The first time Robby touches Dennis (just a gentle palm to the bulge in his pants), he jolts so hard that it looks physically painful. The awkward aftermath stretches into a long silence, during which Robby stares as Dennis' body twitches in a violent shiver while his eyes blink rapidly.
"Sorry," he breathes raggedly. "Sorry, I justāI've never been touched there before. I neverāI was never allowed to touch myself there."
"What do you mean, you weren't allowed?"
Dennis can't meet Robby's eye. He wrings his hands in front of his lap, andāfor the first timeāRobby notices the thin, wavering, white lines that encircle his wrists. Suddenly, Dennis jolts again, and he hides his hands behind his back guiltily.
"Dennis," Robby says. "What do you mean, you weren't allowed?"
robby spoiling dennis never ever gets old for me. dennis is very low maintenance, something brought on to the extreme through his long period of homelessness, and never buys anything unnecessary- or anything he wants at all. new jumper? no, his current one is fine, he can fix the hole again. a soft, plush stuffed animal to cuddle? no, he can sleep without it even if he's drawn to its cute smile and fluffy fur. even fresh produce is often given up by him if he can survive on the canned alternative.
robby *hates* this. he's not angry at dennis of course, he's angry at the system that made his boy on and off homeless for almost three years. he hates that his dennis won't even buy a fresh vegetable because hes so worried about his next meal. robby knows he won't be able to change dennis and fix him fast, trauma like dennis's doesn't just go away as soon as he has place to live, but he can still spoil him. if they're "gifts", denny can't refuse.
any piece of clothing robby thinks dennis will like- he's got it. soft jumpers and new jeans and warm coats and fleeces and fun socks and even cashmere scarfs and hats for winter. real leather boots as well as converse, enough scrubs that he'd never have to rely on the hospital machine. dennis protests at first- what a collosol waste of money when his old clothing was fine! (it wasn't, it was worn and tattered and faded) but soon he realises robby can't be stopped. he still doesn't buy anything for himself, but he knows his protests do nothing against his boyfriend.
now the clothes are sorted, robby moves on to fun things. a fancy gaming console and the games that went with it so that his boy could play with his friends (dennis had sobbed and begged robby to send it back due to the cost, but the older was adamant, telling dennis he deserved to have fun- Trinity's delight somewhat helped dennis reckon with the gift), books upon books upon books, and stuffed animals galore.
so many stuffed animals. he'd been denied a single one during his childhood, and so dennis was presented with sharks and bears and puppies and birds and kittens, all fluffy and smiling and so, so cuddly. though he hated the expense, he soon found himself snuggling up close and holding them in his arms while robby held him in his. he slept well like that, both cuddled and cuddling. it warms robby's heart.
seeing dennis in good, well made clothes and fed good nutritious meals and reading new books and cuddling new toys all made robby the happiest man alive. of course, his dennis had a long way to go in terms of finding peace and security after homelessness (and robby was well aware that many of his tendencies would never go away), but being able to give his boy a good life and a comfortable life and a happy life was so important to him.
hes more than content to spend the night holding both dennis and his stuffed shark close if that's what dennis needs (even if he won't admit it). he'll buy his boy everything on earth if he thought it would make his baby happy.
robby returns home from his sabbatical with much more grey in his beard, and upon coming back to his house to see dennis and check that everything is in order, dennis takes one look at the older man's new grey facial hair and cums in his pants almost immediately. when robby realises what's happened, looking at his pretty little intern with his red face and damp patch seeping through his light grey sweatpants, he freezes for a few seconds and then takes dennis straight to the bedroom. they have a lot of... catching up to do. dennis is going to get very close that grey beard he loves so much.
Been thinking about Robby stripping through med school, but still doing it every week or two even after heās an attending. (He needs the ego boost a lot more than he needs the money)
One night heās doing his show, a very popular segment where he gives people ācheck upsā in the audience, when his next āpatientā is an all too familiar collection of freckles and grey curls.
