Archive of Our Own

Waterboy hadn’t been more nervous in his life. He could feel water pouring from every crevice on his skin, and he predicted his fingertips underneath his gloves were wrinkled with it. All because Robert and Flambae were too… well, too hot for him to witness, if he was being honest with himself. And he wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve what he was about to experience.

He’d tried really hard the last handful of weeks to contain his crushes. Robert was such a good mentor, dispatcher, and now that he had the Mecha Man suit again, Shroud had been thrown back into jail for an indefinite sentence… Robert’s confidence post-Shroud during the rebuild of headquarters and afterward had Waterboy’s heart thumping unsteadily at all times. He was so, so hot. That was the first issue, of course.

Flambae was different. He had teased Waterboy consistently, at times had made him cry more than the usual amount during the first while he’d been on the Z Team, but it had started to turn into something… different lately. Waterboy had noticed small touches from Flambae when they were out on missions together, little grabs of his wrist that weren’t entirely necessary to make sure he was out of the way, a tighter grip when he flew them both back to SDN. Small quips that used to carry more bite, but now were accompanied by a glint in Flambae’s eyes as he said them.

It had been easy(ish?) enough to ignore until Flambae had cornered Waterboy in the parking lot of SDN after a little too close of a call on a mission. Waterboy had only narrowly missed a fatal shot from a lower-tier electric-type villain, something Flambae hadn’t been able to warn him of until it had been too late. Waterboy had noticed, thanks to a sharp direction in his ear from Robert, and had managed to shield himself until he could find cover behind a nearby delivery van.

The fight had lasted no more than twenty minutes. Flambae had thrown himself, wreathed in flames, at the villain and short-circuited whatever system he’d been running things through to attack. Authorities had arrived, those that needed to be were arrested, and Flambae had scooped Waterboy into his arms without words after they gave statements as he shot them into the sky. “Good job you guys, come back and get some rest. That was the last one of the day, so no funny business on the way back, alright?” Robert’s voice rang clearly through their earpieces, his voice clipped, but Waterboy could hear the relief underneath. Comms went silent and all that could be heard afterward was the wind whistling past their ears.

Flambae was silent the entire flight. Waterboy had anxiously flicked his eyes back and forth between Flambae’s face and wherever else he could off into the distance. He held back any kind of thanks as he felt Flambae’s heat warming him, steaming off any nervous drips of water that weren’t caught by his suit. A subtle thing done by the older man to calm him down, he expected, even though he didn’t feel very deserving of it right now. He usually would’ve been embarrassed past the point of return, but he felt now was not the time to add onto things that Flambae could be annoyed at him about.

Once they got back to headquarters he’d started to walk towards the front doors of SDN, shoulders hunched, before a hot hand wrapped around his wrist, pulling him backwards and nearly causing him to trip over his own feet.

Flambae stood there, hand not letting go of Waterboy’s wrist. Waterboy had felt his eyes widen, unsure of what to do. He’d opened and closed his mouth, little noises coming out but nothing solid. Nothing that would express how he felt inside, how sorry he’d been for not being more aware and putting himself at risk. He’d promised that he’d stop doing that - another request from Flambae, but also backed up by the rest of the team. He’d done well - until this.

He had managed to let out a tiny squawk as Flambae pulled him into his chest, other hand gripping on Waterboy’s neck and pulling his face into the junction of Flambae’s neck. “You scared the absolute shit out of me back there, waterfreak,” Flambae had murmured, his tone on edge but quiet. “I didn’t mean to, I-i swear, Flambae-” Waterboy had hurriedly tried to say, but before he’d been able to get the words out, Flambae’s lips had met his with a fierceness he’d not experienced before.

Flambae had pushed him against a car, hands roaming until they’d settled on Waterboy’s face, angling his face to get better access as he’d licked into the boy’s mouth, whimpers carrying throughout the parking lot. Waterboy wouldn’t have been able to say if they’d been there for minutes or hours, but the only thing that had broken them out of it was a coughing sound over the comms.

