just ruin the balance between you two?

6 - Unlikely Pairs - After all, there's no actual reason that Alphas have to mate with Omegas. Maybe two Omegas can satisfy each other. Or two Alphas. Or your intended mate could easily be a Beta. Maybe this is just about breaking out of your pre-established role and becoming something new.

7 - Manifestation - In some cases, an individual may not know they are Omega, Beta or Alpha until their first heat/rut/manifestation, usually happening in early teen years. It may take you by surprise; it may be a blessing, or may be a deep disappointment.

8 - Other - Adventures in getting jobs, making families, fighting bad guys, and anything else you can come up with!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

Gabriel rose his head as he heard Jack walking down the hallway. "I couldn't go back yet," he admitted, uncurling and leaning his head against Jack's shoulder. His eyes were a little puffy, but he didn't sound any worse for wear this time. "You're the only one that calls me that, you know."

He was quiet for a few long seconds, just leaning. Part of him was glad to no longer feel so lonely- another part was frustrated and angry with the first. Eventually, he asked, "How long were you away?"

He didn't respond about the nickname. Jack leaned back against the wall and put an arm around the other man. Everyone got four letters or less if he could help it. Only one person had been special-- Jack wondered what the afterlife was like and decided just as quickly not to wonder any more. It wasn't a place for him.

He ran his fingers through lengthening dark hair. Someone needed a trim.

"Three months, but it's finished." Three months apart and Jack could still manage to be away from his bondmate when he was so close? It wasn't coldness. It was fortitude.

He settled into Jack's arm and closed his eyes when he felt fingers in his hair. He always liked that.

"That's a long time," he commented. Or at least he thought it would seem so. "Thanks for giving me a little while to handle everything. I wouldn't have minded if you just came by, though."

A weak smile showed on Gabriel's lips as he realized that he actually felt like talking. "I know you're aware already, but Mohinder's gone. I did the best I could. Still feel like a worse person than I did when I was ripping people's heads open." That didn't exactly track, but it made sense to him. Right now, he was basically spewing out any thought that was in his head. He looked to the side without otherwise moving. "I hope he'll be okay."

Jack once again didn't say anything because Gabriel needed to talk, to confess, rather than to be comforted. There was no comfort that Jack could really give him in this. Mohinder was a causality of biology. They would miss his mind and his brightness, and Jack would miss listening to him and even seeing how happy and in love He'd been with Gabriel. Jack had long since learned, however, not to dwell on the past.

This one he could likely change, placing supplements in Gabriel's back or slipping epipens with anti omega hormone injections in his own coat pocket so that he would not be effect by the other's heat.

But he didn't want to.

Jack set a hand on Gabriel's stomach and then lightly kissed his ear.

"This might sound morbid now... But the cottage you had been staying at was my home with my last mate. I understand how you feel about not wanting to go back."

The touching settled something in him. He'd had a worry in the back of his head that Jack would be distant after all this was over. He knew that wasn't supposed to be how it worked at all, but his fear of abandonment wouldn't be denied. Jack was here to soothe it, and the touches were reminders of that.

Gabriel's eyes closed as he began to relax. "I thought that might've been what happened. Maybe...maybe someday, we can both go back there. Be sad about it together. It is a beautiful place." He was quiet for a moment, then chuckled at himself. "That might be a terrible idea. I'm not particularly good at handling things like this."

"Sasan can move in and you can have him bring whatever things you want. We'll find another space for you."

No. Jack was not offering Gabriel to come and stay with him yet. There wasn't even a address for where he stayed and he didn't think the Omega would be happy there at all. And it might look wrong.

At least right now. Jack could stand it. But he didn't want Gabriel to be hurt by his own hormones.

"I want you to talk to Watson first though. You said you were taking those for years right? Stupid to think about it now but just in case there's a baby-- or a chance of a baby... We need to know."

Jack making the decision for Sasan to move in got a nod out of Gabriel. He'd be happy with the place, just for that closet. And he didn't imagine Sasan would want to keep any of Gabriel's things, either.

Gabriel felt like he could just stay here, personally- especially if Jack would come visit sometimes. But as Jack kept talking, he realized he couldn't hole up in here if a baby was on the way. He had no idea where Jack even lived- it seemed like the man was always in the office or out working. So yes, perhaps a new space could be good.

"I should get to Watson. I still haven't yet. I heard something about suppressant shock?" He looked only a little bit worried. After all, the regen really did take care of most things. "Has everyone figured it out, already? I imagine Mohinder leaving so suddenly got people talking. And Sasan worked up, apparently." He wondered if his coworkers had figured out about the two of them. Gabriel felt like he was under a mystery countdown, only hours or days before everyone started treating him entirely differently.

