This Isn't My Genre!!

Yuji had just begun to recover from the emotional damage of luxury retail therapy when it happened. A simple white envelope, slipped under his bedroom door like some cursed Hogwarts letter.

He stared at it.

Then at Fin.

Fin did not care.

He picked it up cautiously, as if the envelope might explode. Knowing Nikolai, it probably contained a contract, a tracking device, or a list of pre-approved baby names. Really dedicated father, gudluck future baby.

Instead, it read:

Formal Event. Tonight. 7 PM. Wear something presentable. No hoodies.

Signed with a flourish that definitely looked more threatening than elegant: Nikolai.

Hmph. He could've just texted. But nooo...he had to go full vintage drama and slide it under the door.

Yuji groaned and face-planted into his pillow.

"I knew it. I jinxed myself by enjoying the takoyaki."

___

By 6:45 PM, Yuji was dressed in the most uncomfortable suit he had ever worn. Black, sleek, tailored to perfection, courtesy of a stylist who had appeared at the penthouse that afternoon like a fashion assassin.

He tugged at the stiff collar. "Why do rich people hate breathable fabric?"

Fin offered no answers.

Nikolai appeared at exactly 7:00. Yuji wanted to complain that the man could have at least knocked. But of course, he didn't. He just walked in like he owned the place, like always.

Which, to be fair, he did.

Yuji turned. And blinked.

Nikolai in a suit was... unfair. Classic black tux, silk lapels, no tie, collar loose just enough to show a hint of his throat. He looked like the villain in a spy movie. The hot one who kills people with piano wire.

Yuji blinked again. "You're not allowed to look better than me."

Nikolai smirked. "Then don't fall behind."

"Hmphh"

___

The event was held at an elite venue nestled between two skyscrapers in the upper district. From the outside, it looked like a museum. Inside, it smelled like generational wealth and filtered air.

Yuji walked beside Nikolai, hyper-aware of everything: the omega collar around his neck, the heels of people clicking on marble, the way everyone glanced at them.

Especially him.

Some faces recognized Nikolai. A few even bowed slightly. Not a single person looked surprised by the omega by his side. If anything, they seemed... curious. Or worse- expecting. Like its normal, maybe he's not the first one.

Yuji leaned closer. "Is this one of those dinners where you're going to auction me off for stock options?"

Nikolai didn't even flinch. "Don't be ridiculous. You're far too volatile to put on the market."

Yuji wasn't sure if he should be flattered or offended.

___

The dinner itself was extravagant.

Crystal chandeliers. Five-course meals. A string quartet playing renditions of trending pop songs so classy, it took Yuji five minutes to recognize a slowed-down version of a K-pop hit.

He ate in silence, trying to figure out which fork went with what, until a server offered him a drink.

"Non-alcoholic," Nikolai said smoothly before Yuji could reach. "He's under circumstances."

Yuji made a face. "You make it sound like I'm a biohazard."

The businessman next to them chuckled. "You're that omega, aren't you? The one Mr. Dragunov sponsored?"

Yuji smiled tightly. "Something like that."

How can they know though? Embarassing.

Of course they would.

Yuji looks at Nikolai.

He shot a glare at him like it was all his fault. Yes, it is.

Nikolai raised an eyebrow, giving him a "Why are you looking at my handsome face?" kind of look.

Yuji stuck his tongue out in response and quickly turned away.

___

Midway through dessert, some impossibly tiny tart with edible gold. Yuji excused himself and stepped out onto the balcony for air.

The city skyline glittered in the distance.

For a moment, he could pretend things were normal. That he was just someone's weird date, not a pet omega waiting to explode like a novelty cake.

"You handled yourself well tonight," came a voice behind him.

Yuji jumped. "Do you always sneak up on people like that?"

"Only you."

Nikolai leaned beside him on the railing.

"You didn't have to bring me," Yuji said. "This wasn't exactly casual."

"It wasn't supposed to be," Nikolai replied. "But it was necessary."

Yuji looked at him. "Because you wanted to show me off?"

Nikolai met his gaze, unreadable as always.

"Because they needed to see I'm serious. About this. About you."

Yuji froze.

Then slowly turned away, hiding his face behind a champagne flute filled with soda water.

"Weirdo," he muttered.

"Anyway, don't leave me alone. I'm a coward, you know."

___

Back in the penthouse later that night, Yuji kicked off his shoes and collapsed onto the couch.

Fin blinked awake from sleep mode.

"Okay," Yuji said, voice muffled by throw pillows. "Maybe I'm not just a hostage. Maybe I'm a... luxury pet. With benefits."

Fin blinked again.

"Urghh, so tired. Goodnight, Fin. Sweet dreams."

Tonight had been a long, long day.

He didn't even bother changing his clothes.

He just crashed onto the bed and passed out.

Exhausted.

___

Nikolai stood by the bed, staring at Yuji still in his event clothes, clearly too tired to bother changing.

He sighed. "I guess you're exhausted… tired of people."

Well, that was a fact. A very true one.

Even if he was cold-hearted by nature, Nikolai still crouched down and helped Yuji out of the stifling suit, replacing it with something more comfortable.

A small chuckle escaped him.

Yuji was going to freak out tomorrow.

As he adjusted the collar of the soft sleep shirt, Nikolai's gaze lingered. He leaned in slightly, unable to resist the natural alpha instinct… and took a slow breath against the curve of Yuji's neck.

Yuji smelled like first snow over firewood.

Clean. Fresh. Cool. Addicting.

His fingers moved without thinking, slipping beneath the edge of Yuji's new sleepwear.

Nikolai froze.

He quickly pulled his hand back. "Huh." His voice was quiet. "That's… not me."

Sure, he was a lot of things- strict, manipulative, cold. But never someone who crossed the line of consent.

Never that.

Still, the persistent bulge in his pants reminded him just how tempting Yuji was.

Nikolai exhaled slowly, rubbing a hand over his face.

He had always assumed he was the one keeping Yuji caged, boxed into this strange arrangement, this contract, this penthouse.

But now?

Now, he wasn't so sure.

Because lately, it felt like Yuji was the one who had caged him.

"No, I will not."