Chapter Text
Chapter Notes: There is a potentially triggering scene in this chapter that is only here to provide some background information on the characters. This does not come up again throughout the fic and is not explained in a lot of detail. If you want to skip it, that’s fine. There is an asterisk (*) to indicate where it starts and ends. It’s only a small section and you will be able to get the gist of what’s happening without reading it. But I ask that you please keep reading!
Leaning his head on his hand, Harry Styles looks out the window beside his desk. He’s off in his own world, his mind wandering to how much he fucking loves being an omega. He always knew in his heart that he would present as an omega and the first day he first felt that bit of slick leak, he ran right to his mother and cried happy tears in her arms. Yes, even he’ll admit that it might have been a bit awkward to let her know it happened when he had been watching the football highlights and the sight of number 32 in his kit had been the reason for the slick, but he was just so happy he didn’t think anything about it at the time.
It helps that his mother is kind of great like that. It was just him, his mum and sister against the world back then, still is really. His mum and sister, Anne and Gemma respectively, are both omegas as well. So he knows they understood. But he will still never forget the dreadful day just a few days after his first experience with his slick when his first heat fully sank in.
He had been at school and wasn’t feeling well. His teacher, a beta, could sense something was wrong and sent him to the school nurse. Luckily, she was able to predict his heat immediately and called Anne to come and get him. She cuddled him up to her and tried to explain what was going to happen. He had health class all through school so he knew a bit about what a heat would be like but now that he was in it, it was totally different. His whole body ached, was hot, and the slick was soaking through his clothes. All he wanted was something inside of him. He had never experienced anything like this before and he remembers being so scared.
It was then that his mum brought out the box . The blue box of embarrassment. At least, that’s how he felt at the time. The idea of his mum giving him a box of heat toys sent him into a full out body flush; he wished he would die right there. And worse, when she had explained to him what each of them were. Looking back on it, he was glad she did because that knotting dildo was ridiculously intimidating.
After her explanations, she took Harry to his room where she had everything set up and ready for him. There was a stack of towels and clean sheets, a basket full of water and snacks, and she even had some of his favourite candles sending his room into a fortress of the most heavenly campfire scent. She set the box down on his bed, kissed his forehead, and told him to call her if he needed anything. She left his phone in his hand and locked the door behind her.
Not to wax poetic, but he loved his first heat, and every heat that has come since. Yes, it was the longest 4 days of his life and he had never spent so much time alone with himself but something about it settled deep inside of him, a sense of contentment that this is exactly what his body was meant for. He really did love being an omega and everything that came with it. The heats, the scents, the idea of getting pregnant one day. All of it. Yes, there are lots of challenges that come with being an omega but he knew who he was and he wasn’t going to apologize for it.
He has worked hard his whole life to get to where he is now. And he wouldn’t have done it if he wasn’t an omega. So really, he has no complaints.
“Hey Harry!” Elaine calls from across the office, pulling him from his thoughts. She’s the president of the Omega Rights Office at his University. She was also the one who hired Harry when he was just in his first year.
“Hi Elaine! Here’s the draft poster for next week’s events.” He tells her, setting down the mockup on her desk. “Already been sent to the printer. Just waiting for you to call to confirm.”
“You’re the best, you know that?” She says with a big smile on her face. Harry loves her a lot and considers her one of his role models.
“Of course I am!” He jokes, taking a seat at his desk. He opens his laptop and logs into his email. He has 92 new emails. Shit. This is going to take some time.
He’s been working as the Senior Advocate for 2 years now. He was initially hired as an event specialist, helping run all the events the office puts on throughout the academic year but was quickly promoted when Elaine saw how effective he could be at getting their message across.
It was a simple message really: Omegas deserve the right to make their own decisions. It’s frustrating how something so simple can be such a challenge. Historically, omegas have always had someone else making their decisions - their parents or their mates or sometimes just strangers that think they know better. But as times have changed, they find themselves in a world where omegas are bonding later in life, leaving them with time to pursue advanced education, and even joining the workforce. Harry is incredibly thankful that he was born in this time, compared to 50 years ago when all omegas were destined for was pumping out pups and taking care of the home.