"You can regenerate," Jack laughed, making it easy for Gabriel to curl against him. He laced his fingers in dark hair and provided comfort and warmth for the other. His poor Omega. He could feel the turmoil going through him. This was why society had so many checks and balances on their biology. It kept this from happening.

But it did still happen.

Jack watched the wall and the door, protective, ready to bar the way if anyone tried to pounce on them.

"I have no idea what your ability can do honestly. And-- We don't know if it will let you carry children either. But I'd rather be safe than sorry."

Gabriel did pull his feet up and pressed himself further against Jack, almost without thinking about it. It was just more comfortable that way. It seemed he was suddenly concerned with comfort after completely forgetting about it for however long it'd been since Mohinder and him said goodbye.

"It will," he murmured, so far after the fact that it seemed incongruous to the discussion. "My ability will let me carry children. I don't always get a clear picture with my aptitude, but I do know the regeneration allows for it. It won't see the baby as something it needs to fix."

He continued to curl up and finally let himself do what he'd wanted from the moment he saw Jack- to nuzzle at his neck and press a few small, lazy kisses to it.

Gabriel was on his back a moment later, the Alpha bearing down to press more forceful kisses on his new bondmate. It had been a long time apart for Jack and what Alpha wouldn't be pleased to hear that their Omega already knew he was healthy and capable of bearing children?

Though... Jack hoped that, boy or girl, they had a Beta. He wasn't sure he could put up with the hormone surges of any other gender.

A few small kisses led to a few more strenuous ones... And those led to clothing being removed and-- Jack pulled back. "mind locking the door, Gabe?" Oh a telekinetic came in handy!

Gabriel was pushed down onto the bed with a pleased grunt. He actively pushed away his guilt, and shoved it off to a separate place inside of him. There wasn't anything more to be done about it now. He'd like to think that these were the choices he'd made and would not unmake, given the opportunity. Perhaps it was unfair, or unkind, but he'd never had a good grasp on those things- and right now he just wanted to enjoy Jack's attention.

The kisses were just what he needed, their heaviness proof that Jack had been holding back. Gabriel kissed back just as passionately, pulling on Jack's lip as they finally pulled apart enough to let Jack speak. He smirked and twitched his fingers, and the door locked itself.

That done, he leaned up just enough to lick a long line up Jack's chest, ending in small nibbles on his neck. "I missed you," he admitted, mouth still skirting across Jack's skin. "I don't know how you managed three months..."

"I could feel you." It had been three months since he had last been inside of Gabriel and he wasted absolutely no time in correcting that little factoid. His muscles moved under his skin, his whole body becoming taut as he felt strong fingers grip at him until their bodies settled.

It was different this time. They weren't in a mad rush to the finish to get more sex in. This wasn't mating. Gabriel wasn't even fertile at the moment. But sex didn't have to be just about making babies. They were making connections now.

And this connection was so tight.

Jack didn't mention that the last two weeks had been a miserable hell. He had felt Gabriel's sadness over the last few minutes before Mohinder left him and given the disjointed time, it was drawn out unbearably.

Gabriel hadn't really questioned that feeling of connection. But now that it flitted through his mind, he found himself delighted to know that it crossed time and alternate realities. They'd never be apart, that way. "Still..." Three months was a long time.

But they had other things to focus on right now. This was a closeness that didn't have the urgency or a feeling of pressure behind it. As he breathed the scent of Jack in, he knew they could just sit here and enjoy the proximity if they wanted. But of course, if it'd been so long for Jack, and Gabriel was needing comfort and reassurance, why would they wait?

Gabriel groaned with deep pleasure as Jack pressed himself inside. "Mmm, yes," he murmured against Jack's skin. "That's so good." His eyes were half-closed and his mouth was half-open as he just enjoyed the sensation. "Is this what it's always going to be like?" Jack inside him, filling him up, was a perfect sort of feeling that satisfied every physical want he had. He shifted his hips upward to try and take more of Jack in, while his hands played across Jack's face. It was almost as if he was trying to memorize it by touch.

Jack wasn't scared of commitment because he'd not had to face it before. His partners died. His friends died. Everything and everyone changed-- Except for him. But now Gabriel was here too. And Jack wanted to believe that he could finally have something that wasn't so fleeting.

He nodded. "Yeah. It's always going to be like this."

