I had an idea for your service dog Dennis stories:
A military hybrid comes into the ER with some army guys who need treatment, and Dennis is faced with a different kind of hybrid, who doesn't neccesarily like other hybrids (like how some working dogs are dog reactive) and reflects on how they're both suited for their jobs (I'm imagining the army hybrid as some kind of shepherd). Jack has to be the one to explain things to Dennis about what the army hybrids go through and provide reassurance.
Thank you for your time, sorry if this sounds so formal, I never know how to put in requests or ideas lol
Thank you, I love this idea SO MUCH! It's a little shorter than I wanted but I hope it's okay! I might do some more about this at some point because it's such a great concept!
Service Dog Dennis AU Part 11
Jack had known as soon as the SWAT hybrid came in that Dennis would struggle.
He'd never held any meaningful conversation with this particular hybrid - Cooper, Jack vaguely remembered - but he'd gone on a couple operations with the team he belonged to. Seen him operate a few times. Thought of their sweet, bouncy Dennis every time he saw Cooper single-mindedly tear into the flesh of a suspect's arm while they wildly tried to get a shot off.
And maybe it was that, or maybe it was just the sheer physical difference that made him hesitant - Cooper was huge, tall and hulking and with brown-black ears always pricked to alertness - but he knew he wanted to try to get to Dennis before he approached.
Dennis lit up like a Christmas tree anytime another hybrid came into the ER, and he made it his personal mission to check in carefully with each and every one of them. He usually ended up pressed against them, nuzzling if he could get away with it, and who the fuck were any of them to deny Dennis a little bit of comfort from people like him?
But Dennis was...
He was different to Cooper. Jack tried not to do Dennis the disservice of infantalising him or coddling him because he happened to be bright and cheerful and have soft ears and a cute tail. He knew Dennis was fucking good at what he did. He knew Dennis was fitter and faster and probably had the capacity to do more physical damage than probably any of the humans in the hospital. So he tried, he really, truly, tried not to think of him in any different terms than he'd think of his other colleagues.
But Dennis was theirs. He was cheerful and bright, and he stopped to save bugs from being stepped on, and he wasn't ashamed of crying with and for their patients, and he fundamentally seemed hardwired to believe that people were good and worthy beings. He felt things so deeply.
Dennis was not going to understand Cooper, and Cooper was not going to understand Dennis.
He was too late, because of course he was.
He was treated to the sight of Dennis' frantically-wagging tail go up against the stiff tail held still at Cooper's back.
"Hi!" The tail wag softened slightly as Dennis glanced through to the bay where Cooper's sergeant was being treated.
"I'm sorry - would you like to tell me what happened to your friend?"
"My sergeant. Not my friend."
Dennis blinked, ears flicking back for a split second and tail halting in its wagging.
"Oh - um. I'm sorry. Would you like to talk to me about what happened to - to your sergeant?"
"I already briefed the doctors. You a doctor?"
"Oh - no, I'm a support -"
"Yeah, no. I'm good."
Even from across the floor and busy as he was, Jack could see Dennis droop. His ears trembled a little as they flopped down to the sides of Dennis' face. His tail stuttered and halted, and he clutched the hem of his scrub top.
"Oh. Okay. Um, that's no problem. We don't have to talk."
It took Jack just a second too long to realise the intent behind the words.
Hybrids were usually much more reliant on and receptive to touch and scent than humans. On the rare occasion they did get hybrids in the hospital, they often didn't really want to talk that much. Jack had seen Dennis soothe tense lines and too-wide eyes simply by gently pressing himself into the side of the other hybrid, and leaning his weight there. Sometimes, if things were quiet and they were behind a curtain or in one of the bays with a functioning door, he had seen them engage in gentle, subtle nuzzling and scenting with Dennis, who was all too happy to let his eyes droop slightly and allow himself to be sniffed and nestled in tighter.
He was too late to intervene when he saw Dennis carefully try to slot himself into Cooper's side, but he crossed the floor quick enough to catch the aftermath.
The little yelp Dennis let out was soft, but it felt like it pierced something soft and delicate inside Jack. The kid stumbled as one of Cooper's big hands shoved him firmly away from him.
"Back the fuck up, puppy." There was a hint of a snarl to his voice, a flash of sharpened teeth.