And while there is nothing wrong with that, and he honestly can’t wait until he’s pregnant, he also wants more for himself. He wants options. He loves his coursework, loves majoring in political science, and working for the last 11 months on a proposal for Parliament with the Omega Rights Alliance.
It started as a co-op placement last year and has turned into the most amazing experience he’s ever had. The proposal they are working on is for omegas to have the right to continue school or work during and after their pregnancy. It seems so backwards to think that once an omega gets pregnant, they are legally no longer allowed, regardless of their alpha’s permission, to continue studying or working. It makes Harry’s blood boil just thinking about it.
They have had many productive gatherings and events, garnering support from all over the country. Just last month he was away on a trip with the Alliance, and they were able to secure an interview on the national news. His boss, Garret, gave an amazing interview and support has been pouring in. Hence the 92 emails.
He begins sorting through them all, attempting to answer as many as he can before Elaine is calling his name.
“Time for lunch, Harry. You need to eat.” She tells him, pushing down the lid of his laptop.
“Is it that time already?” He asks, looking up at the clock and seeing that it’s already 1pm. “Guess it is.” He says to himself.
“I’m going to go grab a chicken wrap from the cafeteria,” he tells her. “Can I get you anything?”
“I’m good. Alice dropped off my lunch.” She says with a smile. Elaine and Alice just recently bonded and he’s never seen her so happy. He subconsciously reaches to his neck, to where his bond mark will be one day, thinking about how he can’t wait for that. Even though his passion is Omega Rights, he’s a hopeless romantic, always daydreaming about his future alpha.
“Alright. I’ll be right back.” He says, grabbing his backpack and heading off down the hall to the blue cafeteria. The blue cafeteria, so lovingly named for its blue walls and blue furniture, is the best cafeteria on campus. And they make the best chicken wraps. He tries to pack a lunch most days, but he was in a rush this morning and didn’t have time.
They are close to the end of the semester, just a month to go before the Christmas break, and he’s been staying up studying later and later each night, trying to keep on top of everything. Plus, with all the work for the proposal, he’s been feeling a bit overwhelmed. That, and his heat is coming up over the Christmas break as well. But he will worry about that later, once he’s at home.
“Hi,” Harry greets Cecilia, the beta who runs the wrap station, “can I get chicken on a spinach wrap please?” He proceeds to order, mouth watering as he anticipates his first bite. He grabs a banana and a bottle of water to complete his order, swiping his meal card as he leaves the kitchen area. He looks around, deciding whether he will eat in the cafeteria or take it back to the office, but once he sees Niall, his decision is made.
“Hey Ni!” He greets his friend, sitting down across the table from him. “How’s it going?”
“Hey man!” Niall greets him with a smile. “Just working on this final project for my accounting class, but other than that, things are good.”
“That the one about maintaining the household budget for a family of 5?” Harry asks, having taken the mandatory omega accounting class last semester.
“Yep. You think they would spice things up a bit, but I guess not.”
“What I don’t understand is why it’s a mandatory class for omegas but not alphas or betas. Everyone could benefit from that information.” Harry says as he takes another bite of his wrap. “We brought it up to the school executives last year, but nothing ever happened.”
“For a blended uni, you think they would have more progressive views on this stuff.” Niall says in agreement. They’ve had this discussion many times.
Harry met Niall in his first year at the school. They were both living in the omega dorm but that wasn’t where they met. It was actually at one of the events that Harry was running with the Omega Rights Office. It was a particularly challenging event because it was a panel presentation where omegas were invited to speak and ask questions of the panel. The panel was made up of a variety of omegas with all different experiences, including Elaine.
The questions ranged from simple questions about who they are and what they do, to the more complicated questions regarding their career paths, being bonded, and ultimately, their lack of rights over themselves.
It was after the panel, as Harry was cleaning up, that he saw someone sitting in the back row with his head in his hands. Harry carefully approached and sat a few seats away before clearing his throat and asking if there was anything he could do. He knows that the panel brought up some intense emotions within himself and he has a feeling that was the case for this person right now.
