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Herm knew he should have said something earlier.
The thing was, this was all so new. So delicate. It wasn’t like he lied. It had been a busy, and mostly successful, shift. Herm had been sent on multiple missions that ended in fighting, and he didn’t even lose once!
Well. The mission was a success. He personally had ended up on the floor more than once. So the fact that his head was hurting didn’t really shock him. Wounds healed quickly for him, but certain aches and pains still took their time. Besides, he had plans that evening. Loaded plans, that still left him reeling.
Whatever it was that they had, that they were, was still so tenuous. Still felt like some fleeting dream to Herm, who sometimes still couldn’t believe his life wasn’t some poorly written novel. Getting a job at SDN felt surreal - having two incredibly attractive heroes flirting with him felt unrealistic. Still, it had happened, and he was slowly but surely being welcomed into their fold.
They had been on a few dates now, the three of them, and Herm had spent the night a handful of times. Each was planned, a goal in mind. Each night had put his dreams to shame, but now he could only worry. His headache had seemingly gotten only worse, but he didn’t want to disappoint them. He assured himself it would go away soon, and tried to ignore it.
By the end of his shift, he was mildly dizzy, walking out of the building.
An arm was slung across his waist. “Good job out there.” Robert pressed a kiss to his cheek easily, casually, without a second thought.
“Y-you al-, you as well!” He winced, but Robert just laughed, not unkindly, squeezing Herm’s hip.
“Thanks, Herm. Can’t wait to get these shoes off and just relax.”
Chad was already in the car, leaning out of the window. “Can you fuckers hurry up? I want to go home already!”
So Herm didn’t mention his dizziness, or his headache, and just got in the car. Robert took his overnight bag for him and tossed it in the trunk, and he carefully sat down on the towel that had been laid out in the backseat.
It wasn’t until after they had already eaten and cleaned up after dinner that anyone said anything. Perhaps the other two exchanged some looks, but Herm told himself that he was seeing things that weren’t there, and he didn’t have to be worried. He had grown used to this part of the routine, the moving to the couch, the pretense of a movie to watch. When they didn’t immediately follow him into the other room, his stomach dropped.
“Is something–everything okay?” Herm asked. He winced as he turned back towards the kitchen, the bright light hanging over Chad’s table sending a wave of pain over his head.
Robert took the first step closer to him. “How’s your head feeling?”
The concern in his voice felt like failure. He was about to be asked to leave, he just knew it. “F-fine! Really.”
Chad scoffed. “I saw him hit the ground headfirst, at that art gallery today. I don’t buy it.”
Oh. So that was when he had hit his head. The events of the day had become a blur at some point. Herm wanted all of this to just move along. He glared slightly at Chad–a little headache never killed anybody! It wasn’t that easy to plan things yet, and he didn’t want to be kicked out unceremoniously.
Robert’s voice was steady, but it made Herm’s stomach do flips. “Herm, c’mere, will you?”
Reluctantly, he crossed back into the kitchen. Robert looked at his face enough to have him squirming. “Do you think you might have a concussion?” Chad stepped closer, looking at him from behind Robert’s shoulder.
“I don’t th–I shouldn’t.”
“Bullshit.” A small flame erupted from the tip of Chad’s finger. “Follow it, bitch,” he muttered. He followed the flame as it went left and right, forward and back. “Definitely concussed.” Chad decided, after a thorough evaluation. Looking into the others eyes made Herm feel dizzy again, though he couldn’t be sure if it was from the proximity or the worry.
“It’s not s-so- that bad, I swear! I don’t have to lea-av- go home or anything!” Herm insisted, blinking his eyes hard.
The other two paused at his words. “Herm…why would you have to go home?”
He blushed. Now, put on the spot, the words felt difficult to say. “We-ell. I thought. You wouldn’t want to…sleep with me. If I was concussed.”
“I-yeah, we aren’t going to fuck you, bitch. Holy shit, Herm, that would be irresponsible, even for us. And probably like, not safe.”
Herm could feel himself wilt. He wished people were just upfront with him. “So then you do want me to leave?”
“Herm. Herman. Look at me.” His eyes snapped to look at Robert without even thinking. He stepped closer, taking hold of the taller man’s shoulders. “We do not just invite you here to have sex with us, alright? We enjoy that, don’t get me wrong, but we like having you here. We want you to stay. I’d prefer it - means I can keep an eye on you.”
His gaze flicked over to Chad, who nodded. “And if you want to leave, that’s fine, but we can just actually watch the movie. That’s fine. There’s a couple I’ve been meaning to get around to, anyways.”
