Chapter Text
It’s one random Wednesday that the Z-team learned something concerning about their omega dispatcher, all because of one simple question. They were all out on missions and Robert was watching their icons move around as they did their jobs before…
“Robert Robertson.” Robert jumped a little, startled, almost dropping his coffee.
“Jesus, Phenomaman! Fuck! Please give me some kind of warning before you do that.” Robert placed a hand against his own chest as he turned to the floating alien behind him.
“I apologize. I did not mean to startle you, Robert Robertson. I was just hoping to speak to you.” Phenomaman said, dropping down to stand on the floor.
“Uhh sure? About what?” Robert asked, reaching up to mute his mic, figuring he wouldn’t want this chat advertised to the whole team.
Phenomaman tilted his head to the side.
“It’s about mating and packs.” he stated.
Oh fucking hell.
—sSs—
Flambae was finishing up his mission (and maybe grabbing some groceries for dinner) when he heard Phenomaman’s voice come through Robert’s mic.
“It’s about mating and packs.” Flambae almost crushed the orange he was holding.
“Oh, come on! Don’t drag us into your weird alien shit.” Flambae snarled into his mic.
“Don’t talk to Robert about this! Read a book, dumbass!” Prism snapped, but he didn’t seem to be listening.
“Oh… ok. What about them?” Robert sounded uncertain about where this was going, which was the same feeling everyone else was having.
“Well, I was hoping you could explain more about omegas to me. Because I fear I don’t quite understand them.” Phenomaman said.
“Hello! Asshole! Stop talking, especially to the only omega on the team! This so counts as harassment!” Visi hissed.
“Yeah, you would know, huh?” Punch Up teased.
“We are so going to end up in front of HR.” Sonar whined.
“If they actually exist.” Malevola said amused.
“He’s definitely not wearing his earpiece! Can someone call Roberto to warn him!” Prism asked.
“I think Robert muted us by accident. He won’t answer me.” Coupe hissed angrily.
“Then someone go to the office and shut him the fuck up! I got enough of this bullshit talk in high school!” Visi snapped.
“Already on my way.” Golem stated.
“I-I-I am-am goi-going too!” Waterboy said.
“Our heroes.” Malevola chuckled.
“Oh… ok? Can you be more specific?” Robert asked.
“Is it possible to court an omega that is a bit older?” Phenomaman asked, as the whole team groaned in distress.
“Fucking hell.” Punch Up sighed, deeply.
“Fuck HR, Miss Blazer is gonna have our asses.” Prism muttered, rubbing her forehead.
“Ah, you got into the old omega literature, huh. Yes, you can court an omega that is older, age really has nothing to do with mating. It just depends on if you want pups or not.” Robert explained.
“So, it is possible then!” Phenomaman said, sounding happier.
“Definitely. Why do you ask?” Robert asked.
“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” Flambae yelled, ignoring the people around him staring at him.
Flambae absolutely did not want to listen to Robert give Phenomaman the old alpha and omega talk! It was bad enough he had to listen to it in school! He dropped his groceries and started to leave the store, his appetite for dinner already ruined.
“Well, I am interested in pursuing a certain omega and I was told that since he is a bit older that he might not make a good mate for me.” Phenomaman replied.
“Ah, ok, I get it now. So, what you were told about omegas is some really outdated, bullshit theories. In the past, there was a belief that if an omega was older, especially if they were past say 30, that they would no longer be fertile and therefore, undesirable. That’s been proven wrong in recent years.” Robert replied easily.
“What a bunch of bullshit.” Malevola stated.
“I can’t believe that shit is still being spread around.” Flambae rolled his eyes.
Flambae’s sister was an omega and he remembered people telling her about her “ticking clock” for years. Telling her she had to settle down quickly, or that she would end up pupless and alone. It had been something that she had confiding in him about as they got older and Flambae had repeated told his family to back the fuck off. That his sister would mate and marry when she damn well felt like it.
“Actually, I didn’t know that. They were still teaching that when I was in school.” Punch Up admitted.
“Wait, fucking really?” Visi asked, shocked.
