29 29- Maybes and Somedays

The promise of food was enough to get them going. Scott didn't press when Ryan changed behind the bathroom door, even though they came close to something much more intimate the night before. Even if, in all honesty, he wouldn't mind getting to see Ryan's ass again, some things you just couldn't rush. Sometimes, the timing had to be right.

Ryan on the other hand, had his wheels turning all morning about what happened the night before. He decided that yes, he was ready for things to go to the next level. What he was stuck on was the other bit of information Scott had given him.

Both now dressed, they made their way from the apartment to the parking garage, hand in hand. Scott had braided Ryan's hair again, and was not only carrying his work bag, but Ryan's overnight bag as well. Scott glanced over at his boyfriend, who appeared lost in thought.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

"Let's... get to your car first... It's kinda personal."

There wasn't anyone around, but Scott could pick out that tiny tinge of pink that was so hard to see against Ryan's skin tone. They didn't pick the subject up again until they were in the car and out of the parking garage.

"So, what were you thinking about?"

"About last night, and that stuff you told me... About you being turned on by watching people pee..."

"Have you decided it bothers you, after all? If it does, then I don't mind-"

"-It's not that it bothers me, it's just... Have you ever... had fantasies... about me...?"

Ryan's hand squeezed Scott's where they were linked over the center console as always. Scott's face took on a bit of a rosy hue.

"I- well, I-" Scott stammered, "I- I have... I'm sorry."

He couldn't tell because he was driving, but Ryan shook his head.

"Don't be. I haven't... Well, I haven't done anything like that before but, if it's for you... I could try. I don't know if I'll be able to though... I've never had an... an audience... before..."

Scott glanced over. Ryan had his chin in his hand, looking out the window. He rubbed the back of Ryan's hand he was holding with his thumb.

"You don't have to push yourself for me."

"It's just, I can't say I don't like it if I've never tried it, you know?"

"I love you."

With that out of the way, the conversation moved on to more mundane things as they pulled into the restaurant parking lot. Scott was able to get his french toast and bacon, while Ryan opted for chocolate chip pancakes and sausage. Scott also splurged on a fancy coffee with whipped cream, while Ryan only got decaf.

"Why decaf?"

"I'll probably go back to sleep once you drop me off. I'm not working until this afternoon."

Scott sipped his coffee and licked the cream off of his lips. "I wish I could join you."

"Don't get too jealous. I've got the restaurant and an overnight shift tonight. You'll get plenty of sleep while I'm at work."

That was one of Scott's sore spots, that Ryan worked all the time, and still seemed to live in some kind of poverty. It was also the reason they couldn't be together as often. The last time they tried to talk about this, Scott lost his cool a little to disastrous effect. Maybe it was time for a different tactic?

"You know," he began carefully, "if we were to eventually become a bonded pair, that is, if things go that far, I make enough for both of us to live comfortably without you having to work."

Ryan was quiet. Scott could tell he was thinking heavily. He rubbed against Ryan's foot under the table, and Ryan rubbed his foot back reassuringly.

"I... don't think I could go without working completely. I'm so used to it. I've worked since high school to pull my own weight. I definitely wouldn't mind cutting back, but I couldn't quit working entirely. Besides, I'd... I'd want to contribute to the household too..."

Scott's heart was beating through his chest. Ryan didn't completely dismiss the idea of them maybe one day living together! He didn't object to them maybe one day being mated! Sure, it was hypothetical, but it wasn't a "no"!

The conversation moved to absurdities and maybes and what-ifs. They both wanted to stay in the city, and though children weren't completely out of the question, both agreed they weren't ready yet.

Ryan admitted he couldn't quite see himself as pregnant, and that the idea of growing a human inside him creeped him out a little. Scott brought up the idea of using a surrogate or adoption should, and if, the time comes. Ryan agreed that would make him more comfortable. Such things were far in an ever changing future, but simply talking of them brought their hearts closer than they had ever been.

On the ride to drop him off, Ryan asked almost half-jokingly, "So, why did you end up choosing me to put all this effort in to? Besides my looks. You could have anyone you wanted once you showed off that charm of yours."

Scott smiled. "You aren't repulsed by my profession. That's a big thing. You don't make fun of my playing video games, and even join in on them. That's very hard to find, in a love interest." He purposely left out their earlier conversation.

Ryan was ready for a bit of a confession of his own. "You know, when we first met, I was scared of you. Any omega would be scared when put in that position." He felt Scott give his hand a firm squeeze. "But, your dorky joke with the camo bandage, the way you choked on your drink our first date, I thought, 'Maybe he's not so scary after all.' You make me feel... safe. Safer than I've ever felt around anyone. I'm so glad I gave you a chance... I love you."