The man had looked up at him for just a moment before bursting into tears. It caused his heart to shatter, sending him into a sympathetic state. He’s been there… he knows the feeling of helplessness and lack of control. He immediately moved closer and pulled him into his arms, drawing the man’s head onto Harry’s shoulder. It isn’t something he would normally do but he felt like this stranger needed comfort at that moment.
After a few moments, the man’s sobs began to subside enough that he could introduce himself as Niall and thank Harry for holding him while he cried. Harry introduced himself and assured Niall that he would be alright and that if ever needed he was here to be the soundboard to Niall’s thoughts.
At first, Niall couldn’t stop apologizing, his sobs picking up a little as he worked himself up in Harry’s arms. The feeling of Niall’s shoulders jumping as each sob left his mouth caused Harry to pull him in tighter, letting Niall work through the emotions that plagued him.
It was an unknown amount of time later when Niall pulled himself out of Harry’s arms and started talking, his mouth moving miles a minute at first, spewing what sounded like gibberish filled between half sentences and broken words. Harry really wasn’t prepared for Niall’s long winded monologue, but he is thankful he trusted Harry enough to share with him.
******* (Starting point of the trigger warning section)
It had started when Niall closed in on himself. He had quickly confessed that he shouldn’t even be at school; that something had happened to him a year ago. Harry stayed silent, giving Niall time to keep speaking if he wanted to. The body language, tone of his voice, and word usage gave Harry a clear indication of what had happened to Niall, but he tried hard not to assume. The fact that Niall was visibly scared was the prime reason Harry had started working with the Omega Rights Office or more commonly known amongst his teammates, the ORO. While he himself has never been in precarious situations he has heard the unruly testaments of those who have. It was the primary reason he fought so hard. Witnessing the shame and fear on victims faces for consequences from someone else's actions were completely unfair, entirely too common, and extremely detrimental to the mindset of an omega. He vowed to give a voice to those who were silenced.
Harry moved a bit closer to Niall, not touching him anymore, but just offering a warm and caring presence. Niall gave him a timid smile before he continued to speak. It wasn’t until he was getting into the details that Harry had realized Niall was about to disclose the truth behind his tears. He had been walking home from his part-time job as a dishwasher when he heard someone behind him. Niall shared that he was scared - of course he was scared, Harry thinks, any omega would be - but he was close to home. He figured keeping his head down and walking fast would deter any unwelcome presence.
He began breaking out into large gut wrenching sobs when he spoke about taking a shortcut to his house. It had been a split-second decision, one that he wishes he had never made. It was when Niall ducked down a side path through some tall bushes that the alpha that had been following him made his move. Niall tries to get the words out as he explains how he was tackled to the ground, struggling to free himself from the large hands of the man on top of him. Harry shakes slightly in his skin. These are the stories that absolutely break his heart. The stories where the omega is completely helpless, fearful, and taken advantage of. Harry knows that the alpha would have attacked Niall regardless of his path but he can’t speak, won’t speak. He is too caught up in his own emotions.
This is a story commonly utilized by families and teachers from the moment an omega presents. A classic what-not-to-do situation. Harry remembers vividly learning about S.W.A.T. He remembers the embarrassment of having to stand up during their omega health course and recite the acronym out loud.
S: Stay alert.
W: Walk in pairs.
A: Always be prepared.
T: Trust your gut.
A concept drilled into every omega time and time again, as if it’s the omega’s responsibility to reduce themselves to a shell of a person so an alpha is more able to control themselves. Shouldn’t someone be teaching alpha’s the definitions of consent, boundaries, and personal control or is that something an omega has to do as well? It’s beyond ridiculous, the laws in place. The more Niall digresses into the truth the more Harry’s blood boils. He is trying to dull down the anger, but the grotesque details of Niall’s attack are eating Harry’s good graces alive. He is strong and very capable of controlling emotions, but Niall’s crestfallen face, his slouched shoulders, and burnt out blue eyes are breaking him. He knows he needs to get himself together. With a deep breath he tries to relax and stay present and not get lost in his head.
