Chapter 6/? Of "Yearning of warm embraces" is out now!
One day late but I finished the new chapter! We are getting somewhere and finally and slowly will be able to get some comfort in this self-distructive sad man. HAVE FUN! ---- https://archiveofourown.org/works/75672911/chapters/202169076 ----
Robert woke up to the sound of something steady.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
It took him a moment to realize the sound wasn’t inside his head.
His thoughts came back in pieces, heavy, sluggish, like they had to push through water. His body felt wrong. Too warm. Too heavy. Like he’d been pressed into the mattress and forgotten there.
Breathing hurt.
Not sharply. Just… enough to notice.
He swallowed, throat dry, and immediately regretted it as nausea curled low in his stomach. His fingers twitched, weak, brushing against unfamiliar fabric.
Not his chair.
Not home.
Panic flared instinctively brief and sharp, before something else pressed down on it.
A scent.
Warm.
Grounding.
Familiar in a way that didn’t make sense. It was odd... to say the least.
Smoke and spices. Not burning, just embers. Cardamom and something deeper, steadier beneath it.
Robert frowned faintly.
Why did that feel… safe?
His brows knit together as he tried to move, only to find his limbs slow to respond. A quiet sound slipped from his throat before he could stop it... small, embarrassed, instinctive.
The collar on his neck felt tight.
Not painful. Just present.
There was a soft shift beside him. Someone’s breathing.
Robert’s lashes fluttered open.
“Hey.”
The voice was low. Careful. Too close to be a hallucination.
Robert forced his eyes open.
White ceiling. Blurred lights. The faint green glow of monitors at the edge of his vision.
Where was he- the medbay?
Oh.
Right.
Memories rushed back in a wave that made his head throb, his desk, the nausea, the warmth, hands catching him before the floor did.
Flambae.
Robert turned his head slightly, immediately regretting it as the room swayed.
“Don’t...” the voice said quickly. “Easy. You’re safe.”
Amber eyes came into focus beside the bed.
Flambae was sitting there.
Still here.
Robert stared at him, confusion and exhaustion tangled together in his chest.
“…Did I…” he croaked, voice barely there.
“You fainted,” Flambae said softly “You scared the shit out of me.”
Robert closed his eyes again, shame creeping in.
“…Sorry.”
There was a pause.
Then, quieter: “Don’t be.”
Robert breathed in without thinking.
The scent was calming. Like a blanket. It wrapped around him like a protective sheet, and he felt better, just breathing. And for the first time all day, maybe longer, his head didn’t feel like it was splitting apart.
“How long was I out?” He asked softly.
Flambae thought for a moment, looking at the clock.
“A little over two hours.” He said, leaning a bit forward without really registering it.
Robert rearranged himself slowly, his head surging a bit forward as if he was just getting into another comfortable position on the bed. The warm scent met his nose, and he let out a soft sigh.
Just as Flambae wanted to say something, the automatic door opened with a soft hiss. The nurse stepped inside, looking at her clipboard.
“So unfortunately, I wasn’t able to reach Miss Blazer, but Tracks-,” she looked up and blinked a few times. “Am I interrupting something?” She asked.
Robert could feel the heat rise to his cheeks.
“N- No... Sorry.” He said softly.
Flambae just leaned back into his chair.
The nurse just hummed and walked over to the bed. She looked at her clipboard again before she smiled softly.
“I’m the nurse on night duty. My name is Nephele, but Ellie is fine... How much do you remember?” She asked gently, her voice soft.
Robert noticed her scent as well and just like Flambae’s it felt calming. The sweet scent of peaches and sunflowers was gentle.
Warm and inviting.
Ellie scribbled down something on her clipboard, waiting for Robert to answer.
“I remember feeling sick... I had problems with headaches and nausea for a little over a week now. I know I was at my desk, and I felt sick- everything spun, after that I fainted... That’s what I remember.” He answered truthfully.
“Thank you.” Ellie answered with a hum. “Any medication you’re taking?”
Robert hesitated.
His gaze wandered nervously to Flambae. The alpha sat there, his gaze unreadable, but it was not hostile. He could see the curiosity in those amber eyes.
“If you’re more comfortable, we can send him out.” The nurse suggested.
Robert worried his lip between his teeth. He wasn’t sure.
He had told Blazer because she was his superior and didn’t seem like she wanted to do him any harm... Chase knows him the longest and was there when he presented... And Visi? She was there in the room with Blazer so involuntarily knew both his secrets.
That he was Mecha Man and an Omega.
Flambae had stayed with him the whole time. He had brought him here to get him to safety and get him help. He never had someone like this next to Chase.
“I’ll go out. If he doesn't wa-” “No!” Robert interrupted, blinking slowly as if he was confused himself why he held the alpha back.
Flambae raised his eyebrow at him, confused about why Robert had stopped him. He seemed clearly hesitant. He didn’t need to oppose it. Even though he knew Prism would love to know if her intuition was correct or not.
Not that he would’ve told her... If Robert kept it a secret and decided to give him this information willingly... he would keep his mouth shut.
The dispatcher looked at him.
“Help me sit up?” He asked softly.
Flambae blinked shortly before nodding. He helped him sit up in bed.
Careful.
He didn’t want the other man to feel nausea again... at least not more than he probably already did.
He looked over him and when Robert looked okay with the new position, he stood next to him by the bed. Robert wrung his hands a little. Ellie, the nurse, watched him with curious eyes. She didn’t say anything during the encounter, just observed them and waited.
“I-...,” Robert started, trying to find the right words. His brows knitted together.
He sighed.
“I would love... to pretend I’m fine,” he took a deep breath. “But I’m obviously not. You helped me, it’s only fair... I think. Maybe I’m two seconds away from embarrassing myself and get shunned or something.” he pressed his fingers into the palm of his hand. He was nervous.
Flambae just waited patiently.
So did the nurse.
“I- I take suppressants. Strong ones. Military graded,” he said quietly. “For omegas...” He finished. He looked like he wanted to vanish.
Ellie looked surprised.
“Can I see them?”
Robert nodded.
“Left pocket on the inside of my jacket...” he said softly, still pressing his fingers into his palm. His gaze was lowered.
Flambae didn’t like this look on him.
But now he knew.
Robert is an omega.