āHey, brother,ā Jack says. Even in the clubās low light, Robby can see his eyes are dark. āYou do private rooms?ā
He never has before, but thereās a first time for everything.
Dennis might not be homeless anymore thanks to Trinityās selflessly giving him her spare room but he was still in desperate need of money. There were only so many times he could sneakily eat her food before she got fed up with him. But finding work that fit around his studying and his rotations was nigh-on impossible.
Eventually, he found a job that fit into his schedule perfectly, even if itās not a job heās going to tell people about. Anytime heās not at the hospital heās answering phone calls for Lust Line. It was easy money really. Just moan and gasp at the right time, say something dirty when needed while also writing his assignments or studying.
It was perfect.
Robby was lonely, as Jack had bluntly put it. And Robby couldnāt deny it, it had been a long time since heād had that connection with another person. But with all the hours he worked he just doesnāt have the time to focus on his love life and after Heather heād learnt his lesson about dating in the Pitt.
He decided he just needed to take the edge off a little bit, everyone was commenting on how frustrated he seemed at work. But he did not have the energy to go to a bar, so instead he makes a phone call for a little company.
It was late in the evening when Dennisās phone rang, the special ringtone heād assigned to work calls. Trinity was out for the evening, he preferred to work when she was at Garciaās to avoid her having to listen to him fake phone sex from his bedroom. He went through the usual admin with the office before they connected him to the call, his focus still on his anatomy book.
āHi.ā The voice said as it clicked onto the call. Dennis thought it sounded familiar but admin always told them if itās a repeat customer so they remembered their names. Makes the caller feel special that way.
āHey sweetheart.ā Dennis purred, casually flicking to the next page in his book. āWhat do you want me to call you?ā He learnt early on, donāt bother asking for a name because they usually want some nickname. The number of times heād moaned āDaddyā was ridiculous.
āMichael.ā The caller rumbled back. Dennis breath hitched. He knew he recognised the voice.
āOkay, Michael. And what do you want to call me?ā He asked, wondering how many HR rules he was violating with this phone call.
There was a long silence after the question, even though he hadnāt said much Dennis knew heād been caught out. He was ready to start sprouting out apologies, offer the name of a co-worker, promise heād never tell anyone at work what happened when Robby spoke again.
āDennis.ā
Dennis thought his heart was going to stop.
āI want to call you Dennis.ā Robby said.
āOh.ā Oh.
The crush heād been harbouring for his boss, the crush he was convinced was unrequited despite what Trinity said, was reciprocated by Robby.
Well, he might not have quite the same feelings that Dennis had but he at least thought he was attractive which was always a bonus.
āAnd what would you do if I was there with you Michael?ā
āFuck.ā Dennis wanted to laugh at how shocked Robby sounded, did he really think theyād spend ages making small talk? Especially as he was paying 25 cents a minute.
āWant to know what Iād do if I was there?ā Dennis offered, he was used to shy first time callers. Although, he was surprised by Robby based on the confidence with which he ran the ED.
āYeah, Dennis, tell me.ā
āIād crawl into your lap and kiss you, do you have facial hair Michael?ā Dennis asked, even though he knew the answer.
āYeah, I do.ā He replied, and Dennis hummed happily in response.
āThat would feel so good against my skin, youād move to my neck, youād bite and suck until I was covered in beard rash and love bites. It would be embarrassing at work the next day but I wouldnāt care.ā Dennis felt himself getting turned on by the thought of walking into the Pitt looking like heād been ravished by Robby.
āIād love to see you covered in my marks.ā Robby growled, hopefully imagining the same thing as Dennis.
āYeah? While you mark me up, Iād slowly start to move my hips in your lap, gently until I could feel you getting harder against me but then I wouldnāt be able to hold back. Then Iād be grinding down just to feel you.ā
āI didnāt know you had this side to you Dennis, I always thought you were such a good boy.ā Robby sounded breathless, Dennis had done this job long enough to know heād started touching himself.
