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When Robby got home from his shift, he was expecting to find Dennis and Jack on his sofa. And he did.
He didn't expect to find Dennis curled up in a ball, sobs wretching from his throat and clinging onto a hot water bottle plastered on his abdomen like it was the only thing keeping him alive and Jack nowhere to be seen.
Robby’s heart broke to see his boyfriend suffering, he dumped his bag at the door, took off his shoes and made a beeline for the sofa, sitting in the small space by Dennis’ feet and placed his feet in his lap.
“Oh my sweet boy, what's wrong?” Robby asked, starting to rub at Dennis’ ankles.
Dennis had woken up that morning to the dull thud in his stomach, the dread quickly flooding into him as he realised he had started his period in his sleep.
Dennis just looked up at him, his big eyes bloodshot and glazed over. His hands moved to rest on the hot water bottle, and he whined, words escaping him. He hoped that Robby would understand his whines and actions; he could not bring himself to verbalise his shame.
He brought his hands up to his face, covering the blush that had found its way there.
“Aww, puppy, it's okay” Robby cooed. “Did you start your period?”
Dennis sobbed harder, the embarrassment and shame bubbling over. His face was now bright red and covered in white hot tears and snot.
“Oh puppy, you're ok, there's nothing to be ashamed of”
Dennis hadn't noticed that he was slipping further into that fuzzy space, but Robby had, and he had an idea.
“Do you want a belly rub, sweet pup?”
Dennis ripped his hands away from his face, staring back at Robby and nodded his head.
“Okay, baby, I can do that. Have you taken any meds for the pain?”
He closed his eyes again, a slight shake of the head barely perceptible, his face grimacing as a new wave of pain hit him.
“Okay,sweet boy, I’ll be right back” Robby said as he stood up, moving Dennis’ feet back to the sofa. He walked into the kitchen and to the medicine cabinet, grabbing two Advil and a Tylenol and a glass of water.
His heart broke to see Dennis laying there. He looked so small, in so much pain. He knew that his dysphoria would be worse than normal tonight. The first time he and Jack found Dennis in a dysphoria spiral, he had panicked. They came home to Dennis sitting in the shower with the lights off still in his scrubs, not knowing how long he had been there. His knees were pulled up to his chest, and he was mumbling under his breath. The screams he let out when they turned on the lights and tried to remove his wet clothes will stick with him for the rest of his life and the panic attack Robby had after, thinking he’d hurt him will too. They have come a long way with Dennis feeling comfortable around them when he’s dysphoric. He is so proud of him for not hiding away from them anymore.
But where was Jack?
Why wasn't he with Dennis when he was in this state?
He knew he had arrived home from his shift this morning. The message he sent earlier confirmed that, so where was he?
He put his anger towards Jack for leaving Dennis vulnerable and alone to the side for the moment and walked back to the living room.
“Hey pup,” he said, placing the water on the coffee table in front of Dennis, before kneeling so their faces were level. Dennis’ eyes flickered open and looked just past Robby’s face. The thought of looking into Robby’s eye was too much, he felt like if he made eye contact then that was a challenge, he would have to talk about it, but he wouldn't. He couldn't.
Robby’s hand came into his eye line, palm outstretched with the pills in the middle.
Dennis’s eyes focused on the pills in Robby’s hand, but he made no move to take them. He just stared. His brain, too fuzzy to understand what to do with them.
A whine escaped his mouth, the frustration of everything trying to come out as words but failing.
Robby exhaled slightly and let a small smile appear, understanding that Dennis couldn't think of what to do.
“Open your mouth, Den” He whispered, knowing that he responded well to direct instructions, not allowing anything to be left up to interpretation.
Dennis complied, his mouth falling open, awaiting the next instruction from Robby, but Robby just placed the pills in Dennis' mouth, grabbed the glass of water from beside him and raised it up to his mouth.
“Drink.” Robby whispered again.
Dennis followed his instructions once again, drinking down all the pills and finished the glass of water that Robby held to his lips until the glass was empty
“Good boy” Robby said, ruffling Dennis’ hair.
Robby stood up and walked to the end of the couch, sitting with his back resting on the arm of the sofa, extending his leg between Dennis' back and the sofa.
“Come here, pup,” Robby held Dennis’ hand and pulled him towards him, arranging them so Dennis’ back flushed against his chest. A small whimper coming from Dennis.
Dennis was still clutching onto the hot water bottle on his abdomen like a lifeline but nestled his body back into Robby. His face finding its home in Robby’s neck, the hairs of his beard tickling at his upper lip.
Dennis let out a content sigh, feeling safe in the embrace of his boyfriend.
“Do you still want a belly rub? If you do, I’m going to have to move the hot water bottle.” Robby asked softly.
“Hhhmffpt” was all Dennis replied but nodded his head into Robby’s neck.
