hi hey hi

He pads down the hall, socks and carpets muting his steps. The townhouse is eerie like this; the air muted and lifeless. No sounds of the restless men who live here.

Just Dennis.

He grabs a glass of water from the cabinet. Robby had told Dennis all about the fights they had over dishware when he and Jack first got married. Robby had sentimental plates from his bubbe. Jack wouldn't relinquish the silverware his wife loved. Robby called Jack tasteless and Jack called Robby 'prissy'.

He leans on the kitchen island and opens his phone. Checks Instagram for any updates on all the 3 people he follows. He likes an Instagram story from Trinity. It's a... plate of tortilla chips, microwave melted cheese, and hot cheeto dust topping? The he checks an empty email inbox before he gives up.

It's so quiet in the kitchen, Dennis can hear the pipes in the walls.

When he was 18, Dennis stole a fork out of the meal hall. It left him so sweaty and shaky that he ate off of paper towels for 3 months instead of stealing a plate.

Trin: why are you awake fuckleberry

A text pops up on his phone.

Dennis sighs. She's such a freak sometimes.

Sender: cant sleep.

Sender: why are YOU up?

Trin: is that farmboy for "i just tucked in my two geriatric boyfriends with their night meds and old man pajama caps but now the sound of their cpap machines is keeping me awake"???

Trin: question dodger🫵🏻🫵🏻🫵🏻

Trin: can't sleep

Dennis scrunches his nose up trying to assess Trinity's current level of hostility.

Sender: you ok?

Trin: sure.

Trin: are you okay?

Sender: sure.

Trin: ok.

Trin: they arent fucking with you are they?

Trin: emphasis on "with". Dont tell me about any other fucking thats going on over there

Trin: i suffer enough

Sender: its fine

Sender: everythings fine

Trin: ok. Let me know if you need anything.

Sender: thanks. Go to sleep.

Trin: "reacted 👎🏻 to your message."

Dennis sips his glass and wanders to the living room. A shelf holds a framed photo of a younger Robby and a man he now knows is Adamson. An inscrutable object made out of pipecleaners and pompoms reads "to Uncle Jack" on its paper plate belly. There's a propped up birthday card from Heather that Robby got in the mail last year. Two books sit on the highest shelf, spines reading "Abbot." Apparently, Liz had published them during her time as a reporter. Dennis thought about reading one once, but something about it made his hands clammy.

His glass is empty now but Dennis isn't tired.

"It's nice" he wants to think. "A house full of treasures from lives well lived." It was the exact sort of thing Dennis has wished he had growing up. Drawings on the fridge. Well-maintained baby albums. A quilt for every kid and a diplomas hung on the wall.

Maybe his brothers had had that once. His ma's energy run dry by kid number 4. Dennis was "gifted" a bear from his brother Abe when he was a baby. Abe took it back to give to his daughter when Dennis was 16.

Dennis gets sick of the living room and decides to punish himself.

The ensuite bedroom has a second door into the hall. Dennis uses it to avoid disturbing the two men in the room over.

The counter is split in two. One side, a half empty bottle of cologne, the most generic men's deodorant Dennis has ever seen, and a beard trimmer strewn across the counter. On the other, meticulously labeled containers of curl cream and lotion. In the middle of the counter is the only object of Dennis' in the house. A green plastic toothbrush. Robby and Jack both have fancy electric ones with charging stands so there's no cup for Dennis to put his in. It lies limply near the sink. Dennis bought it new the second time he ever stayed the night here. He didnt want them to see his old one, with bristles so matted, they were practically flat. The one from the church food bank that was so generic it screamed "I got this for free."

Dennis never left it there overnight. He could-- they probably wouldn't mind. It was just easier to let it live in his bag inbetween nights spent here.

His fingertips trace the glass bottle of cologne. He takes note of where it sits: the angle, the placement, before taking the cap off and smelling it. It smells like everytime he's buried his face in Robby's neck. It smells like the green fleece that drives Jack crazy everytime Dennis puts it on. It smells like the first grounding touch he had had in 4 months, once.

He puts it back in its spot of the counter. Nudging it until it's the perfect image of where it was 2 minutes ago.

Dennis still isn't sleepy but he is sure is tired. He's tired and he wants to feel warm, even if he has to leave in the morning.

He opens the door gingerly, moving slow in the in darkness. His eyes adjust slowly as he makes his way to the bed. Dark blobs becoming clothes on the floor and the edges of furniture. Once he's at the foot of the bed, can see somewhat clearly again.

In his absence, Robby and Jack had migrated towards each other. Robby's nose pressed into Jack's cheek. Jack's arm slung around Robby's shoulder.

Their chests rose and feel in tandem.

There's no more room for Dennis inbetween them anymore.

"Don't sound so smug, Jack," Robby huffed. Jack could practically hear the pout on his lips.

"Am I not allowed to appreciate how eager my omega is for me?" Jack asked.