āYouād be surprised Michael, I can be very naughty when I want to.ā
āIā¦ I should have known youād be a brat.ā He laughed. āWhat you gonna do next?ā
āWhen your cock is nice and hard, Iād pull you off my neck because Iād need it in my mouth. God, Iād need to taste you, Michael.ā
āFuck.ā Robby gasped. āYou sound just like him, shit.ā
Dennis awkwardly cleared his throat, he couldnāt give the game away now. Not when he could feel his own dick getting hard.
āI bet youāre big, arenāt you Michael?ā Again, Dennis already knew the answer to that after he had accidentally on purpose glanced over when theyād been next to each other at the urinals. Heād fucked himself raw that night with just that image.
āIāve never had any complaints.ā Robby said modestly.
āFuck.ā Dennis gasped, for once his moans werenāt faked. āIād struggle to fit you all in, Iād have to use my hands as well but Iād make you feel good, wouldnāt I?ā
āYeah, baby, you would.ā
āIād be desperate for you, Iād take your cock as deep as I could so I wouldnāt miss a drop. Fuck, Michael, Iād swallow everything you give me.ā He sighed, his hands itching to touch.
āNo!ā Robby cried out. āIād stop you. I need to fuck you.ā
āOh?ā
āIād fuck you so good Dennis.ā He promised, and Dennis didnāt doubt him for a second.
āYeah? Tell me what youād do.ā
āIād pin you down to my bed, hold your hands above your head to stop you misbehaving. Iām the one opening you up and you are not allowed to touch yourself while I do. Only my hands can be on you.ā
āI need you to boss me around, tell me what to do Michael.ā Dennis begged.
āNothing, youāre not going to do anything. Youāre just going to lie there and take it. Squirming on my fingers as they go deeper and make you feel so good.ā
Dennis never touches himself during these phone calls, itās a job at the end of the day and itās hardly professional to be getting yourself off at work. And usually, heās multi-tasking. Once Trinity walked in on him making mac and cheese whilst on a call, sheād teased him mercilessly after that. Hence why he avoided having her in the flat for his shifts. But today his text book was long forgotten at the foot of his bed.
He couldnāt resist slipping his hand down his shorts when it was Robby breathing down the phone, when it was Robby panting and grunting in his ear. He wished heād known beforehand so he could have prepped himself, he wanted nothing more than to use his dildo but heād have to make do with just stroking himself. He was sure this phone call would be masturbation material for months to come so the dildo could wait.
āWhen youāre all stretched out for me, Iād finally put my cock inside you. Itās what youāve wanted this whole time isnāt it Dennis?ā Robby teased, if only he knew how true his words were.
āYes!ā He groaned. āGod, Iād feel so full. Michael, youād fill me up so well that Iād feel you in my throat.ā
āYouād feel so amazing around me, so hot and so tight.ā Robby as panting hard now, he must be close but Dennis was embarrassingly close too. āBet youād be so loud Dennis, absolutely screaming as I fuck you.ā
āYes, I wouldnāt be able to stop myself.ā Dennis admitted. āMy voice would be sore the next day from shouting your name all night.ā
āDo it Dennis, scream for me.ā Robby begged.
āRo- Right there.ā He gasped, hating himself for nearly slipping up. āMichael! Iām so close Michael.ā
āSame, baby. Come with me Dennis.ā
āMichael.ā Dennis chanted as he came, hearing Robby brokenly call out his own name as he did too.
After that was silence, just the sound of their deep breathing down the phone. Dennis had to fight the urge to start giggling. Heād just had the most intense orgasm of his life and it was all thanks to phone sex with his boss. He knew he shouldnāt have done it, he knew the moment he realised it was Robby he should have come clean and dealt with the fall out at work but he was feeling too blissed out to care right now.
āWho do I ask for if I want to talk to you again?ā Robby finally broke the silence.
