It was during the Saturday dinner that my mother finally brought up the reason why she'd invited the Uchiha family over. We were sitting down as usual, me opposite Izuna, and I realised how much I liked this new normality of Izuna's family eating with us, having their dedicated seats. We were eating tofu burgers with a barbecue sauce, loads of ketchup, vegetables and sweet potato fries, talking amicably. Izuna's father kept asking me about books I've read and my master thesis, and I was thrilled. It was when we were eating dessert of cashew creme brûlée that my mum cleared her throat.

"Izuna has already told you I've brought you here for a proposition, I take it?" she asked, carefully yet competently.

Izuna's parents looked up, as did Madara and Izuna.

"Yes, Izuna told us", Izuna's mother said.

"Fact is", mum continued. "I need your help."

"We would gladly be of service", the dad said. Oh, to have a dad like yours, Izuna. "Although I'm not certain if we'll be of any help. We're just omegas."

"That's exactly why", mum said, and they looked taken aback. "As you might already know, some groups of betas have started to rebel against the injustices in society. The alphas would never do that because the system benefits them too much. The omegas are too content to rebel. But the betas aren't enough. They need back-up. They need back-up from strong forces in society."

I looked at my mother with large eyes. If this had been just a month ago, I would've called her crazy, demanded that she'd stayed out of things where she had no business. But now... I looked at Izuna. He was looking at me. A glimmer of hope shot between us. Oh, to be able to... Me and Izuna could never be able to be open with our relationship like this. Both of us knew that. Not that that would change anything between us. But if things well and truly changed...

"I will be that strong force in society." I looked at my mother. She was a very mild alpha, but she still had so much poise that people all around the globe paid to come listen to her talk and teach. If anyone could do this, it was mum. "I will stand on the side of the betas. But I need your help. The omegas need a speaking force as well. As the family of the first omega medical student... Izuna has stirred up a lot of controversy." Izuna's face was stern, matching the seriousness of the situation. I loved him for it. "I need you behind me. No, let me rephrase that... I need you beside me.

"What do we have to back us up?" Madara asked. Smart kid. I had been surprised to learn he was two years older than me, but now, it made sense. That man had seen things I couldn't even dream of, and I'd seen things he couldn't even imagine. We could learn a lot from each other.

"I have researched endocrinological pathways that explain why alphas mate with alphas, betas with betas and omegas with omegas. And I have a theory to why that is. However, I..." She looked up, suddenly even more serious than before. "I say this to you because I trust you. I suspect the government is involved." A whisper of chock went through each and every one of us around the dining table. "I don't know how they're involved yet, but I'm developing an imaging technique that I will use to research further. I will ask Izuna..." She looked at him. "For a picture of his brain. Then I will ask for a picture of a group of alphas, betas and omegas that are already part of my research project. Also..." She took a deep breath. "I've hired a hacker. To get me into the databases of the government."

"Dr Senju, this..." My father begun. "This is all very dangerous. Will you be safe?"

She smiled warmly. "It will be a huge risk. But I'm taking it. I don't expect you to take it as well. but I'm asking you to. You don't have to answer now."

"Of course." I looked at Madara. His face was set. "Of course we'll help. I mean, I don't care if I live in a dump for the rest of my life. But I'm lucky. How about the omegas who need healthcare? Insulin? Antibiotics? Who live in hell instead of a dump? I'm doing it."

"Yes", their mother agreed, and their father nodded. "Count us in. How do we start?"

"Thank you", mum said. "I am contacting the leaders of the beta rebellion, telling them they have us on their side immediately."

After dinner, Izuna went to shower, and I went to watch Rudy graze in her meadow, leaning against the fence. Her red fur was glistening in the sun, and she looked happy and healthy.

"Hi", came a voice behind me.

I turned round. "Hi."

Madara came to me, leaning against the fence, watching Rudy in the blood orange evening sun. "She's ginormous", he said. "And expensive-looking."

"She's one-eighty-eight."

"What does that mean?" Madara asked.

"Most horses used for competition are between one-seventy and one-eighty. So yes, she's ginormous. As for her cost... I got her as a foal because nobody wanted her. She was gangly. Her father was a bad race horse, but her mother a furious dressage mare. I got her for almost nothing. Now, she's worth a fortune. I've won a lot with her. I've trained her since I was fifteen."

"She looks phenomenal." He looked over at me. "So are you."

"You don't know half of the things I've done."

"Is it you who have Izuna that scar in his nose?" Madara asked, looking at me. The sun was setting behind him.

"No", I said. "But it could've been."

Madara turned to the meadow again. "But now, you love each other."

"Is it that obvious?" I asked.

"No", Madara said calmly. "Our parents haven't noticed. I would notice if they had. But I have."

"I know it's not normal."

"Izuna has never been normal. I'm not surprised."

I smiled, soaking in how well Izuna's brother handled it all.

"I think you'll be good to him", Madara said. I looked over. "I know he'll be phenomenal for you. He just is like that. But I think you'll be good for him, too. You can learn from each other. Grow."

"Thank you", I said, uncertain whether that was the proper response.

"I just wonder... I know you like Izuna, but what happens when you find the alpha you'll bond with?"

I looked over at Madara. He's gotten so much right, but this bit, he seems to have missed.

"Madara... I have bonded." He stared at me. "I have bonded with Izuna."