"I'm - I'm sorry -"
"I don't know what you're used to -"
"Cooper!" Jack's voice was doing a better impression of a bark than he'd heard from most hybrids, and he saw Cooper stiffen and then saw his shoulders slip back from hostility to something more like parade rest.
"Sergeant Abbot."
"Doctor Abbot. We're not on base anymore, Cooper, and you'd do well to remember that. You're in my emergency department, and you have just put your hands on my subordinate."
"Jack..."
Dennis' protest is soft and muted, his head bowed in the face of Cooper's stiff shoulders and frozen tail.
"Sorry, Sergeant - Doctor Abbot."
Cooper's hands were clasped behind his back, and he was looking just past Jack's left ear. Jack stared back, straight into the eyes that knew they shouldn't meet his.
"Not to me. To him."
Cooper's throat bobbed with one single swallow, and then he dipped his head ever so slightly to angle in Dennis' direction, eye settling just above the place where Dennis' hair was shorn slightly shorter.
"I'm sorry, pup."
"Dennis."
"I'm sorry, Dennis." Short, clear, and without hesitation. Jack nodded.
Dennis did too, but it was much more subdued, and his eyes made a valiant effort to meet Cooper's. Jack put his hand on the nape of Dennis' neck and squeezed, thumb finding the soft skin behind Dennis' ear and stroking.
"That's okay." He gave Cooper a weak smile, got a blink in return. "I shouldn't have assumed."
"C'mon, Denny. Let's go see what the day shift left for us in the fridge." Because Jack had no desire to listen to any self-flagellation tonight.
He steered Dennis away from Cooper and forwards the breakroom, fingers squeezing soothingly into the tense muscles of Dennis' neck.
He kicked the breakroom door closed behind them.
"C'mere, sweetheart."
He opened his free arm, and Dennis melted into his chest with no hesitation.
"I'm sorry."
"No, we've already done that." He kept a thread of steel in his tone as he strokes Dennis' ears. "The only person who needed to apologise was Cooper. It was a military apology, but it's the best one anyone will ever get from him."
Jack snorted, petting Dennis' back when he tilted his head against Jack's chest.
"I probably owe you an apology too, kid."
"No -"
"Yes. I know what military jackasses are like. Pun maybe intended." He wiggles his finger under Dennis' chin where he's ticklish, smiles at the quiet giggle and squirming it produces. He lets them sit in the newly-gentle silence for a while, lets Dennis process his clearly-swirling thoughts.
"Thank you." Dennis murmurs into Jack's neck. "For coming to - help."
"But?" He prompts gently, makes sure his tone is soft and inquisitive and nothing more.
"But you...you didn't need to be mean to him."
Jack can't quite stifle the laugh that punches out of him into Dennis' hair.
"Honey, that wasn't mean -"
"You'd never speak to me like that."
"You're damn right I wouldn't. And nobody else is going to either."
At Dennis' doubtful silence, Jack gentles his voice, leans in so he can murmur quietly into his soft, fluffy ear.
"I know it sounded rough, Denny. And you're right, I wouldn't talk to you like that. But Cooper's a military man, through and through. That's how he communicates. It's how he's been trained - how we were all trained."
Dennis nuzzles closer into the crook of Jack's shoulder. He stays silent, but presses his nose to the warm skin and allows himself what Robby calls his little 'butterfly sniffs.'
"When you're in that environment, everything is short and sharp and clear. No room for any niceties or even basic politeness most of the time. And if you fuck up, you're told you've fucked up in no uncertain terms. You get to the point where you - you want that clarity, that bluntness. Cooper's feelings aren't gonna be hurt, honey. He was given feedback and an instruction, and he's content with that."
Jack can feel Dennis' body slowly starting to relax, inch by inch, leaning a little more of his weight into the hold. He smooths both ears back and gently pins their tips together at the back of Dennis' head, grinning at the indignant whine he gets. He presses an apology kiss to Dennis' forehead, keeps his voice low.
"It's nothing you did wrong, Denny. Cooper's just been trained to think of everything as a potential threat when he's wearing the uniform. Kinda like your vest, y'know? You know that when you're wearing it, you have a job to do. It's just unfortunate that a lot of military assholes don't know when to use common sense and pick up on context clues when they're dealing with civilians."