āElijah.ā
āOkay, Iāll talk to you again soon.ā He said.
āI look forward to it.ā
Dennis was almost disappointed by the dial tone but he knew most of his callers hung up pretty soon after theyād come. It was just a waste of money after that point.
But true to his word, Robby did call him back. Quite a few times actually, each time he called him Dennis and each time Dennis couldnāt resist from touching himself too.
It had gone on for too long now that Dennis knew he could never confess, it would be far too awkward to pull Robby aside one day and say āyou know that guy youāve been having phone sex with, funny story itās actually meā. Instead, he decided to keep it a secret until he finished his rotations and started residency. Then he wouldnāt need the extra cash and he could just disappear from Michaelās life.
Unfortunately, fate had other ideas. When heād been rushing out of a patientās room and not paying attention he trapped his fingers in the door jam.
āAh!ā He cried out, pulling his hand free and gripping his fingers. āFuck, fuck, fuck.ā
He was whimpering and moaning so much that it sounded sexual to his own ears, and judging by the smirk on Trinityās face it sounded that way to everyone else. He was about to joke it off when his eyes met Robbyās across the hub, wide and staring at him.
āElijah?ā He croaked, Trinity laughing loudly when she heard him.
āWhy is Dr Robby calling you by your middle name?ā She cackled but Dennis barely registered her.
He could tell it was all clicking into place, Robby was putting the pieces of the puzzle together. He was watching his boss come to the realisation heād been having phone sex with his student for the past few weeks.
ādaddy pass the saltā trope with hucklerabbot lmaoo
dennis brings his partners home for the first time, having coached his family and his partners extensively to play nice and be nice, only for it to go fuck all anyway at a slip-up.
ādaddy,ā dennisā voice rings out, obviously distracted. ācan you please pass the salt?ā
robby and dennisā dad reach for it at the same time, the two of them acting on instinct, only for every conversation in the room to screech to a halt at that. robbyās hand is hovering so close to jacobās, their fingertips near touching, and everyone watches as an angry flush climbs from his neck up to his temple. poor man looks like heās about to faint.
dennis doesnāt look any different. heās so flushed that his hair is starting to look blond again the way it was when he was a chubby baby bothering the poor sheep in the barn. the only one who looks so unaffected by everything is jack whoās sitting calmly with a giddy grin because oh this is so interesting.
ādr. robinavitch?ā
ouch. and just when dennisā folks are starting to call him michael.
āyeah?ā
ādāya mind droppinā yer hand so i can give my son the salt.ā
robby rips his hand away and plants both palms on his thighs, refusing to look at anyone, especially his partners. jacob snatches the ceramic salt shaker and drops it firmly in front of dennis. god, dennis feels like throwing up.
āhere yā go, son,ā jacob rumbles to dennis, never once tearing his eyes off robby as he does so. dennis gives a muted nod, not willing to break his silence lest they make him explain just why in the world was dennis calling a man who isnāt his dad, granted robbyās almost as old as jacob, daddy.
jack decides to add gas to the fire.
āwhat do we say, denny?ā he asks, leaning forward to cross his arms on the table. robby breathes in sharply, turning to look at jack with his mouth agape, while dennis gives him such a nasty glare that jack almost apologizes. almost.
what? he didnāt like being left out like that. not when, before robby got over his guilt and finally allowed himself to accept dennisā love, jackās the one who pampered their sweet boy until heās needy and rotten.
ācāmon, denny,ā jack pokes. āitās easyāyou know this.ā
jacob presses his palm to the base of his neck, tension headache kicking in. the rest of the whitakers stay quiet, watching, enraptured even with the weight of their discomfort. like seeing a shark attack in person and finding awe in the blood dancing in the tide.
jack can see the way dennisā anger buildsāhe knows that heāll pay for this when dinner is overābut he canāt stop. he likes the attention, the thrill. he likes being perceived as someone important to dennis. as someone who holds the leash.
dennis licks at his teeth, swallowing loudly, before gritting out, āthanks, dad.ā
jacob sags in his chair like a marionette with its strings cut loose. he looks so much older now and even more in distraught. amidst his exhaustion, he locks his gaze to jackās.
