Chapter Text
“Fucking hell” Robert basically tares off his headset. It’s been one of those days in the SDN, Z-team’s been on their normal shit and Robert’s just about done with it. But, he did have to admit, the Z-team has been doing a lot better recently. Flambae hasn't set anything and or anyone on fire, Prism hasn't blinded anyone (That he knows of), and so on and so forth. The team also hasn't missed a call all shift. However, what’s getting him is the fact they started bickering and sabotaging each other. It's his second shift all over again. He has a sneaking suspicion that they are trying to show off. “Fucking alphas..”
It made more sense then he’s like to admit. The Z-team is a team filled with nothing but alphas, which means a lot of trying to outdo each other. Robert sighs and puts his headset back on. “Hmm, Dibs on a week” Golem’s voice greets him. Are they fucking betting again? Really?
“What are we talking about this time?” That shut them up. It was like a child getting caught doing something they shouldn't.
“Hello? I know you guys are still there.” Nothing
“Hey Robbie, what’s your favorite restaurant?” Sonar broke the silence and Robert couldn't tell if he was trying to change the subject or if this was part of the bet.
“Look, can we just foc-”
“Oh come on Bob. Just tell us”
“Demit, if I tell you, will you guys focus?” He got a collective ‘yes’ from the team as he leaned back slightly. He really needs to think. He never really ate out, between not having the money for it, and or not having the time he preferred to eat snacks or quick meals. Hell, it’s been over a year since he last ate in a non fast food restaurant. But, there was one place he was a sucker for. On the rare occasion his dad had time for him he’d take him. “I don’t know, Cheesecake Factory?”
“Dam, ok basic bitch.” Robert rolls his eyes at Prism's comment as the team starts going back and forth with each other again. As the shift goes on the team calms down enough to focus on work. As the day comes to an end, Robert's headache has grown. He finally is able to take his headset off for the night. He sighs and looks at Chase. He's standing next to the divider holding beef looking unimpressed.
“You're going to be fine with them next week right?” Robert turns to turn off his computer.
“You still haven't told those fuckers have you.” He glares at him. If he hadn't known Chase as long as he has, he would've thought Chase was annoyed and not concerned.
“No, it's none of their business. And if they ask, just say I'm sick or something.” Chase sighs.
“I'm keeping Beef this weekend and all fucking week next week. I'm going to fucking need him if I'm going to be keeping those fuck faces from your fucking apartment.” Robert gets up out of his chair and scratches Beef under his chin.
“Fine, fine. It's only fair. Just don't over feed him”
“No promises.. I'm leaving one of my sweaters for you. And I'm not taking no for a fucking answer. If I know you, and I fucking do. You have jack shit for a nest, at least my sweater will bring some form of comfort.” Robert went to protest, but ended up signing in defeat.
“Thanks Unc. Just, please make sure no one comes for me next week. I hate people seeing me in that pathetic state.”
“I'll do my best, but if those fuckers go poking around I won't stop them. Your pathetic ass needs a reality check. And I'm 100% sure they've been smelling your stressed ass since Shroud went to prison. You're not hiding shit from them.”
Robert knows this. He knows he needs to let people in, especially now. He's been stressed, frustrated, and probably very traumatized about everything with Shroud. And it most definitely has been affecting his scent. He knows he probably reeks of an unhappy and uncomfortable omega, it’s not like he can help it. He's been really good about not talking about his secondary gender with the z-team. The team, composed of nothing but alphas, didn't need to know that their dispatcher, who he's pretty sure they have been attempting to stake a claim on already, is an omega.
But he couldn't really properly explain why he's hiding it. It's not like it would really matter to them. But between his alpha father hating his secondary gender, forcing him to hide it growing up and some not so nice moments with Elliot after figuring out Robert was an omega. He's never been too keen on sharing things. Chase was the only one to not put him down for it. In fact, he can remember him being the only one to help him through when his instincts took over. He's the only one he truly trusts with this information. He's scared of what could happen, afraid that the z-team will be an Elliot 2.0 or like his father.
Robert shakes the thought off. Right now wasn't the time to unpack his trauma. Chase sighs, leans back into his cubicle and then shoves his sweater into his chest.
“Here you stubborn bitch. Call me if you need anything and if I find out you have eaten nothing but twinkies and roman this coming week, I'm going to fucking force feed you. Got it!”
