just friends

Clover wasn't entirely sure how the date had went, how she was feeling about it. She had went out with another female omega and while she had enjoyed their time together, she wasn't sure if the spark was there. Unlocking the door to the apartment she shared with Henry, she quietly pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Her suppressants she was on had almost entirely disguised her scent, but the omega she had been with, their scent was all over her. A fresh sea breeze.

The inside of their apartment was dark and even though she knew Henry, and considered him a best friend and someone she could trust... He was still an alpha, and she always felt worried being around him. At any moment he could just flip, or at least, that's what she thought. They were lucky enough to live in a time where omegas had protections in place, but every day there were alphas trying to strip them away. It was still dangerous to be an omega.

Flipping on the living room light, Clover ran her hands through her purple hair, taking in a deep breath, enjoying the scent that lingered on her. Closing her eyes, she could imagine she was on a beach, drinking a sweet pina colada. It had been so long since she had experienced her own scent, she almost couldn't remember it anymore.

"Henry? I'm home." She called, like she always did. Just in case he had someone over or was doing something that warranted being left alone. "Are you hungry? I'm going to cook...something." she continued, heading into the kitchen.

@ dezz

Henry had just gotten home from his job as a bar manager. It was only Thursday night so he had had the chance to come home earlier than usual. The rest of the weekend nights would be spent managing the bar, ensuring that everything ran smoothly. He had a pretty confident demeanor, he was able to take charge and ensure the bar ran smoothly. It was something that Henry had been doing for years and he was lucky that he loved what he did because even the tough days were enjoyable.

The only thing that Henry didn't have control of in life was his pull toward Clover. It wasn't often that he got a whiff of her scent considering she was on suppressants and had been for most of the time that he had known her. The moment that he had heard her, it was all Henry had needed to know that she was his mate. His heart had swelled and he had had to fight the urge to take her then. He hadn't only because he knew she was afraid of that happening to begin with. It was the last thing he would ever want. Clover afraid of him and living a life of servitude simply because he had forced his will on her.

Having just showered and changed into more comfortable clothes, Henry stepped out of their shared bathroom just as Clover called out to him. An easy smile settled on his features as he made his way toward the sound, only to freeze half way to the kitchen at the scent that hit him. Henry had to force back a growl when he recognized a scent that surely didn't belong to Clover, all over her.

Henry squeezed his eyes shut and dragged in a deep breath before continuing on his journey to the kitchen. He'd known that she was going on a date but that didn't make it hurt any less, especially since that other omega's scent was all over Clover. He cleared his throat before speaking, "always hungry." Henry moved to sit at the breakfast bar, forcing his shoulders to relax as he took in Clover's appearance. "How'd the date go?"

Clover was searching around in the fridge, before she pulled out some leftover chicken from the night before, figuring she could repurpose it and make some chicken tacos. Grabbing the veggies she needed from the fridge, she looked up to see Henry when he sat down at the bar. "Hmm, well..." She chewed on the inside of her lip, before pulling the cutting board out and making room on a counter.

"Don't say I told ya so, but I don't think omegas and omegas make a good match." She laughed, pushing her purple hair up into a messy ponytail. Clover got the idea that Henry liked her, but not the full extent. He was an alpha, of course he'd have an eye out for her, but she didn't know how deep his crush ran. "She thought I was a beta."

Clover was continuously finding herself running into that problem. It wasn't really a problem, it was exactly what she wanted. Disguising herself as a beta kept her safe, but it sure complicated things when it came to dating.

Heating up a pan on the stove, Clover opted for fajitas as she chunked up the chicken and the onions and peppers before tossing them all in together. "You look tired. Busy night at the bar?" It was weird to see him home so early. That was mainly how their arrangement could work for her, she usually had the apartment alone to herself.

@ castle.

Henry couldn't help the lopsided grin that settled on his face now that Clover had started to tell him about how the date had gone. It was more of a relief than it should have been but Henry didn't like the idea of Clover being happy with anyone else. The thought of her being with someone else, someone else touching her, it made his heartache in a primal way that Henry wasn't ready for. He swallowed thickly, unable to hold back the chuckle he let out.