āand? yā are?ā
jack, having had his fill, doesnāt tell them the truth. he breaks the tension, slipping into a light chuckle as he winks at dawn. āiām the mom.ā
that does the magic and the table joins in, hungered for the switch back to normalcy. jacob laughs, loud and booming, and dawn follows with a healthy trill. dennisā brothers poke at their youngest, crooning and joking, and even dennis feels comfortable enough to join in, scrunching his nose at his brothersā teases before pushing at samuel with enough force to topple the guy off his seat.
only robbyās looking at him with wide eyes. jack knows, he understands. because he almost told everyone the nature of their dynamic, teasing a revelation about jackās role in dennisā life.
because while robby is their puppyās daddy, jack is dennisā papa.
Protective Dad Jack Abbot meets Horrible Track Record Trinity Santos who wouldnāt see a red flag in a partner if it was strapped to her face.
She really likes Garcia, enough to endure the cold shoulders and stood up dates and emotional constipation. And Garcia gets why Dennis doesnāt like her since those two are attached at the synapse, but she canāt figure out why Jack starts getting cold with her too. She finally calls him out on it in an empty trauma room after they wheel the patient away, and Jackās hidden fury comes flying at her with no filter. See, Jack is always there. When Trinity needs Dennis after Garcia stood her up again, Jack is the one driving to pick her up. When Garcia yells at her over the phone, sheās standing in Jack and Robbyās guest room with the door wide open, Jack not-so-subtly listening from the living room. When Trinity lays in bed with Dennis sobbing because she canāt figure out why no one wants her, Jack is on the phone with Dennis while he explains that heās staying at the apartment for the next few days to be there for her. So that day, when Garcia asks what the fuck Jackās problem is, he lets her have it. Heās just so pissed that anyone could see this beautiful fragile creature with a shell of glass and decide to shatter it just for fun. Because Trinity is strong, but she needs tenderness. She craves it. And Garcia knew she probably wasnāt being the best person to Trinity, but she didnāt know about the crying, or the sleepless nights, or the blatant despair Trinity feels about not being good enough for anyone.
Garcia backs off after that, and starts treating Trinity with respect and kindness. And if she carries a faint expression of fear anytime Jack is in the room, thatās fine with him.
Gerran saying that Whitaker lets people trauma-dump on him, to deflect from having to reveal his own feelings, but "doesn't commit to relationships" himself is so fascinating and opened a completely new door to his character that I hadn't really considered before.
Because it's true that it's not as simple as Whitaker being a pushover and letting people take advantage of his kindness, no: Whitaker actively invites that by turning himself into a kind of chameleon, like a siren who appears to people in exactly the shape they need him to be.*
For Robby, he is the perfect student, the one he feels safe to put his trust in, like a malleable male Galatea that Robby can mold into the ideal doctor who will carry on his legacy.
For Santos, he is the brother she needs, someone who allows her to express her affection through insults and teasing without threatening to leave her for who she is, because they are family.
For Javadi, he is the gossip girlie, a friend her own age that she desperately needs, someone to vent her frustrations to without the pressure to perform beyond her years.
For Ogilvie, he is the confident, mild-mannered teacher, someone with little ego but a lot of life experience he is willing to share.
For Amy, he is a man, a protector, a strong shoulder, someone who takes care of her family and performs the physical labor her husband was supposed to do.
And then, there's Langdon, who (without perhaps realizing) also has a role in mind he wants Whitaker to play ... and God, it's so bewildering and strange and also incredibly juicy to think that something about Langdon, of all people, wakes in Whitaker the urge to reject, for the first time, a label someone else is trying to put on him, someone that makes him want to be seen for who he is, not for what other people can project on him. And I really, really want to know why that is.
