Chapter Text
“So, you’re saying that you’re immune to pheromones?” Malevola asked.
The beeping of the microwave echoed and Robert opened the door to get his lunch. “Something like that,” He mumbles. “It’s just hard to trigger a response or whatever.” He corrected the demon sorceress.
“Ah.. that’s the reason why you didn’t react to Visi yesterday.” Prism lingered. Robert crooked a brow at her at the mention of InvisiGal.
“React to what?” He mused, sitting with them.
The black hero chuckled, “That bitch is always stinking up the place whenever you’re around. Like, she’s flagging you, but you keep ignoring her.”
“It’s a little annoying.. But hilarious, to be honest.” Malevola added. “Seeing her be all uppity when you don’t react makes me giggle.”
“It’s not like I’m doing it on purpose.” Robert defended himself, taking a bite of his food.
The pair of women laugh, “We know now.. but she doesn’t.” Prism corrected. “I just can’t believe that’s the reason you don’t react.”
Robert hummed.
“Like, you can’t smell omega pheromones, like, at all?” She insisted.
Robert rolled his eyes, “What part of ‘it's hard for me to respond’ didn’t you get, Pris?” He insisted with a mouthful.
She raised her hands, “Hey—I’m just looking out, man. Can’t someone worry about you not getting any bitches?”
“What makes you think that I’m not getting any?” Robert rebutted but both reactions only solidified the previous. Fair enough, but he won’t admit that to them. “Look, I appreciate it but you guys shouldn’t worry if I’m getting anything from anybody.”
He put aside his empty plate, “The right one will come around.” He added.
Malevola winced. “That’s what lonely people say to cope.”
“What are we coping with?” A voice joined in, Robert turned to see Flambae. He strutted their way, standing beside Robert.
It only took a minute before the malicious intent struck, “Robert can’t react to omegas.” Prism answered. “Like, zero nothin’. No reaction.”
Before the short alpha could answer or defend himself, a hand grabbed at the back of his head and, soon enough, he was smushed against Flambae’s chest. A groan escaped him upon impact. Nose scrunched right between the tight hairy valley, lips pressed in a sternum he never considered touching and hands crammed in surprise before finding grip at anything but Flambae.
A second or so passes of nothing but pure silence. Flambae gently strokes his head as he (Robert believes) looks down at him.
“Does that do anything to you, Bobert?” He asked casually. Too casually.
An amused laugh rings at his left ear, “Flambae, what the fuck?” Malevola mused.
“What? You said he can’t react to omegas— I’m just testing.” Flambae answered while massaging Robert’s scalp.
A snort followed, “Are you sure you’re not trying to kill him? Cuz it looks like he might be dying.” Prism laughed.
“If he was, he’d be rumbling right now or something.” Flambae corrects, each time he talked, Robert’s face was waved with the vibrations of his voice through his own chest. The chair edge was getting a slight tense grip as Robert, against his own will, sniffed what little air he could from between two hairy breasts.
“Eh.. I think you’re doing it wrong.” Malevola said.
“What do you mean?” Flambae asked.
“If you really want to see a reaction, you need to have him against your scent gland.” She rationalized. “That’s where your pheromones are the strongest. Not your chest.”
Hearing this, Robert’s hands perched on Flambae’s torso and actively pushed himself out of Flambae valley. “OK, that’s enough—” He grunts but a grip at the back of his head has him sucking in a wince.
Flambae, now gripping his hair, pulls him off his chair, forcing him to stand and dives his face against the corner of his neck and shoulder.
Another groan vibrates off his throat, nose well snug against plump, hot flesh. Taking it in. His hands clenching tightly at the muscular omega’s arms, groping the muscle with bruising tension, Flambae held on to him but eased his grip at his head.
“Shhh, it’s alright, Robbo. Just breathe it in.” Flambae’s breath tickled at Robert’s ear, talking him through it.
There was absolutely no space between both of them. Robert was not only face-pressed against Flambae’s neck but his entire body was making contact with the taller omega. His chest pressed against Robert’s own with each breath taken, and Robert couldn’t really do anything but stay there. He could punch Flambae… if it wasn't that he was holding his elbow. But if he wasn’t, he’d totally do it.
“I’m betting that Robert’s dead when he pulls him out.” Prism said.
“Maybe.” Malevola responded.
Another hard silence… and nothing.
Not a rumble or further grunting, anything that signifies the effect of the cause.
Just the feeling soft but long breaths from Robert, probably because he’s not getting enough air to suffice his body.
“... OK, I believe.” Flambae declared before pushing Robert back into the chair. The small alpha groans as he’s thrown, looking at the flaming omega with pure irritation in his eyes. “You’re a faulty bitch alpha. Who would’ve thought?” He smirked.