"They tried to make me into a police hybrid, for a while." Dennis murmurs sleepily, snuggling further into Jack's hold like he hasn't just dropped a fucking bombshell.
"They tried a few different things, once they figured out I had a good sense of smell. I wasn't any good at any of them."
There's so many thoughts swirling through Jack's brain right now, and he finds it irritating and inappropriate that one of the most prominent ones is a desperate desire to call Robby and tell him what Dennis is saying.
"You're good at this, Denny. So fucking good at this. I promise you."
There's something like a small, soft smile being pressed into his chest, just above his heart.
TW: medical horror, pseudo-sex-pollen (sex pollen with no actual sex iykwim)
Inspired by this post by @swanbornbyleda that I've been enamored with since they shared it <3
Drivers honked their horns and pedestrians yelled as Robby dodged in between vehicles on his motorcycle. He could see the top of the PTMC; the sight causing him to twist the throttle further, his bike responding with a roar as he sped towards the hospital. The only thing going faster than his bike were the thoughts in his head.
Protect.
Pack in trouble.
Danger.
Vulnerable.
He very nearly dropped the bike as he skidded to a halt in the ambulance bay. Hitting the kickstand with his foot was muscle memory at this point, and for that he was glad as he tossed his helmet to the ground and sprinted towards the bay doors. People were calling his name left and right, but his only concern was getting to Jack and Dennis.
“Thank Christ you're here,” Dana exclaimed as Robby stopped his prowl at the central hub. His chest rose and fell quickly as his breath puffed out in short bursts. “He took Dennis up to the eighth floor.”
She rounded the desk and joined him as they beelined for the stairs, throwing a “Perlah, you're in charge!” over her shoulder.
As they burst through the doors to the stairwell, Robby’s nose twitched. The smell was faint, but present, and struck straight through his heart as it confirmed what Dana had told him.
-
The phone call had woken him up - he’d been enjoying a nap in the sun on one of his *very* few days off. The house was empty, Jack having picked up a TEMS shift and Dennis busy in the Pitt, leaving Robby solo for a day of relaxing. Until his phone rang.
“You need to come quick,” Dana’s voice had been frantic. “Abbot got exposed to something in the field- they brought him here and he broke through security.”
“Woah, slow down!” Robby shot straight up, already starting to gather his gear. “What happened? What was Jack exposed to?”
There was a commotion in the background of the call.
“I don't know,” she breathed, “I don't know but he looked feral, Robby. Actually feral.”
Robby cursed, slipping his gloves on as he jammed his feet into his boots.
“Where is he now? Is he safe?”
“Ahmed followed him up to the eighth floor - they’re barricaded in one of the patient rooms.”
Robby paused. “They?”
He could hear the beta woman swallow on the other side of the line. “He grabbed Whitaker too.”
-
Jack’s scent was normally warm and spiced: cloves and ginger and nutmeg. But the scent that drifted throughout the stairwell as Robby took the stairs two by two had turned hot - the spices burning and charring in Robby’s nose. Dennis was there too, not quite as prominent, but even the traces that were present were wrong. His normally mild scent of hay and sun-baked earth turned acrid like a burning field.
As they reached the eighth floor, Robby stopped to turn to Dana, who had been leading him diligently towards where his mates had hidden.
“Go back down there - I need you to figure out what he was exposed to. If it's still contagious or not.”
Dana shook her head, “Robby… Abbot was so far gone when he came in. He might not recognize-”
“Go, Dana.” Robby commanded once more. “If you don't hear from me in the next half hour… call for feral control. But otherwise, keep everyone off of this floor.”
He watched as Dana’s jaw clenched. He knew the beta was conflicted - Jack and Dennis were as much her pack as they were his. But they were his omegas. His to protect. Dana was a smart woman. She knew better than to get between an alpha and his omegas - even if he was putting himself in danger.
“Keep your ringer on- I'll call you as soon as we know what it is.”
With that, Dana fled down the stairs, leaving Robby alone on the eighth floor to find Jack and Dennis.
He stalked forward, moving as quietly as possible as he listened for any sounds of distress. The burning smell grew stronger the further down the corridor, Dennis’s scent underneath it becoming more noticeable as well. Trusting his instincts, he followed the scents to a room at the end of the hall. He could hear it then, as he stood outside the closed door: a low rumbling. A warning sound.