"Well, you do take suppressants," Henry commented, his face scrunching a bit as he tried to figure out how to say what was on his mind without coming across as a total asshole to Clover. "Maybe it's just.. a good thing that she thought you were a beta. Two omegas together is..." Henry trailed off, shrugging. "More difficult, right? Be good to nest together, sure, but outside of that." Henry was as open as they came but he still held to the belief that omegas did benefit from having an alpha around. It wasn't just to help with heats or to keep them safe either, it was simply the natural way of things.

Henry sighed as he ran a hand through his hair before shaking out his hair. "Just that one bartender that keeps giving me issues. And I was worried about your date," he added in a low voice. It wasn't meant to be rude, it was just a declaration of how much Henry cared about Clover. He always would, even if things never did go the way he wanted them to.

Clover had secretly been hoping Henry wouldn't have been home when she returned from her date. She hadn't been prepared for this conversation, or rather, she didn't want to have it. Slightly shrugging her shoulders, "I mean, I'm sure it would work for someone." Turning her attention back to the chicken, she started thinking about it more and more. "I mean, no one says anything about beta/beta or alpha/alpha couples."

Deep down, Clover knew she mostly agreed with him, but she just didn't want to let him know that. "If I had to guess, I'd say alpha/alpha couples would be the most difficult." Clover thought that maybe she'd never find someone. Omega scents drew her in almost as much as alpha ones, but it just wasn't working for her. And no beta had crossed her path.

Pulling out tortilla shells from the cabinet, she fixed Henry up a few fajitas and slid his plate across the bar. She already did so much for him... Raising an eyebrow she huffed, almost laughing, "you were worried about me, huh?" She gave him a small smile to let him know she was only teasing. Even if Henry was an alpha, he never really acted like one, at least around her anyway. "want me to come beat that bartender up?" Clover tilted her head to the side, before shaking her fist in the air, "you're always complaining about them. I'll send em out with their tail between their legs," she laughed, only joking of course.

@ castle.

Henry nodded slightly, shrugging his shoulders. "Alpha/alpha relationships are horrible. Never been in one and never want to be, frankly," Henry added with a sigh. He shook his head as he looked back up to Clover. "They need too much and can't give each other what an omega can give. They are often too controlling and awful. Of course those relationships don't work. Betas are just too.." Henry's face scrunched at the thought. "Betas are just too damn pliable. They'll go one way or another and change depending on who they're with. The same beta might be submissive to me and demanding and controlling to you. Can't trust betas..." he sighed, slinking against the counter.

Rubbing his face, Henry perked up a bit at her next comment. "COurse I was. You're my best friend. What kind of best friend would I be if I didn't worry about you out on a first date with someone I don't know?" The hair on the back of his neck stood on end at the thought, stressing him out to even consider it. Henry hadn't been able to go out with Clover, that would have been far too overbearing for Clover and he'd never suggest it in the first place but it was something he would have preferred to do.

"I'll take you right on down and you can yell at them. Promise to work for a little while, while I try to find a replacement?" Henry teased as he reached to take a bite of the fajita she had laid out in front of him.

"Your food is always so much better than the food at the bar. Why I subject myself to that all the time, I have no idea why,"" Henry commented around a laugh. He looked up to her, raising an eyebrow. "You wanna go out for breakfast tomorrow? I probably won't see you after tomorrow morning since it's the weekend," he said with a slight frown.

Henry had just admitted to the very reason why Clover never wanted to be in a relationship with an alpha. They're often too controlling and awful...Hearing him actually say it sent a chill down her spine. Still, she knew Henry's heart was in the right place and that was evident with his worry about her date.

"Well, I can't promise I know how to mix a drink," she laughed, thinking of working at a bar. "I'd just be sending everyone with straight shots. Probably get fired pretty quickly." Still, she didn't like hearing Henry complain about this bartender all the time. It made her mad, knowing someone was causing him that much grief while he was just trying to make a living.

"Got some place you can keep your food at work?" Clover asked without batting an eye. "My classes are done for the semester, so I'll be home more often. I could pack your lunches?" Bar food was absolutely delicious... When you're drunk. When you're sober, well that's a different story. She made herself a fajita, before sliding it into the microwave, deciding she'd rather take a shower before she ate.

