Chapter Text
Keith knew how the world worked. He had always known, and it was something that he had learned in a way he never wanted to remember. No matter how much Keith tried to suppress the memory, it always came back to haunt him.
He had been far too young to be exposed to the world in some people's points of view, but that was for the rich, pampered alphas who were paraded around the moment their secondary gender was revealed. It wasn't meant for Keith, who had been the product of a disgusting, wealthy alpha who had forced Keith's mother into the relationship, and that alpha hadn't even been the alpha that she was bound to. It had been one of his friends. He had basically whored Keith's mother out during heats. In the world, it was considered shameful to be without at least two potential heirs and not have a pregnant omega. Keith's mother, whose name he never knew, had only been one of the many who had belonged to that alpha.
Keith would have been among them eventually had it not been for that night.
Keith's mother had disobeyed that day in refusing to give up little Keith. All of the children who ended up being omega were forced away to some unknown place, where there were only whispered rumors of what was done to the children. In the past, sending omega children away wouldn't happen so soon because there was only the option to wait and see if they ended up in heat. Now, it was just clinical trials that got it over with quickly. Keith's mother had refused to let him go there.
Furious, the alpha had ended up raping her until she could barely breathe, but that gave Keith an opportunity to escape before the alpha noticed. The escape attempt had been successful, and Keith hadn't had to see him since. Well, not in the flesh, at least. That alpha was still practically ruling the world, but he only took care of places where there were laws. In the underworld, nobody paid an escaped omega much mind, especially a child. They couldn't even smell him since he was so young.
For a while, Keith had a bounty on him- imagine, a four-year-old running away from... him? It seemed almost ridiculous, but once he turned seven, Keith didn't see any more wanted alerts with his face on it.
Ever since he had escaped, Keith had been exposed to the real world- one where if he played it right, nobody cared what he was, because they assumed he was an alpha anyway. Keith started training from a young age, at first in street fights with the orphans and the poor, which earned him money at the same time. As he got older, he was able to use the gym and become strong. Keith became strong enough to not wish desperately that he had someone in the world, that he needed a person with him.
Keith didn't need to rely on someone. Just because he was an omega, even though nobody knew, since he had gotten the scent blockers- he didn't need someone to "guide him" until they got close enough to trap him in a cage.
He knew how the world worked.
He knew that he could be better than what they thought he was.
...
"Keith Kogane," he said, sliding the- forged- papers towards the man sitting at the desk in front of him, along with an essay that he had found out he needed while using a library computer. Of course, Keith hadn't gone to an actual school, but that didn't mean he was stupid. Keith had taught himself more than what most people would take out of lower education, anyway.
The man at the desk looked them over, then nodded. "So you're requesting a full-ride scholarship?"
Keith nodded vigorously. "Yes. I- I don't have any money to pay for college." Of course he didn't, because he had blown it all on scent blockers, heat repressors, and getting these fake papers made. Faking his entire life wasn't very easy.
"I'll see what I can do," the man said with a small sigh. He gave an obviously false smile and added, "Check back tomorrow. They'll have made a choice by then. We're quick here at Arus University."
"Thanks." Keith turned around and left.
While he walked down the city streets, Keith thought about what he had just made the decision to do. Go to university. That was kind of a big deal. He didn't have anyone to celebrate it with if this was something worth celebrating. Truth to be told, Keith didn't know much about the people in the world, other than alphas, which meant bad, betas, which meant just "there", and omegas, which Keith needed to avoid, because they would figure it out. He had no idea if going to university was important for other people.
Well, it was important for him. That was enough for Keith. His eye caught on a jacket in a store window, a cropped red one. Since he wouldn't have to buy any "omega stuff" for a few months, and he wouldn't have to pay for university- if he got in, although Keith didn't see why he wouldn't- so it was fair to treat himself to something nice. Keith never bought anything nice.
So Keith bought the jacket, and he put it on. Despite not covering much, it was surprisingly warm. That would be helpful. Keith was currently crashing in an abandoned apartment that he had cleaned up, and it was cold, even in summer. There were rumors that the apartment had been abandoned because it was haunted, but Keith doubted it. He was an expert in all things supernatural, and he couldn't really feel anything off about the place, other than the cold.
Okay, maybe it was a bit weird that he considered himself a ghost expert- or really, an expert in legends. Not legends, according to him, not that anyone ever listened. Keith had a lot of time for himself in the past ten years once he wasn't on the run, so he had ended up gravitating towards things like the Loch Ness Monster, Bigfoot, Moth- anyway. Keith had a lot of time to do nothing.
How had his thoughts even turned in this direction?
Keith shook his head. He got the idea from the odd looks other people shot him that he was strange, but Keith didn't really care. As long as they left him the hell alone and never realized he was an omega, he would be okay. Everything would be okay.
...
The next morning, Keith dragged himself off the floor and went to Arus University, which was where he had been yesterday. Keith hadn't seen much of the campus since he was mostly in an office the first time, but all he needed to know was that it was huge- bigger than any place he'd ever been before, other than the place where he was born- but he barely remembered that place anyway. Keith just had to keep his shit together and not get lost or freak out.
Keith walked into the same office as yesterday, and the same man smiled that same fake smile at him.
Why did things never change? Only another metaphor for how hopeless his situation was.
Keith returned his attention to the man in front of him. He had begun talking, mostly spouting random nonsense. Now that he thought about it, this guy was annoying, and the mustache-twirling was kind of getting on Keith's nerves.
"Ah, I remember my first day. 'Twas a gorgeous day, for a gorgeous man! There was Mister Alfor, he became my mentor. Oh, good memories." Noticing Keith's annoyed look, the man added on, "Oh! Yes, you've received your full scholarship, and just in time indeed. All the information you need is over there." He pointed towards lists posted on the wall.
Keith nodded. "Thanks." He walked away before the man could say anything more.
The lists contained information on dorm rooms- he hadn't thought about that. Keith would be sharing a room with someone. Some stranger. With his luck, an alpha. That... would be a problem. He would figure it out later.
There was another list, a long one, that contained every student's class schedule. Keith found his name and let out a breath. There was nothing wrong with it. Astronomy first, piloting second, off period, and astrophysics last. Nothing Keith didn't know. Exactly what he had requested.
Keith turned back to the dorm list. He was on the third floor, room twelve, and sharing with someone named Lance McClain.
This would be fun.
Keith reminded himself of everything as he walked up the stairs. Alphas were in control of everything. Betas were accepted but were a step below alphas. Alphas and betas were the ones he saw every day, walked the streets with, and would soon be studying with. Keith wasn't sure which angle he should play- alpha or beta? On the bonus side, nobody expected an alpha to be submissive, which Keith refused to do ever again. But betas were more likely to stay under the radar.
He decided to fly with whatever his new roommate thought he was. That would be easiest to fake if that was what... Lance? thought he was anyway.
Under no circumstances could anyone find out he was an omega. If someone discovered Keith's secret, he would be not only kicked out of Voltron University, he would be forced back into what could only be considered slavery at the feet of an alpha- probably back to... him. Or maybe to whatever horror Keith's mother had saved him from. Then Keith would be forced to participate in the auction, and... he would probably buy Keith.
No. Omegas were meant only to be toys, and Keith refused to do that. He would not be discovered, and he would become a spaceship pilot someday. That was what he was working towards. Keith wouldn't take no for an answer.