Robby did his best to calm himself as his hand reached towards the door. He didn't expect the door to be unlocked; the turn of the handle making him flinch. The growl grew louder. The door squeaked open a crack and Robby’s breath hitched in his throat.
A sliver of light from the hallway shone into the patient room, falling on a tangle of two familiar bodies. Dennis lay curled across Jack’s lap, clutching Jack’s arm in his hands. Jack held Dennis just as tightly, one arm framing Dennis’s chin and reaching up to the back of his head while the other pulled him close to his chest. Another forced growl drew Robby’s attention higher- his breath catching in his lungs at the sight of Jack’s eye illuminated by the slit of light. It was completely black, the hazel irises that Robby knew and adored swallowed entirely by overblown pupils. His lip was curled up, showing off his short but razor sharp fangs. Robby watched as Jack’s arms tensed around Dennis, pulling him impossibly closer. A whimper came from Dennis and Robby couldn't help but take a step forward, which was very obviously the wrong move.
Jack snapped his fangs at Robby, the persistent rumbling reaching a boiling point as he snarled at the alpha.
Instinctively driven to correct the omega, Robby let out another snarl in response. Instead of shrinking back like an omega normally would, Jack bristled even further. Robby didn't miss the way that Dennis cowered away from both of them.
Robby opened his mouth to speak when his phone chimed in his pocket. He reached into his pocket slowly, telegraphing all of his movements as Jack tracked him like a hunter tracking his prey. Not glancing away from the omegas in front of him, Robby hit ‘accept’ and ‘speaker’.
“Please tell me you've got a lead on what this is,” Robby pleaded, watching as Dennis’s head turned slightly for him to assess Robby out of the corner of his eye.
“It's some kind of viral bio-weapon,” Dana explained frantically over the phone, “It’s attacking the frontal lobe and putting victims in a feral state- omegas AND alphas.”
Robby cursed under his breath. Being in close quarters with the two omegas had amplified the burning smell. Robby swore he could feel the heat in his nose.
“Okay, what's the treatment? The reversal agent?” Robby barked. His head had begun to ache, making him snap out the last word.
“Someone from the CDC is on their way,” Dana reassured, which did very little for Robby. “They're saying it's transmitted through scent so you should be fine up there as long as Abbot and Whittaker both still have their scent patches on.”
Robby felt sick as his eyes trailed from where Jack and Dennis were crouched to the pile of shredded plastic coated cotton pads.
“Fuck,” Robby drawled. He retrained his eyes on the two omegas, finally spotting the inflamed scent glands on Jack and Dennis’s wrists and necks. Even more concerningly, he watched as Jack’s nostrils flared, his head tilted towards Robby.
“They still have their patches on, right? Robby?”
Robby pulled his shirt over his nose and mouth, fully knowing it was probably too late. His breath started to become shallower, faster as visions of Tyvek suits and ventilators filled his head. He had to get what little information he gathered out as quickly as he could.
“Okay, Dana, listen to me. Call Gloria: tell her to put the hospital on lockdown - nobody in or out until there's an antidote available. Evacuate the seventh and ninth floors to somewhere else. All alphas and omegas need scent proof masks. Affected persons are going to develop a burning, smoky smell. They need to be fully quarantined. The eighth floor needs to be completely locked down - call facilities and make sure they shut off air circulation as quickly as possible.
Robby winced, a red hot flash of pain spearing through his head just behind his eyes. His shirt slipped out of his hand as his legs shook, prompting him to prop himself up against the doorframe. His vision began to blur, but he could still make out the shape of Dennis slowly removing himself from Jack’s lap, the two of them gravitating towards the alpha with flared nostrils.
“Robby-”
He cut Dana off with a low groan, heat spreading through his veins as he felt sweat begin to gather at his brow.
“Promise me-” he choked, falling further into the door frame. Jack was less than a yard away, his growls fading into a low keening sound that forced Robby’s body to loosen. “Fuck- Dana promise me you won't let them separate us.”
Robby didn't hear Dana’s response.
