"Hey Anderson, where's Connor?" Reed asked a couple of days later as he looked idly around the bullpen as he strolled to his desk. It was unusual for Hank to be hanging around without Connor more or less plastered to his side like an overeager puppy. Hank looked up from his terminal, only now noticing that Reed had arrived. He was quite used to Reed's bittersweet omega scent these days, so he didn't really think about his coming and going. It all just filtered in like white noise. It didn't even disturb his alpha's snooze. Reed was the same with most of the alpha officers in the station. Being the newest staff member, he noticed Nines' scent more than anyone else's. He was somewhere in the building, but not around the bullpen. The barest hint of sawn metal just teased the edge of his senses. He felt his omega perk up with interest, seeking Nines' alpha.
"Hm? Oh, he went for that fancy upgrade thing today," Hank replied offhandedly, scoffing slightly at the whole thing. Androids with secondary genders. What next? Was what Reed got from the look on his face. He shrugged in vague acknowledgement and flopped down at his desk. He pulled a file across and flipped it open. It was for the Armani case. No news from forensics yet, but it's not like they didn't have anything else to work on. Reed leaned back, resting his feet on the edge of his desk idly and tapping his foot. His eyes strayed to Nines' empty desk, his stomach doing strange flips at the reminder. He could feel his omega curled around him, relaxed but alert as its ears twitched. He felt it pawing him. He clicked his tongue, ignoring the file he'd just flipped open. Really? Right now?
He closed his eyes with a sigh and breathed in slowly, checking out the area. Hank's deep whiskey scent was the strongest. Peterson's subtle but sharp spicy scent was close by, too, and Tina's burnt sherry scent drifted in from the break room. He didn't focus too much on the surrounding betas. He was too busy feeling out the alphas. Fowler's smoky scent was hidden away in his office. There…He caught the scent he was looking for. Sawn metal and gunpowder. He trapped a small hum in his throat as prickles ran down his neck and his omega purred. Nines was nearby. Somewhere near the evidence room. Coming this way. He opened his dirty green eyes and returned his attention to the file on his desk.
"Do you have to be so infantile?" Nines bit out impatiently, barely missing a beat as he knocked Reed's feet from the desk. Reed fell forward, barely catching himself before his chest hit the desk. Even his omega was surprised by the act. "This is your place of employment, not your home," Nines chided as he sat down across from him. Reed glanced across to Hank, raising a questioning eyebrow as he nodded towards Nines. Hank shrugged. He had no idea what had set him off. Reed said nothing as he crossed his legs and leaned back once more.
"A delight as always," he muttered sarcastically, looking up as he felt Nines' icy gaze on him. He was about to respond when he scented it. An alpha. One of his regulars. He could feel his omega's ears pricking with interest. Nines clicked his tongue as Reed turned his head expectantly and looked across the bullpen to where the uniformed officer had just walked in. The blonde was cocky, like Reed. He stood with one hip jutting out, a hand resting on his belt, just waiting for Reed to pick out his scent. The man smelled like petrol, and it got Reed every time. He was just about to get up when a strong wave of gunpowder caressed his cheek and turned his head almost seductively. His omega shifted focus instantly, chasing the affection and nuzzling into Nines' alpha. Phcking traitor…Reed closed his eyes a moment to suppress the shudder of want.
"Isn't it time you got some work done?" Nines asked accusingly, though his voice still soothed like silk. Reed sighed in response. Cock-blocking prick, he thought resentfully, shooting Nines a glare as he turned on his terminal and rolled forward. He couldn't exactly argue with that. As far as Nines was concerned he'd arrived, sat down, and done nothing. Not a lie either…Reed grinned as he heard a familiar set of steady steps over his shoulder. He bit his lip as a hand gripped the back of his neck teasingly, setting his omega purring in wanton submission. Reynolds squeezed and teased the area, showing his dominance in the most alluring way. Reed's body wanted to submit, his head dropping and his chest easing lower towards his desk.
"Not going to come say hello?" Reynolds asked teasingly, his voice a deep thrumming purr right by his ear. The scent of petrol caressed him needily, creeping up and down his spine. Reynolds wanted him. He wanted the warmth of an omega's touch. Reed's touch. A small whine rose in his throat. He could barely catch it in time. He opened his eyes, hazy green meeting sharpened blue. God, I want…I want…Reed watched Nines' blue eyes widen a fraction. "Got some time?" Reynolds asked with a smirk, squeezing Reed's neck a little tighter. More submissive feelings flooded his senses, encouraging the gold in his eyes. The question may as well have been an order at that point. There was no way Reed could refuse with that hand so deliciously teasing his submission point. His omega was preening.