"That sounds fun, if I'm able to get your sleepy ass up in the morning." With Henry's schedule usually set to late nights, it was rare to see him awake before noon. But if be was promising her breakfast, she knew he'd keep his word. "I'm going to go take a shower, 'kay?"

@ castle.

Henry's face perked up a bit at the mention of Clover being home a bit more. It was a relief to him because he knew that if she was at home, she was safe. Nothing would bother her here. forcing his face to relax, Henry was relieved that he didn't start to smile too much. That certainly would have put Clover off and that wasn't what he was trying to do here. If anything, he was trying to show her just how much he cared for her and that he could keep her safe if she chose that.

He let out a small laugh, nodding at her words. "I'll try to go to bed early so I'll be up in time for us to go to breakfast, I promise. And I don't break my promises to you, do I?" Henry asked, raising an eyebrow. It was something he had always held himself to, . Henry always wanted to be there for Clover to help and support her in whatever path she chose for herself. Henry just hoped desperately that the path would eventually lead to him.

"Do you need to do any shopping or anything? Could always swing by the mall later, if you did," Henry offered after a moment. He knew that they could stay home but he wanted to soak up as much of Clver's attention as he could.

"Mmm, don't think so." Clover thought for a moment. "Maybe though. Let me think!" She ran her fingers through her hair and began to walk out of the kitchen, wanting nothing more than to go shower.

There apartment was pretty small, a little living room and open kitchen, with two small bedrooms and a tiny bathroom they shared. Clover did her best to keep the place tidy, especially the bathroom. Men could be pretty messy, luckily Henry did put effort to pick up after himself. Stepping into their bathroom, Clover shut and locked the door before letting out a little sigh. She could tell Henry just wanted to spend time with her, and while she enjoyed the time they did spend with each other... She felt like it was doing more bad than good.

Starting the shower, she pulled her shirt off and sunk down on the toilet. Pushing the shirt to her nose, she took in a deep breath, enjoying the beachy scent that still lingered on her clothes. Even if the date hadn't gone well, and she hadn't felt anything for the omega, Clover still found comfort in different scents. She missed her own.

---

The next morning, Clover tiptoed out of her room, dressed in a pair of plaid red jeans and a black crop top. The house was so silent, she wondered if Henry had been able to sleep the night before. It was almost ten.

She stepped in front of his door and quietly knocked. "Henry? Are...we still getting breakfast? We don't have to." Clover spoke quietly, not wanting to wake him up if he was in a deep sleep. Weekends were always so rough on him, now was probably the only time he'd get to catch up on sleep.

@ castle.

Henry hadn't realized what was happening until he awoke in the middle of the night and realized all too quickly his rut was here. He had groaned as he rolled over in bed, trying like hell the desire coursing through him. Usually, his ruts weren't this bad but Henry could tell it was going to be one of his worst ruts in a long time. He knew that if he stayed around for much longer, he was going to end up hurting Clover in one way or another and that was the last thing that he wanted at the moment.

Forcing himself from his bed, Henry dragged on a shirt and headed to leave the apartment without a second thought. putting as much distance between himself and Clover as he could. He had no destination in mind, just knowing the more he was separated from Clover the better. She was his best friend and the thought of hurting her because he couldn't control himself? It would have broken his heart if he had thought too much about it.

He found himself at an omega-for-hire business. Henry took no time at all before he left with an omega in tow, heading for the nearest hotel. It wouldn't be for another nearly five days that Henry would leave the hotel, having called his assistant manager to take care of the bar before he turned his phone off for the rest of the weekend because he wasn't able to leave the hotel room. His rut was more intense than he thought it had ever been.

Clover tilted her head and waited a few more moments before she pushed the door open. His bed was completely disheveled, the blankets tossed nearly onto the floor. Maybe he got called in? Clover frowned, realizing how much she had been looking forward to their breakfast plans. Instead, she headed over to his closet and grabbed his dirty clothes hamper and decided to do his laundry for him.

She spent all day cleaning the home and hanging his clothes after washing them, before deciding it was a good idea to go out and have some fun of her own. Her classes were all over for the semester and that was a good enough reason to celebrate.