Robert throws his hands up in defense, a chuckle leaves him “Alright, alright, I got it.
He gives Beef one more pat, says goodnight to Chase and heads out for the week. A small sigh leaves him as he walks towards his apartment. Recently, when he walks home he's been feeling watched. He came to find out about a week ago that Coop, I mean, Janelle, has been following him home ever since everything with Shroud. He still doesn't entirely know why, but he thinks it has something to do with him almost getting shot. He looks around. He can't see her, but he can feel her watching him. It made him feel oddly safe.
He's ready just to pass the fuck out on his couch. His back is sore from sitting at his desk, he definitely earned some well overdue sleep. But, he knows Chase would throw a fit if he didn't get at least some protein and electrolytes. So he stops into the convenience store on his way home.
He grabs a couple of pre-made sandwiches, protein drinks, and Gatorades. He wanders about a bit, grabbing a couple boxes of twinkies and a case of shrimp Raman. Satisfied with his hall, Robert makes his way to check out and head home. As soon as he takes a step out, suddenly his bags are grabbed away from him.
“Hey! What the fu-” Before he could think about it, a to go box got placed into his hands. Looking up, Malevola is holding all his bags, and Sonar looks at him with a smug look. Robert looks at the two confused. Victor just nods to the box the omega is holding. He looks at it skeptically before slowly opening it. It's a burger from the Cheesecake Factory.
“Did you guys go out to get me dinner?” He gives them a cautious look, trying to read their faces. There isn’t any malintent that he can see. He sighs, gently closing the lid.
“Well, thank you I guess. Can I have my bags back now?”
“Nope. I’m carrying these for you Babes.”
“Guys-”
“Nope, nope, no complaining.” Sonar comes around behind Robert and starts pushing him towards his apartment. All complaints and protests are ignored. Eventually, they make it to Robert's apartment. He expects them to give him back his things and leave. You’d think he’d know by now that is not how the Z-team works. As he opens the door he turns to get the bags from Mal, only for them to push into the apartment. Mal places the bags onto the counter and Victor pushes him towards the couch, sitting him down.
“Christ Robert, you really need help shopping. You have to be one of the most unhealthy eaters I know.” Gently, Victor nudges the box that is still in Robert's hands. The omega wanted to protest, he really did. But he felt a small urge to comply without complaint.
He looks down at the box in his hands. All the snark and bite in him nullifies as he opens the box. It seems his sudden docile response takes them off guard. Sonar’s hand reaches out and gently feels his forehead, after a few moments he gives an unsatisfied hum.
“Dude, what gives Robbie? Normally you’d give us some lip for this.”
“Dose he have a fever?” Mal speaks from the kitchen. She’s been putting away the things Robert bought at the store. Sonar hums again and looks at her.
“He’s warmer than he should be, but not burning up. So I doubt he’s getting sick.”
“You know, I'm right here. You don’t need to speak about me like I'm not here.” Robert looks between the two. His mind started to turn to mush and his voice got softer than normal. And this didn’t go unnoticed. He takes the burger and slowly starts to eat it.
‘Alpha brought me fo-’ He pauses at his own thoughts. Did he really just refer to them as Alpha? Oh dear god, he knows what’s happening now, and he needs to get the two Alphas out of his apartment ASAP or else they’ll be stuck with him given over to his instincts.
“Look, I'm fine. Now you two did what you came to do. So get out.” He points to the door, hoping that his voice stays steady enough. He tries to give them both a glare, but it definitely didn’t seem as intimidating as he wanted.
“Nah, not when you're acting..” Victor looks around, sniffing the air around him. “Strange..”
Mal rounds the corner catching a whiff of whatever they are smelling. The two look around as if trying to track down the smell, as they close in on him, he smells his shirt thinking that maybe he smells bad. He jumps in surprise as Mal plants a hand behind Robert and smells his hair.
“Robert..” She pulls back for a moment to look at him, before moving her face into the crook of his neck. Smelling him as if he were a drug. Victor leans forward and into the other side of his neck.
“Omega..?” Victor's voice came out more confused then anyway. If Robert's mind wasn't already slipping, he would push them away, or at least try. But his inner omega was absolutely thriving having the two alphas all over him. A low whimper snaps them out of the haze that was starting to take over. They both pull back and stare at each other.