Niall continues his story, from what he can remember he actually got a swing in, his fist colliding with the alpha’s jaw. Niall continues depicting the awful smell the alpha was radiating, the smell of someone in their rut. He mentions being knocked out and losing consciousness and when he came to, he was naked, cold, and alone. There was blood on his face and parts of his body. The most prominent was the pain. He had been used, abused, and left to die.
Harry doesn’t need Niall to spell out what happened. He knows. Niall continued stating he thought he could get over it, move on, even after he had explained to his mother what had happened. He figured he would be psychologically scared, how can one not be when someone is taken so brutally? It was a month later when his world flipped again. Upon constantly complaining about pain, his mother brought him to the doctor fearing he had suffered internal injuries. Sitting on the cold plastic covered exam chair, he was given his worst nightmare - an ultrasound picture.
He was pregnant. Given the life choices he had made for himself he knew who was the father. There was only one answer, since there had only ever been one. Life was cruel. His attacker had not only taken something from him, but left something in return. Niall carries on, depicting the aftermath of the news. The sleepless nights, the lack of appetite, and the overall sense of mourning. The mourning of a life he could have had and the overall acceptance of the life he will now have.
Knowing the laws, Harry knew there was more to the story because Niall was right, he shouldn’t be here. No University would accept an omega with a child- it was illegal.
Eventually, after a long pause Niall rips the final bandaid off. It had been decided that everyone would keep a closed mouth about it. He had 4 more months left of school and they would hide it until then. It was important not only to his mum, but himself that he finish out the year and graduate with his fellow classmates.
So they all kept his secret. He continued going to school and life moved on the best it could given their circumstances. It is at this moment Harry knows where this story is going. Niall mentions, ‘ one day it happened, the pain’ and that was it. Harry knew his heart was one hammer away from complete devastation. He didn’t need Niall to tell him, even though he was. Maybe he just needed to talk to someone. Perhaps he just needed to verbalize out loud his thoughts and feelings and Harry was that person. He listened on, pulling Niall back into his arms as he finished up, his last sentence being the final blow to Harry’s heart, shattering it into a million pieces. He had named her Alexandra and she was now his angel.
He went home to cry with his mum, who told him that things happen for a reason. Niall still doesn’t understand what that reason is but Harry thinks he might. He knows that Niall was supposed to be here, at this moment, and that’s why it happened. He doesn’t condone the alpha’s actions but he’s so proud of Niall for overcoming what happened to him and still trying to achieve his dreams.
They sit there for a while longer, Niall sharing how he made the decision to apply to University and Harry sharing his thoughts on how proud he is of Niall and that even though they don’t really know each other, Harry would very much like to spend more time with him. He tells him about the work he’s been doing with the Omega Rights Office and asks if Niall would consider speaking with a therapist. The next day they walked into the office side-by-side; Niall speaking with a therapist and Harry feeling as though he made a small difference.
Unfortunately, Niall’s story is not unique. It’s heartbreaking and anger-inducing, but not unique. It was a blessing and a curse for Niall. It was through that experience they became best friends. Harry was hesitant to leave him alone, and Niall didn’t object, so Harry brought him to his dorm room that night. They both curled up, warm mugs of hot chocolate to add a bit of comfort. They had fallen into an easy dialogue lulling them both to sleep. He awoke the next morning to a swift elbow in the rib and a new friend.
While Harry had never personally met anyone in that type of position before, it solidified everything in his mind; omega’s deserved the same rights as alphas.
***** (end of section)
He checks his watch, noticing he’s spent an exorbitant amount of time talking with Niall about this weekend's rally. He needed to get going. They hug briefly, Harry reiterating that Niall would be at the rally to show his support before Harry turned on his heel and headed back to work. It was the last event before he presented his proposal to Parliament with the O.R.A. They had been prepping, planning, and revising endlessly for over a month.
With the intel Garret was able to obtain, they knew prominent alphas would be in attendance, it had been important they work hard to find allies for their cause. Garret, Harry’s advisor, was in charge of assuring they utilize their skills to focus on the alphas and betas in positions of power who could be swayed to help their aid in creating change.
