Alpha Nanami x beta reader: wherein, reader learns that their crush likes them too.
[not proper a/b/o but I'm tagging it as such just in case people want to avoid it] [other warnings: alcohol, bar, drunk Nanami, slight self deprication. Slight... Ooc? Very slight ooc. Also office setting. Reader is depicted as dense] [not smut]
[1337 ish words] [MDNI]
It was one of those days at work, where one chief felt too generous and asked everyone to go to a bar with them.
“Drinks on me!” and “Banzai!” the naive juniors would reply. The older employees knew that this was a ploy for something that had nothing to do with them and had more to do with the chiefs internal drama. Who could say anything?
So, that's how the middle managers, you and your colleague Jasmine, ended up babysitting the table of juniors while three others were handling the table of seniors.
How this topic of conversation started, though, was a mystery.
“Seriously, why are you single? What's the reason? I know you want to date. I also happen to know that five people in the office like like you. So? What's holding you back? You against office romance?”, Jasmine asked while moving a bottle away from a too drunk junior.
“Not really. I won't lie and say that the idea of coming to office together, or I dunno, having lunch breaks together doesn't seem slightly romantic to me. But it would be weird wouldn't it?”, you say while placing a neatly folded suit under someone's chin.
“Why would it be weird! Our office is kinda lax about this stuff”, Jasmine sighed.
Well, she didn't lie. Your office was lax about this stuff.
“Well, there is one shallow reason”, you murmured. There was a reason. A person, to be exact. Someone who you thought was way out of your league.
Your colleague sat up from her seat, “what is it?!”
Two of the sleeping people on the table jerked awake at her exclamation. Thankfully, they went back to sleep without waiting around for an answer.
You pondered for a moment. You wouldn't usually say this out loud. But, this is Jasmine. She's not a gossiper. And the thing you're about to say isn't all that believable as a rumor anyway. You're very average. Never had much of a scandal before. And no one else is in a state to listen in on this conversation.
So you took a deep breath before murmuring, “betas usually date other betas right? But I don't wanna.”
An audible gasp was heard from your colleague. “Oh? Oh. Do tell me more.”
You regretted saying that. Part of you wanted her to not hear you. Part of you wanted a chance to change your answer.
“Well, I'm not ...very beta like when it comes to er-Romance. I want someone dominant”.
“So? What's stopping you? No one says you have to date a beta”, she interjected when your words fell short.
“Well, don't alphas and omegas just... Connect? Why would an alpha want me when they can have an omega. Why would he choose me when countless omegas throw themselves at him everyday? I'm like a discount version of them.”
Before Jasmine could respond, someone slammed a glass in the booth behind you. You turned around to see what happened.
A tall man walked out of his booth and towards your table. Tall, blonde, handsome, and oh. Oh
It took you a moment to recognize him. His coat and tie were gone. His hair was drawn back. He wore an expression on his stoic face that made it almost unrecognizable.
Anger. He was livid. And he was stomping over towards you.
“Who told you that?”, he growled when he reached your table.
Jasmine and you stared at him in shock. Some of the juniors sobered immediately after hearing his voice.
“Uh, Nanami, we're sorry about the ruckus why don't you have a drink?”, Jasmine tried to handle the situation by sobering him before he said something that no one needed to hear.
But Nanami only glared at her until she kept the glass of water back down. He repeated his question.
Nanami was visibly drunk. His eyes were darker, face slightly flushed. And his voice. No one ever heard him use his alpha voice before. That voice made your insides melt. Thankfully, you were seated. You were sure your knees would give out if you'd been standing.
“Nanami, n- no one told me anything. Why don't you sit down and-” you tried to soothe him.
“Oh? So my mate is calling herself that on her own accord?”, he cut you off and glared at you.
Mate? Who-
At that, multiple gasps were heard from across tables. You're not sure if one of them was yours.
“I don't-, I didn't, I-”, your face flushed at his implications.
He leaned over the table and bent down to face you, “did you assume your worth like that? Do you not see how much you mean to me? How I can go home knowing this is how you think of yourself?”
Your heart raced in your chest. You could smell something strong on his breath. Scotch?
You remembered something Gojo Satoru once told you.
“I always go drinking with Nanami! He never gets drunk so I can drink as much as I like! Although he sometimes leaves me at the bars when I pass out. Haha!”
Nanami has strong tolerance, so how?
You looked back at his table and saw 4 empty bottles of a drink you're sure would've knocked you out to next week.
You turned to face him and thought hard about what made him call you his mate.
Yeah, it's true that he was nice to you. He always took his time to explain things to you in details. He never worked overtime but was always there to accompany you if you ever did. He always walked you home after. If you forgot lunch, we would always remind you. He'd even leave a pastry on your desk if you skipped lunch. Nanami has always been supportive of you in the office. He has even helped you outside of work when he heard of your troubles. Bad plumbing, annoying landlord, creepy stalker, complicated bank notes, or even long waiting lines at the doctor's. He had helped you with those. And that is why you wanted him. You wanted him as your mate, but you couldn't decipher what made him like you!
Wait. Fuck. I am stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Fuck. He likes me. Of course. He's always liked me. Nanami 'I don't work overtime' worked overtime with me. How did I miss this? Why would a 'good boss' do that much? They'd just tell me to go home!
“Nanami, I am sorry,” I'm sorry I missed your cues all this time.
You wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Nanami stood up and moved into the booth with you. He cupped your face and held your gaze.
“I heard every word you said here. Downed too much alcohol trying to stop myself. It's my mistake. As someone who's always been in charge of explaining things to you, I should've known you'd need this spelled out for you. I have been courting you for a while now. Correct me if I'm overstepping but you've accepted them, haven't you?”, his eyes pleaded with yours.
You remembered all the care and responsibleness he showed you with every gesture. He showed you how capable he is as a mate all those times. And you fell for him but didn't even stop to consider that he, an alpha, could like you, a beta, to this extent.
“I like you, Nanami. I like you a lot. And I'm sorry. I'm sorry I was, I am so dense and self absorbed. I'm sorry I didn't see it. But, I l..love you. And yes! I do accept your courtship,” you couldn't stop your tears then. You'd yearned for this man for so long. You couldn't help but cry of joy.
Jasmine passed him a tissue which he took with a 'thank you'. He'd wiped your tears as he consoled you. You heard Jasmine sniffle her own tears and blow her nose beside you. That reminded you that this was happening in public. Nanami claimed you in front of all the people who knew you. He called you his mate.
You smiled at that and hugged him. This sought after Alpha was off the market and yours alone.