"Can't be eager for you if you're not even here," Robby shot back. The line was silent for a few moments before Robby sighed, "I miss you, Jack."

"I know, sweetheart, I miss you too," Jack cooed.

"I want you," Robby whined.

"Aw, is my sweet omega all pent up?" Jack asked in a low voice.

"Well someone hasn't fucked me in over a week," Robby spat.

"I have been neglecting you, haven't I?"

"Yes," Robby huffed, at least Jack acknowledged his mistakes.

"Why don't you make yourself feel good for me, baby? Can you touch yourself for me?" Jack asked. Robby whined on the other end of the line, and fuck if it wasn't making Jack hard.

"What are you wearing, baby?" Jack asked.

"One of your shirts," Robby said quietly, "And- and the panties you like."

Jack let out a low groan, "You gonna save them for me?"

"Maybe," Robby said, trying to sound teasing but barely concealing how aroused he was by the thought of saving slick damp panties for his alpha.

"Play with your little cock for me, Mikey," Jack instructed.

Robby rucked his shirt up and dipped a hand into his panties, palming at his hard cocklet. He wrapped his fingers around the base and began to stroke slowly, letting out a high whine as he did so.

"Does that feel good, baby?"

"'S okay," Robby said, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. "'S not the same."

"Mmm, I know sweetheart, but you're doing so good for me," Jack cooed. "Do you want something in your hole? You feeling empty?"

"Only want you," Robby whined.

"Why don't you use the dildo I got you, baby? Make yourself feel nice and full for me?" Jack suggested. He'd gotten Robby a custom knotting dildo to use whenever their shifts were failing to line up, but Robby almost universally refused to use it.

"No," Robby snarled, "I'm not stooping to those levels like a cheater."

"Mikey, please, I just want you to feel good," Jack insisted.

"I have a perfectly good alpha I don't need a dildo," Robby huffed, hand still slowly stroking his cock.

"Michael, I am that alpha," Jack said.

"Right and you left me here all alone," Robby said.

"If you want me to hang up I can," Jack said, his tone amused if also exasperated.

"I'm not letting you back in the nest if you do," Robby threatened, and Jack knew he was serious.

"Fine baby, no dildo," Jack conceded. "I still want you to feel good though, even if I can't fill you up until I come home on Sunday."

"Alpha?" Robby asked after a few moments of silence.

"Yes, sweetheart?" Jack prompted.

"Can I- Can I use your pillow?" Robby finally asked.

"Shit, baby," Jack groaned. "Yeah, yeah go ahead. I want to hear my pretty omega getting off on my pillow."

Robby immediately put the phone on speaker and set it down, moving to grab Jack's pillow and stuff it between his thighs once he was on his stomach. Robby rocked into the pillow, the friction from the lace panties he still wore delightful on his cocklet and the folds of his cunt. "Fuck, alpha, feels so good," Robby moaned.

Jack had pulled his cock out and begun stroking it, his knot already beginning to fill. The mental image of Robby wrecking himself on Jack's pillow, in their nest, wearing his favorite panties was nearly enough to make Jack cum right then and there.

Jack enjoyed the sounds of his omega rutting into the pillow, moaning out filth about how slick he was, how ready he was for his alpha.

"Ja- shit- Jack, can I cum? Please alpha, let me cum?" Robby begged, his voice strained from how close he was to the edge.

"Go ahead, Mikey. Cum for me, feel good for me, baby," Jack ordered.

Robby moaned loudly on the other end of the line, gushing slick and spurting cum into his panties. He was breathing heavily as he came down from his high. Jack, for his part, came as soon as Robby had started begging.

"Mikey, you still with me?" Jack asked after a couple minutes of silence.

"Mmm," Robby whined, "Miss you, Jackie."

"Aw, baby, I know. I'll be home so soon, though," Jack soothed.

"It's not the same," Robby said with a pout. "Want your knot."

"I'll give it to you as soon as I can, I promise."

"No more conferences," Robby demanded.

"Can't promise that, but maybe I'll take you with me next time? Show off my perfect omega for everyone to see," Jack said, lovesick and sweet. "You know people thought I was an omega today, my clothes all smelled so much of you."

Robby preened at that. He'd scented all of Jack's clothes quite thoroughly before he'd left. Sue him, he was just as possessive as Jack was.

"You like that don't you, Mikey?" Jack teased.

"You're mine," Robby stated simply.

"That I am," Jack said with a smile. "Go get cleaned up for me, baby, you need to rest after the shifts you've been working all week."

"'S comfy in the nest," Robby whined.

"It'll be comfier if you're not in soaked panties," Jack said pointedly. "But don't throw those away, I wasn't joking about saving them."

"Pervert," Robby said as he sat up, placing Jack's pillow back in its spot and peeling his underwear off. He placed them right in the center, where'd they'd stay until Jack was home.

