Chapter Text
During pre-debut, Vernon had yet to present. He was barely 17, so it was perfectly reasonable that he was still unpresented. Wonwoo, who was 2 years older than him, had just recently presented as an alpha. But still, Vernon couldn’t help but think something was wrong with him. He just wanted to present already.
It’s tradition for the older members of the pack to call the unpresented pup what they think the pup will be. And while Seventeen isn’t officially a pack yet (though they have talked about it), the tradition still stands. Which meant most of the pack members called him a beta.
There are now only 5 unpresented members: Seokmin, Mingyu, Seungkwan, Chan, and him.
Each of them is called what the pack thinks they're going to be. It’s normal, and usually the pack is accurate. Currently, Seungcheol and Jeonghan are in an argument about Mingyu. Jeonghan is giving reasonable evidence that Mingyu is probably a beta, but Seungcheol isn’t listening, as it seems he just wants another alpha on the team.
It’s late into the evening after practice as they're trying to come up with a dinner plan that everyone can agree on. Vernon isn’t having much part in the conversation; neither is Jihoon, whose shoulder he’s currently using as a pillow.
Jihoon pokes him to get his attention, which works as he hums in acknowledgement.
“You're zoning out; what’s our beta thinking about?” he asked innocently.
It hurts, ‘beta’; he doesn’t feel like a beta. He doesn’t want to be a beta; Vernon doesn’t think he acts like a beta. Sure, he enjoys the betas' company; Jeonghan, Minghao, and Soonyoung are all nice to spend time with in their own regard. He much prefers the omegas. He connected with Joshua so instantly, far beyond just ‘we’re both American ’; it’s something much deeper than that, a type of bond that’s different from what he feels with the others. And Jun, he’s such a comforting presence that, despite them having a language barrier, he finds himself instantly drawn to the older omega for one reason or another.
And then there’s Jihoon; it’s hard to explain why he’s so drawn to Jihoon. Next to him, he’s relaxed; no matter how stressful the situation is, he finds himself calmly down around Jihoon like every worry never existed in the first place.
In America, it is more common for young pups to get blood tests to tell their subgender; that’s what his mom had wanted, but his father said no, insisting on the traditional Korean way. In the end, they did neither. So now he can’t say, ‘I did a blood test; I'm an omega,’ or ‘My parents have always called me an omega.’ He just has to let them figure it out.
But it hurts still; he wants to be omega… no, he is an omega. He’s sure of it. He’s not sure what they can’t see that
“Hansol, you're still spacing out. What’s going on in that head of yours?” Jihoon asks.
Vernon’s head is so cloudy it makes him feel like he’s going to cry.
The frown on his face is obvious; Jihoon picks up on it immediately. “What’s wrong, my little beta? Why do you look upset?”
‘Beta, beta, little beta. Why is it always beta?’ He feels something like a crack within him.
“Do you need me to get Soonyoung?” he asks.
‘Of course the beta cus I’m a beta and other betas should comfort me.’ Another crack.
Jihoon pets his head, scanning the room for one of the betas to help. “Shh, baby beta, it's ok, no reason to be sad.”
‘Baby beta, of course. Cus he can’t be baby omega, he can’t be little omega, he can’t be their omega. No beta, beta, beta; it's always beta.’ Then the dam breaks. A soft hic, a sniffle, little tears welling up in his eyes, then more and more till fat wet globs fall from his face. The sound of his sniffling drew the attention of the rest of the members, including Jeonghan.
Jihoon panicked a bit, now having a crying pup wrapped around him. To his relief, Jeonghan swooped in to help.
Jihoon tries to move Vernon, “Go see your beta-hyung; you’ll feel better if you're with him.”
“No,” he shouts, resisting Jihoon and Jeonghan's efforts.
He’s causing a scene, throwing a fit over seemingly nothing at all. The oldest alpha has to step in to de-escalate the situation as much as possible, which means instructing Jihoon and Vernon to go out to the hallway.
Once alone in the halls, Vernon quieted down a little bit but still wouldn’t let go of Jihoon; he was practically in the older omega's lap.
“Can you tell me what’s wrong, little beta?” Jihoon asked. He thinks he’s helping, but it’s only making the matter worse.
“I’m not,” Vernon argues. “I don’t want to be a beta… I'm not a beta”, he sobs.
Jihoon was shocked, but he seemed to understand quickly, holding Vernon tighter, petting his hair, hushing his sobs.
“I'm sorry, what is our pup then? What does our pup want to be?”
“Omega… I'm an omega,”
“Ohh, that’s why you want me. I'm giving my omega comfort, and I tried to push you off. How could I do that to you? I'm so sorry, Hansol. I'm so sorry, my omega. How can I make it up to you?”
“You-“ sniffle. “You're ok with it”
“Why wouldn’t I be? I get another omega to take care of.”
“but what if I actually am a beta”
“But you don't want to be, so whatever happens if you feel like an omega, you’ll be an omega”
Vernon couldn’t help but preen under the attention, finally being helped as a little omega should by his luna.
Seungcheol opens the door finally, looking down at vernon who is still sitting comfortably in Jihoon lap.
“You can’t tell the company that you imprinted on Jihoon,” the words left his mouth so bluntly, so swiftly that it took a second to understand what he was saying, though Jihoon was already beet-red.
“Im—imprint? I didn’t- that’s not…”