Chapter Text
Kuai Liang hadn't felt such immense, crushing guilt in a long, long time.
"Yes, Tundra? What do you want, can't you see I'm- mmh- busy right now?" Kuai's jaws almost audibly creaked with how hard he held them shut. He couldn't give Sektor the satisfaction of any outburst of emotion, as he would inevitably be seen as weak for it.
But his brother.
Bi-Han knelt with his knees spread at the throne's base between Sektor's legs. His arms were bound from shoulder to wrist so tightly that the skin was purpling from the lack of blood flow. His jaw stretched obscenely around the knotted base of Sektor's cock while his throat bulged from the thick shaft and head pushing into it. He wore plain, navy commoner's garb, the hem barely even reaching his hips; it did nothing to cover the growing bump on Bi-Han's lower abdomen, nor the puddle of slick forming between his legs. Kuai could see tear tracks glistening on his face, but his eyes were glazed over.
Bi-Han had presented remarkably late for a man, well into young adulthood. He had often displayed a brash and almost arrogant attitude as a young boy and teen, typical of alpha-presenting or even hot-headed beta-presenting males his age, but he'd surprised everyone when he'd suddenly collapsed in the middle of training, clutching at his stomach and whining about sudden cramps. He'd presented, in the middle of the training yard, in front of a class of almost exclusively alphas, as an omega. Those who were forbidden from becoming assassins, from fighting at all. A breeder.
That day, Kuai was only 11, his much younger class training deeper in the halls of the temple. He didn't witness the ensuing frenzy of virile alphas and vicious betas who all but tore each other to pieces over the tantalizing scent of a heating omega, over Bi-Han; but Kuai and the other pups in his class could hear the roars echo through the halls and chambers of the temple, so ferocious in their intensity.
Then everything went quiet for a moment, before they heard Bi-Han screaming in abject terror, and then again in sheer agony.
Bi-Han's life had practically ended. Sektor had won out over the rest of the alphas in that class and claimed Bi-Han by tearing his clothes off and mounting him, publicly, in front of stunned and overwhelmed instructors and the other surviving but unsuccessful would-be suitors. He'd almost maimed Bi-Han with how viciously deep he'd bit into his mating glands; the scar healed over poorly and gave more of the impression of an animal attack than than a mating bite. Sektor had properly bred him that day.
Bi-Han was then dragged through the halls- attracting curious clan members with the unfamiliar scent of claimed omega- to the Grandmaster's chambers where Oniro would decide his fate. Bi-Han's untimely presentation and the ensuing chaos had caused that class to be nearly halved. Instead of having him executed, Oniro took a small mercy on him and decided to let him live, but only as a breeder; after all, the would-be Sub-Zero had been their best and most promising asset. It would be a shame to kill him; instead, let him have the privilege of bearing offspring to help repopulate the clan after losing so many warriors, and surely his divine cryomancer blood would be passed down to produce strong heirs.
Bi-Han's spirit had not so easily been defeated, at first. It took nearly a year to beat most of the rebelliousness out of him, and many more to rid him of any remaining resistance. But in the end, the psychological and physiological torture and conditioning had been solid and complete.
At 27, he was the perfect picture of a demure, fertile omegan wife to a the Lin Kuei's grandmaster. Obedient and almost never without child.
It disgusted Kuai Liang to the core.
He'd watched helplessly as his brother fell from feared prodigal assassin to lowest of the low in a single day. Their once shared quarters became Kuai's alone; omegas slept in their alpha's room.
Bi-Han's first child was stillborn. Sektor nearly killed him in his rage. Almost immediately Bi-Han was bred again, and another 9 months later the omega gave birth to a healthy son. Since then Bi-Han had given birth nearly every year to 7 more healthy children, with only one other miscarriage in his early twenties. Sektor's legacy was assured to live on, and upon Oniro's death he'd assumed the position of Grandmaster.
Today Kuai Liang turned 20; if deemed worthy, he would be granted a new mantle: Sub-Zero, the one intended for his brother before his unfortunate presentation. The young cryomancer had presented and grown into a formidable alpha, despite the gangliness that seemed to chase him through his teen years, and rose easily in rank. Even Sektor could not deny his abilities, rivaling Bi-Han's at his age.
The omega seemed to take no notice of the familiar scent of his younger brother standing in the same room, mere feet away, aside from some meek whining around Sektor's knot. Bi-Han seemed to sense the tension in the room and tried to release a comforting purr, but it died out quickly when Sektor yanked harshly on his hair in disapproval. Kuai nearly growled, but he forced himself to look Sektor in the face.
"Grandmaster, today is my 20th. I am here to request kombat against a worthy opponent who, upon defeat, will grant me my new mantle," his eyes briefly strayed to his brother. "As you remember, it is customary for alphas my age."
Sektor groaned again as Bi-Han flexed his throat around his length. "Yes, yes, I remember." He gestured for a guard to step forth, "Summon Vrbada. If you defeat him you will be granted the mantle of Sub-Zero." Bi-Han didn't even twitch at the mention of his former name. "You are dismissed." Kuai Liang bowed deeply, before turning and leaving the room. He did not glance back at his brother, though he wanted badly to.
Upon his defeat, Tomás smiled proudly at Kuai Liang through bloody teeth and recited, “Congratulations, warrior. You are hereby granted your new name; cast Tundra aside and step forth, Sub-Zero.” Kuai smiled back at him, clasping his forearm in gratitude, though the smile did not reach his eyes; how could he celebrate the takeover of a name that belonged rightfully to his brother?
Tomás seemed to sense something of the moodiness brewing in Kuai’s mind. “Come, grant me the honor of walking me to the healers. I can tell you are anxious about something. There’s no one around, what is it that troubles you?”
Kuai sighed. “It is Bi-Han. His... current condition is always at the forefront of my mind. How Sektor treats him- how everyone treats him. How it seems his mental capacity has been reduced so.” Kuai sighed, his shoulders dropping. “It has been years, nearly a decade, since he last spoke with a clear mind, yet the memory of it haunts me.”
Kuai Liang sighed again. Tomás chuckled bitterly, “Yes, I remember.” He shook his head, as if to shake a memory, and looked at Kuai with grim determination. “Whatever you need… you have my word that I will aid you however I can.” Kuai smiled ruefully at his friend, but accepted his words readily.
“Thank you, Tomás. You honor me."
I promise, big brother. I promise I will get us both out of here. You will be a slave to alphas no longer.