Robby chuckled in response, and moved his hands to Dennis’ stomach, taking ahold of the bottle and moving it to the floor next to them, replacing the weight with his hands, moving them in slow circles.
“You’re ok, baby. You’re doing so well, sweet boy. I’m here now”
That's where they stayed, the slow massage drawing sounds from Dennis that could only be described as soft moans; the pain started to dissipate.
Robby could feel Dennis relaxed into him further, his body becoming boneless against him. He was content to help his boy out like this, giving him comfort, when it feels like his body is betraying him.
Robby sat there in silence, happy to listen to the sounds from Dennis against his neck. But all he could think about was Jack.
How could he just leave Dennis here on his own, when he was hurting and upset?
Just as he had that thought, the sound of Jack's crutches coming down into the hall became audible.
Robby moved his head to look at the doorframe where Jack emerged. His freshly showered curls dripping onto his bare shoulders. The sweats hung low on his hips, looking completely unaware of what was unfolding in the room next to him. Robby’s eyes met Jack’s and narrowed, trying to convey his disapproval of his laissez-faire approach to helping Dennis.
Jack took in the scene in front of him, Robby laid on the sofa, massaging slowly into Dennis who was sprawled out on top of him, whimpering into his neck.
Shit.
“Is he okay? Brother?” Jack gulped, sensing that he messed up by leaving Dennis alone.
“No Jack, he's not,” Robby whispered, his hands not stopping their movement, staring back at Jack.
“I came home from my shift, and he was curled up on the sofa sobbing, in so much pain that he couldn't talk to me. He’s still not said a word! Why weren't you here for him, Jack?” Robby hoped his anger was conveyed even though he was whispering as to not disturb Dennis, who was now halfway to sleeping on top of him.
“He said he was fine when I woke up!” Jack retorted “He told me he started his period when he woke up but he was fine, not in much pain and he could handle it!”
“So, you left him alone?” Robby scoffed “You should know by now he won't ask for help, especially if he's dysphoric. You remember what he was like, how awful that was for all of us!”
Jack’s face went bright red, as he looked away from the men in front of him, staring at the ground. He took a deep breath as a tear rolled down his cheek.
“You’re right, I'm sorry, Misha. I should have thought about that”
“It’s okay, Yankel, I’m not mad, I was just scared for him. I got him to take pain meds and have been massaging him for about 20 minutes now; he seems to have relaxed.”
“Is there anything I can do? I really want to help.”
“Can you get the shower running for him, then order us some food? Maybe something greasy and comforting, you know how he always craves the unhealthiest things when he’s like this.”
“Of course I can Brother, I’ll be back.” Jack said with an affirmative nod as he pulled himself down the hallway to turn on the shower.
Robby turned back to look at Dennis, his eyes closed and his breathing evening out as sleep started to take him. A smile crept across his face, his crow's feet crinkling at the boy on top of him. He looked so peaceful like this.
“Hey, puppy,” He said, bringing one of his hands up to his shoulders to shake him slightly, “hey, baby, I need you to wake up a bit, we’re going to get you in the shower and have some dinner, then we can go to bed, okay?”
Dennis stirred, his eyelashes fluttering against his skin, letting out a muffled groan into the junction where his neck met his torso.
“I know pup, you can go back to sleep after. Jacky is getting the shower warm for you and ordering us some food, then we can go to bed. But we can stay here until your shower is warm.”
The sound of the shower running filled up the room, the soft flow of water as a gentle white noise in the background. Dennis let out a small hum in recognition, content to lay there soaking in Robby’s body heat below him while his hands expertly kneaded away the tension in his uterus.
He’s not sure how much time passed when Jack came back into the room and lifted him off Robby, carrying him to the bathroom, but he just let him feel safe in his boyfriend’s arms. Jack placed him down on the countertop, slotted himself between his dangling legs and brought his head down to his chest, wrapping his arms around his back. Jack took a deep inhale, before placing a kiss into Dennis’ hair.
“I’m sorry, pup; I should have stayed with you. I’m sorry I left you alone”
Dennis didn't respond with words or sounds but instead shifted his face in Jack’s chest and began to give him puppy kisses, licking all over Jack's pecs.
Jack chuckled at the wet feel of his tongue against his skin, getting the message that their puppy was trying to give, “Alright, pup.” He said releasing the younger man from his embrace, putting his pointer finger under his chin and pointing it up to look at him. “Robby is going to shower with you while I order some food, how does Chinese sound? Does that sound good for your tummy?”
