Being Omega

Asserting Dominance

The next day continued in a similar vein to the last, although Reed was now much more himself. They actually left the precinct to interview a few witnesses that day since Reed's heat eased off. Nines enjoyed watching him work. He was very good with victims and witnesses, speaking with a softness and empathy that Nines lacked with his more aggressive alpha nature. People liked Reed. They opened up to him. He was also much more patient with witnesses than he was with other people. He allowed that inner softness to show, looking more like an omega than he ever did at the precinct. It made Nines want to stand just a little closer and, feeling vulnerable from his heat, Reed allowed it. He was actually surprised one time when he shifted his arm to feel Nines' firm chest against it. He was standing barely two inches away from him.

"Back the phck up," Reed grumbled, shoving his hands deeper in his jacket pockets. Despite his curt words and embarrassed behaviour, his omega's scent drew him nearer. The mixed signals were, frankly, confusing. Nines knew that Reed wanted him. His sickening cinnamon and coffee scent was constantly seeking him out and teasing him closer. It demanded his attention. His mouth, on the other hand, rejected any advances he made in response. He flinched at light contact, argued against reasonable suggestions, and refused various demands or requests, seemingly just for the sake of it. At the same time, his green eyes would almost undress him whenever they saw him. Reed's mouth would refuse even as his eyes lured him in. Even his body language conflicted with itself. He would lean into Nines' gentle touches before flinching away, forcing his hands into his pockets so that he couldn't let them wander. He knew part of it was the battle between Reed's conscious mind and his omega, but he was surprised to notice more and more that it was Reed himself who was watching and seeking him out.

He puts so much effort into defying me, yet whenever another alpha comes along...Nines' thought trailed off in frustration as he watched Reed sitting on the edge of Jones' desk. One of his legs was swinging idly as the young uniformed officer openly flirted with him. Nines felt his alpha rise aggressively. He couldn't help agreeing. Jones was inferior. It was insulting to watch Reed waste his omega's attention on him. Jones flinched slightly as the possessive scent of gunpowder washed over him. Sharp silver eyes sent a single, unmistakable message. Mine. The officer hastily ended their conversation and Reed returned to his own desk. Confusion marred his features, along with an underlying insecurity. An alpha had just rejected him. There was a certain level of hurt and uncertainty in that. Had he done something wrong? Was he no longer appealing? Why? He sighed in contentment as Nines' scent teased his senses, comforting him and easing his worries.

"Phck, how long is it going to take for this thing to go away?" Reed wondered out loud as he fell into his chair and examined his neck in the monitor, which was currently turned off. Reed sounded put out and more than a little frustrated as he glared at the red mark. It was even more frustrating that his omega kept making happy little chirping noises whenever it noticed him looking at it. Nines felt something hot in his chest at his words. That was Nines' mark. It let other alphas know that Reed was his, or had been close to being his at least. In some ways, he felt that the connection was still there. He swore he could sometimes smell himself on him. Other alphas didn't seem to notice, and Reed himself seemed completely unaware, but Nines was so sure it was there. He also felt more protective of him and found his eyes upon him almost constantly. Reed, on the other hand, seemed entirely oblivious to it. To him, it was just an ugly blemish on his skin. It hurt. Nines lowered his silvery gaze, doing his best to pretend it didn't bother him.

"Perhaps it won't," he replied teasingly, quietly pleased with the idea. The redness had faded a little, and he was sure the purple bruising would go down in a few weeks, but perhaps those smaller puncture wounds would remain. That would please his alpha. To see a reminder of his mark on Reed every day. The lingering possibility that one day it could be made permanent. Reed seemed less than enthused. There was something almost bitter in his green eyes as he continued to glare at his reflection, as if his words could chase it away.