Being Omega

A Silent Promise

"It was a dumb argument," Reed mumbled the next day as he sat in Fowler's office, staring at his lap. Connor was standing behind him in support as Nines sat off to his right. Hank stood over Nines' shoulder, offering a grounding hand. Fowler gave Reed a stern look as he folded his hands on the desk. It was an almost incredulous expression, one that said, an argument? Really? Are you fucking shitting me? That was what Reed put it down to. He didn't look at Nines sitting beside him. He couldn't work himself up to it. Nines was sensitive to it, too. He kept his silvery blue eyes on the floor, and his alpha program switched off. He would have been bothered by the absence of his alpha and the silence in his head, but his emotions were tied to the program. He was numb without it, unable to feel anything. "I really don't need to take it further...We said some shit. Nines lost his temper. That's it," Reed added firmly, his jaw tightening slightly. He still couldn't forget the hurt that had laced through Nines' scent with the anger.

"Well, if you're not going to take it any further, then I've no choice but to let it go...You'd better be damn grateful," Fowler added with a growl as he levelled a harsh look at Nines, lashing out with his smoky scent in reproach. Nines couldn't smell it, but he still looked suitably ashamed of himself as he nodded and remained subdued. He seemed to feel bad at least, or as bad as an emotionless android could feel. He hadn't reactivated his alpha programming since the previous day. He didn't look like he'd entered stasis either. Did he even leave the precinct? Reed wondered almost worriedly as he glanced to the side. His omega was beside itself. It tried to reach out and paw at Nines, bewildered by the sudden absence of his alpha. Reed's bitter coffee scent reached across, but without his program, Nines was unable to detect it. "I guess the next question is, are you still able to work together?" Fowler asked doubtfully as he looked between them. Reed's terrified scent was enough to let the room know that it was unlikely.

"Maybe...In a while...Phck, I don't know," Reed grunted out with a frustrated sigh, leaning back in his chair as his legs bounced nervously. He felt a comforting hand on his shoulder, Connor's honeysuckle coaxing him into relaxing. Nines winced internally at the news. He didn't have feelings right now, but he still understood relationships, and his connection with Reed had suffered severely. Their partnership had always been laced with anger and resentment most days, but they'd still worked together seamlessly and closed countless cases. They'd been efficient. We are efficient.

"Perhaps we could work together for a few weeks," Connor suggested softly, quietly wanting to keep an eye on his fellow omega. Reed was clearly vulnerable right now, and Connor was one of the few people he seemed to reach out to for support. He could tell the suggestion wasn't a popular one with the alphas in the room. Fowler's brow furrowed in thought and Hank folded his arms. It wasn't that they didn't believe Reed and Connor could make a good team, however...

"I hardly think it wise for two omegas to be on the streets without suitable protection," Nines broke in, not missing the way Reed flinched at the sound of his voice and shifted away. Nines closed his eyes for an instant. He didn't know how to fix this. Would it simply take time and space? Should he approach him with an apology of sorts? He couldn't think of any fitting words. Perhaps he was more concerned that his apology would be rejected. What if we never work together again? The thought would likely have caused him a great deal of emotional distress with his secondary gender program running. He had complicated feelings surrounding his partner. His alpha was possessive and held genuine affection for Reed's omega. Nines himself found Reed infuriating, but beneath that was a lingering fire that almost burned in its intensity.

"I am able to deactivate my programming in the event of physical confrontations," Connor excused, not really seeing his secondary gender as an issue. Unfortunately, discrimination in the workplace was still common. The alphas in the precinct had accepted Reed and Connor within their ranks, however outsiders would not be so accommodating. Two omega officers alone on the street may attract unwanted attention. Media attention. There would likely be questions raised about whether equality had gone too far, or whether the DPD was so short on staff that they had to resort to omega officers. Worse, that those omega officers were sent out alone and vulnerable.