The alpha rubbed his jaw, before pulling something out of his mouth. “Your chest hair got in my mouth.” He mumbled, holding a little strand of black hair.
“Eugh—” Prism gags. “That’s nasty!”
“Keep it. Think of it like your victory medal for being a broken alpha.” Flambae continues. “Not everyone can survive me. You should be honored.”
He grins maliciously and pats his head before heading out.
Robert watched him leave before flicking the hair away; turning to glare at the two women responsible for this.
Malevola and Prism looked quite amused.
Robert declared that these two would be getting dispatched the most for the rest of the day.
—
Finally, it was over. Robert took off his headset with a sigh and leaned back on the chair. His neck craned against the edge and looked straight at the ceiling before closing his eyes and taking in the steady silence…
Until it was interrupted when something loomed over him.
With slight irritation, Robert opened his eyes and was met with Flambae… again. He blinked once, then twice before his brow arched, “Flambae.”
“Robbo.”
“Can I help you?” He asked. “Or are you here to force me to motorboat to your tits?” Robert added, motioning to the hero’s chest.
Flambae smirked. “If you want to, but the engine didn’t go off last time.” He said. “You might need to check it out before we do.”
Robert raised his head and turned his chair towards Flambae, “There’s nothing wrong with the engine, it just has a different way of working..” He refuted. “You just have to find another way to get it up and running.”
A scoff left the flaming omega, “All engines work the same, your’s just broken.” Flambae stated.
Giving up, Robert just sighed and stood. “Whatever.. What are you still doing here anyways? Shouldn’t you be home?” He asked, changing the subject.
“I should be asking you the same, Bob Bob.” Flambae insisted.
“I offered to stay after hours,” Robert answered. “There’s a lot of paperwork that needs to be done.” He finished and walked past him, heading to the break room.
Flambae slipped in right behind him. The short alpha looked back at the flaming omega, raising a brow. “And, now you’re following me. Why?”
“I have a question.” Flambae spoke.
Piqued, Robert nodded. “OK? Go on..”
The elemental hero furrowed his brow, “Can you really not pick up pheromones?"
The alpha looked at Flambae with sudden intensity before an involuntary smile pulled at his lips. “This is what it's about?”
Flambae glared at him.
He let out a wry laugh, continuing his path. “Well, sorry to break it to you, but… yeah. I can’t really.”
“The fuck is that supposed to mean?” The flaming omega insisted, following as well.
“It just makes it harder for me, Flambae.” Robert said in that tone you’d use when a kid keeps asking too many questions. “It’s not impossible, but it’s still a crappy genetic quirk.” He headed straight to the kitchenette to make himself a cup of coffee.
“So…” Flambae lingered.
Robert opened the cabinet, grabbing a mug. “So?” He parroted.
“... You couldn’t smell me?” Flambae finished.
Robert closed the cabinet. “Not really.” He answered.
“But, that was mainly because you were choking me against your chest and neck. I could barely breathe, let alone your pheromones.”
A hum emitted from the omega. Robert shook his head before reaching for the electric kettle, but Flambae caught his hand, stopping him.
Robert looked up at him, “Can we try again?” He asked.
The alpha blinked.
“Please?” Flambae insisted.
“I thought you tested me earlier.” Robert insisted.
“Yeah—But you said that you couldn’t pick it up the first time. So, it doesn’t count.” Flambae justified himself. “I have to reassess you.”
After a brief moment of hesitation, Robert slipped his hand from Flambae’s grasp. “Alright…” He sighed, turning to face the taller omega, leaning on the counter. “Reassess away.”
Flambae looked confused, “... What am I supposed to do?” He asked.
“What?”
“No, because you’re saying it like I’m doing all the work. You’re the one who’s supposed to sniff me. Not the other way around.”
An irritated groan left the alpha. “Fine! Come here—”
Robert yanked Flambae forward, a hand swept to his neck, the other hooked right on his torso, pulling him slightly down but closer. The omega’s hands slammed over the counter; gasping when Robert’s nose brushed over his neck— almost touching it, just grazing over it.
“Now, relax and be quiet.” The alpha instructed before focusing.
Robert felt a little stupid doing this— it was making his own self-test memories re-emerge, filling him with embarrassment.
Surely, this was a flaw in him that he couldn’t change like being impatient or impulsive. This was something that’s stuck with Robert for the rest of his life, and he spent way too much time back then trying to fix it.
The only thing that Robert could bypass his flaw when it comes to detecting even a smidge of pheromones… it was when he focused on it.
So far, all that he could pick up was the obvious smell of sweat and skin, and maybe some stubborn imprinted body wash or cologne. No pheromones whatsoever.
“Hm.” Robert hummed.
“What..?” Flambae asked.
“Do you wear cologne?” He asked, moving a little higher to the omega’s neck.
“No— Uh.. Why?”
