Chapter Text
“How do you feel, Ta?” Phuwin asked, gently running his hand on the omega’s back. Santa was stiff, his body betraying the anxiety he was trying so hard to hide.
“I-I am fine, I think, Phi. How did you even marry Phi Pond?” His voice trembled despite his effort to steady it. He tried to take deep breaths, slow and controlled, but fear sat heavy in his chest. Marrying at the age of twenty was honestly terrifying. Yet it was a tradition Santa dared not break, and on top of that, he had not even seen his soon-to-be husband.
The room where both omegas stood was Santa’s bedroom. Santa sat in front of the dressing table, light barely-there makeup soft on his face. Phuwin stood behind him, hands resting comfortingly on his shoulders. Santa’s eyes, reflected in the mirror, held something dangerously close to fear, something he tried to bury deep inside himself.
He had heard enough stories about how omegas were treated poorly in arranged marriages. Stories whispered in kitchens, murmured behind closed doors. It was normal.
No one ever raised their voices against the cruel tradition. It was for them, after all.
Phuwin, at least, had been lucky. He had fallen in love with Pond, Santa’s brother. And when Pond’s family came to take his hand, his family did not say no.
No one knew they were in love, except Santa. Phuwin had been his friend for a long time, long enough to trust him with such a fragile truth.
Today marked a very important day. Santa’s wedding.
And he was terrified.
A white dress was draped over him, clinging to his body and highlighting his small waist. A beautiful pattern of red flowers traced from his neck down to his right arm, vivid against the white. A veil rested over his small face before falling behind him like a waterfall, brushing the floor softly. The barely-there slits along both legs, from knees to ankles, revealed his pure white cargo boots.
He looked breathtaking.
Phuwin’s chest tightened at the sight. A part of him wanted to keep Santa inside this house forever, to shield him from the harsh realities waiting beyond its walls.
“TaTa. It’s time to go out, my dear.”
His mother’s voice was gentle, but final. The wedding was not grand. It was taking place in the backyard of their family house, while everyone else gathered inside the lounge.
Another tradition. A wedding in the omega’s house, before being taken to the alpha’s.
Santa stumbled when he tried to stand, his legs momentarily betraying him. Phuwin was instantly there, steadying him without a word.
“Calm down, Ta,” Phuwin murmured, holding the omega’s shaky hand and warming it between his own. He stayed like that for a moment longer than necessary, grounding him.
With slow, careful movements, Phuwin guided him outside.
Right in front of the room stood Pond, Joong, and Aou. Their eyes were glassy, emotions barely contained. Aou, the oldest, took Santa’s small hand in his, holding it firmly, protectively. Joong and Pond stood beside him, quietly taking the role of a father.
It was beautiful.
Boom struggled to keep his mother-in-law from crying loudly as Aou placed his brother’s hand into another alpha’s.
Perth.
Perth Tanapon stood dressed in black. A white brooch rested on his right side, mirroring the red flowers on Santa’s dress, giving the moment a strangely serene balance. A small chain hung from his waist. His leathered hand was held out, steady and unmoving, as Santa’s smaller hand was placed into it.
Perth’s gaze remained lowered as he gently guided the omega to stand beside him. His mother’s eyes filled with tears at the sight of her only son getting married, while his father quietly tried to calm her.
The priest recited the vows. The large backyard fell into complete silence. The last rays of sunlight washed over the stage where the pair stood. Their voices were clear when they said their I do’s, and then the crowd erupted into loud cheers.
Families hugged one another. Legal ties were bound. Santa’s mother could not stop herself from placing kisses on both of their foreheads, her hands lingering as if unwilling to let go.
Santa tried to wiggle his hand out of Perth’s hold.
The alpha’s grip tightened. Not bruising. Gentle. Commanding. Holding the omega exactly where he was.
People came forward, congratulating them. Santa held his breath, heart pounding, fear curling tight inside him. He had not even looked at his husband once.
Before he could say anything, Phuwin and Dunk approached him. Their mischievous smiles told Santa everything he needed to know.
Phuwin leaned down, carefully removing the veil before bending closer. “Your husband sure is handsome, TaTa.” He gently patted Santa’s head like an older brother. Dunk smirked beside him.
“Excuse me, I think my omega is tired.”
Perth’s voice was soft, but firm.
Santa visibly stiffened.
"My omega."
The words echoed in his head, over and over. He did not like the way they sounded.
“Oh yeah, we forgot,” Santa’s mother laughed lightly, patting Santa’s arm.
“Don’t forget to follow the tradition, young couple!” someone yelled from the crowd.
Santa saw his brothers stiffen immediately.
None of them had ever thought their little brother would have to go through the same thing.
Perth’s grip tightened unintentionally on Santa’s hand. Sensing it immediately, Perth’s mother placed a grounding hand on his back.
It was normal in families. People were proud of it.
“LET’S GO INSIDE EVERYONE. IT’S TIME FOR THE COUPLE TO-”
“No bedsheets will be shown.”
Perth’s voice rang loud and clear, cutting through the air. Everything stopped.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, low at first, then rising.
“How shameless.”
“These young people are too much these days, forgetting traditions.”
“That omega’s brother did it, now it’s the omega’s turn. They must have stopped the alpha.”
Every kind of voice clashed together, sharp and judgmental. Perth felt fury coil tightly in his chest. With a gentle but firm tug on Santa’s hand, the alpha pulled him down from the stage.
Pond, Joong, and Aou lowered their heads. They had not refused the tradition. They had spent their first nights with their omegas, letting their families wait outside, letting them see the bloodstained sheets. Proof that the omegas were virgins.
It was a tradition followed for generations.
“I wouldn’t like to repeat myself again.” Perth’s voice carried an edge as he continued, “This is a matter between me and my husband. Whatever the tradition is…” His jaw tightened. “I don’t care about it.”
With that, the alpha turned to Santa’s mother and brothers and bowed respectfully. His expression was cold, but his respect was unmistakable.
Santa could not believe what he had just heard.
He remembered lying awake at night, fear curling in his chest as he thought about it again and again. And now… it would not happen?
A small smile tugged at his lips without him realizing it. Just as unconsciously, his grip tightened around his alpha’s hand.
Before, it had only been Perth holding him.
Now, Santa was holding back.
Santa’s mother gently pulled both of them into her arms. She was not completely old-fashioned, but she had followed tradition all her life.
“My prayers are with you, my love.” She cupped her son’s face tenderly. “Try to understand each other. Marriage is all about learning.”
Santa nodded.
His brothers hugged him one by one. Relief was clear in their eyes. Santa knew it was time to say goodbye.
He did not cry. The tears did not come then. He knew they would come later, when he lay in an unfamiliar bed beside an unfamiliar man he was supposed to call his husband.
Courteous greetings were exchanged. The Sukhumpantanasan family left the house, Perth driving his own car with Santa beside him, his parents following in another.
The ride was not long, yet it felt endless.
Santa kept playing with the ring on his finger, his teeth worrying at his glossed lips. His thoughts refused to settle.
Perth was not much better. His leg bounced as he focused on the road, deliberately ignoring the frightened scent of the omega beside him. He did not know how to begin a conversation. Perth was not an extrovert, but he could manage small talk when things felt awkward.
Not now.
He knew nothing about the omega. He did not know how to ask, or what to ask.
With a reluctant sigh, Perth murmured something under his breath before glancing at Santa.
“Are you… comfortable? I mean, a-are you tired?” He immediately wanted to face-palm.
At a red light, Perth turned fully toward him. Santa opened and closed his mouth before finally answering in a small voice. Perth could not place the tone. Shy? Afraid? Confused? He let it go.
“I… am comfortable, Phi.”
Perth nodded, eyes returning to the road.
When the light turned green, he continued driving toward their house.
Santa, meanwhile, was internally spiraling. He did not want the ride to end yet. He did not know what to do, what to say. His husband seemed cold, distant, unreadable.
“No, no, Santa. Don’t jinx yourself,” he whispered under his breath.
Perth did not catch the words, only Santa’s name.
He smiled.
The omega was adorable.
After that, the ride remained awkward, both of them trapped in their own thoughts, quietly battling their nervousness side by side.
☘
Santa's breath hitched when he placed his own hand on Perth's outstretched one, and with soft strength, Perth pulled the omega out of the car.
Santa tried to pull his hand away, but Perth gently grazed the back of his hand with his thumb, drawing small, steady circles meant to calm the omega down.
His parents had already arrived, welcoming the two of them.
“Perth, son, take Santa upstairs. He must be tired.” It was his father who urged him gently, and Santa stiffened visibly before forcing himself to relax.
He bowed to both of them with a small, polite “Thank you.”
They looked at him warmly. Santa offered them a soft smile before following Perth.
“Aren't they cute together?” Perth's father commented, and his mother nodded in agreement. They really did look good together.
With that, both of them returned to their room.
“Make yourself comfortable.” Perth opened the door to a room decorated with quiet care, Santa’s belongings already settled inside by Phuwin and Dunk.
Santa nodded before stepping inside. The room was beautiful, somehow defining Perth's character completely.
A large queen-sized bed sat in the center, its chocolate brown frame matched by the side tables. Small lamps rested neatly on either side. Curtains were draped softly in front of the window. To the left of the bed, a small stack of tiles held books placed with careful precision.
Santa walked toward the bed slowly, sitting at the edge. His body ached from wearing the wedding suit for so long, and he had absolutely no idea what he was supposed to do now.
Should he change his clothes? Would Perth say anything? And he did not even know where Phuwin and Dunk had put his clothes.
He stifled a yawn when he noticed Perth walking toward him, and in an instant, the omega stood up too quickly. The slit of his suit caught between his feet, and Santa landed ungracefully in his husband's arms.
The alpha reacted immediately, wrapping his arms around the omega’s waist and pulling him gently close.
“Careful there.” Perth helped him stand upright, and Santa blushed furiously. It was not a shy blush, but a full flush of embarrassment.
Now they stood facing each other. Santa stared at Perth's shoulder, unable to lift his gaze, while Perth’s eyes stayed fixed gently on the omega’s face.
Perth had learned one thing tonight about his husband. When the omega was nervous or afraid, he fumbled with his ring and bit his lips.
“Do you want to eat anything?” Santa looked at him in shock before lowering his gaze again.
“You must be hungry. I will plate something light for you. You can change till then, hmm?” Perth stepped away, noticing how distressed the omega looked.
His hand was already on the doorknob when the omega called out softly.
“Phi… w-where did Phi Phuwin put my clothes?”
Realization dawned on him. He had never explained any of it.
Without answering, the alpha walked to the wardrobe. It was not officially divided, but the sections were clearly separated.
“Yours are on the left side, and the pajamas are in the drawers.” Perth pointed everything out patiently while Santa nodded along.
“Thank you, Phi.” The omega bowed slightly, and Perth returned the gesture before finally leaving the room.
In the kitchen, Perth took a deep breath and chugged a bottle of water, the weight of the day finally settling in.
He was a married man now. A man with responsibilities.
There was barely anything in the fridge except one sandwich, something Perth vaguely remembered eating earlier in the morning. He took it out, unwrapped it, and placed it in the oven to warm. While it heated, he warmed a glass of milk and made some juice. He did not know what the omega would prefer.
Once everything was plated on a tray, milk and juice placed carefully beside the sandwich, the alpha returned to the room.
He knocked on the door and waited.
He did not want to scare the omega. He did not know what state Santa might be in.
The door opened to reveal the omega dressed in pajamas. A baby blue sweater hung down to his knees, paired with baby blue trousers patterned with small sharks. His hair was still damp from a quick shower, a towel resting loosely over his shoulders.
“Ah, why are you knocking on the door, Phi?” Santa asked softly, confused. Why was the alpha asking permission? Wasn't it his room too?
Perth did not answer. He simply handed him the tray and gently guided him inside.
“Eat first, Santa.”
With a quiet nod, Santa sat down with his back facing Perth. He cast a few hesitant glances around before beginning to eat, while the alpha went into the bathroom with his clothes.
By the time Perth came out, feeling fresher and ready for sleep, he stopped in his tracks.
Santa’s head had tilted to one side, sleep having claimed him quietly. He looked impossibly small, curled in on himself as if trying to take up as little space as possible. The sandwich on the side table was finished, but the glass of juice remained untouched.
A small, unconscious smile curved Perth’s lips. He took the tray, returned to the kitchen, washed it, and placed the full glass of juice back in the fridge.
When he came back, it was already close to 1:00 AM. Santa had not moved.
Perth did not want to touch him without permission, nor did he want to wake him. Instead, he gently draped a spare blanket over the omega, careful not to startle him when he woke.
Finally, the alpha lay down. His eyes closed, and a quiet whisper slipped from his lips.
“Good night, Santa.”
Sleep slowly pulled a veil over him.
It was their first night.
A start to something beautiful.
…maybe.