His phone slipped from his hand as the acrid burning smell suddenly vanished as if a strong wind had blown the smoke away. In its stead were Jack and Dennis’ scents, pungent and unadulterated as Robby filled his lungs with the air that carried them. His vision cleared as he dropped to his knees coming face to face with his omegas. Jack’s keening ceased and he pressed his face into Robby’s neck, mouthing at the sensitive scent gland there and pressing his own scent into every inch of skin he could get his hands on. Dennis did the same on Robby’s other side, his purr harmonizing with Jack in a way that dissolved any remaining tension in Robby’s muscles. A rumbling sound erupted from Robby’s chest before he pushed the two omegas farther into the room.
The three mates piled together, licking and scenting each other until their scents were indistinguishable from each other. They lie tangled together, content and satisfied, numb to the fire licking through their veins and creeping through the air ducts to the rest of the hospital.
Robby was with his omegas and was all that mattered.
whitsantos goofs inspired by this art by @535misc!
----
Trinity was honestly endeared by Dennis' dancing, had been since she first witnessed it on the eighth floor the night after the MCI. Dennis was usually so wound up, always a little bit on edge, but when he put his funk music on something inside him loosened.
A few months into living together she had taken up the habit of filming little clips of his dancing. Him in the bathroom before shift getting ready. Him in the kitchen cooking. Him in the living room on those days he really thought Trinity would be home later. It was cute! She may not share his taste in music but she could appreciate that her White boy could get his groove on.
When Dennis started going out with Jack and Robby, she'd sent them both a link to the album of dancing clips. "If he ever does it with you guys, I have plans."
Both men were eager to eventually find out what these so-called "plans" were, so they both added clips as they could. Jack would manage to steal a few when he came home from shift on Dennis' days off. Robby would sometimes find Dennis in the backyard dancing in between yard work tasks.
--
It was Dennis' birthday and Trinity had insisted on throwing a party at their apartment for it. Jack and Robby had offered to host, of course, but Trinity was adamant that "the vibes wouldn't be right."
Trinity had insisted on inviting everyone, so their small apartment was packed to the brim with people. When it was time for cake, Trinity snuck out of the center of the crowd toward the TV and hooked up her laptop (which she had stashed on the console before people came over).
As people finished singing "happy birthday," a second song began to play. Everyone's heads turned to see a compilation of clips of Dennis dancing playing on the TV backed by one of his favorite funk songs.
"Trinity what the hell," Dennis said, eyes blown wide in shock and cheeks turning red.
Jack and Robby were holding back laughs from where they stood behind Dennis until Dennis recognized a clip as being from their house.
Dennis whipped his head around, "You two were in on this?"
"Santos just gave us the photo album, we didn't ask questions," Jack tried to defend.
"C'mon Den, it's cute!" Robby added.
"Happy birthday, Huckleberry," Trinity said. "Here's to my favorite White boy with moves."
"I love you all but I hate you all," Dennis huffed with a laugh. "Happy birthday to me I guess."
Mmmmm studding (aka omegaverse forcemasc) and make it Rabbot
Robby is the prettiest omega on campus and for his alpha he picks Jack. Which is controversial because Jack is also an omega.
Not that he wants to be. He’s been beating back those expectations with a stick for as long as he can remember, and to his mother’s dismay, Jack has always been very open about the fact that he would never mate an alpha.
He’ll admit, he’s not quite where he wants to be. He’s happy with his general appearance, and the soap he spends too much money on to cover his sugary scent with something more wooden. Ideally, he’d like to gain about 30lbs worth of muscle, but he’s not stupid enough to turn down the most perfect omega he’s ever laid eyes on. Especially not when said omega could help push him along.
Jack does all the things modern alpha’s have left behind. He holds open every door, pays for everything, and even has the privilege of putting Robby’s shoes on for him. He kisses Robby’s knee and admires his beauty from below.
When Robby deems his behavior to his standard, Jack gets to eat him out or finger hypnotizing noises out of him. On one particularly good night, Robby sucks Jack’s little omega dick until he cums and licks up the mess Jack leaves behind on the chair.
“Can’t wait for this thing to actually work,” Robby says. Jack agrees.
When Robby’s heat arrives, Jack is like a man gone mad. He never lets his omega want for anything. Robby is fed, washed, and satisfied before he can ask for it. He takes Jack’s fake knot beautifully and mutters about needing the real thing.
It flares something in Jack’s chest. “I’ll give it to you,” he says. “It’ll grow and I’m going to keep you bred. No one is going to remember what your stomach looks like flat.”