"Says you," Jack said playfully. "Love you, Mikey, sleep well for me, yeah?"

"I'll try," Robby said. "Love you, too, even if you did abandon me."

"Oh for the love of-"

He pads down the hall, socks and carpets muting his steps. The townhouse is eerie like this; the air muted and lifeless. No sounds of the restless men who live here.

Just Dennis.

He grabs a glass of water from the cabinet. Robby had told Dennis all about the fights they had over dishware when he and Jack first got married. Robby had sentimental plates from his bubbe. Jack wouldn't relinquish the silverware his wife loved. Robby called Jack tasteless and Jack called Robby 'prissy'.

He leans on the kitchen island and opens his phone. Checks Instagram for any updates on all the 3 people he follows. He likes an Instagram story from Trinity. It's a... plate of tortilla chips, microwave melted cheese, and hot cheeto dust topping? The he checks an empty email inbox before he gives up.

It's so quiet in the kitchen, Dennis can hear the pipes in the walls.

When he was 18, Dennis stole a fork out of the meal hall. It left him so sweaty and shaky that he ate off of paper towels for 3 months instead of stealing a plate.

Trin: why are you awake fuckleberry

A text pops up on his phone.

Dennis sighs. She's such a freak sometimes.

Sender: cant sleep.

Sender: why are YOU up?

Trin: is that farmboy for "i just tucked in my two geriatric boyfriends with their night meds and old man pajama caps but now the sound of their cpap machines is keeping me awake"???

Trin: question dodger🫵🏻🫵🏻🫵🏻

Trin: can't sleep

Dennis scrunches his nose up trying to assess Trinity's current level of hostility.

Sender: you ok?

Trin: sure.

Trin: are you okay?

Sender: sure.

Trin: ok.

Trin: they arent fucking with you are they?

Trin: emphasis on "with". Dont tell me about any other fucking thats going on over there

Trin: i suffer enough

Sender: its fine

Sender: everythings fine

Trin: ok. Let me know if you need anything.

Sender: thanks. Go to sleep.

Trin: "reacted 👎🏻 to your message."

Dennis sips his glass and wanders to the living room. A shelf holds a framed photo of a younger Robby and a man he now knows is Adamson. An inscrutable object made out of pipecleaners and pompoms reads "to Uncle Jack" on its paper plate belly. There's a propped up birthday card from Heather that Robby got in the mail last year. Two books sit on the highest shelf, spines reading "Abbot." Apparently, Liz had published them during her time as a reporter. Dennis thought about reading one once, but something about it made his hands clammy.

His glass is empty now but Dennis isn't tired.

"It's nice" he wants to think. "A house full of treasures from lives well lived." It was the exact sort of thing Dennis has wished he had growing up. Drawings on the fridge. Well-maintained baby albums. A quilt for every kid and a diplomas hung on the wall.

Maybe his brothers had had that once. His ma's energy run dry by kid number 4. Dennis was "gifted" a bear from his brother Abe when he was a baby. Abe took it back to give to his daughter when Dennis was 16.

Dennis gets sick of the living room and decides to punish himself.

The ensuite bedroom has a second door into the hall. Dennis uses it to avoid disturbing the two men in the room over.

The counter is split in two. One side, a half empty bottle of cologne, the most generic men's deodorant Dennis has ever seen, and a beard trimmer strewn across the counter. On the other, meticulously labeled containers of curl cream and lotion. In the middle of the counter is the only object of Dennis' in the house. A green plastic toothbrush. Robby and Jack both have fancy electric ones with charging stands so there's no cup for Dennis to put his in. It lies limply near the sink. Dennis bought it new the second time he ever stayed the night here. He didnt want them to see his old one, with bristles so matted, they were practically flat. The one from the church food bank that was so generic it screamed "I got this for free."

Dennis never left it there overnight. He could-- they probably wouldn't mind. It was just easier to let it live in his bag inbetween nights spent here.

His fingertips trace the glass bottle of cologne. He takes note of where it sits: the angle, the placement, before taking the cap off and smelling it. It smells like everytime he's buried his face in Robby's neck. It smells like the green fleece that drives Jack crazy everytime Dennis puts it on. It smells like the first grounding touch he had had in 4 months, once.

He puts it back in its spot of the counter. Nudging it until it's the perfect image of where it was 2 minutes ago.

Dennis still isn't sleepy but he is sure is tired. He's tired and he wants to feel warm, even if he has to leave in the morning.

He opens the door gingerly, moving slow in the in darkness. His eyes adjust slowly as he makes his way to the bed. Dark blobs becoming clothes on the floor and the edges of furniture. Once he's at the foot of the bed, can see somewhat clearly again.

In his absence, Robby and Jack had migrated towards each other. Robby's nose pressed into Jack's cheek. Jack's arm slung around Robby's shoulder.

Their chests rose and feel in tandem.

There's no more room for Dennis inbetween them anymore.