Inspired by this interview
*(Supernatural fans will know which episode I'm referring to)
It was easy for people to underestimate Dennis when he was standing next to Jack.
āLean and meanā is how his daddy would have described him; watchful eyes and limbs corded with muscle that rippled whenever he moved, Ex-Military, chief to the night shift and not one to mince his words to be easier to swallow.
Compared to Dennisās thinner frame, wide watery eyes and peace keeper demeanor, it was easy for people to forget that he was tough as nails when it came down to it.
Jack liked being big enough to protect people- I mean, hell, that was the whole point wasnāt it? The army, keeping up his physic, the yoga, all of it. He liked being that thick, sturdy shield to keep his people safe.
He knew Dennis was strong- heās seen the yard work that kid did at his place, the kid didnāt shy away from hard work- but itās different than seeing it properly in action.
It started with a glass breaking.
A normal noise at the club they were at, but it still had Jack scanning the room from their table in the corner. Dennis had just gotten up to get them more drinks. Jackās eyes snagged on a man- bulky, tall, agitated- looming over a couple of women who were yelling and pointing at him. Their words were lost under the music and babble of the crowd, but what was easy to understand was the slap that cracked across the closer womanās cheek.
Jack was already up, trying to push his way through the crowd until he caught a familiar blond, curly head beelining towards him. Jackās body ran cold as he watched the man turn around and yell something to Dennis.
Jackās heart pounded as he lost sight of the two; the crowd was beginning to press in around the spectacle- damn Dennis and his fuckinā goody two-shoes mentality, couldnāt just flag security and notify them-
āNaw, you gonna cry? You was bull-wheelinā all kinds of shit when it was just them girls but not someone your size, huh?ā
Jack started in shock; Dennis was on the manās back, arm bulging where it was wrapped around the manās throat as he grinned savagely. His teeth and mouth were painted crimson from the blood pouring from his nose, his teeth flashing white with his grimace. Each time the man bucked to try and gain control of the situation Dennisās body rolled with it like it was a horse.
āAlright, alright, let āim up!ā
Jack blinked as security finally made their way over, mouth dry and a certain heaviness in the cradle of his hipbones he didnāt want to examine too closely.
āFuck you man, youāre fucking crazy, those bitches-!ā
ā-you got slopped at a bar anā lost your fuckinā manners, that thatās what you get!ā Dennis barked back, just as vicious, a pair of dogs sizing each other up. Jack finally snapped out of whatever kept his feet frozen to the floor, his hand coming up to grab Dennis by the nape and drag him back to their things.
āEasy tiger, Jesus Christ- never a dull moment with you, huh kid?ā Jack grunted as Dennis stumbled in front of him, going from attack dog to sulky puppy being held by the scruff in an instance.
āHe hit that lady! What was I āsposed to do?ā Dennis whined. āFuck, my nose hurtsā¦"
āLets pay our tab and let security handle it then, Den, come on.ā Jack hoped he didnāt sound as distracted as he felt. God, now he knew what Dennis felt when he stared too long at his arms and gushed about his muscles. If he wasnāt trying to wrangle his boy heād probably push Dennis up against a wall and kiss him so hard he got dizzy with it.
ā-idnāt mean to fly off the handle, just- God, what is wrong with people?ā
Without the noise from the bar Dennisās voice cut through the night noise with crystal clarity that brought Jack physically back in the moment.
āGet in the truck, Den.ā The slump of Dennisās shoulders didnāt do much to hide the guilt pouring off him. It was only when they two of them buckled in and Jack started the drive home that he felt like he could finally unstick his tongue from the roof of his mouth.
āWeāre gonna go home and get that nose cleaned up.ā
āAnd thenā¦?ā Dennis asked, bracing for the punishment. Jack let out a huff of laughter.
āAnd then youāre riding me until I pass out, kid, that was the hottest thing Iāve seen you do.ā
.