That alone wrings another orgasm out of Robby.
As a reward, he lets Jack fuck him with his cocklet. Embarrassingly, “fuck” is a bit of a stretch. Jack ends up grinding his hips against Robby’s pussy until he cums and then eating him out again.
Robby wraps himself around Jack’s chest and plays with his soft dick. “Don’t worry.” He kisses the underside of Jack’s jaw. “I think it’s already growing.”
Jack’s chest puffs with pride and he pulls his omega closer.
A few weeks later, Jack’s (hopefully last) heat arrives. He wears special underwear that only allows his dick to show and no matter what he pleads for, Robby refuses to touch him where he needs it most.
“I’m not gay,” he says. “I’m not interested in touching another omega. Where’s my alpha?”
“Right— right here,” Jack pants. “Sorry. I don’t know what I’m saying. I don’t mean it.”
“I know you don’t,” Robby coos. “Don’t worry, Alpha. I’ll take care of your rut.”
For the first time, the sound that comes from Jack is distinctly more growl than purr. Robby beams and does his best to ride Jack’s dick.
It isn’t easy, given the unfortunate lack of length, but it feels so so good. Jack is moaning and growling, gripping harsh bruises into his omegas hips and biting large hickeys over his shoulders.
By the last day, his cock has tripled in size and he can mount Robby properly. He’s perfect. Blissed out, drooling on the pillow, leaking around Jack. His knot still hasn’t formed, so Jack shoves two fingers in alongside his dick when he releases, and Robby squirts at the sensation.
Jack wants to eat Robby out again, taste his real release inside his omega for the first time, but Robby refuses.
“It’s mine,” he pouts. “You said you were going to breed me.”
“I am,” Jack promises. His body isn’t quite there yet, but they’re a bit too young for pups anyway, regardless Jack relishes in the thought of him having a real chance at getting Robby pregnant.
They wait for Jack’s “knot” to go down, afterward Robby licks the mess off Jack’s cock.
“Only a few more cycles,” he murmurs, kissing the tip. “Then you’ll be ready to mate me.”
“I’m ready now,” Jack growls. He loves the way it rumbles in his chest. He cards his fingers through Robby’s soft hair. “It’s my body that’s playing catch up.”
Robby kisses him and deliciously tastes like both of them. “That’s my perfect alpha.”
The rumble returns. “Yeah.” Jack nips Robby’s bottom lip. “I’m your alpha.”
Ugh the Hucklerabbot domestic discipline/kept boy/infantilization brainworms are back @queer-reader-07 @puppyjavadi @puppydogwhitaker @sixeyedsharks THIS IS YOUR FAULT
Dennis at Work vs Dennis at home are two very different people. There's a different level of trust for each one.
It was a natural progression. One of those things where Dennis wasn't entirely sure how they got to the point that they were at, but now they just were. He doesn't remember necessarily agreeing, but he does remember feeling better after every new rule and requirement was set into place. No guessing if he was doing something he shouldn't, no issues on if he was fucking up or not; his rules appeared and they told him where he fell.
"What's got you so upset today?" Jack asked him after the third mumbling huff he'd received from Dennis. "Did something happen?"
"I'm tired," Dennis whined. "Trinity kept me up late with a Scream movie marathon and then I couldn't sleep."
"When did you go to bed?"
"Um." Dennis's face scrunched up. "I think around 3? 4?"
Robby shook his head. "Yeah, no wonder our boy's so cranky."
That night he gets tucked into bed, in a shirt that isn't his, kisses on his forehead, whines and protests ignored, and promises of being in soon, "Just close your eyes, baby, you'll feel better in the morning, yeah?"
And even though it's a sharp 10pm, Dennis is out within minutes. He barely notices when Jack and Robby do file into bed, waking only to seek out on of their arms to hold him, and falling back into a deep slumber.
He's cheerful, chipper, better the next day. He sees the look Jack and Robby exchange in regards to his mood but chooses to ignore it. Just like how he chooses to ignore when he gets tucked into bed early again the next night, and the next, and every night after.
Then came the whole stove incident. Not that there really was an incident as much as an accident. Dennis didn't mean to get so close to the still hot stovetop but something fell over and it was second nature to try and grab it and now he's sporting an angry red mark across his hand, biting his lip and trying not to get too upset about it.