The sun was dipping down below the horizon and she made her way downtown to the bar she knew Henry worked at. Walking inside, she was surprised she didn't see him behind the counter and when she asked another bartender, they informed her he had called out for the weekend.

"Weird..." Clover frowned, checking her phone to make sure she hadn't missed any messages from him. Nothing.

"Did your boyfriend stand you up?" Clovers blood ran cold, before she forced herself to look up from her phone. The strangers scent filled her nostrils and immediately, she knew it was an alpha.

"Not my boyfriend. Just my roommate." She explained, before grabbing onto her purse a little tighter and turning to leave the bar, hoping it could be left at that. To her dismay, she was followed.

"Yanno it's weird... I can sort of kind of smell you... You're not a beta..." Clover swallowed thickly as she listened to the alpha, her steps only quickening as she tried to get away from him. "Are you an omega on suppressants?"

Before she realized what was happening, Clover was slammed up against a brick wall, face to face with the alpha who followed her from the bar. "P-Please just let me go home."

"I'll make sure you get home." He smirked and Clover could feel her heart drop to her stomach.

---

Clover made it home alright. The next morning, she fell into her apartment, her clothes torn and barely hanging onto her body. Bruises littered her arms and and her legs and that alphas semen was leaking from between her thighs.

She knew she should pull herself into the shower, but all she could manage was to fall down into her bed, crying. Pulling the blankets around herself, she made a pathetic nest and just sobbed until she fell asleep. Part of her wishing she'd never wake up.

@ castle.

It was the fifth day after Henry had disappeared from the apartment overnight. He had been gone for four full days, his body just beginning to come out of his rut as he tossed the front door open. He kicked it shut behind himself, biting down a groan as he locked the door behind himself. It was the first step that he took when he came home every time, knowing that the lock made Clover feel more comfortable. Henry was always thinking about Clover and her happiness, her safety. It was always his first thought when he woke in the morning.

What Henry hadn't been expecting was the stench that hit him as he stepped into the hallway that led to their rooms. His brows pulled together as dread fille him. Something was horribly wrong with Clover, beyond the fact that he had disappeared for nearly a week without a word said to her.

"Clover?" Henry called as he stepped over to her door, instead of his. He hesitated for a moment before he knocked on her door. He could smell her - she was here. But what was even more troubling was the other smell that he couldn't quite place. Henry pushed her door open after another moment of hesitation. Henry frowned at the sight that he was met with her.

"'mega?" He asked, tilting his head to the side. His movements were slow and calculated as he made his way toward her. "What happened? Why... do I smell.." he trailed off, swallowing thickly as he knelt in front of her. He hesitated for a moment before he reached out, brushing Clover's hair out of her face. "You wanna tell me what's going on?" He murmured with a frown, starting to peel back her blankets so that he could push himself into her nest. Henry knew that he was intruding but Clover was so distraught that he couldn't think straight. There was something wrong with his omega, he needed to be there for her.

Clover had barely moved from her bed all weekend. Days turned to night and she had at least expected to hear from Henry, but she hadn't. She had only left her bed twice, once to shower a day after coming home and then once more to force herself to eat something. Other than that, she had stayed bundled up in her bed, crying and sleeping. Bruises spotted her neck, arms and legs and bite marks littered her shoulders and her back. It was a miracle she hadn't been force claimed.

She whimpered when she heard her bedroom door opening, her heart beating loudly against her chest. Clover didn't move, didn't even look up. She knew it was Henry, she could smell him. Still, she flinched when he called her omega, the word twisting her stomach as he moved closer to her bed. She pushed herself away from the edge, trying to hide herself among the covers and sheets when he peeled them away. She didn't want him to look at her. She didn't want him to feel guilty, because she knew he would.

The only comfort Clover had found while being alone in her room had been her own scent. Lying in bed for days on end, she had missed her suppressant every day. Honeysuckle, that's what her scent reminded her of. It was the only good thing that come out of all of this, Clover finally was reunited with her own scent.

