Warning: Mentions of body dysmorphia, negative body image, bigotry, and death

Thomas opened his mouth to say something mundane but Harriet grabbed his tie and slowly pulled him towards her into a hug. She place his head under her smaller chin and he rested his head against her. She was so tiny compared to him, but somehow he felt very small. He found himself leaning his weight onto Harriet pushing her down onto the couch. Harriet shifted easily and Thomas wrapped his arms around her hips. Her couch was so small his legs hung off of it.

"I..." Thomas's voice shook slightly and he cleared his throat. "I'm... I'm not a proper omega." He confessed, he felt Harriet's deft fingers make their way into his hair. "I'm not even sure if I can purr." His voice cracked slightly at this confession. "Thomas," Harriet spoke up cutting in before he took too long or fell too deep into self-loathing. He let a breath through his nose realizing what Harriet was doing. She did this often when they were just working together.

"When have I given you any indication that I care about that sort of thing?" Harriet asked, Thomas, felt her well-manicured nails scrape his scalp. "You haven't but-." Thomas tried to argue, "Don't be so obsessed with trying to be the perfect omega Thomas." Harriet cut him off, Thomas groaned slightly knowing Harriet had him dead to rights. "Thomas, I'm with you because it's you. We would've eventually ended up together even if you were in fact an alpha. Our relationship was headed for that direction anyway." Harriet spoke frankly. "I'm also more open-minded than I appear." Harriet joked.

"It was that obvious huh?" He grumbled lowly, Thomas's lips twitched slightly and he buried his face into the crook of her neck. "There's only so many times you can call me over to your house and you answer the door having just showered for it to be only a coincidence," Harriet spoke and Thomas could hear the smug smirk in her voice. "Why didn't you say anything?" Thomas asked, "To be honest at the time I wasn't thinking like that. But retrospectively, I would've eventually caught on." Harriet confessed.

Thomas relaxed letting what little of his weight he was holding back go onto Harriet who seemed unbothered. "I probably should've approached you." Harriet remarked, "But I didn't want you to feel pressured by me." She added. "Same here," Thomas replied closing his eyes. "Harriet..." Thomas breathed after a moment. "Yes?" "Move in with me," Thomas mumbled finding that he wasn't willing to be separated from her much longer.

"That goes against employee conduct." Harriet remarked, "I don't care." Thomas replied, his voice was muffled at this point. "We've already violated it." He added. "Fair enough," Harriet replied, Thomas, smiled and held her tightly. He'd have to thank Milo later for his help. Despite his insecurities, he was actually thankful to talk to another omega about how he felt. This was all so new to him, he wanted to do everything the right way.

In short form, Harriet's things were moved to Thomas's penthouse. Thomas would've suggested picking out a new place together, but they would be hard-pressed to find a better place than where he was now. Harriet didn't seem to mind in the least and made herself comfortable in her new home. It was such a strange thrill for Thomas to see her clothes next to his in the closet. He found himself staring at the sight as the movers brought in more of Harriet's things.

High heels right next to his dress shoes... A smile was on Thomas's face when he saw that. Thomas, like many in the building, opted for more minimal living arrangements. This was due to traveling often, but Harriet seemed to be more of an academic sort. Old books and maps filled his home. It was tastefully done, and unsurprising that Harriet had this style. It was just surprising that it fit so well. Thomas headed into the living room to see Harriet standing there in a thick sweater directing the movers. Her thick rim glasses on her face gave her a cute professor sort of look.

"Harriet." He called walking over, "Is that almost everything?" He asked, Harriet, looked over. "Just about." She replied as the mover came in with the last box. He stared seeing a fourth box labeled books on the side. "You like to read don't you?" He asked, "Grandfather was a professor. Most of these books were his. But yes, I do like reading." Harriet replied adjusting her stance a bit. The house slippers she wore gripped tightly to the floor of the penthouse. "Well good thing I have plenty of shelves." Thomas tried to joke but it fell flat.