"Detective Reed is busy," Nines stated coldly, metal and gunpowder knocking the other alpha's scent away roughly. Reed tensed in anticipation, the combined scents pulling his attention back and forth. His omega joined him, large yellow eyes examining both alphas. Reynolds growled low in his throat. A challenge to Nines. He had already gained the submission of this omega. Nines had no right to interrupt. Hank looked up sharply as Nines got to his feet and stepped up to Reynolds, accepting the challenge. He stood a few inches taller. They were both tense and unblinking, looking for weaknesses in posture to take advantage of. Nines' silvery eyes were sharp, analysing the various ways he could break each bone in Reynolds' fragile human skeleton. Reynolds was cautious, growling and posturing as he failed to intimidate his rival. Their alphas were similarly engaged. They were hunkered low, growling, and ready to pounce. Reed looked up as the strong hand slipped from his neck. His omega preened as the two alphas prepared to fight. Over him. For him. Which one was stronger? Which one was worthy? Which one would breed him? Phck! Phcking alphas! Reed grabbed his own head and winced at the overpowering scents.
"That's enough!" The two alphas paused, incredulous as they looked down at Reed, who crossed his arms defensively. An omega dared to interrupt? Dared to stand up to them? Reed winced at the strong scents that tried to dominate and push him down. "N-Nines!" Reed choked in a whine, barely able to breathe. Nines was almost smug as he shoved Reynolds away. When it came down to it, Reed had called his name. He was the dominant alpha. Reed blinked at the phantom sensation of Nines' alpha nuzzling his omega in reward. Nines glared at Reynolds until he stalked off. "The phck was that?" Reed snapped, trying to get a handle on his needy feelings. He was wired with lust, trembling as he fought the urge to submit and offer himself to Nines right then and there. In the middle of the bullpen. With all the other alphas watching. Watching him submit. Watching him take it like a good omega.
"I prevented him from disrupting our work," Nines replied simply as he took his seat once more, closing his eyes briefly to take in Reed's cinnamon spice. He enjoyed the way it laced with bitter coffee. He liked it best when it was like this. Calling for an alpha. Calling for him. Begging to be dominated. To be bred. He swallowed the possessive growl in his throat. When he opened his eyes again, Reed was focused on his terminal, still breathing deeply to get himself under control. It was almost annoying. Reed rarely allowed himself to lose control around him, and yet he allowed other alphas to rile him constantly. He even enjoyed it.
"Take a picture, dipshit. It'll last longer," Reed snarked in a gruff tone, wincing at the reproach Nines sent his way. He glared in response. He wasn't about to let Nines get under his skin. At least, he wouldn't let him see it. He dropped his eyes to the screen once more, silently telling himself that it wasn't a show of submission to the searing look he was receiving. The look he imagined Nines would wear as he grabbed his neck and bent him down over the desk. The look he'd see reflected in his terminal screen as Nines finally dragged down his jeans and-Reed cut off the thought with an internal hiss. His omega was restless, butting and prodding him as he covered his face.
"Would you two just knot already and get it over with?" Hank grunted roughly from his desk, his aged lips quirking at the two scathing glares sent his way. He wasn't about to mention it. That Reed had bedded literally every alpha in the station at least once. Every alpha except Nines. He knew Nines didn't understand it, and he was sure Reed was trying to convince himself that there wasn't a reason behind shunning him. There was only so long Reed could hide behind the excuse of partners and professionalism before it slipped out. "Rein it in, boys. You're scenting up the whole precinct!" he added, enjoying the slight flush that rose to Reed's cheeks while Nines clicked his tongue in denial. Reed tsked as his omega nuzzled his approval of Hank's suggestion. Nines was a strong alpha. A good alpha. Reed winced and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Phck, I need a cigarette," he sighed in frustration as he got to his feet. And maybe an alpha…he added quietly as he scanned the bullpen. Reynolds was gone, for now. Damn…His omega perked up instantly. There was sure to be a strong, willing alpha somewhere.
"I told you to stop smoking," Nines stated plainly, looking up with sharp blue eyes. Reed's jaw tightened in response, his omega's instincts rising to urge him into obedience. He was curt as he grabbed his leather jacket and tugged it on, preparing to head outside.
