4- Can I Say Sorry

"So about/I'm really sorry-" they both began at once. Scott chuckled and motioned for Rayan to go first.

"I'm, I'm really sorry about the other day. It's just, I know I should go home immediately if I feel my heat starting, but you see, I thought I could finish my shift out. I'm sorry for causing you inconvenience on your day off. I'd like to pay for the medicine you gave me."

"You have nothing to apologize for." Scott assured, "Once I got home I realized I had missed my suppressant dose that morning. If anything it was ME who put YOU in that situation."

"Huh?"

"And don't worry about the Otoforin. I always keep a dose on me for exactly those occasions."

"But, they're kinda expensive... You carry them around just in case someone ELSE needs it?"

"It makes sense to as an alpha. Even if I don't go in to heat I should at least be able to protect those around me. Though I'll admit this was the first time I had to use it."

Rayan just kind of stared at him. That sounded absolutely pretentious. A nice idea, but who thinks of these kind of things?

"That reminds me," Scott continued, "you seemed to have a negative reaction to Otoforin. Is that typical?"

"Yeah, but it's not so bad since I don't have to use it so often."

"If you've got time we could go ahead and run some blood work on you. Otoforin may be the most common, bit there are other emergency suppressant options that may work best with your system."

"That's okay... I looked in to it a few years ago, but I don't exactly have insurance, and Otoforin's the most affordable so..." His voice trailed off and he rubbed the back of his neck. He didn't want to look at the doctor in front of him. He didn't want to discuss his financial situation with a stranger.

"What if I waive the visit and lab work cost as an apology? The pharmaceutical companies authorize us a certain number of free samples a month, chances are good we can get you at least a few doses of something that works better for you."

Wait, what? Rayan's mind raced. "Why?"

"No one should have to suffer such acute physical discomfort to avoid being raped." Scott's eyes were steely, his voice sharp.

He's really being genuine about this, isn't he, Rayan thought. Free testing and meds because he thinks he's at fault? "What's the catch?"

"No catch." Scott's affable smile returned. He glanced at his watch. "If we get it in soon the lab should have your results by this evening and we can get you on something else."

In all honesty it sounded too good to be true. Rayan HATED taking the Otoforin. That's the only one he could get through the free clinic though. Even if it was only a few times, it would be nice to not puke his guts out if he just happened to go in to heat while in public again. He eyed the doctor dubiously. It's not like he had much to lose. "Well, in that case, I guess... I guess that would be okay."

"Alright. Now if you'll follow me back out to reception...."

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Rayan filled out two forms. One for medical history, the other for billing. He really REALLY hoped the doctor was serious when he said he'd waive the cost. A nurse had taken him back fairly quickly, where he was measured and weighed. He hadn't had a way to weigh himself in a while, but to him it seemed the number was lower than it should be. He was ushered into an exam room and had his temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate noted. There was already a tray waiting with the sample tubes and needles.

You can do this you can do this you can do this...!

The nurse interrupted his mental psyche-up with a cheerful, "The doctor will be with you shortly!" then left.

You can do this...

Dr. Kranston was in no more than five minutes later. "Okay," he said with a smile, "let's get this started, shall we?"

"Y... Yey..."

"You okay? Scared of needles?"

"Needles? What omega could possibly be scared of needles?" Rayan sounded almost indignant. "It's- the bl- the blood I don't like..."

Scott's smile softened. "It's okay." His voice was gentle. "A lot of people are. You don't have to look. Do you want me to tell you what I'm doing as I'm doing it?"

"Nopleasedon't" came the rushed reply. Suddenly the fetal development poster on the wall became the most interesting thing in the world.

Scott didn't reply, he just set to work. The tourniquet, the iodine... he started humming a nursery rhyme in hopes of putting his patient further at ease. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star...

Rayan joined in on the humming, going up an octave or two when the needle went in. "Almost done. You're doing great," Scott assured. Rayan kept humming the melody, his eyes shut tight. It repeated several times.

