Work Text:
Working with your boyfriend was harder than anyone would think.
And Robby found out the hard way. Especially because his beloved man was a bratty little shit, the worst part was that he secretly loved it.
Their relationship wasn’t really a secret, but they weren’t announcing it freely. A couple of doctors and nurses from the day shift knew, but only the ones they were the closest to, and obviously Abbot. There was a silent agreement that their relationship status will be kept under the table, for now.
“You’re late,” Robby said glancing at the computer’s clock as he spotted Dennis making his way to the central desk.
Dennis leaned against the desk, hoovering over the older man. “Relax. I knew you’d wait for me.”
Robby chuckled despite himself; he then looked up to see his boyfriend smiling sweetly at him. His heart immediately melt, he had to fight back the urge to kiss him right there and then.
“And for the record, I was on time. I just went outside and found Abbot,” Dennis explained as he lazily brushed a finger through Robby’s hair. They never claimed to be the best at keeping their hands to themselves.
Robby hummed in response, slightly leaning into the younger man’s touch. He would absolutely eat up every single moment they had during their shift to feel his boyfriend’s touch, and right now everyone seemed to be disperse so they could get away with it.
“Good morning, kid,” Dana greeted as she approached them, flashing Dennis a big smile as she settled her things down.
“Morning,” Dennis responded sweetly.
They quickly fell into small talk, leaving Robby to look between them with a blank look.
“Good morning to you too,” Robby scoffed, he was literally sitting between the two of them and it seemed like they were looking right through him as if he were invisible.
Dennis barked out a laugh, “You look pretty when you are angry, sweetie.”
This time Dana was the one to let out a chuckle as she patted Robby’s shoulder, and that only made Robby scowl deeper.
“Great,” he muttered, rubbing his temple. “I’m surrounded.”
Dennis looked very pleased with himself as he leaned a little closer over Robby’s chair, his voice dropping just enough to be teasing rather than loud.
“Aw, don’t pout,” he said. “It’ll give you wrinkles.”
“I already have wrinkles,” Robby shot back, arching his eyebrow. That only made Dennis smile grow a bit more.
“Yeah,” Dennis said thoughtfully, tilting his head as if inspecting him. “But they’re distinguished wrinkles.”
Dana snorted and started logging into the computer beside them.
Robby reached up and flicked Dennis lightly on the wrist. “Go do something before I write you up.”
At that Dennis fake gasped as his hand landed on his chest, “You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.”
Dennis sighed dramatically, pushing himself upright. As he did, Robby noticed something very familiar draped over Dennis’s arm.
“My jacket,” Robby said immediately extending his arm towards him. He didn’t even remembered the last time he saw that particular piece of clothing, and it was his favorite one.
Dennis paused mid-step, but he did not fully turned to look at Robby.
Robby leaned back in his chair and pointed at it. “Dennis. Give it back.”
Dennis slowly looked down at the jacket, then back at Robby with the most innocent expression he could possibly manage. And that look Robby knew so well, this little shit was already planning something that would make Robby go into cardiac arrest.
“Oh,” he said. “This?”
“Yes. That.”
Dennis hugged the jacket closer to his chest like Robby had just asked him to surrender a beloved pet.
“Wow,” he said softly, shaking his head in mock disappointment.
Robby narrowed his eyes. “What?”
Dennis tilted his head, lips curving with dangerous amusement, “Can I have my virginity back?” And it came out louder than Robby had expected.
The desk went completely silent. Hell, the whole ER room went silent, and Robby could feel all the eyes on him right now.
Dana froze halfway through typing beside him.
From the other side of the station, a couple of nurses gasped, and at the corner of his eye Robby watched as Langdon actually choked on his coffee.
Rooby could only manage to coughed violently; his words didn’t made it past his throat.
Someone behind them whispered, very loudly, “OH MY GOD.”
Robby blinked once.
Twice.
Then his face went a very impressive shade of red.
“Dennis…” he hissed.
But Dennis was already grinning, absolutely shameless.
Dana wheezed, covering her mouth with both hands trying to suppress her laughter. “Oh my god…”
Langdon was still coughing. “Did… did he just?”
“Yes,” Princess confirmed helpfully from down the counter. “He did.”
Dennis casually tossed the jacket onto Robby’s lap like nothing had happened. “There you go, handsome.”
Robby grabbed it, glaring up at him. “You are unbelievable.”
“You love me,” Dennis replied sweetly.
That almost, key word almost, made Robby smile back at him, “That’s debatable now.”
Dana slapped the desk, still losing it. “I can’t believe you just said that at the central desk!” Her voice came out almost as a whisper since she was still laughing.
Dennis shrugged. “What? I am sure everyone here already suspected something, it was about time.”
Laughter rippled across the room, Dana finally managed to compose herself as she wiped tears from the corner of her eyes. Trinity had a manic look on her face as she gave Robby a thumbs up when he glared at her. Perlah and Princess let out a ‘Called it!’ as they made their way to continue with their duties.
Robby dragged a hand down his face.
“I work with children,” he muttered.
Dennis leaned down again, completely unbothered. “You chose this life.”
“I did not choose this,” Robby shot back.
“You absolutely did,” Trinity whisper-shout immediately from her workstation.
From one of the trauma rooms, Mel, who had clearly only caught the end of the conversation, poked her head out.
“Wait, who lost their virginity?”
Half the desk pointed at Dennis.
Dennis pointed at Robby with a big grin on his face.
Robby groaned and pulled the jacket over his head like he could physically hide from the entire emergency department.
“This is harassment,” he said into the fabric.
Langdon leaned on the counter. “Technically I think this is a confession.”
“Oh, this is going to live in my brain forever,” Dana said as she now rubbed her stomach.
Dennis gently tugged the jacket back down so Robby could see again.
“Don’t hide,” he said with a grin. “You started it.”
“I asked for my jacket.”
“And I asked for mine.”
“You never had a jacket!”
Dennis leaned closer, lowering his voice just enough.
“But I did have dignity.”
The desk exploded again.
Robby pointed at him. “You are done talking for the rest of the shift.”
Dennis raised his eyebrows. “You think you can stop me?”
Before Robby could answer, Dana stood up and clapped her hands like she was addressing a classroom.
“Alright everyone, break’s over,” she said, still laughing. “Back to work before administration hears about the virginity exchange program happening at the desk.”
Langdon snorted.
Dennis finally stepped back, heading toward the big screen displaying all the patients.
As he passed Robby, he leaned down just enough to murmur in his ear, “Still worth it.”
Robby closed his eyes, “Unbelievable,” he murmured. But despite himself, there was a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
From down the desk Mateo called out, “Hey Dennis?”
Dennis turned.
“If you’re asking for refunds,” he said, “you’re definitely outside the return window.”
Dennis let out a big laugh and murmured something that Robby was too busy burying his face in his hands to understand. This was going to be a long shift.