"I don't want to talk about it," she whimpered, her voice cracking. Tears burned her eyes again as she was forced to relive what had happened. She felt that man's hands all over her. She could still smell him too, no matter how roughly she had scrubbed her skin in the shower, he had scented her too well.

Clover forced herself to look up when Henry inserted himself in her pathetic nest, slightly aggravated he hadn't asked permission. She said nothing, though, knowing she would've allowed it anyway. Where had he been? Why hadn't he even texted her... She couldn't be upset, he wasn't her alpha to begin with.

@ castle.

It took several long moments of silence that stretched between them before Henry realized why he recognized the alpha's scent. It wasn't just that it felt odd coming from Clover but that it was his. The same alpha who gave him problems most days at work. Henry gritted his teeth as a low growl sounded from his throat. His hands balled into tight fists and a swell of anger surged through him. Henry wanted nothing more than to leave the apartment and find that alpha, make the motherfucker regret ever having thought it might be acceptable to hurt Clover the way he had.

Henry had no real clue what he was doing. He had no clue what would or wouldn't work to help Clover to calm down and t oo feel better. But he was willing to do anything it took because Clover was his omega and he had failed her. He had let her get hurt because he had been too weak to resist his urges. It was pathetic on his part and Henry could already feel the guilt settling into the pit of his stomach.

Pressing his nose against the top of her head, Henry began methodically scenting her. Every inch of her skin, Henry felt like he was going to be sick to his stomach. He was forcing himself to inhale that alpha's scent because he knew it was the only way that Clover could get away from her scent. Letting her stew in his scent any longer would be a crime that he wasn't willing to commit.

"Omega," Henry's voice broke at that. "I'm so sorry. Shoulda been here to protect you," Henry uttered as he settled beside her. He began working his fingers through her hair, pulling Clover flush against his chest in an attempt to continue to help her to relax. "You wanna try taking another bath?" Henry asked after a few minutes of laying there, the only sound filling the room was their steady breathing.

"When did it happen?" Henry asked, wanting to figure out just how long Clover had been like this. How long he had failed her.

Clover was beginning to second guess everything she had ever told herself. Not needing an alpha, she could handle herself. It wasn't true. When it came down to it, it just wasn't true. Not even her suppressants had been able to keep her scent completely hidden. After Henry slid into her nest, she found herself instantly wrapping her arms around him, pulling herself tight against his body. Though, there was still doubt. Could she trust him?

Of course, she could. ...right? Unable to hold her emotions in, Clover began sobbing against his chest, finally feeling slight relief when the strange alphas scent began to be replaced by Henry's. She had missed him so much. Hiding her face on the crook of his neck, she inhaled his scent, finding comfort in it.

"T-Thursday e-ev-evening," It was hard to speak between trying to catch her breath while she cried. Her first experience with an alpha, something she had never wanted to begin with, had been so traumatic. Even being forced to take his knot. She shuddered, remembering the feeling. How she had been locked in place against him, how he had cooed at her between beating her black and blue. Bringing a shaking hand up to cup Henry's face, she wanted to try and comfort him, to somehow tell him this wasn't his fault. "N-no, it's not your job to protect me."

Clover pushed away from him at the offer of a bath. Sitting up, the blankets fell from around her body and she frowned, looking down at all the markings she had been left with. Constant reminders until they would fade away. "W-would you make the bath for me?" She whispered, feeling helpless, not wanting to move.

@ castle.

Henry's jaw clenched but he didn't respond to Clover's declaration that it wasn't his job to protect her. As far as he was concerned, it was. She was his best friend, his roommate. His omega in every way but the vacant bond claim on her neck. It made his heart ache to know her first experience with an alpha had been so horrible and he hadn't been there to help her. He bit back a sigh, nodding as she spoke again. "I'll start you a bath. I'll even put some of that lavender oil in the water so it'll help you to relax a bit more, hopefully," Henry added softly.

Moving to stand, Henry was careful as he gave Clover's hand a gentle squeeze before he turned to head over to their bathroom. He started the water, pouring a bit of the oil he had mentioned into the water before rechecking the temperature of the running water. Noting that it was just about perfect. He turned the hot water up just a touch before making his way back toward Clover's room.