Which was how Herm found himself curled up on Chad’s couch. It was an L-shaped one, which meant they managed to all sit together. After enough coaxing, Herm laid down, his head in Robert’s lap, hair gently being played with while they watched, and he curled most of his body into Chad, who got a hand around his waist, and the other around Robert’s. For the first time, they all just relaxed. For the first time, Herman felt certain in his place with them.
-
Chad was too quiet. Both Herm and Robert knew it, but they had hoped he might feel better with some time, as long as they didn’t bring it up. His performance tanked at work, seeing Malevola take the top spot on the leaderboard of the Z-Team.
“Maybe…I don’t think I’m up for cooking dinner tonight.” was the only concession towards it Chad made, back when they were in the breakroom. Unfortunately, neither Herm nor Robert were particularly good cooks. Fortunately, Robert had come up with an idea.
Chad went to take a shower after they got home. They took their chance to get changed into their civvies and head out (helped immensely by the small stash of Herm’s clothes in the drawers that seemed to be growing week by week).
They were fast, coming back laden with their bounty of Chad’s favourite takeout, and a bouquet of flowers. Herm felt his hands soaking the plastic it was wrapped in, but it felt a nice idea at the time. Robert held onto the small box of chocolates, to make sure they didn’t get soaked.
He was still in the shower when they arrived. “He always spends ages in the shower when he has a bad day,” Robert said, grabbing a vase from a cabinet. “Says it helps him relax. Uses up all the hot water, though.”
“D-do you think he will like the flowers?” Herm put them carefully into the vase with water, trying to arrange them somehow.
“He’ll appreciate the gesture, for sure.”
“What the fuck is going on out here? Having fun without me, are we?” Chad walked out from their bedroom, clad in a pair of loose sweatpants and a tight tanktop. His hair was down, and damp. Herm watched as his eyes fell to the table. “What is all this?” His words were accusative, but his tone was far softer. Wary, uncertain even.
“Well you said you didn’t feel–weren’t cooking dinner. So we handled it.”
“It’s the Vietnamese place you really like,” Robert supplied helpfully.
Chad’s eyes were stuck on the flowers, and the little box of chocolates in front of the vase. “They give you those there, too?”
Robert walked over to the kitchen to grab cutlery. “No…Herm saw those and thought they’d cheer you up.”
Chad’s eyes snapped over to him. Herm immediately felt himself leak out more water. Robert was always so soothing, so steadfast. It was easy to be certain in his affection. With Chad? Herm always had some quiet worry in the back of his mind that he only put up with him for Robert’s sake.
“These are…they’re really nice.” His eyes were softer than Herm expected, and he was filled with the urge to just go over and hug Chad close. He looked so tired, but was trying so hard to hide it. “Why…why did you two do all this? Its just fucking take out, you didn’t have to set our fucking table up like this.”
Robert seemed to have the same thought, as he came over to press a kiss to Chad’s cheek. “Just wanted to do a little something special for you.”
Herm shuffled closer, and felt his heart skip a beat as Chad instinctively reached out to take his hand in his. “We saw…noticed that you weren’t doing so good-great. Thought it could make you feel better.”
A tense silence filled the air, before Chad shook his head. “You two…are ridiculous.” He cracked a smile, tugging them both closer and kissing them both. “You know I don’t need flowers to feel better after a shitty shift.”
“A-and chocolates!”
“Chocolates?”
“Yeah, they were the good hazelnut ones. And they were on sale. Herm also saw them.”
“Well, now, chocolates I can’t say anything bad about.” His hand let go of Herm’s and instead pulled him closer by the waist, and Chad kissed the side of his neck, now within reach of him. “You two really do spoil me.”
Herm felt himself gasp and then laugh, not expecting the sudden movement. “M-maybe we should eat. Before the food gets cold!”
“And afterwards, I’ll make sure to thank you two properly, huh?” Herm felt his face grow hot, but found he couldn’t complain. The smile on Chad’s face and his significantly less tense demeanor were nothing short of a gift.
-
Between Chad and Herm, their bedroom was always warm, and a little humid. It was always fine, comfortable and cozy, but Herm knew when he woke up that something was off. Robert, sleeping between him and Chad, had his forehead pressed to his shoulder, and it was burning.
He shifted, pressing his hand between them, unsticking Robert’s skin from his damp band t-shirt. He almost swore he could hear a sizzle. “Shit.” Herm reached over Robert to Chad, who had an arm slung around the man’s waist.
“Whaddyawant…” Chad muttered, barely cracking open an eye. “It’s Saturday…fuck off.”