Scott could feel his eyes stinging at that last part.

"I love you too."

--------------------

"You're only like, three months in and the guy's talking pairing up?" Michael hissed, keeping his voice low.

Rain was coming down heavily outside, so Ryan and his friend were stuck having lunch in the break room at 4am with everyone else. Ryan finally had a chance to tell all his news, from his food poisoning to yesterday's conversation. Mick was a bit of a pragmatist, and Ryan definitely wanted his view on things. The conversation continued in hushed tones, in consideration for their lack of privacy.

"It's not like he was talking about my next cycle," Ryan played devil's advocate. "It was more of a feeler type thing. Besides, most pairings don't get as much, if any, notice."

"Point made." Michael conceded.

In truth, with many mated pairs, they rarely knew each other before the mating took place. Most of the time, it was spontaneous and opportunistic, which is a fancy way to say the omega had a bad day and got raped by a random passing alpha. That's the biggest reason there's such strong advocacy for omegas to go collared 24/7. Nowadays still, even though it was illegal to sell an omega, arranged marriages were very common, often for monetary or political gain. Had his grandparents lived longer, that was probably the way Ryan would have gone. They were a poor family, after all.

"Still, the not having to work thing isn't that bad of a deal," Michael added wistfully. "I suppose I wouldn't mind some rich doctor biting me if it meant all I have to do is give up some tail every now and then."

"It's not like that! And, you're at work you know!" Ryan's whisper was harsh.

Across the room, their coworker, Jack, slammed his soda can hard on the table. All conversation came to a stop.

"Damn pillow-bitin' twinks 'r puttin' me off my damn food," he growled before stalking out of the room, disposing of his half eaten microwave burrito.

"Oh. He. Did. Not-" Mick made to get up, but Ryan forced him to sit back down.

The conversation in the room slowly went back to normal. Michael was fuming, his blue eyes icy under his artificially colored hair.

"I'm taking this to HR,"

"You do realize he can get you for sexual misconduct, right?"

"I don't give a fuck. He insulted BOTH of us! I'm NOT going to let that slide."

The rest of the employees in the cafeteria style break room were very clearly ignoring them. Mick stormed off without giving Ryan a chance to stop him a second time. Ryan quickly gathered up the trash from the table, before hurrying after his friend to try and lessen the damage.

The incident wasn't without repercussions. HR talked to all three of them separately, and got some third party accounts. Michael got a written warning for sexual misconduct. Jack got a slap on the wrist, and a verbal reprimand. Ryan was proven innocent and had no disciplinary action taken against him.

What didn't help, is that the whole thing put them behind schedule. They had to stay over to finish the truck, and what was worse was that it was just Ryan and Michael working it. Their team had been temporarily separated after the incident, and no one else was available to help, or at least that was what they were told.

"That's some bullshit." Michael mumbled under his breath.

With the shift over, he was outside waiting on his ride share to arrive. The rain had stopped, the air was cool, and there were puddles everywhere. All things considered, Ryan decided to wait with him, though he himself would have to take the bus to get home, and he'd already missed the first one.

"It's not ideal, but it could have been worse. I kept telling you your mouth was bound to get you in trouble."

"If we were tops instead of bottoms, the attitude in that room would have been different, and you know it."

Michael was venting. It was almost hard to blame him. They lived in a world where sexual conquest was insinuated regularly. Those who took were heroes, complimented on their virility and luck. Those on the receiving end were whores. Omegas were considered the greatest of whores, the lowest of society. Indeed, there were some that worked as prostitutes, but most of the ones in the workforce were just trying to make an honest living.

Michael continued, "We're nothing but walking holes put here for the pleasure of others. When we mess up, the hammer comes down harder. We're a fucking tax break for these companies, not real employees!"

"We show up, we work, we get paid. Sounds like we're employees to me. So what if they get a tax break? We get a paycheck."

"A paycheck at 15% below the company average..." Mick sighed. "I'll admit. I messed up at lunch, insinuating I'd trade sex for convenience. But still! Doesn't it bother you? What that asshole called us? It's hardly fair! I've got a mark on my record, and he got told 'Oh, maybe don't say that again'."

"Of course it bothers me. I also know there's nothing I can do about it."

Mick's car pulled up, the ride share sign glowing in the dashboard.

"It's just- ugh! I'll call you later."

Michael got in the car. Ryan watched as it pulled off. He was tired, as usual. It had been a long night. As he started making his way to the other side of the building to the bus stop, his friend's words echoed in his head. Of course it was frustrating. He rubbed at his collar. Of course that insult had hurt. He knew he was more than some "pillow biter." He worked hard to be more than that. Still, it ate at him.