He held out his hand to her, a sad sort of smile settled on his features. "C'mere, omega. Let's get you in the bath," he murmured, lifting Clover into his arms before carrying her into the bathroom. Gently setting her down on the toilet, Henry looked uneasy as he set his hands on his hips. "You want me to join you or no? I can keep my boxers on. Or I'll just leave the door open so you can yell if you need anything.

Henry knelt in front of her, making sure to keep his hands in view. He didn't want to startle Clover more than she'd already been. "You tell me what you want and we can do that," he murmured, looking up to her. His smile turned to a slight frown, one that he couldn't have hidden if he had wanted to.

Clover felt even worse, watching Henry trying his damnedest to help her the best he knew how. Tears streamed down from her red, puffy eyes as she watched him slip down on his knees in front of her. Forcing herself to look up at him, she felt like her own heart was breaking knowing how she was hurting him. Especially knowing she wanted him to stay right by her side,

Her bottom lip trembled as she tried to force the words out of her mouth. "W-Would you j-join me?" She was so glad he was home, she couldn't remember the last time she had been so happy he was home... Of course, she was always happy to see him, but there had always been that underlying fear just because of what he was. That fear was still there, but she just didn't want to be alone. Not even for a second. Every fiber of her being was telling her Henry would never hurt her.

Things were changing and it was hard for Clover to wrap her mind around. Henry had never called her omega before, he knew she didn't like it and while it was causing her to feel sick to her stomach, she also wanted to hear it again. Reaching out for him, she grabbed a hold of his hands and just sobbed, letting her head fall against his chest as she tried to catch her breath.

@ castle.

"Only if that's what you want," Henry declared even before Clover could finish asking him to join her. He would do just about anything for Clover if she asked him to and he hoped she knew that. Even if she was suffering right now, Henry belonged to Clover. His heart belonged to her and he had accepted that long before they had moved into their apartment together. It had been one of the best and worst days of his life simultaneously. Henry had loved that he was her roommate, able to keep her safe and up until now, he had managed to. But he had failed even in that.

Henry reached out, his arms sliding around Clover's waist to pull her flush against him as she started to sob. "S'ok, omega. I'm not going anywhere, I promise. I swear that I won't leave your side, okay?" Henry whispered. He started to stand, one arm holding her around the waist to support her. With his other hand, Henry started to help Clover undress. When she was completely bare, Henry moved to help her into the tub. He tried his best not to pay attention to the marks on her body, they made him feel.absolutely horrible.

Tugging his shirt up and over his head, Henry shoved his pants down before stepping back over to the tub. He left his boxers on just as he had said he would, moving to slip into the tub behind her. Once he was settled, Henry's arms wrapped tightly around her torso as he brought her into his lap. "Just relax, omega. I'll carry you to bed if you fall asleep, okay?"

It wasn't hard for him to slip her clothes free from her body. After she had showered a day or so ago, all she had managed to pull on was an oversized pair of sleeping pants and an even looser tank, wanting to feel as comfortable as she possibly could. Clover had never expected Henry to see her completely nude, especially not in a situation like this and she was trying not to feel awkward and shy as he helped her into the tub.

She stayed sitting up in the water as she watched him undress, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. He was too good to her. There was no reason he should be doing any of this for her. Clover tensed slightly when Henry wrapped his arms around her torso, but in the same moment she relaxed, allowing her back to rest gently against his chest, her head leaning back on his shoulder.

"If I fall asleep..." She chewed on the inside of her lip, hating that she kept asking him for things, "will you still stay with me, alpha?" The word just rolled off of her tongue. Clover let her eyes close, immediately, not wanting to see Henry's reaction, especially if it was a negative one. "You keep calling me omega." Clover wondered why she was still talking, slipping down a bit more, enjoying the hot water on her sore body. "I like it." She couldn't believe she was admitting it to him, after how anti alpha she had always been.

One thing she couldn't admit to him was how, even when she was being beaten and being raped, a part of her felt like that was her place. Servicing an alpha. Her inner omega had been overjoyed, even when she was being hurt so badly. It made her realize, maybe a part of her did want an alpha, but to find that out in such a traumatic way. She couldn't admit it.

@ castle.