The fashion show was nothing like Argo had ever seen. There were strobing lights and fans and music, a lot of stimuli that he wasn't used to in the least. Plus, the pressing Alpha pheromones made Argo feel a little weak. He'd never been near so many...

"You're up next, kid."

He nodded and stepped up to the curtain, waiting for the other person to come back.

"Just remember: walk to the beat to the end of the runway and listen to the announcer. They'll be describing what you're wearing, so make sure to find something to do until they're done. They will cue you on when to turn back and leave the runway. Got it?"

Argo nodded and the model before him came back in. The stagehand pushed Argo forward and it seemed as if the whole room went silent. He swallowed and started to walk along the runway as someone cleared their voice in the microphone, beginning to speak. Argo did as told, mindlessly listening to the beat as well as for the cue to leave. He wanted to get out of there. He felt like he was going to be mauled at any second. He thought he heard his cue and hauled ass towards the curtain. Once he got back, he continued walking briskly, not seeing anything in front of him.

"Argo." He looked up, finding Therrion in front of him. "What's wrong? Are you alright?"

Argo reached up but pulled back, clenching his hands.

"I... I just have never been around so many Alphas at once."

"That's why I gave you the suppressors. That feeling you experienced is how Alphas feel when they are around you at all times. If I hadn't given you the pills, they would have come after you." Argo nodded but he wouldn't look at him. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Therrion made a face and touched his shoulder. "Were you scared?" Argo shook his head. Therrion moved his face to look at him. "Argo, were you scared?"

He finally nodded and Therrion pulled him to him, giving him a comforting hug.

"It's okay, Argo..."

Even though Argo had many people come into his life, he had never really had any type of connection with them. Alphas came to get use out of him and Lord Drake only came to see what he was doing and how to make more money. Emotional connections were not something that came with his life. Therrion was the first person to give him a hug and actually mean it. There was just something about the way he felt that asked for nothing in return. He was there for Argo and nothing more.

Argo slowly reached up and put his arm around Therrion, pulling himself into his embrace. It felt nice; he felt safe.

"What are you doing?"

Argo gasped, pulling away quickly as he and Therrion turned. Lord Drake was standing there with a scowl.

"Father."

"I told you to watch the boy, not baby him."

"He was scared, so I was just helping him-"

"The boy deals with Alphas every day, this was nothing different." He turned to Argo. "Lord Johansson has been asking about his son and there is a rumor that he had gone to see you before this idiotic fashion show. What do you know?"

"I... I just know that he did come but he wasn't feeling well and he left. I assumed he went back home. He left so fast I didn't get a chance to stop him."

"Hmm. Madam Rococco is looking for you. You're still at work." He looked at Therrion. "Who told you to give him a suppressor?"

"If he hadn't had it, this would have been a different type of party." He said with a look.

Lord Drake made a face and walked off.

"I'm sorry you go in trouble." Argo said.

"Don't worry about it at all."

"Thank you... for the hug. It really helped."

"Anytime, Argo."

He led Argo back to Madam Rococco and the rest of the night was as usual, being her pet as she showed him around.

******************

Although Madam Rococco was allowed to take him out of Ata, he was never allowed to spend the night away from his dwelling. He lived and worked in an inn. Lord Drake paid for him to live in a large room on the upper floor of the inn, but he did his 'business' in a lower room rented specifically for him. The innkeeper never seemed to complain and they were always nice to Argo.

The carriage stopped in front of the inn and Madam Rococco opened the door.

"I bid you adieu, sweet dove. It's so wonderful to see you once again and I thank you for helping me win the prize tonight! I will get to choose a dress of my choice for free from the Johansson Collection. Having a Johansson is to die for. I couldn't have done it without you."

"You're welcome, Madam Rococco."

"Come here one more time." He leaned into her as she sniffed his neck again. "Oh, I will carry this with me. It's such a shame your employer won't let you be bought or spend the night. It would make things so much easier... I'll see you again, sweet dove."

She closed the door and rode off as Argo sighed and went into the inn. As soon as he walked in, the two guards came over to him.

"How was your night?"

"Exhausting. I don't have another client do I?"

"No, the rest of the night is free."

Argo nodded, happy that he could go to his room instead of to the other room.

As they walked down the hallway to get to the stairs, Argo smelled something as they passed a room and stopped. The guards made a face.

"Argo."

"Do you smell that?" he asked, sniffing at a door.