He flops back into his chair when he gets back to the office, checking that there are still 64 unread emails in his inbox, the number having grown while he took his short lunch break. He lets out a sigh as he stretches, his back cracking to release built up tension. No one said changing the world would be easy!
By the time he looks up at the clock, it’s almost 5pm and he needs to get to his evening class. He’s never really been a fan of evening classes, especially having to walk across campus afterwards. Yes, the campus is blended, meaning alphas, betas, and omegas are all able to study together but there’s still a risk. Especially for lone omegas in the dark; Which is exactly why Harry started the Safe Walk program. A program where students can sign into the app and find other omegas in the area who are willing to walk with them, making it safer for everyone. He’s quite proud of that idea. The award he won from the University stands proudly in his room, giving him a feeling of achievement every time he sees it. He’s especially proud that campus security reported 35% less reports of crime on omegas since the program began.
He shuts down his laptop, sliding it into his bag and tossing it over his shoulder.
“Bye Elaine! I’m off to my policy writing class.” Harry tells her, grabbing his water bottle from his desk. “See you tomorrow.”
“Have a good night Harry. Try and get some sleep, yeah?” Elaine tells him, looking very motherly at her request.
He nods and smiles, knowing that she is just looking out for him. “You too.” He says as he walks out the door. He looks over his shoulder briefly, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over him. He really does love his work.
---
“I guess I didn’t realize all of this,” the older woman said, flipping the pamphlet over in her hands. Harry smiles to himself, he loves this type of reaction – respectful and open-minded.
“Feel free to take that with you,” Harry tells her. “Our number and website are on the back if you have questions or want to support the cause in any way.”
After saying goodbye, he walks back over to where Garret is setting up for his speech.
“Where’ve you been, Styles?” Garret asks him knowingly. Harry always sneaks off during the rallies to talk with people, instead of doing some of the more behind-the-scenes work.
“Just changing the minds of the general public.” Harry jokes, setting down his handful of pamphlets and helping Garret finish setting up the banners on either side of the lectern. “Do you need me to grab anything else?” Harry asks once they are finished.
“Nah, I think we are good. But can you go check in with Leslie? She should be down with the media team, coordinating the film crews.” Garret points to a spot down on the ground by the barricades.
“You got it.” Harry agrees, “see you after! You’re going to be great!”
Garret smiles at him and pulls him in for a quick hug. “Thanks Harry. I’m so glad you’re here with us.”
“Me too.”
Harry releases Garret and heads down to find Leslie.
“Finally. Harry, I need your help.” She tells him, pulling him by the arm over to the small tent set up on the side of the stage. “Everything’s all fucked up. I don’t know what the hell happened.” She’s freaking out. He feels for her. He knows how important this is for all of them and he can’t help but feel a little bit of adrenaline himself.
Placing his hand on her shoulder he coaches her. “Just breathe, we will figure it out.” And he means it. Technology is the one thing that can be unreliable and they’ve learned all too well that it tends to get crazy when things don’t work out, which oftentimes they don’t. While they hope for the best, they always plan for the worse. They’ll figure it out. They always do.
He can feel her taking deep breaths. “Okay, you’re right.”
“Now, tell me what’s going on.”
---
After helping Leslie figure out why the media outlets were given different start times and helping call each news station to verify the correct start time, he makes his way over to where the crowd has gathered. He can’t help but smile as they chant their own message ‘Omega’s Deserve Rights’, over and over. As he moves closer he can hear the faint mumblings of something else, something not for them. Weaving through the largest part of the crowd he settles on the group, their signs wafting proudly in the air.
The Alpha Dominance Allegiance (ADA). This particular group of alphas believe that omegas should stay in their own lane, keeping up with the traditions that have been in place forever. Harry wouldn’t say he hates this group of people, but he strongly dislikes their philosophical beliefs and old thinking ideology. It just so happens dealing with them isn’t pleasant either.
The slurs and comments and gross looks that he’s thrown make his stomach turn. They’ve had many interactions with this group in the past and seeing as this is the final rally before they present to Parliament, Harry knew they would be here, fighting fully to defend their ridiculous mentality.