“Eeyup! Then again, my school was a bit older and more religious than most so…” Punch Up replied.
“Is there anything else you want to know or…?” Robert asked, nervously.
“I guess, along the same lines, who are you spending your heat with?” Phenomaman asked.
“Wait, hold on.” Sonar stated, suddenly interested.
Flambae found himself pausing too, curious.
“Oh, that’s usually a private thing, but ummm I haven’t… had a heat… in at least ten years. So, it’s not really an issue.” Robert replied.
“I… what?” Visi whispered.
“Tha-That’s no-not good-od. Tha-That’s not-not goo-od-od a-at all.” Waterboy said urgently.
“That can’t be healthy!” Sonar whispered in horror.
“Ten years?! That’s- there’s no way!” Prism stated.
Flambae stood in the middle of the street, trying to wrap his brain around that sentence. Ten years? That couldn’t be healthy at all! But why? Wasn’t a heat as important to an omega as say a rut was to an alpha? If he didn’t have a heat… Flambae’s high school sex ed was failing him right now.
“I see. I am sorry for bringing such a sensitive topic up.” Phenomaman actually did sound sad about it.
“It’s not a big deal. It’s just one of those things, you know?” Robert tried to sound nonchalant about it.
“He’s trying to play it off.” Golem stated.
“Well, he’s not doing a very good job of it.” Punch Up replied.
“No, I do not know. What thing is it?” Phenomaman stated, sounding honestly uncertain.
“What I mean is that it’s been so long, I can’t worry about it anymore.” Robert explained.
“That’s…” Sonar trailed off, uncertain.
“Is that good for you? I fear that doesn’t sound very good.” Phenomaman said, voicing their concerns out loud.
“Well, at the time, it worked out for me. I was still getting my footing with being a hero and it was one less thing on my plate. To be honest, at this point in my life, I’m too old for them anyway.” Robert replied.
“Oh… Do you not want pups then?” Phenomaman asked.
“Robert is going to kill us for listening in on this.” Coupe said, but no one could stop listening.
Robert let out a long sigh and they could faintly hear his chair creaking as he sat back.
“Pups were never in my future to begin with. Between the extremes I put my body through, being a hero, and the explosion, the doctors told me my fertility is basically non-existent. So, unfortunately, I will never have a pup of my own.” Robert explained.
“That’s…” Prism didn’t seem to know what to say.
“I-I fe-feel so-so ba-bad fo-for him.” Waterboy whispered.
“Yeah…” Visi said, somewhat distractedly.
“Is that why he has Beef maybe?” Sonar asked, curiously.
“We really should stop listening to this.” Malevola insisted.
“You almost there, Golem?” Punch Up asked.
“Almost. I only got one speed: slow.” Golem admitted.
“I would help, babes, but I’ve got my hands tied.” Malevola said, apologetically.
“I see. How unfortunate indeed. I apologize for asking.” Phenomaman stated sadly.
“It’s ok. I mean, listen, I’m no catch to start with, so even thinking about this stuff doesn’t matter because I’m probably not going to have a mate or a pack anyway. But if you have more questions, I would be happy to go over them, but maybe at a later time, ok? We have calls coming in.” Robert said.
“Yes, thank you, Robert Robertson. I have been trying to understand this culture more since it is so different from my own. I appreciate your honesty with me!” Phenomaman stated.
“No problem. Happy to help.” Robert replied easily and that seemed to be the end of the conversation.
“Oh, fucking finally.” Visi said with relief.
Meanwhile, Flambae found himself thinking over everything Robert had said and his stomach churned in worry. Robert didn’t go into heat? He couldn’t have pups? He didn’t even seem to think he deserved a pack or mate! All the things Flambae had been taught that omegas inherently wanted due to biology, Robert cast aside like they didn’t matter to him. Then again, Robert wasn’t exactly your typical omega, was he?
“Hey team, sorry about that. Had to step away from my desk for a second. Flambae, I have an electrical worker trapped on top of a burning building. I need you to get him down ASAP.” Robert said.
Shaking his head, Flambae tried to focus on Robert’s words.
“You got it. Flambae is on his way.” Flambae took off like a shot for the burning building, yet his mind wouldn’t settle.