"This is an inn; there are a lot of things you may smell here. This happens every time you come back from Madam's."

Argo made a face but followed the guards up to his room. He walked in and the guard grabbed the doorknob.

"We'll have someone bring some food."

"Could you ask if they have any pie?"

"Pie?"

"Um... I... I'd like to try some."

"You'll get what they give you."

They slammed the door closed and Argo sighed, walking to his bedroom. It was much cozier here than in the other room. He liked that this room had a bathroom he could use and not have to share. He loved being in his little room because no one bothered him and he could do what he wanted there without anyone telling him otherwise. For a few hours every night, he could finally be free.

***************

Late that night, Argo opened up the door to his room, finding his guards not there. He turned his head at that. Do they always leave like that? he thought. The smell he had encountered on the way up to his room had been bothering him. It smelled familiar but it worried him at the same time. He looked down the hallway, shaking with anticipation. He quickly went down the hallway to the stairs and slowly walked down them. He then quickly ran down the next hallway and started sniffing for the smell. He got to the door and shakily lifted his hand up to knock on the door. He waited for someone to answer, but no one did. He grabbed the handle and was surprised it was unlocked. He hesitated, wondering if he should go in or not. He decided to just open the door a little and stick his head in; maybe they just didn't hear him.

"Hello?" he asked, looking around.

The smell was worse now and Argo thought it best he go in. He didn't like the smell and it made him anxious.

"Hello?" he called out again.

Someone was still here, he knew it. The bed wasn't made, there was a small suitcase in the corner and clothing spread about. He sniffed again and went over to the bed, finding blood. He gasped, putting his hand over his mouth, and backing up when he ran into something that was not a wall.

"What are you doing here?"

He turned around, finding Stray staring at him.

"I... I smelled something and I... I thought it was you."

Stray turned his head. "You memorized my scent?"

"No, not really. Your scent was just so distinctive and I... I could smell it from the room and it didn't smell right, so..."

"What do you mean it 'didn't smell right'?"

"I... I don't know, it's just... a smell and..."

Stray just turned around and went to the door, opening it.

"I suggest you leave. I should report you for invading my privacy and I have a feeling you're not supposed to be down here."

"Why didn't you go to the fashion show?" Argo asked, looking up at him. "Your family seemed really worried about you."

Stray stared at him. "That's a sick joke."

"What do you mean?"

"My family? Worried about me? That's a laugh."

"But... they really did..."

"They weren't worried about me, they were worried about how my lack of appearing will look to everyone around them. They could give two shits about me."

"Oh..."

"Thanks for checking on me, I guess. You'd better get back to your room."

Argo nodded, still uncertain about everything. The smell was so strange. He suddenly heard a thud and turned back around. Stray was on the floor, completely passed out. Argo ran back in, closing the door.

"Mr. Johansson? Hey, Mr. Johansson?"

The smell suddenly seemed to get worse and Argo wrinkled his nose at the pungent odor. He put his hand over his nose as he looked around Stray to see where it was coming from. He turned him over and stopped. There was blood on the back of his pants, wet and fresh.

Argo was naïve in many things but living in an inn had taught him a few things. This wasn't the first time he had snuck out of his room to see adventure. The last time scarred him so badly that he just decided not to ever do it again. He had actually gotten outside of the inn, going down one of the backstreets of Ata, where the real Omega-whores lurked. He ended up coming across a smell just like this and turned the corner, finding two Omegas in the alley. One was gently consoling the other as she rubbed his back. He was screaming in pain, his pants down and leaning against a wall. Argo watched from around the corner as the male Omega seemed to push down, gritting his teeth. It wasn't until the male Omega asked the woman to help him take off his shirt did he realize that he was with child. The man was giving birth and the smell was just as atrocious.

This time, though, it was plain to see that Stray wasn't filled with child. His stomach was flat but the same smell was there, except it had a rotten twang to it. Something was wrong... Argo sighed and grabbed a hold of Stray. Even though he was much bigger than him, Argo wasn't going to let him stay there by himself. He wasn't exactly sure how he was going to hide him, but it seemed better than him trying to face this issue alone. He was able to get him leaned over his back and so Argo painstakingly dragged him from his room up to his.

+++++++++

poor little argo. scarred for life at seeing a man give birth.

sorry if this story seems a little clunky but i'm new to this whole omegaverse ABO thing and so it's hard to maneuver around some things