"And I told you to phck off!" he snapped, flipping Nines off with both hands as he stalked off. Hank was on his feet instantly, cutting Nines off as he rose to his feet with murderous intent. His alpha was incensed at the challenge. A challenge from an omega. A growl caught in his throat. He could sense Hank's alpha poised before his own. Nines glared at him in challenge before backing down. He could take on Hank and win, but he respected him too much to do so. Besides, Hank was right in his silent reproach. Reed was an omega, but he was unbound. Nines had no claim on him, and Reed didn't have to obey him.
"You need a minute?" Hank asked quietly, noting that this was the third confrontation of varying degrees within the past thirty minutes. Reed and Nines had a somewhat turbulent working relationship, but it was unusual for Nines to be so domineering. Nines nodded silently and Hank gestured towards the currently empty interrogation rooms. Nines stalked over to room one and stepped inside. He took a breath, relieved that the room was scent proof. He didn't know what it was, but he was getting more and more impatient. The past few days in particular had been torture. He just wanted to grab Reed and…and what? He didn't even know. He closed his eyes as he thought about Reed's face. The hazy look in his eyes as that officer had squeezed his neck. His green eyes had been tainted with the gold of his omega, begging for dominance. For Nines' dominance. His alpha bared its teeth, a growl rumbling in its throat at the memory. Reed's scent had been so sweet. So teasing. So pleading.
He shook off the thought, centring himself and calming his restless alpha before returning to the bullpen. He winced as he smelled it. Reed's scent. That sickeningly sweet cinnamon that he got in moments of weakness and desire. A snarl rose in Nines' throat, his alpha prowling the area. Nines' silvery eyes sharpened as he looked around. It wasn't coming from the bullpen, obviously. He stalked through silently, heading up to the next floor where SWAT was based on occasion. He heard Reed let out a simpering mewl and bit the inside of his mouth. He hated those sounds. He hated that voice. He hated the coiling sweet need.
He opened the door of the small office. It had no lock. It was almost like he wanted to get caught. Nines dug his nails into his palms as he took in the sight of Reed's dishevelled body pressed up against the wall, his flushed face pushed into the surface by a large hand on the back of his neck. The alpha was called Jenkins. One of Reed's friends on the SWAT team. Jenkins was already buried deep in Reed's entrance, whispering and breathing in his ear as he squeezed and nibbled at his submission point. Reed was keening, unable to stand without Jenkins holding him up with his snapping hips. Disgusting.
"Phu-Jake!" Reed cried, another helpless moan falling from his lips before he turned his head and saw Nines. Nines wasn't sure what he saw in Reed's eyes. Shame? Guilt? Desire? Some form of longing? He couldn't say. What he did know was that Reed came hard the exact moment their eyes met. He kept eye contact as Jenkins continued to pound into him. Reed slumped in Jenkin's embrace as he finished, both Reed and his omega sated for now. Jenkins was at least attentive afterwards. He crouch with Reed on the floor, stroking his back in thanks, and even nuzzling and scenting his bruised neck.
"When you've finished your shameless display of public debauchery, we have work to do, Detective," Nines stated coldly, his insides curling at the stale scent of cigarettes that clung to Reed's clothing. It was worse that he could scent the chemical nicotine buried within the coffee and cinnamon scent. The sweetness was tainted by something artificial. Disgusting. Drugs always affected the scent of biological beings. It added an unpleasant metallic or chemical edge to the aroma. It ruined it. Violated it. His alpha snuffed and snorted its disapproval, recoiling from the scent.
"I'll be right there," Reed replied as he caught his breath, something smug in his tone as he realised he'd actually gotten under Nines' artificial skin a little. Jenkins chided him gently, still lavishing attention on his throat as he sensed Reed's neediness. "Phck, that was good, Jake. A solid eight point five," Reed said with a tired grin as he leaned back against his muscular chest and ran grateful fingers through his messed up hair, almost grooming him. After being so wound up, he'd really needed a good fucking to get the lust out of his system.
"Only eight point five?" Jenkins complained half-heartedly, though he didn't take Reed's little chart too seriously. Not as seriously as some of the other alphas did. They were always working to top their previous rating. No one had managed to top Allen's nine point five so far. Not a single person had ever hit a ten on The Reed Scale.