Torchwood found out about them sooner rather than later. Once Gabriel went in for testing, speculation started. Full exams were routine but Watson was running specific labs and screenings. And gossip was always good within the Hub. Considering Mohinder had left abruptly and Gabriel was no longer wearing his engagement ring, putting the facts together led to just one conclusion.

The older doctor leaned against the counter as he told Gabriel everything on his cultures looked fine and his hormone levels were as expected. Now came the more telling question. Watson had to ask though. He already knew that Gabriel went through his first heat in a decade. And he already knew that he had accepted a bond, with the raised hormonal levels in his blood. "Do you want to know if you're pregnant or do you want to wait?"

Well he could test for it before Jack could smell it on him-- but some Omegas wanted to do things naturally.

So far, no one had given Gabriel a hard time, but he did feel like more people were avoiding him. Maybe it was because Mohinder was the one who got everyone talking more. Maybe it was because he was a traitorous Omega that went back on his engagement. Maybe it was because Gabriel threw himself back into his studies, working even harder on trying to figure out Gallifreyan.

His only real concern at the moment was the results of all the testing. He wasn't expecting to have any complications, but he also didn't know how the regeneration worked with hormone changes. It seemed that was a more complicated subject that his aptitude couldn't quite suss out. If Gabriel had known the probability of pregnancy, he might've told Watson just to wait. After all, hearing it from Jack would be more fun. But with the Beta birth control (from another reality, no less), it was all kind of up in the air. So he stared thoughtfully at nothing for a long moment before answering the doctor.

"I want to know," he said, giving the doctor a small smile. "I can't be patient with something like this."

John nodded. He knew what it was like around those types of people. There was no point in trying to dissuade them and besides, Gabriel would find out in a few weeks anyway. He might want to be prepared... There was going to be more talk than he was ready for.

The hormone levels indicated a higher than usual level of Omega progesterone but that didn't mean much considering the amount of birth control he had been on. Omegas produced the hormone differently and it was a fairly well known fact that the drugs meant to suppress pregnancy in female betas actually could increase fertility in omegas that had never been pregnant before.

John would be sure to mention that later.

But first, he drew a little more blood for his test and switched on the monitor to show the readings. "Anything over fifty is an indication of pregnancy," he said and stood beside the examination table as the numbers climbed from thirty to forty-five to sixty and leveled out right under ninety. "Congratulations Gabriel."

He'd been half-expecting the congratulations, but Gabriel still didn't know how to react. He stared at his belly as if he could see the baby there, if he looked hard enough. He was really going to have a child.

He looked up at Watson, then down again, then broke into a bright smile and a laugh. "Thank you. Looks like I have some reading to do about pregnancy and infant care, then. And I should tell Jack..." He was going to be a flurry of activity, shortly. "I know this was a surprise, for everyone, but I'm going to try and do this right. How long until I need to see you again?"

He'd be zipping off to find Jack right away, if John doesn't keep him there. The rumor mill would certainly keep grinding, but he figured everyone knew by now, anyway. And if they didn't, they were definitely going to, soon.

"I might be a surgeon by trade but I've delivered babies before," he smiled. "Including my own son. I have a basic understanding of Omega pregnancies but I will be sure to volunteer some time in the maternity Ward to learn what I can." He was a doctor after all. He was always learning.

With a clean bill of health, Gabriel was certainly free to go and tell Jack or wait as he wished.

"I'm going to have you see me every three weeks for prenatal care but your health is off the charts. I don't want you time traveling. There's absolutely no data on the subject but I believe in being safe when it comes to children. We can discuss if you want to know the gender or the sex in a few months. Take it easy but don't worry too much just yet. Wait until you're waddling and as big as a house for that."

There was a handshake given and Gabriel was ushered out of the examination room.

Oh, good. He'd hoped he didn't have to see anyone outside of Torchwood, and that seemed to be the case. He thanked John profusely a couple more times, made just a little bit of a sour face when told he wasn't supposed to time travel, and chuckled at the mention of not worrying too much. It was probably advice he could use.

Gabriel went straight to Jack's office. He was in there when he last checked- hopefully he would still be there now. Gabriel was still getting used to everything their bond afforded them. So he'd be able to track Jack down, but would try not to interrupt anything. After all, he wasn't going to stop being pregnant anytime soon.

Now that he was letting himself think about it, he realized that their baby was likely to be very good-looking. He wondered if the little newborn would have any abilities or not. There was going to be so many things to teach them...

Jack was alone but on the phone with the UN, arguing about something that they were not telling him the full truth over. "I can tell, Harry. You know I can tell when you are trying to be clever," Jack laughed, turning in his squeaky chair to glance at his bondmate. He'd felt him approaching and smiled, motioning him to come in and sit.