Robert’s nose brushed against his jaw, “No reason, I figured you’d be the type to over do it.” He mumbled, moving back down. “Guess I was wrong..”
“Hey, fuck you!” Flambae snapped, turning his head to look at him but his cheek just ended up pressed against the side of Robert’s head. “Are you saying I stink?!”
“No, not really,” Robert answered casually. “You actually smell nice.. It’s better than most people.”
The alpha moved back to the scent gland. Taking another sniff and, finally, he caught something. It was faint but it was there, and it did something to Robert. He closed his eyes and took it in, that essence…
“Flambae.. Did the cologne comment make you nervous?”
“What— No!”
“You know that I can tell when you’re lying right?” Robert murmured, his hand moved away Flambae’s ponytail and the other slid to his upper back. “Your scent got stronger just now.”
Flambae stayed quiet, but Robert could feel his body heating up. The hand on the omega’s back began to softly stroke it. “Hey, I didn’t mean anything bad by it, Flambae..” He comforted the omega. “I mean it when I said you smell good. Even like this.”
A soft growl emitted from the omega but Robert only brought him closer, “Take it easy, big guy… I’m right here.”
Flambae’s breath hit against his ear and neck, the scent under the alpha’s nose began to change. From a slight tang to a soft sweetness. The omega’s fast heartbeat could be felt all over and that sure had Robert feeling something.
Something involuntary.
Robert began to rumble, and Flambae held his breath when feeling the resonance. They both stayed right as they were, with the alpha continuing to rumble, stuck and unsure of what to do next.
It didn’t help it either when the omega responded with his own involuntary purr. Now synchronizing, Robert looked at Flambae before feeling the big hero lean on him fully. Applying all of his weight on the alpha. “Flambae?”
A quick chuff-growl combo emitted from the flaming omega. “Shut up and hold me.” He grits, wrapping his arms around the alpha’s neck.
Feeling a spike of amusement, Robert wrapped his arms around him, leaning again on the counter. His cheek pressed over the omega’s scent gland, the sole reason why he was even here and now Robert was at the mists of a symphonic purr-rumble with a giant and warm omega. Being his support in a moment of self-inflicted decisions.
Honestly, it was kinda nice.
“Hm... I wonder,” He lingered. “Is this also a part of the ‘reassessment’ you need, Flambae?”
Flambae hummed as his grip tightened over Robert’s neck. “I guess so…”
“You guess so?”
“Yeah…”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah…”
Robert’s hands stroke Flambae’s lower back, “And, what did you gain from this?” He asked softly.
Flambae groaned, the bridge of his nose pressed at the side of his head.
“That doesn’t give me an answer, sweetheart,” Robert whispered, causing the omega’s purr to heighten. This made the alpha match with the omega’s resonance.
“Oh… you liked that?”
The omega didn’t respond, at least not the way Robert thought. Hot breath touched his ear before he began to nibble on Robert’s earlobe.
The alpha’s eyes flickered close and an exhale escaped him. His arms tightened around Flambae’s torso, fully pressing their bodies together.
The air around them was stuffy and hot, Flambae’s pheromones were becoming pronounced alongside his own. It was strange, Robert could almost taste it on his tongue, and it was causing his jaw to numb a little. Saliva pooled and threatened to drool down the alpha’s chin but swallowed it.
He didn’t even notice when their hips began to rock against each other, a slight grind, and Flambae had graduated from nibbling on his ear to kissing and sucking his jaw.
His hands trailed lower, groping the omega’s ass, and he earned a keen moan from Flambae.
Lips brushed on Robert’s cheek, a hand sliding up to cup his face. Fiery amber eyes looked down at him, but before their gazes could lock, Robert’s consciousness kicked in.
He moved his face away from Flambae’s and gently pushed him away, creating a careful distance.
“Uh… this is enough for the whole thing, right?” Robert asks, grinning a little as he turns away. “I think we're done, then.”
It took a minute, but Flambae rushed through three expressions: hazy, surprised, to… now angry. “Excuse me?”
Robert looked at him.
“That’s it? That’s all you do? Just rumble, grind, and touch my ass—then ditch when it gets too much?” Flambae grits. “Work me up and then call it quits?!”
The alpha got away from the flaming omega, “Flambae, you were the one who started this. I humored you—”
“Humor me?!”
“Yes! Humor you—And we got too far… okay?” He insisted. “I don’t know if you forgot, but we’re at work, and I need you to—”
A punch to the gut took the wind out of his words, Robert fell to his knees, hunched over, gasping in pain.
“Fuck you, you stupid bitch!” The flaming hero growls, stomping out of the break room.
Robert curled himself, the smell of smoke from Flambae’s punch on his shirt and the sting of burns on his clothes overshadowed by the lingering scent of the omega’s pheromones.