—sSs—
Robert’s words echoed in his ears long after he had clocked out for the day and even deep into the night. Sighing with frustration as he laid in his bed, he reached for his phone as soon as he heard it ring.
“You can’t sleep either, huh?” he demanded without looking at the screen, already knowing who was on the other end.
“Nope. I can’t stop thinking about Roberto and what he said.” Prism said from the other end.
Flambae sighed, rubbing his forehead in annoyance. How one bony ass omega could do this to him, he would never know. But Robert had weaseled his way into Flambae’s heart and now he couldn’t stop worrying about the man.
“My sister is an omega. I have never heard of an omega going without a heat, much less going without for years!” Flambae said with frustration.
“I know that stress can cause them to stop for a period, but like… ten years? What kind of stress does that?” Prism asked, worriedly.
Flambae stared at the ceiling, quiet before he spoke.
“He’s been alone for 15 years. We learned that from Visi. No pack, not even a family one. So maybe he just… didn’t feel safe enough to have one?” Flambae asked.
“That’s fucking sad.” Prism replied.
“Sad is basically his whole life. We saw his fuck ass apartment. I didn’t see a single sign of him having a nest, did you?” Flambae asked.
“Boy, he didn’t have a bed! I doubt he even has a blanket.” Prism replied.
The two fell silent.
“You really think… he meant it?” Flambae whispered.
“You are gonna need to be way more specific there, Baes.” Prism replied.
“About not having a mate or a pack. About… not having a pup.” Flambae trailed off.
Prism sighed deeply.
“I honestly think he believes he wouldn’t even live this long, Baes. You can see that in everything he does.” Prism admitted.
“It’s like… he’s standing on the edge of a cliff, one foot hanging off, waiting for the wind to decide which way to send him.” Flambae mumbled.
“Huh, that was… actually really poetic of you.” Prism said.
Flambae puffed out his chest in pride.
“Maybe if being a hero doesn’t work out, you can write those corny fucking Hallmark cards.” she snickered, popping his bubble.
“Man, fuck you. I can be eloquent and shit.” Flambae huffed.
“I know, I know. I’m just teasing.” Prism said and Flambae accepted that as an unsaid apology.
Staring at the ceiling, Flambae spoke.
“So, who’s the omega you think Phenomaman is trying to go for?” Flambae asked, curiously.
Prism let out a hum.
“You know, I didn’t really think about it because I didn’t care, but now I am curious too.” she stated.
“I’m trying to think of anyone we know who’s an omega that’s older… someone obviously unmated.” Flambae said, thoughtfully.
“Well, we know it can’t be Miss Blazer. She’s an alpha.” Prism said.
“Besides Robbo, everyone on our team is an alpha or beta.” Flambae added.
“He kept using the pronouns “he”. In the office, I can only think of four people: BrightStar on Chase’s team, Laurence in PR, Darkstorm on one of the other teams and obviously, our Roberto.” Prism listed.
“Isn’t BrightStar mated to that tornado guy? I thought I saw them together at a cafe last week.” Flambae asked.
“Last I checked, and Darkstorm is being courted by that D-ranked villain that hangs out on 4th street.” Prism replied.
“I still think he can do better, but whatever. What about Laurence?” Flambae asked.
“Oh, he totally can. Laurence, I am like 99% sure is mated to his job and nothing else. So, he could be a possibility, but I don’t think even Phenomaman has a chance.” Prism stated.
Flambae blinked and then sat up.
“You don’t think he meant Robbo, do you?” Flambae demanded.
“I… maybe? I can’t imagine that guy is subtle enough not to just say it out loud.” Prism stated.
Flambae frowned deeply. That was also true, but maybe the flying asshole was more cunning than they knew. He could be playing up the innocent alien trope. Wouldn’t shock Flambae.
“I can’t imagine Bob Bob would be willing to put up with that bitch all day, every day.” Flambae flopped back onto his bed.
“Hm, I don’t know. They did share that kiss in the parking lot.” Prism stated.
Flambae’s brain bluescreened for a second and then…
“WHAT!”