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Flambae had heard all of the rumours. Everyone in the Z-Team knew at this point. He’d seen them mute conversations as he walked past and chuckle to themselves as Robert spoke to him.
It was bullshit. And it was all Robert’s fault. He could have said something, anything to the team to make them stop. Instead, he did nothing and enabled the Z-Team to holler and gossip about it. Right in front of Robert.
Robert heard what had been going around the office. He couldn’t avoid it if he tried. The team would talk about it over comms, in the break room, and on nights out, but they’d make a conscious effort not to gossip around Flambae.
Every time Flambae said something about it, denied it, or snapped at someone for implying it, it started to seem more and more real, and if it was true, Robert wasn’t sure he’d mind at all.
Flambae stormed into the break room, and seemed glad it was only Robert that he was faced with.
“Robert, you fucking bitch, are you trying to humiliate me here?” Flambae spat.
Robert smirked. “I think you’re doing a good enough job of that yourself. You sure there’s nothing you wanna share with the class?”
Flambae glared at him. “I’m not doing anything. It’s all your fucking fault the whole fucking office thinks this bullshit.”
“It’s my fault? You’re the one that plays dumb and gets all defensive every time someone says something to you. Why else would they think things?” Robert rebutted.
“Because you make me put up with your weak fucking bitchboy ass and babysit you! It makes people think I fucking care! Of course I’m going to defend myself against that.” Flambae ranted.
Robert decided to poke him a bit more. “If you didn’t fucking care, would you still do all that? I don’t make you do anything, so maybe people can just see through you.”
Flambae seemed like he was scrambling for a comeback. “If I didn’t, I’d probably fucking lose my job!”
Robert wasn’t buying that he actually believed that. “You didn’t lose your job for what happened at that taco place. You sure as shit wouldn’t lose it for not babysitting me.”
Flambae looked like he was finally cracking. “You… you never know.”
“Maybe. I’m pretty fucking sure though.” Robert hit back.
“You didn’t even get hurt at the taco place! If you did I just might have!” Flambae vented, looking increasingly frustrated.
Robert just looked back at him with a grin. “Should I bring up Visi and Chase then? Maybe you’d get suspended, at most. I have a feeling you wouldn’t care much about that though.”
Flambae kept trying to convince Robert. “See, she almost got fired. It could happen to me, it’s possible. And of course I would fucking care, it’s my fucking job!”
“She didn’t almost get fired. Some of the team wanted her fired. I did not.” Robert took a pause before continuing. “I would want you fired over something like that even less.”
Silence filled the room around them as the words from out of Robert’s mouth rang around in their minds, each of them not daring to break eye contact. It was unspoken, but they both knew what Robert was implying.
Flambae looked like he’d been broken. “Fuck… what do you want me to say now?”
“Whatever you want. Take all the time you need. I’ll be here.”
Flambae groaned. “Fuck you dude.” He took a breath. “We’re cool. I hope it didn’t seem like I hated you… or something.”
Robert chuckled. “It sure seemed like that once upon a time. I’m glad though.”
Flambae turned to walk away but Robert called out, stopping him in his tracks.
“Hey… Chad?”
“Yeah?” Flambae turned around to once again face Robert.
Robert looked at him sincerely. “Let me know if there’s ever anything you wanna talk about. Or anything you wanna tell me, alright? I… care about you… even if you might not think I should.”
Flambae seemed taken aback. “What are you being so nice for, Robert? There’s no reason unless you want something from me.”
“Is it really hard to believe that I care about you?” Robert asked. “I don’t need a reason to be nice to you, Flambae.”
“It’s… it is. Pretty fucking hard to believe, you know?” Flambae answered.
Robert frowned. “Look… I can’t blame you for that, but just… trust me on this? Please?”
“Fuck you, fine… I believe you.” Flambae spat out before gathering himself. “Just… we both know there’s nothing about this that’s fucking… romantic, yeah?”
Robert raised an eyebrow at that. “Do we both know that? I never said anything about romance so it’s strange that you’d bring it up out of the blue like that.”
Flambae glared back. “Fuck off… people are making shit weird, alright?”
Robert thought he’d push his luck. “Would something like that be weird though? It’s not like you’ve ever been shy about your love life. I remember something about a repressed British guy?”
Flambae hadn’t moved his eyes away for a second. “I mean… it would just be fucking weird for us okay? With our history and shit… imagine what the rest of the team would say!”
That was a dead giveaway for Robert. “So you’ve thought about us like that before.” He locked eyes with Flambae before continuing. “I… don’t think there’s anything that’d make it weird. And fuck what the rest of the team would say Chad, my first fucking day all they did was give you shit about fighting me. It wouldn’t be anything new.”
“Okay fuck… yes, I have. There’s no point in fucking hiding it anymore.” Flambae began, knowing his secret was out to the one person it concerned. “Fuck… I know I wasn’t being subtle, okay? I was trying to convince myself… that I don’t like you like that.”
Robert gave a nervous laugh. “You definitely weren’t subtle. I knew. Not just from the office rumours, either.”
Flambae shared the nervousness. “Okay but… what do you think… about that?”
“If I didn’t like the idea I wouldn’t have pushed you so hard about it, Chad.” Robert smiled.
“Fuck… I’m not used to you saying my name.” Flambae blushed. “Robert?”
“What’s up?” Robert responded.
“Can I… kiss you?” Flambae asked softly, still sounding anxious.
Robert’s smile grew wider. “I like that sound of that.”
Flambae smiled. “Come here then, bitch.”
“Hey, you don’t have to tell me twice.” Robert replied, grabbing Flambae by the suit and pulling him forward.
Flambae put his arms around Robert’s shoulders and leaned down, finally pressing their lips together.
After a little while, Robert broke the kiss and pulled away, leaning his forehead on Flambae’s. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.”
Flambae raised an eyebrow at that. “Really? Was it… good? I feel like you wouldn’t say anything like that unless it fucking sucked.”
“You’re amazing, relax.” Robert reassured.
The two of them stood there, in the break room, in silence, heads pressed together, for a few moments more.
Flambae was the one to speak up first. “What… do you want this to make us?”
“I’d love for this to be an exclusive kinda thing… if you’ll have me.” Robert answered.
“Fuck yes… I will.” Flambae smiled against Robert’s lips before kissing him again. “You wanna… come back to mine after work… or is this enough for now?”
“I think that’s enough for now. We can take things at whatever pace you like though.” Robert assured.
“Alright… don’t wanna scare you off too quick, y’know?” Flambae replied.
Robert chuckled. “You’ve literally tried to kill me before. Twice. None of this is gonna scare me off, sweetheart.”
“I could try a third time?” Flambae joked.
“At least take me out to dinner first.” Robert responded.
Flambae shrugged. “I’ll have to think about it.”
“Good.” Robert deadpanned.
Flambae flushed red, muttering under his breath. “Holy shit…”
Robert heard him. “Wonder what everyone here would think if they knew the Flambae was this easy to fluster. I could take you out instead if you’d prefer?”
“Fuck off bitch… I’m not easy.” Flambae spat back. “And… fuck… yes please.”
“Whatever you say sweetheart. I’ll pick you up after we’re done with work tonight then.” Robert said, kissing Flambae on the cheek as he walked out of the break room.