When Robby gets back from his sabbatical, he gifts Dennis a simple Canadian maple leaf pin. Robby scratches the back of his neck as he hands it to him in a little mesh gift bag and says, “It’s not much, but I didn’t want to come back without getting you something.”
Dennis thanks him sincerely, cradling the pin and eventually settling on pinning it to his backpack strap right over his heart. He doesn’t realize this fact until Trinity teases him about it the first time she spots it. Still, he doesn’t move it because it wouldn’t feel right anywhere else.
He waits for Robby’s first day back in the Pitt, wondering what other souvenirs he got for everyone else, but the day passes quickly, and by the end of it, no one receives a gift from Robby. Dennis thumbs his pin as he leaves, rationalizing that it was just a gift for house sitting, nothing more.
It’s only two shifts later that Robby spots the pin while Dennis walks into the ER. He gives him a small smile, eyes moving down to the red leaf before meeting Dennis’ eyes and giving him a wink as if it’s some kind of inside joke. Their own thing.
Dennis flushes red and nods back at his boss, trying not to make the moment anything more than it is. Although he desperately wants it to be.
Later that shift, Robby stands next to him at the board, staring up at it as he casually asks, “Do you like keeping pins on your bag?”
Dennis nods. “I’ve never received one before, but I like it. Makes it feel more like mine rather than just some backpack I thrifted.”
Robby hums and stuffs his hands in his pockets lingering for a few moments until Dana calls him away.
Dennis thinks that’s the end of that conversation until the end of his next shift, when Robby hands him another mesh gift bag, this time with a buffalo pin inside. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like when I was gone, so I got more than one pin.”
“Thank you,” Dennis manages to say, trying and failing not to romanticize the moment. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to,” Robby replies earnestly, briefly holding eye contact with Dennis before reaching out and patting him on the shoulder. “Good job today, Whitaker.”
Dennis thanks him again, and as soon as Robby leaves, he pins the buffalo next to his maple leaf. He smiles at the pair. They belong together.
When Trinity spots the new addition, she laughs and jokes, “Next time, I’m asking where my pin is.”
Dennis rolls his eyes and shoves her. “There isn’t going to be a next time,” he insists.
He’s wrong.
Over the next few weeks, Robby brings in pin after pin, slowly but surely filling up the entire left strap of Dennis backpack.
It’s only when Dennis has to start on the right strap that he finally laughs and asks Robby, “Are you buying these online or something?”
The older man blushes and shakes his head. “No, these are all from my trip.”
Dennis pins his newest souvenir - a simple white flower - on his right strap and smiles. “You couldn’t have been thinking about me that often,” he jokes, but the words get caught up in his throat, too full of hope to come out clearly.
Robby still manages to understand. He takes a step forward, glancing around the empty ambulance bay before confessing, “I did.”
Dennis glances over the pins, physical representations of every time Robby thought about him while he was gone. “Every stop?” Dennis breathes out.
“Every stop and in between.”
“I thought about you, too,” Dennis confesses, finger tracing over the maple leaf pin. “I don’t have anything to show for it, except Trinity, who will gladly complain about how often I talked about missing you.”
Robby chuckles. “You don’t have to lie to make me feel better, Whitaker.”
“I’m not,” he insists, hand reaching out to latch onto his boss’s arm. “Every day I wanted to know where you were and what you were doing. It’s a miracle I didn’t abuse your number.”
Robby ducks his head. “I wish you would have.” He glances up, eyes crinkling as he says, “Then, maybe I could’ve asked what you’d like instead of getting a pin from every souvenir stand I saw.”
Dennis frowns down at his backpack. “How many more pins do you have?”
“Let’s just say, I see you getting a few new backpacks in your future.”
Dennis laughs loudly, throwing his head back and letting the sound carry through the night. As his laughter dies down, he finds Robby staring at him fondly. His hand reaches out and hooks around the bare strap of Dennis’ backpack, thumb running over the newest pin. “I missed you, too.”
Butterflies spring to life in Dennis' stomach. He ducks his head, trying to hide his blush. "As a resident?"
"Well, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I didn't get any of my other residents souvenirs."
"Trinity noticed," Dennis can't help but say, making Robby laugh.
When it dies down, he asks Dennis, "Did you miss me as a boss?"
Dennis nods. "Yes," he replies honestly, then stutters, "B-but also as... you know."
"I know what?" Robby teases, still fidgeting with the strap of Dennis' bag, tugging lightly to draw the younger man toward him. "Hm?" he prompts when Dennis stares up at him, face red.
"You know I missed you beyond a resident missing their boss."
Robby tilts his head. "Did I? Last I checked, you had nothing to show for missing me."
Dennis huffs out a laugh of disbelief. "Really?"
Robby just smiles and shrugs at him.
"How about this then?" Dennis asks, looping his hands around the back of Robby's neck and rising onto his toes as he pulls him into a kiss. It's quick and chaste, only because Dennis pulls back to ask, "Is that proof enough?"
"I might need more proof," Robby replies against his lips.
Dennis laughs and kisses him again, aiming to deepen the kiss when the sound of sirens approaches.
Robby reluctantly breaks away and pulls Dennis away from the bay, trying to find a corner with some privacy so they're not pulled back into work after their shift has ended. "My pins suddenly seem much lamer in comparison," he jokes.
Dennis shakes his head, staring down at his backpack. "I love them. They show how much you missed me."
"I didn't get nearly enough to show that."
"How many did you get?"
Robby shrugs and scratches his beard. "I lost track after the first week. You should've seen me try to explain the bag to the Canada Border Patrol. Had to lie that my partner has a thing for pins and wouldn't forgive me if I didn't get him one at every stop I took."
Dennis grins. "Well, that doesn't have to be a lie anymore."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah," he replies, leaning forward again, only to be cut off by the sound of someone obnoxiously clearing their throat.
Dennis' head snaps to the left, filled with relief and dread when his eyes land on Trinity.
"This is a hospital," she says flatly as she approaches them. Her eyes trail over Dennis' backpack, taking in the new pin. She turns to Robby and crosses her arms. "Where's my pin, huh?"
Robby turns red and scratches the back of his neck. "Taken by border patrol?" he offers.
"Uh huh," Trinity replies, fighting to conceal her grin. "Well, I'm done with charting, and I'm heading home. I'm glad you finally pinned him down, Dr. Robby, but I don't want to hear any details about that from you," she says, giving Dennis a piercing stare.
He flushes red, opening and closing his mouth a few times, but nothing comes out.
"Text me if you're not coming home tonight," she says, saluting Dennis and fully grinning at her ability to make him squirm. "And I expect a pin!"
Dennis shakes his head as she walks away. "You don't have to actually get her a pin."
"Don't worry, I know I do," Robby says, taking Dennis' hand. "Want to see the rest of your collection?"
"Yes, please."
Dennis ends up staying the night after Robby brings out five full bags of pins, and Dennis insists that he tells him where he got every one of them. Robby agrees, as long as Dennis gives him a kiss for every pin. He more than happily obliges.
They're both thankful they don't have a shift the next day.
Dennis has a thing for Robby's hands. They are so big and rough and warm.
He loves it when Robby grabs him by the neck, warm palm against his nape, his fingers lightly squeezing his muscles in a encouraging manner.
He loves Robby's hands on his shoulders as he guides him toward an incoming trauma as he briefs him on what's to come. And then once the chaos is over how Robby simply pats him on the shoulder saying "good job Whitaker."
He loves when later that day Robby puts a hand on his thigh as he drives them home, his thumb stroking his jeans fondly as they listen to the radio.
He loves Robby's hand on his lower back, a comforting gesture as they walk together from the car to the door. He keeps his hand there while Dennis looks for the keys and unlocks the door.
He loves when Robby's big hands cradle his face, a finger stroking his cheekbone before Robby's head dips down to kiss him after a long day. Dennis loves how it makes him feel warm and safe and happy.
He loves Robby's hands on his hips as he makes dinner for the two of them. Robby's nose nuzzling Dennis ear and his beard grazing his neck before peppering it with kisses and humming "smells so good babe."
He loves when Robby rests his hand on the back of his head as they sit on the couch watching a movie and how Robby's finger tangle in his hair as he plays with his curls.
He loves when Robby decides to give him a foot massage after he complains how sore his feet are. He loves feeling Robby's hands around his foot, his thumbs rubbing and applying light pressure to the arch of the foot making Dennis moan in pleasure and melt into the couch, eyes closing, ready to fall asleep.
He loves falling asleep holding Robby's large hand in his while the other lays mindlessly on his hip.
More than loving Robby's hands, Dennis loves how they make him feel. Loved. Cherished. Safe.
Robby who simply adores being called baby. (because no one’s really bothered to consider he might like that as a Fifty year old man with some lingering toxic masculine tendencies) & Dennis who honestly hates being pampered In relationships just because people see him as a weak, effeminate man simply because of the fact that, for a while, it was normal for them to project their own stereotypes onto him. So when he calls Robby his “sweet baby” as a joke for the first time and the older man flames red, it makes his stomach turn and his thighs squeeze together.
Dennis who loves to kiss over Robby’s face slowly and whisper little praises to him. “My boy” “so handsome”
Robby who lets Dennis man handle him, loves to grope and squeeze at his biceps, and falls apart when Dennis straddles him and traps him with his muscular thighs.
Robby who pays for Dennis’s Gym Membership (and Trinity, just so he can have a gym buddy) when Amy sells the farm and Dennis expresses sadness at the concept of losing his frame since he won’t be working outside anymore.
Dennis who makes Robby put his spacious backyard to use after years of neglect so they can grow crops together and whips him into shape.
Dennis who makes friends with Robby’s elderly neighbors when they catch a glimpse of the newly growing garden. Impressed with the sudden and amazing transformation. Which leads to them being invited over for dinner on weekends, and suddenly they start scoring invitations to the parties, and barbecues, and Dennis is apparently now very well acquainted with Robby’s entire neighborhood?
Which, of course, leads to many people warming up to Dr. Robinavitch who was previously an enigmatic ghost in the close knit community. And at least three people express their pleasant surprise at his, “Very young boyfriend!” Robby isn’t sure if he should be offended or flattered.
Robby who overhears a sweet older lady scolding her friend for trying to set up Dennis with her granddaughter, (he had been too distracted trying to beat some random teenager at corn hole to even notice it was happening) because, “Dr. Whitaker is a very sweet young man who likes them old! And he brings Dr. Robinavitch out of his shell.” She’d huffed, gesturing wildly at Robby where he stood in a stalemate against the kid across from him.
Bonus: Robby in a cute gardening apron with the sunflower from Plants Vs Zombies on it that Trinity bought him as a Gag gift.
(I am writing this into a cohesive fic as we speak.)
Dennis doesn’t trust what Trinity gets up to at work on his days off.
One time, she’d surprised him by decorating his work locker with the dirty socks he’d accidentally left across the apartment. Another time, she’d organized a large shipment of avocados to be delivered to the Pitt the next time Dennis was mid shift. And no one’s forgotten about the time she’d hid fake rats around the ER for him to find.
It was all harmless stuff, really. Well, except the rat one. Dr. Robby hadn’t been too happy about finding one of them in his jacket pocket or when poor Emma had screamed when she found one in a coffee mug.
So, it’s been a while since Trinity has pulled one of her pranks.
Until today.
She started their shift off with that look in her eye that screamed I’m about to get you, Huckleberry. So, Dennis had taken to looking over his shoulder, checking the contents of his locker, and double checking for something as dumb as a whoopie cushion whenever he sat down.
But as the day goes on, the mischievous glint in Trinity’s eyes lessens. And Dennis wonders if he’d just imagined it all. Maybe he was starting to become paranoid.
Later, when things magically start calming down in the ER, Dennis notices Trinity, Samira, and Javadi huddled together, giggling at something on Trinity’s phone.
Dennis glances at the board and decides he has a minute to spare. He walks over to the girls and asks, “What’s going on?”
Trinity glances over her shoulder and casually says, “We’re playing smash or pass.”
“What?”
Trinity sighs and makes room for Dennis to join the group. “Smash or pass. It’s a game where you decide if you’d want to fuck the person or not.”
The tips of Dennis’ ears turn red. “I don’t think that’s-”
“Come on, Huckleberry, it’s fun. Look.”
He glances down at the screen, noticing a picture of a man probably taken in the 90s. He’s… cute, but Dennis doesn’t know if he’d want to sleep with him.
“Smash,” Samira says.
“Young Leonardo DiCaprio is always a smash,” Victoria agrees.
The girls glance at Dennis who shrugs. “I-I don’t know. I’d have to talk to him first. See what he’s like.”
Trinity coos and pinches his cheek. “Such a Huckleberry.”
Dennis waves her off, and she continues swiping through photos with a laugh.
Every person that pops up has Dennis frowning, unsure of what to really consider a “smashable” quality. He throws out a noncommittal, “He’s attractive, but… I don’t know,” for most answers, much to the girls’ disappointment.
Until Trinity swipes to an older photo of a clean shaven man with kind brown eyes, fluffy brown hair, and sweet smile that immediately has Dennis rather loudly declaring, “Smash!”
Samira and Victoria turn to stare at him with their jaws dropped as Trinity bursts into a fit of laughter. That’s when Dennis knows he’s somehow been pranked again.
“What?” He asks, reaching toward Trinity’s phone, only for her to pull it away. “Who is that?”
He manages to latch onto the device, and the pair get caught in a bit of a tussle, resulting in her phone being tossed across central, landing and sliding a few feet until it’s stopped by Dr. Robby’s shoe.
The older man glances up at them, unimpressed. Dennis straightens up, ready to apologize when Dr. Robby bends down, groaning as he picks up the phone. He frowns down at the photo, tugging his glasses on as he approaches them. He stops in front of them and turns the screen around asking, “How’d you get this photo of me?”
Dennis can feel himself turn a concerningly dark shade of red as Trinity explains, “I asked Dr. Abbot to show me a picture of your glory days.”
“Why?” He asks, tilting his head as he hands the phone back to her.
Trinity smirks and nudges Dennis. “No reason.”
Dr. Robby doesn’t look convinced, especially when he sees the flush that’s threatening to consume Dennis’ entire body. Robby’s hand lands on his shoulder, squeezing as he asks, “Are you alright, Dr. Whitaker?”
Dennis doesn’t trust himself to get words out so he only nods.
Dr. Robby luckily doesn’t press him for anything more. He releases him with one last squeeze and addresses the group. “Okay, then go back to work and clear some beds. Don’t give me a reason to not pay you or approve your hours.”
“Yes, sir,” Dennis mutters, scurrying away so he doesn’t get caught up staring into the man’s eyes.
Trinity follows after him, smugly grinning.
“Shut up.”
She raises her hands in surrender. “I didn’t say anything.”
Dennis only glares at her. But a few moments later, he whispers, “Can you send me that photo?”
Trinity laughs, but she sends it his way.
It’s not even two hours later that Dr. Robby catches Dennis staring at his photo, thumb caressing the screen.
“That had to have been taken over two decades ago,” Robby says, suddenly appearing over Dennis’ shoulder.
Dennis jumps and drops his phone on the counter in front of him, that same blush rising to his face. “I…” he starts but doesn’t know what to say. “Sorry,” he settles on, turning back to the board. He’s so getting written up.
“It’s alright. I’d be shocked too if I knew then what I’d look like now,” Robby comments, self deprecatingly.
Dennis frowns at him, grabbing his phone and holding up the photo beside Robby, comparing the two. He isn’t sure how he didn’t recognize the man when he first saw the photo. Or maybe he subconsciously did and that’s why he responded so quickly. “You don’t look that much different.”
Robby’s hand pats his back. “Sure, kid.”
“I’m serious,” Dennis insists, turning the screen his way. “You’re just older and have more facial hair.” He turns the photo back to himself, staring at it. “If anything, I’d say you aged like fine wine,” he comments without meaning to.
His eyes dart to his boss and he finds that they’re sharing a similar blush on their cheeks. “Sorry, that was-”
“I have more photos like than in an old photo album at my house. You’re more than welcome to take a look at it.” Robby glances at the board causally, scratching his beard. “I’m free after our shift.”
Dennis’ smile widens, stretching across his face until his cheeks hurt. “Y-yeah. That’d be amazing. Thank you.”
Robby gives him a small smile and pushes away from the central hub. “It’s a date,” he comments, walking away.
It’s a miracle Dennis doesn’t faint on the spot.
Robby doubles back and adds on, “One question though, why did you want to smash Trinity’s phone when you saw my photo?”
Trinity cackles loudly, making her presence known at the monitor near them. “Sorry,” she chokes out through fits of laughter.
“Uh, no reason,” Dennis comments and looks up at the board. “Look at that. Patient with lower back pain and nausea. Great case.” He turns on his heels and nearly sprints away.
At the end of their shift, Trinity informs him that this has got to be her best prank to date, and Dennis reluctantly agrees although there’s still that look in her eyes. He doesn’t have to wait long to find out what that’s about, because, as she walks away, she calls out, “By the way, I filled in Dr. Robby on what ‘smash or pass’ is, so have fun on your date.”
Dennis never quite lives that down, but he doesn’t entirely care. After all, it’s what scores him Dr. Robby.
He does everything he can, including: making Trinity hold him accountable whenever he mentions the man outside of work, not hooking up or flirting with anyone who vaguely looks like him, imagining literally anything other than Robby at all times, and trying his best not to stare at the man when they're on the same shift, although Robby tends to always schedule them together.
He makes it a solid three days before he ends up backsliding when he finds the closest lookalike he can at the bar and hooks up with them.
He thinks it’s the alcohol that amplifies how much this stranger looks just like Michael Robinavitch. But the morning after, he wakes up sober beside the younger clone of the man, panics, and promptly runs out.
Trinity teases him about it for days, and Dennis insists that he’s not crazy. The man looked just like him.
Fast forward a few days and much more teasing later, Dennis overhears commotion in Central and follows the noise.
As he approaches the crowd, he hears Robby drone on, “Yes, Jake convinced me to do an Ancestry test kit, and, no, I didn’t expect anything to come from it.”
“Neither did I,” a familiar voice continues. “Next thing I know, a new 50% match pops up, and I’m flying out to meet my half-brother who is apparently my older doppelgänger.”
Dennis screeches to a halt as soon as he lays his eyes on none other than his recent bar hookup, introducing himself as John Carter to Trinity of all people. She looks around, eyes landing on Dennis, and calling out, “Huckleberry! Get a load of this.”
John’s eyes, quite unfortunately, land on Dennis. His smile grows as he says, “Dennis?” He moves past the group to clap a hand on his shoulder, much like Robby would. “Hey, I thought we had a good time the other night, but you disappeared in the morning. Did I do something wrong?”
Dennis feels all the blood leave his face as he sees a look of realization and horror cross over Trinity’s features that spreads throughout the group, including Dr. Robby.
He's so screwed.
John glances over his shoulder to where Dennis is staring, and flushes as the same realization hits him. “Oh.” He looks between the two of them, and awkwardly says, “So, it was a you thing, not a me thing. Or a… him thing.”
“John,” Robby grunts, desperate to get him to stop talking.
“Sorry.”
Dennis doesn’t know what to do other than pass out on the spot, try to flee to the Canadian border, or hope for divine intervention to strike him down.
Robby beats him to a solution and carefully guides his brother away from him. “Let’s… catch up in the staff lounge.”
“Yes, please.” As they walk away, John tries to quietly add on, “Sorry for sleeping with your coworker. I feel like I ruined this family reunion.” But with the eerie silence of the place, the words travel, confirming what everyone already assumes.
Robby pats his shoulder. “Not a coworker. A student.”
Dennis wants to throw up as John groans, “Shit.”
The rest of the conversation is lost as they make their way to the staff lounge.
Everyone stares at Dennis.
“So,” Princess says, breaking the silence. “What was it like sleeping with the new and improved Dr. Robby?”
Dennis runs his hands over his face and turns away from the group, looking at him way too expectantly. “We are not discussing this. Ever. Or I’ll pay someone to do another cyber attack.”
As he walks off to whatever patient isn’t near the group, he overhears Princess explain, “That means it was unbelievable.”
The rest of the day, Dennis is given teasing remarks and learns, against his will, that John is also a doctor. But he’s from Chicago, where Dennis will hopefully never see him again. As for Dr. Robby… maybe Dennis can be switched to night shift.
He hardly runs into the man as the day goes on, but John does approach him when he’s leaving. He gives him a cute smile and a kiss on the cheek before whispering, “Good luck. If it doesn’t work out, let me know when you’re in Chicago.”
Dennis laughs half heartedly, watching the all too familiar brown eyes scan his face one last time before he leaves.
Trinity immediately makes her presence known, nudging him as she joins in watching the man leave. “Remind me to never doubt you again.”
“Will do.”
He turns around to go to the board and locks eyes with Robby, who looks half amused and half like he wants to crawl out of his skin. Dennis ducks his head as he passes him, ready to never confront what the man knows.
Robby takes the cue for the rest of the day, not bothering the man besides giving him a helping hand or well-deserved praise here and there. It dwindles after Dr. Robby comments, “Great work, Dr. Whitaker.” And Langdon makes the ill-advised joke, “Is that how Dr. Carter sounded the other night?”
He’s sent to triage for the rest of the shift.
Lucky for Dennis, that’s when all the other jokes start dying down, and he feels like he might actually be able to move past this.
That is, until the shift ends, and he finds Dr. Robby leaning against his locker, long after everyone from day shift has left. Dennis had stayed with a patient and thought that if he waited long enough, no one could corner him outside of work for details.
Apparently, he was wrong.
He shoots off a text to Trinity, letting her know that she shouldn’t wait for him. He figures that as much as he’d like this conversation to end after two sentences, it’s going to take much longer.
Dennis slowly approaches his locker, rocking on his heels when Robby doesn’t move. “You’re blocking my locker.”
“Sorry,” Robby says, shifting to the side but lingering.
He enters his combination with shaky hands, pulling on his jacket quickly, then throwing his backpack over his shoulder. He closes the door and mutters, “Bye,” before turning around and practically sprinting away.
He’s stopped by a hand on his shoulder and a singsonged, “Uh uh uh.”
Dennis huffs and turns to the older man. “Yes, I had sex with your brother without knowing you were half related. Yes, I’m sorry for making you uncomfortable. Yes, it won’t happen again. And yes, I can be professional and put this past us.”
Robby shakes his head and chuckles. He claps a hand on his shoulder and guides Dennis out of the ER. “I think you’re getting a bit ahead of yourself, Whitaker.”
“I would like nothing more than for this to be a bad dream, but it isn’t. So, I’m trying to skip the worst part.”
“The worst part wasn’t sleeping with the younger version of me?” Robby asks as they make their way to the ambulance bay.
“God, no,” Dennis says a little too quickly. He flushes red and reaches up to tug at his stethoscope, which he realizes is no longer around his neck. “Uh, that’s not…” he clears his throat and tugs at his backpack strap instead. “What I mean is, I’d really like if we could put this past us as soon as possible.”
“I’m not sure we can.”
Dennis glances up at Robby, his stomach flipping as he practically begs, “Please, I really need this residency. I love PTMC, and I’d do anything-”
Robby holds up his hands, cutting him off. “No, that’s not what I meant. I just need you to be honest with me, and then we’ll be able to move past this.”
Dennis holds his breath as he waits for whatever Robby is hyping himself up to say.
The older man shakes his head as he stares at the ground, his hands coming up to settle on the back of his neck as he looks up at Dennis. “Is there a reason you slept with my brother?”
“Huh?” Dennis asks, the question not fully sinking in.
Robby stares at him, his hands clasping together as he repeats, “Is there a reason you slept with someone who looks nearly identical to me? I need you to answer this with full honesty, so I know how to proceed.”
Every part of Dennis screams at him to lie. To tell Robby that it was dark at the bar and entirely a coincidence. That he had too much to drink. That John mistook him for someone else, and he just didn’t say that he had the wrong guy. Instead, he answers, “Because I knew I’d never get a chance with you, and I took the opportunity when I found the next best thing.”
Robby’s eyes widen at Dennis’ honesty, and Dennis tries not to take it all back. After all, this is what Robby asked of him.
The longer Robby wordlessly stares at him, the more he overthinks his response.
He nearly admits defeat and leaves until Robby finally unfreezes and says, “John was right. You’re much bolder than I anticipated.”
Dennis blushes and glances down at his shoes.
“I can assure you the next best thing is better than the real thing,” Robby says quietly.
Dennis shakes his head and mutters, “I wouldn’t know.”
“Dennis…”
He glances up at Robby, seeing the conflicted look in his eyes. “How do we proceed from here?”
The older man lets out a deep breath and shrugs. “We put this past us, and we eventually forget that this day ever happened.”
Dennis nods, letting it sink in. He starts to take a step away when Robby adds, “Or…”
He can’t help but let his hopes rise as Robby takes a step closer to him. “We figure out if you prefer this version of me. The old and cynical one that has almost nothing to offer.”
“Robby, the only thing John offered to me was your face. You’re already everything I want you to be. Old and cynical, yes, but also too empathic for your own good, smarter than anyone I’ve ever met, and so frustratingly touchy I measure how well my shift went by the number of times you made contact with me. So, no, I’m not going to figure out if I prefer you over your damn half-brother when I already know he’ll never compare.”
Robby’s eyes crinkle as he stares down at him, looking so fond it almost hurts. “You done?”
“For now.”
“Good,” Robby says, ducking down and pulling him into a kiss that’s already one hundred times better than any kiss he's ever had.
He groans as Robby pulls him closer, gasping against his mouth when the man works a hand into his hair, tugging lightly. He uses the chance to deepen the kiss, and Dennis’ knees nearly buckle. When they eventually pull away for air, Robby pants against his cheek, “Better than John?”
“Better than anyone, but if you compare yourself to your brother one more time, I’m moving to night shift.”
Robby chuckles as he pulls Dennis against him, circling his arms around him as he presses a kiss against the top of his head. “Should we send him a thank-you card?”
“Probably.” Dennis sighs as he rests his head against his chest. “Any future family get-togethers are going to be so weird.”
“You should’ve thought about that before sleeping with him.” Dennis shoves at him, and Robby laughs while intertwining their hands. “Come on, let me take you out to dinner.”
“You're already one step ahead of him.”
“I thought we weren’t doing comparisons.”
Dennis squeezes his hand. “I couldn’t resist, but that's the last one.”
They make their way to Robby’s car, discussing restaurants in the area when Robby suddenly asks, “Do you have any brothers who look like you?”
Dennis lightly nudges him. “Please, don’t tell me you’re implying what I think you are.”
“Just wouldn’t want to make the same mistake,” he teases.
Dennis rolls his eyes and turns to him. “You think there’s a better version of me out there?”
“Absolutely not.” He gives him a quick kiss before they continue on their way. “Although I am curious about what an older, graying version of you would look like.”
“Robby," Dennis groans.
The older man chuckles. “Hopefully I’ll be able to find out.”
“You will,” Dennis promises, pressing a kiss against his hand.
"Luckily, between the Pitt and me, I'm sure you'll start graying early."
Dennis laughs and leans against his side. "I'd be okay with that."
Robby's phone dings, and he digs it out of his pocket. He pulls on his glasses, laughing when he reads the notification. "How does dinner at the Italian place down the road sound?"
"Sounds amazing."
"Great, we're meeting John there."
Dennis freezes in place. "You're not serious."
"I am," Robby says with a chuckle. "Let's show him how much you like this version of me, hm?"
"You're going to seriously give me a reason to start graying early."
"What'd I tell you?" Robby plants another kiss on his head as they approach his car.
Dinner is less awkward than Dennis expected, but he still imagines he grows a few grays when John also asks if he has any single brothers.
Afterward, before Robby can say anything, Dennis pulls him into a kiss and confirms, "I definitely prefer this version of you."
"Want to see if you prefer all of it?"
"God, yes."
Dennis is very happy to report that, as great as John Carter was, nothing will ever compare to Michael Robinavitch.
It started out of nowhere. Dennis and Robby were saying goodbye near the ambulance bay after a long and tiring day when Robby drew closer and kissed his forehead. "Sleep tight Whitaker. See you tomorrow."
"B-BYE!" Dennis shouted two seconds too late, frozen in place while Robby had already turned his back and crossed the road, pulling out his earphones to listen to some music on the way home.
Dennis stayed there for he didn't know how long, watching Robby's figure get smaller and smaller as he walked away.
They had just started dating but they had already kissed plenty of times and made out once or twice but it had always been driven by passion and sexual thirst more than anything else.
It had never been this soft and affectionate.
It was the first time Robby had kissed him in such a delicate manner, wihtout any hunger but only with pure affection.
This meant so much to Dennis. It meant that Robby cared for him. It meant that this was more than a casual hook-up.
Dennis found himself melting at the idea of Robby doing it again.
He went home with a stupid smile on his face and kept reliving the memory of Robby kissing his forehead the whole car ride. It earned him a lot of teasing from Trinity.
"You got it bad, dude." She laughed but he ignored her. He was too happy to care at the moment.
--
Then it kind of became an habit.
When Dennis started to sleep over at Robby's, he would wake up with a forehead kiss or if Robby woke up before him, Dennis would join him downstairs for breakfast and Robby would smile at him and kiss his forehead before saying "good morning sleepy head."
Dennis tried not to blush every time it happened. But it never failed to make his heart constrict from happiness and a smile form on his face.
Dennis would be putting away the dishes after dinner and Robby would appear beside him and say "I'll take care of it, sweetheart" and kiss his forehead or after a terrible shift he'd hold Dennis by the back of his neck and kiss his forehead before telling him to go shower while he'd get dinner started.
Robby would kiss his forehead before falling asleep too, wishing him good night while they cuddled in bed.
He'd kiss him when they'd say goodbye or before the start of a shift in the locker room, away from prying eyes.
Dennis got so used to forehead kisses every morning and every night that that one time Robby didn't do it he flipped out.
It had started like any other day, except Robby was a lot more stressed that morning because of a meeting he had later that day with the hospital administration so he decided to leave early to get things sorted out before the start of his shift. So early that Dennis barely took notice of Robby leaving.
That put Dennis in a sore mood all day. Not only did he woke up alone in bed, his boyfriend also didn't kissed him good-bye or made him breakfast. Dennis could only content himself with a post-it note on the fridge door where it was written "love u" in Robby's writing.
Dennis knew he was being dramatic and perhaps a little bratty but he didn't care. He would sulk if he seemed fit. And it seemed fit!
That day, nobody understood why Dr Whitaker, who was usually in a good mood and a very patient man, was snapping at the med students and being harsh towards his colleagues without any particular reason. Even the attending was not safe from Dennis. Actually, it almost looked like he was the main target. If looks could kill, Dr Robby would be 6 feet under ground.
Nobody dared to ask Dr Whitaker what put him in such a mood, although some people had their theories... When asked, Trinity simply shrugged, "No ideia," while shooting Robby a glare implying "you better fix this."
Robby spent all day thinking of what he might have done to make Dennis angry at him and by 7 PM, he still had no fucking clue. He would have to proceed with carefulness if he didn't want to sleep on the couch tonight.
That evening when they got home after a very silent drive where Dennis was clearly giving him the cold shoulder Robby dared to ask, "Baby, did I do something wrong?"
"I don't know, did you?"
Robby rubbed his beard reflecting, "I guess..."
"Oh, so you don't even know what you didn't do."
"Look, I'm sorry-"
"Your apology means nothing if you don't even know what you're apologizing for Michael!"
The older man sighed defeated.
"Can you at least tell me what I did wrong so that I don't make the same mistake again?" He asked desperately, following Dennis down the hallway.
Dennis turned around so fast that Robby worried he got whiplash.
"You want to know what you did, Michael? I'll tell you what you did. You left this morning without a good morning forehead kiss, is what you did!"
"I did kiss you!" Robby countered, "I kissed you as I got out of bed, you were still fast asleep."
"I don't-"
"And I left you a note!"
"Yeah, well-"
"Wait, you mean, you've been in a snappy mood all day because I didn't kiss you good morning?"
"I have not been in a snappy mood."
"Yes, you have."
"Well, next time do wake me up before leaving me with a kiss so I remember not to be mad at you!" Dennis turned his now flushing face away from Robby and crossed his arms. Now thinking about it, his reaction was kind of childish.
Robby smiled and took a few steps closer to his boyfriend. "You're cute when you pout."
Dennis wanted to punch that smile off Robby's face. "I'm not pouting. I'm a 28 year old man. I don't pout."
Robby wrapped his arms around Dennis waist. "I don't know... That looks like a pout." He teased.
"Shut uuuup." Dennis half-whined, annoyed at his boyfriend.
Robby chuckled and kissed his forehead. "I'm sorry sweetheart. I promise next time I'll wake you up before kissing you good-bye in the morning." Robby brushed his nose against Dennis hair and inhaled his marvelous scent. "I missed you, today."
"I was right there next to you all day," Dennis mumbled into his neck.
"No, I missed the real you. The Whitaker that is calm and patient and does not snap at people. That's my job, remember?"
Dennis rolled his eyes but wrapped his arms around Robby's frame and hugged him close.
"I don't like being mad at you."
"I don't like it either."
They stayed like this for a while until Robby asked, "Feeling better?"
"Much better." Dennis smiled. "Now, go make dinner to apologize for this morning."
Robby shook his head in amusement. He did nothing wrong and yet he still had to grovel for forgiveness. "You're lucky that I love you." He said, kissing Dennis again and moving to kitchen to make dinner.
---
Next time it happened, Robby was halfway out the door when Dennis stopped him in his tracks.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" He shouted from the hallway.
Robby checked his pockets. Keys, cellphone, badge. Yep got every thing.
He looked at Dennis with a raised eyebrow. "What?"
Dennis shook his head in disappointment and crossed his arms.
"What? What did I forget?" Robby asked desperately.
"My good-bye kiss!"
Robby quickly walked over to where Dennis was standing and pecked him on the lips. "I'm sorry, baby," he said, already pulling away.
"Not so fast." Dennis held him off by his jacket. "I meant a forehead kiss." He tapped the middle of his forehead with his index finger and looked at Robby with a determined look.
"Oh." Robby smiled, "of course." His lips brushed Dennis forehead to plant a delicate kiss.
"Okay, now you can go," Dennis beamed, letting go of his jacket.
"Almost slept on the couch tonight, huh?"
"Oh you have no idea," Dennis replied. "Good thing this time I was awake to remind you."