It occurred to him that despite them having worked together, and now being mates... He didn't know anything about Harriet. The small alpha seemed to notice his distress and gave him a small smile. "Yes, I'm very lucky." She replied before walking over to the movers and paying them. After spending a few hours unpacking Thomas insisted on cooking. By no means was he a bad cook, but he was nervous... This was their first night living together.

He winced as he turned on the garbage disposal watching the burned food being chopped into bits. "I should've prepared something." He grumbled, Harriet patted his shoulder. "At least I didn't cook." She offered up, "Why do you say that?" "It would've been ashes," Harriet replied. Thomas smiled feeling better hearing this. "You're a really bad cook?" He asked, "The worst." Harriet spoke with a serious tone. "I was always lucky that Milo made too much food." She confessed, Thomas sighed hearing this.

"Are you upset that I ate another omegas food?" She asked sounding surprised, "Is it weird?" Thomas questioned wincing, he hated that he was so insecure. "I don't know. It's not unreasonable. But you have nothing to worry about. Milo's not my type and he's been in love with his boss for ages." Harriet replied in her usual curt manner. Though from the outside Harriet seemed cold and logical there was a soft warmness in her speech when she tried to comfort Thomas. "What is your type?" He couldn't help but ask, he saw a smile appear on her lips. "Tall, dark, handsome, neurotic, and a perfectionist." Harriet listed off different traits.

Thomas felt his lips twitch, "Did you just describe me?" He asked, "Who else?" Harriet replied her smile growing just a bit. Thomas chuckled before grabbing his phone off the counter. "So what would you like to order?" He asked, "Chinese." Harriet replied, "Oh do you want the same that we got when we did that overnight on the database?" He asked, "The orange chicken?" "Yeah." Thomas replied, "Sure." Thomas smiled hearing this and ordered the food. That night they sat at the table and quietly got to know each other a little bit better.

When the night came Thomas found himself staring at his bed. A certain sense of embarrassment came over him, he had this bed for years, and for years he had brought so many other women into it. Sure these women were omegas and betas. But... They were other people. What if their scents were still on the bed somehow? Wouldn't that upset Harriet?

Harriet walked into the room yawning after changing. She wore a nightgown that looked comfortable and breathable. It was a simple gown with thick straps that looked like it was made from cotton. Harriet stretched before noticing Thomas sitting on a nearby chair staring at the bed rather than getting into it. "What's the issue?" She asked directly, coming from anyone else it would've sounded rude. But Harriet was simply getting to the heart of the matter. She could tell something was wrong.

"I was thinking of getting a new bed," Thomas spoke up uncrossing his legs. Briefly, he wondered if Harriet had chosen a blue nightgown on purpose to match his pajamas. But decided that was less important than the bed situation. Harriet stared before looking over at the bed, "Why?" She asked. "It's got... Too much history." Thomas spoke carefully, and Harriet raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, you slept with other people in the bed." She remarked casually, "I mean..." Thomas trailed off, "Thomas I'm not bothered by you having slept with other people. I've had my fair share of partners as well. Most of them women. I was quite popular with female omegas in college." Harriet explained. Thomas's mouth hung open, "How popular?" He asked meekly. "We probably have the same body count," Harriet replied shrugging.

"That popular huh?" Thomas asked exasperated, "I'm a very gentle lover." Harriet responded looking a bit smug, Thomas couldn't help but scoff. "I have proof to the contrary." He replied amused, he saw Harriet smile, "Well... Well... Looks like you've got a few quips yourself." She replied, Thomas, smiled back. "Just a few." He said before getting up. Harriet walked over and gave Thomas a side hug. Thomas smiled and the two of them stared at the bed. "You still want to get a new one don't you?" Harriet deadpanned, "I'm buying one tomorrow." Thomas replied in all seriousness.