“I think Robert’s sick,” Herm whispered.
Chad looked over at the man sleeping between them. He pressed a hand to his forehead. “Fuck, I think you’re right.”
The two of them managed to slip out, tucking in Robert as they went. They reconvened in the kitchen. “He’s going to try and push past it, I can just fucking tell.”
“Well we can’t let him do that!”
“Obviously.” Chad passed Herm a cup of coffee, and started making his own. “We just have to make sure he stays in bed and actually recovers.”
Herm took a sip from his cup, leaning into Chad’s space. “We could make him soup.”
“Soup?”
“That always helps me–makes me feel better when I’m sick. I’m sure we could get something going here.”
It wasn’t often that the two of them were alone, but Herm found they worked well together. Chad chopped veggies while he watched the broth, and they took turns peeking into the other room, to keep an eye on their sleeping boyfriend. When he started stirring, Chad turned off the simmering pot and put on a kettle. “Let’s not force him to eat immediately, huh? Some tea will probably be just as good.”
It didn’t surprise Herm that Robert had fallen ill. He hadn’t been sleeping well or eating well the last couple days, despite their best efforts. It didn’t mean they didn’t want to help. Chad slid back in under the covers, and Robert immediately turned toward him, a homing beacon for his warmth. He awoke with a quiet groan.
Herm sat down on the bed, aware of the tea kettle back in the kitchen. He reached over to play with a lock of the man’s hair. “Doing okay down there?”
Robert made a displeased noise. “I feel like shit. Just gimme a minute…I’ll be…I’ll be good to go in a second.”
“No way, Bob-bob. You’re sick. You aren’t getting out of this bed if we can help it.”
Robert huffed, but he only melted into their touches. “Fuck off. I’m not sick.”
“You’re running almost as hot as Chad!” Herm insisted. He curled the man's locks between his fingers, reveling in the pleased noise that earned him.
“I’ll be okay…didn’t we have some thing we were gonna go to today?” Blearily, both of his eyes opened, looking up at his boyfriends.
There had been vague plans to go out, as Herm wanted to go to some fair at their local park. He couldn’t imagine being anywhere but right at home. “I-I don’t think so. Think this was just a relax and recover day.”
“Yeah, so, time for you to relax and recover, bitch. There’s nothing you’re missing.” As Chad spoke, Herm heard the kettle go off, and he quickly scrambled up to make the tea, pretending not to hear the soft, pitiful sound Robert made as he got up.
He hurried back in, mug in hand (it was one they got at the artisan market a few weeks ago, when they went at his insistence. Originally, they weren’t going to get anything, but Herm thought the set of mugs was really nice, and Chad hadn’t been able to resist buying them).
“-feels like a waste of a day. I can power through it, really.” Robert had sat up, and yawned loudly, Chad’s hand firmly at his waist, likely keeping him warm. As Herm came into the room, Chad reached out his other hand for the mug, letting Herm crawl back into the bed with them without worrying about the tea.
“I’m sure you can. You don’t have to, dummy.” He put the mug in Robert’s hands. “Drink up. It’s made with love or whatever.”
“And honey!”
“And honey.”
Robert closed his eyes as he took a sip, and Herm swore his eyes looked teary as he opened them. He sniffled, and looked over at both of them. “I’d rather not sit here alone all day.”
“Robert. Can you not be an idiot for two minutes?” Chad asked. The room was still a pleasant, humid warmth, as they both shuffled closer to the man between them. “We aren’t going to go anywhere either.”
He frowned, then. “I couldn’t possibly ask you to do that. What would we even do all day? I don’t want you guys to be miserable, too.”
Chad shook his head. “This is what I mean. Stupid. Stupid idiot you are, Robert Robertson.” He kissed his forehead, to make it clear his words came from a place of joy.
“We-we’re glad to do it, Robert. We want to be here!”
“I’ll get my laptop or something and we can watch some movies. Or just cuddle. That’s fine. I don’t mind.”
Herm smiled brightly. “Sounds like a pretty good day to me, getting to just curl up with my favourite people.”
Now Robert’s eyes definitely had tears in them. Chad quickly took the mug away and put it on a nightstand. He looked at Chad, and then Herm, and then Chad, and then Herm again, before wiping his face with his hands. “I don’t deserve you guys.”
Chad moved to lay them down, and Herm followed suit. They bracketed Robert, looking at him carefully. “We love you too, dumbass.”
“Now, rest up. We made soup! For later. It’s good.” Herm moved a pillow under his head.
Robert relaxed, letting his eyes fall shut again. “Where would I be without my heroes, huh?”