He made a few 'uh huh's and snorted and rolled his eyes and reached over to take Gabriel's hand to lightly kiss the knuckles.

"Okay fine. But if those teddy bears decide that they aren't happy with hiding in the walls, don't come crying back to me! Yep. All right Harry. Good luck with it." He'd be sending Henry and Mitchell over there tomorrow. No matter what the secretary told him. "Sorry about that. How'd it go? Clean bill of health?"

He wanted to ask about the teddy bear situation, but there'd be no containing his excitement here. He proceeded to melt a little as Jack kissed his knuckles- he loved little gestures like that.

"I'm completely healthy," Gabriel declared proudly. Then he looked slightly mischievous. "But- well. Dr. Watson doesn't want me time traveling for awhile. Gotta watch out for the little one, right?" He patted his belly. And if his words don't completely get through, the shining smile that he gives Jack would probably do it.

...okay, he can't even keep it to that. "We're going to have a baby, Jack."

There was still a tiny amount of worry, in the back of his head. This might not work out the way he was hoping. It was an unexpected pregnancy, after all. But that part of him was pretty much drowned out by the giddyness of this new knowledge.

Jack was silent and blank, his face and his emotions unreadable through the bond.

They had spoken about this at length. Their conversation during the days long heat had been of nothing but children. Even that morning they had chatted amicably about it, Jack suggesting some horrible name for Gabriel to consider and flick him humorously in the nose or ear with his telekinesis for making each one stranger or more unpronounceable than the last. But that was all speculation.

And this was real.

Jack was a big guy, but when he moved, he moved quickly. His arms curled tightly around Gabriel and he laughed, tears in his eyes and so obvious in his voice. "We're going to have a baby?!"

Sue him for being a sentimental sap.

Gabriel's stomach dropped for a moment, as he couldn't tell what Jack was thinking. Had Gabriel been reading too much into it? Was the discussion more of a result of his heat, and the rest of it joking around? Well, he'd handle it himself, if necessary--

But of course, that was when Jack practically teleported over to him. Gabriel hugged him back immediately, and laughed with happiness. "Yeah," he said. "Yeah, we are. So you better start thinking of real, usable names soon." He joked, but his voice was choked and weak with emotion as well. "I'm so glad you're happy."

He was just going to hold Jack like this for a little bit. The sensation of creating something, even with the full support of someone else, was completely new to Gabriel. The weight of it was sinking into him, and he liked it. "We'll have a lot to plan," he noted eventually, still sounding excited. "Can we find a new place, together? Would you stay with me?" He wasn't sure if enough time had passed for it to be 'appropriate' to ask, but they hadn't exactly done any of this traditionally. It just wasn't the Torchwood way, from what Gabriel had noticed.

Things were moving quickly. A few days ago, Gabriel had been engaged and a Beta and a pain in his ass and one of his better agents. Now they were having a child. Even so...Jack had waited too long with Ianto. He'd been there for his heats, sometimes slept over, but he lost him just as soon as Jack had promised that they could be exclusive. Just as soon as he realized that he had loved him.

Maybe this was a little backwards, but it happened all the time. Heat was one thing...but the urge to bond came from intense compatibility.

And Jack was so tired of being all alone. He didn't have to sleep in the observation room. He could leave the Hub on more than just missions from time to time. His mate wanted a place to live. He likely wanted a place to nest and they really did have a baby to think about now. Jack was going to be a father again. He shouldn't be so pleased considering what happened with little Stephen, but dwelling in the past was only important if there was a job to be done there.

"I won't leave you, Gabriel," Jack said with certainty. "If you want a house, we'll find a house. You can have anything you want. Except time travel. Doctor's orders."

Gabriel operated on quick decisions, for the most part. He was used to his thought processes working through things so quickly that he expected even life-changing decisions to be the same way. This would be good for both of them. And he'd try not to worry about how much of this was guided by instinct, or how much of it was rebound feelings, because none of that mattered. He was happy when he was around Jack. He liked talking to him about babies, and working with him on missions. He just wanted more time with him. He wanted to find out more about Jack, and he wanted Jack to be happier, too.

He pulled back from Jack so he could look him in the face. Gabriel was grinning like a madman. Being told he could have anything he wanted tended to have that effect. "Well, if that's doctor's orders, I guess I can miss out on time travel. Okay. I don't know what you have time for, so we can work around your schedule to find someplace. I'll be okay here in the Hub till then. And you reserve the right to run away once my mood swings start to hit." He winked at the man.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject