The Engima’S Claim
The Lowest Among Them
[System Note — World Structure]
In this world, the order of life is decided by scent and power:
Omegas — the rulers, dominant and revered. Their pheromones control society and decide every bond.
Alphas — soldiers and guards, loyal to Omegas.
Betas — common citizens with neutral scent.
Engimas — the outcasts. Born scentless, weak, and unwanted. Considered cursed for disrupting pheromone balance.
Engimas are rarely born. When they are, they’re sold to research houses, pleasure chambers, or auctioned as pets for wealthy Omegas.
Underground Auction — Sector 19
The air hums with perfume and money. Rows of Omegas sit behind tinted screens as the next item is dragged forward.
Host: Lot 021 — male Engima. Age: 20. Unbonded. Scent suppressed since infancy. Starting bid—
Audience: Even sell that thing? Engimas die fast
Audience: They make nice ornaments when they’re quiet.
The lights dim. A figure is pushed onto the platform — Taehyung, barefoot, collar faintly glowing. He trembles.
Host: This one’s rare. No recorded aggression. Fully obedient.
Camera zooms in: dark hair clinging to pale skin, lashes wet. His lips move soundlessly.
Tae(Engima)
(whisper)I… I don’t want to…
Barely audible. The crowd laughs.
Jungkook (Omega)
He looks terrified.
Jimin(Omega)
Don’t. You can’t save them all.
Jungkook (Omega)
He’s shaking. Look at his wrists.
Suga(Omega)
Another pity case? He’s half-starved. Probably won’t last a week.
[Auctioneer raises the hammer.]
Jungkook (Omega)
…One hundred thousand.
Host: Starting bid is ten—
Jungkook (Omega)
I said one hundred.
Jungkook (Omega)
I’m buying him. End it.
Host (stammering): S-sold to Omega Jungkook of the 7th Line.
Transport Vehicle — Silent Feed
Taehyung sits curled in a corner. A blanket covers his shoulders, though his hands still tremble. He doesn’t lift his head.
Jimin(Omega)
He won’t speak.
Suga(Omega)
He hasn’t eaten either.
Jungkook (Omega)
He’s scared. That’s all.
Jimin(Omega)
Omegas, scare him. We all smell too strong.
Suga(Omega)
Then lower your scent.
They silence their pheromones. The air lightens a little.
Tae(Engima)
(barely audible) …Why?
Jungkook (Omega)
Why what?
Jungkook (Omega)
Because no one else should hurt you.
Tae(Engima)
(flinches) That’s… what they all said.
Silence again. The only sound is the vehicle’s hum.
Jimin(Omega)
📱Jimin Private Note
> Engimas aren’t supposed to talk much. Their throats weaken after too many suppressors.
His scent—barely there—still pulls at something primal. It’s like fear and honey mixed.
We should have left him. But Jungkook… he looked at him like he’d found something lost
Safehouse — Later That Night
The lights are dim. Taehyung sits on the edge of a narrow bed. His fingers trace the metal tag around his neck: 021.
Jimin(Omega)
You can sleep here. No one will touch you.
Tae(Engima)
…You promise?🙁
He nods, eyes dull. When Jimin leaves, he curls into the blanket, whispering a name — maybe his own.
Suga(Omega)
His vitals are unstable. He’s reacting to our pheromones even though we’re suppressing them.
Jungkook (Omega)
We’ll keep him anyway.
Suga(Omega)
You’re getting attached.
Jungkook (Omega)
Maybe. But he looked at me once — like I wasn’t an Omega. Like he didn’t see power at all. Just… warmth.
Jimin(Omega)
Then maybe that’s why he survived this long.
Fear of Warmth
The kitchen smells of fresh bread and soft rain. Taehyung stands by the counter, clutching a cup with trembling fingers.
Jimin(Omega)
(smiling) You don’t have to serve us, Tae. Sit down, hmm?
Tae(Engima)
(quietly) I… I should work. It’s what I’m for.
He looks at the floor when he speaks—never at them. The warmth in Jimin’s tone only makes him shake harder.
Suga(Omega)
You’re not for anything. You’re just… you.
Taehyung freezes at that. The words sound wrong to him—impossible.
Tae(Engima)
(whisper) But Engimas don’t just “be.” We serve, or we get punished.
Jungkook moves closer instinctively—only two steps—but Taehyung flinches back so hard the cup slips and crashes.
Tae(Engima)
I’m sorry! I’m sorry, please don’t—
Jungkook (Omega)
(hands raised) Hey, hey—no one’s angry. I swear. You’re safe, Tae.
Taehyung’s chest heaves. The sound of breaking glass always meant pain to him. He expects shouting, punishment—but there’s only silence.
Suga(Omega)
(gently):Jimin, get the broom. Jungkook, stay back. He’s scared.
They move slowly, voices low. Taehyung stays pressed against the wall, trembling like a small animal caught in light.
The storm outside grows heavier. Jimin sets a small bowl of soup on the table and steps away.
Jimin(Omega)
I’ll leave it here, okay? You can eat when you’re ready.
Taehyung watches the steam rise. He doesn’t move for a while. Then, quietly, he crawls closer, taking small, careful sips.
Tae(Engima)
(thinking): It’s warm… not burning. They didn’t drug it. I think.
He finishes half, then whispers to himself:
Jimin smiles from the doorway but doesn’t approach. He’s learned even a gentle pat on the shoulder makes Taehyung shake.
Thunder rumbles. The lights flicker. Jungkook passes by Taehyung’s room and finds him curled up in the corner, blanket around his shoulders.
No answer. Just a faint sound—breathing too fast.
Jungkook (Omega)
(softly) It’s just thunder. It won’t hurt you.