“We gotta tell the others.” Victor pulls his phone snapping into action as if waiting for this moment. Mal looks around.
“Tell them to bring nesting materials. I'll hop to our place and get some things as well” Victor nods to her as she cuts open a portal to their shared apartment and slips in.
Victor steps out into the hall to call the others, leaving Robert alone with his thoughts. He's only half there now. He whines, his omega wondering why his Alphas are leaving.
“Nest..” He mumbles. The urge to nest setting in. Slowly he puts the forgotten to go box on the couch as he starts grabbing anything in the apartment that even faintly had a familiar scent. Mostly his work uniforms that smelled somewhat of Chase and the z-team, but also the sweater Chase gave him back in the office.
What a sad nest. He looks at the 5 or 6 pieces of clothes he grabbed and frowned. It was so little. I mean it was something, and probably better than he's ever had. But his omega always yarned for more. As he starts to move the clothes around, a tapping at the glass door to the balcony gets his attention. There stands Janelle, and she's holding a hoodie.
“Alpha..?” Mindlessly, he gets up from his pitiful nest on the floor to let her in. As she steps in, she gently tilts his head up to get a better look at him. She smiles and runs her fingers through his hair and scratches gently behind his ear. He leans into her touch, completely lost in his own Instincts now.
“What a sweet little omega you are. I've brought you a gift.” She holds out the hoodie for him to take. It takes him a moment to register what she is holding. But when he does he gratefully takes it from her and looks to his sad excuse of a nest. He steps back over to it and meticulously finds a spot for it. Janelle shuts the glass door behind her as Victor walks back in, surprised to see her there already.
“Dam, that was fast.”
“I was already in the area. Colm is going to bring more nesting materials.” She walks over to Robert, watching as he decides where he wants the hoodie to be in his nest. It was odd to them. They all had assumed that he was a beta, but despite this it felt right to them knowing he was an omega now. Robert is lost in his own little world, his eyes slightly glazed and dilated.
Their inner alphas screamed at them to do more. Provide a safe space, provide more nesting materials, food, anything that Robert may need. This was new for any of the Z-team. Sure, it’s what they wanted, but none of them ever really had an omega. They knew the basics of how to care for an omega, but the closest up to this point they have ever gotten was omegas in jail or those they have seen in public. The only two Z-teamers that have any real experience with omegas are Herman with his Grandmother and Chad with his sister. But even then, that isn’t the same as having one for yourself.
“This nest is depressing.” Janelle kneels down next to the nest and offers out her wrist to the omega. He pauses his movements and scoots closer to her. He reaches out and rubs his wrist against hers letting her scent mix with his. He purrs slightly, happy to have an alpha to scent him. Janelle smiles slightly at him.
“The whole apartment is depressing.” Victor looks down to his phone and sighs.
“You good to watch him? I’m going to hit up a few stores, Mal should be back soon.”
“I’ve got him.” He nods back to her and steps towards the door. He slips out quickly before the omega can notice. Slowly she moves away from Robert so he can go back to fixing his nest. She gets comfortable on the couch watching him. After he is satisfied with what he has, he looks up to Janell then to the discarded clothes that didn’t have any scent on it.
Robert reaches over, nearly falling on his face as he tries not to leave the nest as he grabs a tee shirt. He looks back to Janelle. She is watching him closely, as if she thinks that if she looks away he may disappear. He scoots a little closer and holds out the shirt to her. That seems to confuse her more than anything. He just tries to push it towards her more’
“Scent?”
“..Do you want me to scent this?” He nods. She smiles and takes the shirt, holding it in a way to get her scent on it. He sits and waits patiently. Once she is done, she hands it back. As he moves back to place the shirt, a familiar portal starts to open up on his door.
Mal steps in. She’s holding a pile of clothes, pillows and blankets. She walks over and places the pile just outside of Robert's nest. Behind her, Chad steps in with his own pile in his arms and a grocery bag on his wrist. He follows Mal and places the pile next to but not close enough for the scents to not mix.
“Fuck, he looks like a week bitch.” Mal elbows him harshly. Groans in response and glares at her.