But it hurts and he can feel that slight bubble of embarrassment and fear rushing up in his chest.
Not that it matters because Jack grabbed his hand and ushered him to the sink, running cold water over it while Robby fixed whatever mess is behind them. He let out one wary sigh and Jack was murmuring, "You're okay. I know it hurts, kiddo, but it's okay. We've got some burn pads and cream, we'll get it nice and patched up, don't worry. Dad's got you."
He's not allowed to use the stove after that. Robby nudges him out of the way and Jack makes him stand all the way back behind the island in the kitchen, pouting on a barstool until his food is ready. Knives came after that because "You're just a little clumsy, baby. Little boys don't need to use sharp things like that. Let daddy handle it."
As if Dennis wasn't holding sharp objects in the ED on the regular.
Things keep growing. Building. Dennis accidentally stays up too late on his phone, watching videos Trinity was sending him, and now he's getting his phone taken away every night an hour before bed. He tripped over his own laces at work and now Robby is the one who ties them every single morning. Jack catches him jumping one too many times at a scary movie and suddenly they're only watching PG-13 at best. Someone evil and rude and insane showed Robby and Jack Life360 and Dennis gets his ass turned cherry red for driving too fast, gets corner time for not leaving the bar like he said he was, and getting texts of "Charge your phone, Den" when he's sitting at 43%.
And Jack and Robby are so.... daddy with it.
"I understand that, but you're not going. If you want to argue, I'll be home in about 20 minutes and we can have this conversation with the hairbrush. Why don't you go find a corner and wait for me there?" and he's busting his ass to find a spot because Jack sounds way too calm for the threat of the hairbrush.
"We can discuss this as many times as you want sweetheart. You're not changing my mind." and Robby's nodding with every point Dennis makes about how unfair something is, how he really wants to go get drunk without one of them nearby, but Robby's not budging. It's not safe, it's not happening, end of story.
"Oh, I'm sorry, do you want to try that again, little boy?" whenever Dennis gets a little too mouthy and Jack grabs his jaw, arching a brow, tone dangerously low. Dennis squeaks out an apology and gets a kiss on his forehead and a warning swat when he moves away.
Robby's heavy sigh when Dennis does break a rule, when he doesn't eat all 3 meals like he's supposed to, taking an already sniffling Dennis over his knee and pulling down his pants and underwear to his ankles. "I'm just disappointed, baby. You know exactly how your daddy and I feel about that."
Sometimes it bewilders him. He doesn't remember when half of these rules got set into place. He barely remembers if he argued on them or not. He does remember the punishments he gets if he breaks them, and that's enough to obey them.
Dennis doesn't care because all he can focus on is not having to worry about so much. Robby picks his clothes out so Dennis doesn't have to think twice about it. Jack makes sure his student loan payments are complete on time every month, no questions asked and nothing said about it either. They keep his favorite snacks and safe foods on hand always, and the food at his apartment with Trinity never runs out. Jack replaces his shoes when the tread is starting to give out. Robby sees one tear in his scrubs and he has a box from Figs sitting on the kitchen table with his name on it the next day.
So yeah, maybe he's not the same competent, well trained, trusted physician at home like he is at work. Maybe he goes from being given complex procedures to not being allowed to cut up his own dinner. But it's all done from a place of safety, a place of love, a choice that they make daily to prove Dennis is worth taking care of. because they want to do it.
It makes the screen limit with a passcode he doesn't know popping up on his TikTok mindless scroll session a little more bearable. Ish. But what's truly unbearable is Jack using the paddle when he stays up too late on nights he's sleeping in the apartment and Robby making him go to sleep without a twenty minute cuddle session in his old man rocking chair. So he'll put up his phone and roll over to go to sleep on time tonight.
*guy who doesn't know anything about sports and has never cared about sports in his life* hey did you know womens professional baseball is returning after 70 years and the games are going to be streamed for free on youtube and the season starts august 1st
A doodle of my oc Mischa Borodin, who can be spotted in Chapter 1 of Choke Chain. Mischa is being given a few scenes in my Abbot/Pope/Dennis WIP, and now my mootie @thefuzzzz is in love with him <3 hope yall like him toooo!