He signals to one of the security guards to break up the crowd gathering. They have a permit to be on this property and it gives them the right to remove any unwanted guests. While he knew this wouldn’t be easy, he is hoping it would not be as difficult as the past rallies have been. He watches as the burly security guards make their way to the group, their presence only outraging the ADA members into getting louder and louder. Harry can see their leader, Colin Reynolds, off to the side. He makes his way over, pulling his shoulders back and preparing himself for the confrontation.
“Colin.”
“Harry.”
“I don’t want to have to involve the police. Can you and your group please leave? We’ve heard your chanting, it’s time to go.” Harry tells him firmly.
“Don’t think we’re gonna do that.”
“And why’s that?” Harry asks, playing right into Colin’s hand. He knows this but he’s curious.
“Because we’re waiting for the media to get here. Maybe I called some of our own too.” Colin explains as if Harry’s stupid.
“This doesn’t need to escalate.” Harry warns, looking around at the crowd. Their numbers are significantly larger than any of the past rallies Harry has attended.
Colin doesn’t respond, just picks up his megaphone and starts chanting with the crowd, ‘Status Quo, Status Quo’. Harry’s always thought it was a dumb chant but he doesn’t have the energy to deal with Colin and his band of morons today. He speaks quickly with the head of security and tells him to call the police if things start to escalate.
As he walks back to the stage, his phone vibrates in his pocket.
“Hey Ni. Are you here yet?” Harry asks.
“Yep, just over by the fountain with Zayn.”
“Great. I’ll be right there.” Harry says, ending the call and spotting Niall and Zayn in the distance.
Zayn has been working with the Omega Rights Alliance as well, starting around the same time as Harry. But he goes to another university, one just for omegas. Zayn has been key in their marketing strategy, creating the posters and online content. They’ve always gotten along but he’s definitely the third wheel when it comes to Niall and Zayn. Those two are basically attached at the hip. Harry’s quite proud to have brought them together in their bromance.
“Hey Zayn!” Harry cheers out, pulling him into a big hug. “Good to see you.”
“You too, Harry.”
“Are we ready to head up to the front?” Harry asks them. They have made it a tradition to stand front and centre for Garret’s speeches, instead of side stage with the other employees and volunteers. For Harry, it makes him feel more connected to the cause.
As they walk to the front of the stage, weaving between the other attendees, something catches Harry’s nose. He normally wouldn’t do this in a public space, preferring to breathe through his mouth as to not focus on the scents of anyone else, but something about the alluring aroma has him inhaling deeply. He spins around, trying to figure out where the scent is coming from. He can’t help but take another deep inhale, the smell of summer filling his body with joy. It’s like a combination of his favourite time of year – campfires, fresh cut grass, and a hint of chocolate. It’s absolutely intoxicating.
Harry can’t remember another time that he has been so entranced by someone’s scent. He spins around again, the scent disappearing into the air as he spins, the scent fading quickly leaving him perplexed as to where it came from.
“You alright there, Harry?” Niall asks curiously.
“Um, I don’t know. Did you two smell that?” Harry asks them, realizing they’ve both stopped to wait for him. They both shake their heads.
“I’m wearing a neutralizer under my nose,” Zayn supplies and Harry can see the slight shine of the ointment on his upper lip. Zayn often wears the neutralizer when they are at rallies or crowded public spaces. It’s a personal choice for Zayn and Harry supports it. All of the different smells can be overwhelming.
For himself, Harry has never used a neutralizer or suppressant or anything else that may limit or change him. He’s just always loved being an omega and takes the good with the bad. And why should it just be omegas that need to use them to stay safe? Shouldn’t that also be a concern among alphas? Before his mind can wander on that thought too much, Niall bumps into him.
“You sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, just caught me off guard. But I’m good.” Harry rationalizes. Really, nothing happened, but his inner omega has woken up, desperate for him to find the source of that delicious scent again. Resuming behind Niall and Zayn, Harry calms himself down and settles in for Garret’s speech. He takes a look around at the crowd that has spread as far as the eye can see. He cannot help but smile to himself, loving the fact that people actually showed up and are showing their support.
He has a good feeling about next week.