“Fine! Fine! I won’t say shit” He scowls and takes the bag to the kitchen. Robert starts to go through the two piles without being prompted. Mal joins Chad in the kitchen as a knock comes from the door.
“It’s unlocked.” The door opens at Janelle’s announcement. Colm walks in with a pile of his own. Mal nods towards the other two piles and the nest.
“Put it near the nest so he can go through it.” The shorter alpha nods and finds a spot to drop off his pile. He walks over to the couch next to Janelle.
“It feels odd seeing the lad like this.”
“Did anyone have dibs on him already being an omega?” Mal leans against the counter.
“Shite! I think Phenomaman did.” A collective groan fills the room.
“Of course the one time he joins a bet he wins. Lucky bitch.”
A knock is heard from the door again. Chase enters the barren apartment, seeing Robert on the floor in a small nest that seems to be growing as the z-team keep bringing him more things. Colm and Janelle are sitting just outside the nest on the couch allowing Robert to do his thing, Chad and Malevola in the kitchen going through the cabinets, and the rest of the z-team missing, supposedly getting things for Robert's nest. He grumbles under his breath and places beef down on the floor and two grocery bags on the counter.
When Victor had called him begging for help on how to deal with Robert, Chase knew he needed to get to the apartment ASAP before those fuck ups did anything bad. Although as he looks around, they didn’t seem to be screwing up as bad as he thought they would. Up until Robert's dad died and they lost contact, Chase has been taking care of Robert in this state for years. And never once had he seen him have a proper nest. Growing up, his father would throw away any nest made. It infuriated Chase, he may only be an beta but even he knows how fucked that is.
Beef runs to the edge of the nest. Robert smiles, happy to see his best friend and reaches out to pet him. The beta rounds the corner and towards the nest. Robert was a sight, fully lost in his instincts and happy to be surrounded by pack. The omega looks up, his face brightening as he sees the beta.
“Uncle!” The alphas look at Robert a bit surprised. He gets up onto his knees and reaches out for Chase, who just chuckles and gives him a hug.
“There you are, little omega. These shit heads are treating you alright?” He nods into Chase's shoulder.
“Good.” He slowly lets go of the hug and guides him down into the nest. Once he’s satisfied that Robert is comfortable, he turns towards the kitchen where he left the grocery bag that Chad was now digging through. He sighs and walks over as Colm gets into the nest with Robert.
“Get your filthy hands out of that fucking bag you flaming pice of shit.” He smacks the alpha's hand and gives him a glare.
“Aye! What the fuck old man!”
“This isn’t for you dipshit. As I told that bat fucker over the phone, I'm not here to help you, I'm here for Robert.” He pulls out a thing of note cards and shoves it into Chad's hands.
“Your going to want to read through these if your dumbass is going to feed him”
Mal walks over and looks over Chad's shoulders to see what it was. As they flipped through the cards it was a list of meals, snacks and things Robert will refuse to eat. There are instructions on how to prep things and what will make him sick. The two alphas look at it surprised. It’s a well known fact to almost everyone across all three of the secondary genders that omegas have really sensitive stomachs and the wrong thing could make them seriously ill.
“Robert’s going to throw a fit once he's realized you lot have seen him like this” chase groans as he places some of the food from the grocery bags into the fridge. He didn’t even properly get the chance to cover for the omega. The z-teamers who are there look at him a bit surprised.
“Wait, Chase, do you know why he hasn't told us yet?” Chase looks to Mal, then around at all of them before sighing.
“Well, he's never really had good experiences with alphas who knew he was an omega. His father never set a good example of what he should expect to be treated like as one. Then Shroud was… well cruel to say the least. And I'm only a beta, not like I could do much more than help him when in this state. I think he was just scared you would do the same. He'd never admit it on his own, but he cares about you fuckers so much and wants nothing more then to be in your fucking pack.” His words hit them like a truck.
“Wait.. what do you mean Shroud was cruel?” It was Janelle's turn to speak up. Chase looks to Robert who is happily watching videos off his phone, Colm holding him close to his side. He looked so much brighter than Chance had ever seen, that any of them have ever seen.
“It's not something for me to unpack with you fuckers.” They all nod. Not fully understanding, but knowing it was something for Robert to explain when he’s ready. But with that said, all four alphas were ready to break into the prison and kill Shroud right now despite not knowing what he did before the stuff with the astral pulse.