Harriet chuckled hearing this reply, "Well looks like we should send it off properly." She remarked. "What do you-?" Thomas asked before being pushed down onto the bed. He landed on his stomach before turning around to glance back at Harriet. "What do you think?" Harriet asked raising an eyebrow. Thomas swallowed dryly as Harriet slowly pulled his pants off of him. "Harr...iet..." He whimpered feeling his face heat up. "What?" Harriet asked tossing the pants to the side and spreading Thomas's legs. "Do you not want to?" She asked.

Thomas licked his lips nervously, "I want to." He breathed, Harriet grinned hearing this. She slowly began rubbing against him, Thomas bit his lip and shuddered. He felt his lower half throb with need. At the time of their separation, all Thomas thought about was how much he wanted this to happen again.

Sex before being with Harriet felt like performing. It was just something he had to do in order to prove his worth as an alpha. Sure at times, it felt good but there was something missing from it. While he got there biologically speaking he never got there emotionally. He didn't experience the closeness that he wanted to feel. It just felt no different than masturbating on his own.

But he had no idea sex could feel this way, the excitement he felt the desire for a certain person to be with him. Longing afterward for the feeling of their skin on his. Sure it was an impulsive hook up in his office, but it was much more than that for Thomas. It was him finally embracing himself. Looking back there were so many memories of his omega instincts being suppressed. He loved building 'forts' that suspiciously looked like nests, he loved soft stuffed animals that were taken away when he got 'too old' for them and so many other moments that seemed to connect together.

It was accidental of course, but even damage done on accident was still damage. He hadn't realized how much hate he had internalized for himself until recently. But meeting Harriet those walls that blockage crumbled away like dust. It was slow and at first unnoticeable. But Thomas knew deep down that Harriet was his alpha.

She had always been his alpha, the sense of safety and ease he felt around her. Thomas felt safe expressing his anger or frustration with projects knowing Harriet wouldn't be bothered. He felt willing to be with her outside of work eating late at restaurants after pulling all-nighters, staying up just to talk about the projects they were working on hoping to think of another vague excuse to spend just a little more time with her.

She was so special to him, that's why he was desperate not to mess this up. He wanted to be wanted by her, to be adored by her, over the last few days he had noticed more and more in media how alphas and omegas were supposed to act. But rather than feeling a sense of burden, he felt the desire to be treated carefully.

To be given soft kisses and held, to be able to rest his head on his alpha's lap. He would stare at those advertisements and instead of seeing the models, he saw him and Harriet. He wanted to do everything they did and then some. Harriet's grip on his body was firm and strong, despite the size difference it was clear who was an alpha between the two of them. She lifted him up and moved him around as if he weighed nothing. Harriet had him pinned to the bed on his stomach, his legs hanging off. "Well, this is a familiar sight." She mumbled trailing her hands down his back.

Thomas felt his face burn hearing this, he couldn't find it in him to make a comment back. He took shaky deep breaths letting out small yelps when he felt Harriet's lips on his skin. She kissed up and down his back scraping her nails along his skin and making him squirm. "I'm not trying to make any assumptions. But I'm going to assume you have never been like this on this bed." She remarked moving up from his back kissing his shoulder before her lips landed on the bonding mark she left on him.

Thomas whined pressing his backside against Harriet, he could feel she was lined up already. Why did she need to tease him like this? He wanted her so bad. "Harriet." Thomas whimpered, her lips still on his neck. Thomas balled up the sheet in his hands, he wanted to just push himself onto her. But those books... They told him that was too aggressive. Thomas panted heavily feeling her teasing the outside of him.

In the end, he was too impatient, "Yes!" He growled with delight, she felt perfect, Thomas glanced behind him wondering what Harriet thought of him doing that. He saw an amused smile on her lips, "I was going to show you how gentle I could be. But it seems like you'd rather be played with roughly." Harriet teased. Her hand pressed against the small of Thomas's back making him whine.

"Is that what you want Thomas?" She said purring out his name, "Yes!" Thomas blurted out, he wanted to be mated with the same passion and greed she had for him before. He heard Harriet chuckle, "Well. Who am I to say no to that?"