"All done. You can look now." The tourniquet came off and Scott was busy applying a pressure bandage. Rayan peeked his eyes open slowly. The vials were on the tray for sure, but the doctor had covered them with a tissue so he couldn't see them. The wrapping on his bandage was a camouflage print. Weird, he thought that stuff only came in neon colors. He gave Scott a quizzical look.

"Camo so you can't see it. Clever, right?"

"That's so cheesy." Rayan chuckled a little anyway.

"Anyway," Scott continued, looking at Rayan's chart, "You can take that off in an hour. I should have results for you by this evening. If you like, we can meet for dinner and I can give you the new prescription then?"

"Did- did you just ask me out?"

"Well...," Scott was blushing a bit as he scratched at the back of his head. "If you like, think of it as part of the apology. I DID make you sick, after all. I should at least pay for a meal."

Was he serious? Rayan eyed the guy suspiciously. After all, an alpha who wants a date is only after one thing. Was it safe to accept? The sterile white of the exam room and the bright lighting made the guy practically glow, and his eyes were such a pretty shade of green...

"Only as part of the apology. And, I should at least know your first name."

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Rayan made it to the restaurant with five minutes to spare. Scott had picked one relatively close to the grocery store where he worked, which was nice because that meant he could walk and save on transport. It was a nice "family style" place, complete with merch from the local highschools, and an art wall for the poorly colored kids menus.

He didn't get much rest, but thankfully because of heat leave he didn't have to work again until tomorrow afternoon. He started for the hostess stand, when he saw a familiar face waving at him from a booth. This isn't a date, this is an apology. Just an apology. He made his way over to the table.

"Rayan! You made it! Did you find the place okay?"

"Yeah, I ah- live near here. I thought I was early. How long have you been here? Did I keep you waiting?"

"Don't worry, not too long. The traffic wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."

The waitress came to get Rayan's drink order. "Need a few minutes to look over the menu, hun?" She was an older lady, and very clearly addressed the question to Scott.

"Rayan, do you need some time?" Scott seemed to make it a point to redirect the question. His own menu was already folded at the end of the table.

"Wha-? Oh, yes please. Sorry." As Rayan started flipping through the menu the waitress walked off. He noticed the meals here were definitely out of his budget. He tried not to pick anything too expensive, just in case.

"Doesn't it bother you when people do that? Ignore you on purpose?" Scott asked, absentmindedly playing with his straw wrapper.

"Not really. I kinda get it when it comes to older people." He lifted a hand to fidget with his collar. "And they don't make these things in my skin tone, so it makes it fairly obvious what I am. I don't go out much anyway."

Every unpaired omega wore a bite collar. They were usually made with Kevlar or reinforced with metal mesh, but they prevented unwanted pairings. Any alpha in rut would send an omega into heat, and that always led to sex. Usually violent sex. The law was iffy about calling it rape, but the collars prevented the omegas from bonding with their attackers.

Omegas have a gland on the back of their neck which helps regulate their pheromones and controls the bonding reaction. If an alpha bites an omega there while it's most active during a heat cycle, a biological reaction takes place between the alphas saliva and the omegas nervous system. Basically, the omega becomes locked to that alpha and there's nothing they can do about it. There are even stories where if an omega tried to mate with anyone except their paired alpha, it would make them sick, or send them in to convulsions, or any number of unpleasant things. The collars were an important precaution, but also a mark of stigma.

"So," Rayan continued, hoping to change the subject, "what are you thinking of getting?"

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"No no no! I swear it's the truth!" Scott laughed, "I really did treat someone who tried to use a potato as a contraceptive!"

Rayan his his mouth behind his hand, his body shaking with suppressed laughter. "How can anybody think that would work?"

They had finished eating a while ago and were both nursing cups of coffee. Scott's had cream and sugar, Rayan's was straight black decaf. The conversation was going better than expected, and Rayan was finding it easier and easier to let his guard down. Not completely, of course. Just a little. Maybe this guy wasn’t so scary after all?