Tae(Engima)
(whispers)It sounds like the alarms… they used to come after the alarms.
Jungkook sits down near the door—keeping a safe distance.
Jungkook (Omega)
You don’t have to be afraid anymore. Nobody’s going to touch you without asking.
Taehyung glances up, eyes wide and glassy.
Tae(Engima)
You say that now. But Omegas always touch. It’s what they do.
Jungkook’s heart aches at the way he says “Omegas” — like a warning, not a title.
Jungkook (Omega)
Not all of us, Tae. Not me.
He leans his head against the wall, matching Taehyung’s posture. The silence grows soft between them, fragile but real.
Jimin(Omega)
He still won’t let anyone near him.
Suga(Omega)
He’s not ready. Healing doesn’t start with touch. It starts with distance.
Jungkook (Omega)
I bought him because… because I couldn’t stand seeing his eyes in that cage.
Jimin(Omega)
“Bought”? You mean you—
Jungkook (Omega)
(nods)He’s mine by law. But I don’t want ownership. I just… wanted to keep him safe.
Suga(Omega)
His scent—it’s strange. It pulls at something in me. You feel it too, don’t you?
They share a silent look. None of them understand it yet—but the bond between them has already begun
Taehyung’s Room (Late Night)
He lies awake, staring at the ceiling. Every thunderclap makes him flinch. Then—soft footsteps outside
Jungkook (Omega)
(from the hallway) I’m right here if you need me, Tae.
Tae(Engima)
(quietly) …Why?
Jungkook (Omega)
Because no one ever stayed for you before. Someone should.
Tears slip down Taehyung’s cheeks, silent and quick
Tae(Engima)
(thinking)If this is a dream… please don’t let me wake up yet.
A faint light glows through the rain—an unseen drone scanning from above
Council Voice (radio whisper): Target confirmed. Engima classified. Proceed to observe. Do not engage… yet.
Inside, Taehyung sleeps uneasily, clutching his blanket, unaware of the danger drawing closer
Shatter
Soft sunlight filters through the curtains. Taehyung stands at the sink, washing a few plates. Jimin enters quietly behind him.
Jimin(Omega)
Tae, you don’t have to clean every morning, you know.
Tae(Engima)
(nervous)I-I just want to be useful. Please don’t stop me.
Jimin(Omega)
(smiling) It’s not about stopping you. I just—
He reaches out instinctively, meaning to take the plate from Tae’s hand… but his fingers brush Taehyung’s wrist.
Tae(Engima)
(flinches hard) Don’t—!
The plate crashes to the floor. Tae stumbles backward, hitting the counter. His breath comes too fast. His eyes go blank.
Tae(Engima)
(panicked whisper)I’ll be good—please, I didn’t mean to break it, don’t—don’t hurt me—
Jimin(Omega)
(frozen) Tae, no—no one’s angry! It’s okay!
But Tae doesn’t hear him. He’s trapped in old memories—cold rooms, hands pulling him, voices shouting “obey.”
Yoongi rushes in, halting as he sees the trembling boy
Suga(Omega)
Don’t touch him. Let Jungkook handle it.
Jungkook kneels across the room from Taehyung, who’s curled up on the floor, arms wrapped tightly around his knees
Jungkook (Omega)
(softly)Tae. Look at me, not them. Just me.
No response. Taehyung’s shaking, eyes wide with pure terror
Jungkook (Omega)
You’re safe. I swear on my breath—no one will hurt you.
He slowly reaches out, not to touch, but to show his open palms — no threat, no command
Jungkook (Omega)
(quietly)I’ll stay right here. You don’t even have to look at me.
He stays on the floor, still and patient, while Jimin silently cries from the doorway
Jimin(Omega)
(whispers) I didn’t mean to scare him…
Suga(Omega)
He’s not scared of you, Jimin. He’s scared of the world that made him this way.
Minutes pass. Taehyung’s sobs quiet down to faint hiccups, but he doesn’t speak again. Jungkook’s words haven’t broken through — only time might
The air is heavy. Jungkook sits on the couch, head in his hands
Jungkook (Omega)
No matter what I say, he still looks at me like I might break him.
Suga(Omega)
You can’t heal years of pain with one kind sentence.
Jimin(Omega)
Then what do we do? Just watch him fall apart?
Suga(Omega)
No. We protect him. Even if it means protecting him from ourselves.
Jungkook nods slowly, guilt written all over his face.
Jungkook (Omega)
(whisper)I promised him safety… but maybe I’m the one he fears most.
Omega Council Headquarters
Council Omega: Their pheromone pattern hasn’t moved in days. They’re hiding in District Twelve.
Subordinate: Shall we retrieve the Engima?
Council Omega: Not yet. The subject’s bond indicators are unstable. Let it grow. When it peaks, it’ll be easier to control them all.
Subordinate: And if the Engima resists?
Council Omega (coldly): Then we remind it what it was made for.
The rain starts again. Taehyung sits awake in the dark, holding the edge of his blanket. His eyes are swollen from crying
Jungkook (Omega)
(from outside his door)I’m still here, Tae. You don’t have to talk. I just want you to know… you don’t have to be afraid forever.
Taehyung doesn’t answer. His throat burns too much to speak
Tae(Engima)
(thinking)They keep saying I’m safe. But why can’t I feel it?
He curls tighter, body shaking with silent sobs. The sound of rain covers his broken breathing
[A drone’s light flickers again in the mist. A voice hums through static.]
Council Scout: Subject located. Preparing silent entry coordinates. Await confirmation.
Operator: Negative. Hold your position. The Council wants the Engima untouched until the next moon cycle.
Taehyung finally falls into restless sleep — unaware that his peace is timed
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