Dennis grinned and nodded his head, the sound of his stomach growling, emphasising his hunger. Robby walked in behind them and saw Jack place another kiss on Dennis' head before he left the two alone in the bathroom to clean while he ordered them food. Dennis looked ahead at Robby, finally meeting his eye as Robby took off his clothes and stepped forward to him once he was nude. He reached and took Dennis’ shirt off, placing kisses along the shiny scars along his pectoral muscles, worshipping them as he always does, while Dennis let out a content sigh. Robby’s hands lowered to Dennis’ hips and brought him back down to the floor, so he was standing and started to take off his sweats, leaving him in just his boxers. He moved to remove them, too. When a hand gripped around his wrist, he shot a look up to Dennis, his eyes wide in panic and his breathing starting to pick up.
“I know you don't want to take them off puppy, but we need to get you clean. Do you want to take them off, I won't look?” Robby took his hands off the waistband and took a step back, making sure to only look at Dennis’ face as he did. Slowly Dennis’ hands made their way to the waistband and slid them down his thighs and stepped out of them. Once they were both bare, Robby smiled at him and took a hold of his hand, directing them under the stream of hot water and Dennis onto the built-in bench.
Robby made quick work of getting started with shampooing each of their hair, making sure to take more time with Dennis than himself, letting his fingers massage at the younger man's scalp slightly more than necessary as Dennis let out a happy moan. Once the suds were all washed off from their hair, Robby grabbed the detachable shower head and hosed Dennis down, slowly making his way down Dennis’ body. He pushed Dennis’ knees apart slightly to be able to direct the spray between his legs, not wanting to use any products in that area, knowing the risk of ruining the pH balance and causing a yeast infection. Dennis gulped at his action, the voice in his head getting loud again, his breathing starting to pick up once more.
“You’re doing so well, Den, we’re almost done, just keep breathing.”
Dennis focused his eyes back at Robby and saw a smile staring back at him, allowing him to continue, not wanting to see the pink water running down the drain. Once the water ran clear again, Robby put the shower head back and got to work scrubbing down both their bodies with his body wash, the smell of cedar and sandalwood enveloping their noses. Dennis just let it happen, enjoying the strong hands work their way over his body, massaging his tense muscles. Before he knew it the suds were being washed away and the shower was turned off. Robby stepped out momentarily but came back wrapping him in a large fluffy towel.
While Robby dried both of them off, Jack knocked on the bathroom door and appeared with a pile of clothes for them both, handing Robby his pile and helping Dennis get into his. Slipping a new pair of period safe boxers over his hips, along with a pair of sweats that he wasn’t sure who they belonged to anymore, before tugging one of Robby’s old band tees over his head,
Now all dressed, the three walked back to the living room and sat back on the sofa, Dennis squashed between the two of them. Jack shucked off his leg, leaving it resting against the coffee table, before he laid back onto the sofa and dragged Dennis’ head onto his shoulder.
Robby turned the TV on low for background noise, knowing none of them would be paying attention to the story while they waited for their food to arrive, they fell into a comfortable silence.
A knock at the door startled them a short while later, and Robby stood up and collected their food from the front door, giving the delivery driver a cash tip in addition to the tip Jack already paid on the app. As he walked back to the sofa, detouring to the kitchen to grab forks, Dennis’ head perked up at the smell of food, his mouth salivating like he hadn't been fed in months. He snatched the food and the fork from Robby's hands and started shoveling his food into his mouth.
“Slow down, pup, we don't want you to make yourself sick, it's not going anywhere.” Jack said with a chuckle.
Despite living with Trinity for over a year now and being with Jack and Robby for three months, he still found himself scarfing his food down like he didn't know when his next meal would come. None of them had realised just how much being homeless had affected Dennis until moments like this.
Now slightly embarrassed, Dennis gave Jack a small smile and continued eating slower than before, actually savouring the taste of the noodles in his mouth before getting his next bite.
The three ate in silence, with the occasional hum coming from one of them on and especially satisfying bite, until they had their fill of food, pushing the empty containers away from them on the coffee table.
Dennis sat back into the sofa, a loud sigh escaping him as he curled into Jacks side.
“Okay, pup, time for bed” Jack said as he stretched his arm around Dennis and brushed his hand over his ribs, making him squirm at his touch.
Robby stood first, pulling Dennis up alongside him, handing Jack his crutches, then walked off towards the bedroom, holding Dennis’ hand in his - the sound of Jack walking behind them.
Dennis made a beeline for the bed, snuggling under the duvet and dragging Robby in after him before Jack had even reached the threshold of the bedroom. Jack climbed in on the other side of Dennis, once he had finished laughing at the two, already cuddled up when he got to the bedroom.
Dennis was squashed between his two boyfriends, his head resting on Robby's broad chest, listening to the quiet thump of his heart while he was lulled off to sleep.
Once his eyes had fluttered shut and his breathing evened out, Jack turned over, pulling himself towards both Dennis and Robby, wrapping his arms around the two of them.
“He's so lucky to have you, Misha” Jack whispered into the air, the sounds getting stuck in his throat.
“Us, Yankel, he's lucky to have us.” Robby muttered back, finally giving himself up to the creeping feeling of sleep.