It wasn't the best keepet secret in the SDN that the Z-team had gotten attached to their dispatcher and have been trying to court his oblivious ass. They also may, or may not have been trying to smother him with their scents to somehow turn him into an omega when they thought he was a beta, they were even taking bets for how long it would take. But this is more concerning to them.
Even now with Robert fully given into his instincts, his scent is considerably weak. It’s there, a more prominent smell of coffee and freshly baked pastries, but it’s too faint to show he is a healthy omega. They knew he was stubborn, and very self-destructive. But this wasn't good. They are going to do their damndest to help him. He can be stubborn all he wants but he’s going to have to deal with them.
A slight knocking at the glass door brings the alpha’s out of their thoughts. Katon-Ur stands on the balcony. On one shoulder a pretty large nesting bed, the other Herman holding a few towels and a soaked hoodie. Janelle gets up and lets them, dodging out of the way of the mattress as they enter. Katon-Ur places Herman down.
“I- I um though- I don’t have- I only have this to spare.” He holds up the hoodie and towels.
“I don’t have anything that could work for nesting as I only have the one outfit and don’t sleep. But I have brought this bed as I have remembered that Robert Robertson III doesn't have a bed.” Robert, despite the state he is in, cringes as his full name is used. He then looks to Herman. Reaching out, he gently tugs at the hoodie the younger alpha is holding.
Herman is quick to give it to him, watching as the omega finds a spot in the nest to put it. Katon-Ur puts the mattress down nearby. It’s nice and looks really expensive. Taking note of the new object next to his nest Robert slowly gets up to examine it. His hand runs along the silk that covered it and a loud purr leaves him. He slowly gets onto the bed and practically melts into it. The texture was perfect to him. It was soft, smooth and cool. For the omega, it was perfect. It’s also large enough to hold multiple people on it. After a couple more moments he gets up and starts remaking his nest on the bed.
“I believe I have picked the right one. I wasn't sure if the texture would be right.” Katon-Ur leans down and pats Robert's head. The omega leans into his hand much like he had with Janelle. He was thriving on the little attention he was getting, if he was in his right mind, he probably wouldn't be like this.
“Ok fuckers. His fridge and cabinets are filled. You’ve got my notes. I’m taking Beef and getting the fuck out of here.” Chase walks over the new half made nest. Robert looks at him with a smile. Chase gives him a hug and picks up Beef. He gives Robert one last slime before leaving. Slowly as the omega realizes that he is actually leaving the faint scent starts to sour, which causes the alphas to immediately try to soothe him with their own scent.
After some time. The rest of the Z-teamers show up, the nest gets done, and the alphas work out a plan. None of them (Except for Katon-Ur, cus Phenomaman) could afford to just take a week off. But they could come up with a plan. But for the current moment, there is a bigger issue. Getting Robert to take a fucking shower.
It was brought up that he hadn't bathed yet. Not that they could tell behind the hormones, but they know he might feel a bit better after a shower. However, the moment that they got him in front of the door to the bathroom all hell broke loose. He tried to run back to his nest immediately and when he was stopped he tried to kick, bite and scream.
Getting Robert into the shower was hard, but thanks to Herm who stood in the shower with Robert, and Chad standing guard right outside the shower getting him to stay was much easier. Herm had to literally hold Robert to him so he could smell his scent. It helped the omega stay calm and not squirm out of the shower. Apparently it was a thing for omegas not wanting to shower during heats because they think it will wash off the scent of the alphas.
“Try this” Victor popped into the bathroom holding a bottle of body wash that Chad took.
“The fuck is this shit?”
“It's Colm's. We think since it would smell like him that it might keep him calm enough to let us wash him” He shrugs.
“And why his shit specifically?”
“He was the only one to actually think about bringing something like that.” A short silence fills the room before Chad groans in annoyance and practically shoves the bottle towards Herm.
He takes it and with relative ease, washes Robert. And the theory was right, the familiar smell helped to keep him calm. The rest of the shower is a breeze and once they are done, change him into a hoodie that Bruno brought. It was huge and almost fit him like a nightgown. They get him back into the nest and everyone either piles into the nest or around the room. They take shifts to stay awake to both make sure Robert is alright and safe. He gets some of the best sleep he's gotten in a very long time.