“Nice show, you two. Meet me in conference room three.”

Which had led them to where Waterboy was now. Nervous, lips swollen from being kissed silly by Flambae, and confused out of his mind as to what was going on. Flambae had broken from Waterboy’s face after Robert had spoken, smirked at what Waterboy suspected was the look on his face, and flew up to a patio on the second floor without a word, leaving him to make the slow and slippery trek upstairs.

Conference room three was the furthest of all the conference rooms. The smallest, too. It was usually used for job interviews, informal training sessions, and lectures. Waterboy hoped to god it wasn’t the last one, because he had already had a hard enough day as it was. He didn’t think he could handle trying to hide any kind of arousal that would arise if Robert yelled at him, although he very much doubted Robert ever would truly yell at him. He noticed how much Mecha Man - Robert - favoured him, especially over the course of the few weeks he’d been able to go out on missions with Waterboy instead of only dispatching, talking him through missions instead of being by his side.

And yes, it gave Waterboy a complex. 

He attempted a quiet knock before he opened the door to the conference room, surprised to see Robert already here, his hands crossed over his chest with a look of disappointment plastered on his face. Waterboy couldn’t help the throb that rushed through his pelvis, and stammered his way through greeting him as he sat down miserably in a chair. “B-before you say a-anything Robert, I-I’m sorr-”

He was cut off by Flambae walking into the room, his chest puffed as if announcing to everybody that he wasn’t ashamed for what he’d done - he’d intended to do what he did. He sat down beside Waterboy, but turned to Robert, his eyebrows arching as he looked at him.

“You owe me five hundred and sixty two dollars, Bob Bob. Hand it over.” 

The sputtering noise Waterboy made was embarrassing but he suppressed himself from blushing any more than he already was, which - he was sure he was resembling a tomato. Positive, even. “W-what!? What did y-you bet on!?”

Robert laughed through an over exaggerated sigh, pulling out his wallet from his backpocket and began handing over what Waterboy realized was very real, very much a lot of money. They really had bet on something to do with him. His heart sank as he thought of them betting that he wouldn’t be able to handle himself on missions for long, that the two men he’d grown to look up to and trust and, unfortunately, have blisteringly huge crushes on had bet on him failing.

“Our lovely Flambae here went and kissed you before I got the chance, that’s what we bet on,” Robert said, turning and moving both his hands to rest on his hips as he looked at Waterboy. “Since he so rudely asked for the winnings in front of you, it’s only fair to not have you speculate.”

Flambae scoffed, smirking at Waterboy. “I couldn’t help myself. Little guy scared the shit out of me, you’d have done the same thing, Rob.” Waterboy opened his mouth to say what? He wasn’t sure, but Robert cut him off. “You’re right, I would’ve. But I would have had the self control to have got him into a private room where I would be able to have my way with him a little more instead of up against a hot car, Flambae.”

Waterboy didn’t know what to say. He was truly lost here, out of his element in an entirely different dimension from anything he’d experienced before. Here he was, thinking he had been about to get yelled at for putting himself at risk, and the two men in front of him were admitting they’d been thinking about doing a lot more things to him than just kissing.

His tongue felt too big for his mouth, his face sweating anxiously as he looked between the two of them. He could feel his hair dampen across his scalp, all of Flambae’s heat from the flight earlier disappearing with the conversation that was happening in front of him. “I-uh, what? I-i mean, why? W-why me? I’m…” He gestured over himself, eyes cast downward awkwardly, “I’m me. And you guys are… Well, l-look at you.”

Robert sighed as he looked at Waterboy, and Waterboy cringed as he stopped himself from making eye contact with him. He did his best until he felt Robert in front of him, and then a hand made contact with his chin, his face getting lifted to look at Robert fully in front of him. Again, without warning, a rush of heat went through his body, another gush of water dampening himself and everything around him. 

“I’m not sure if you’re aware of this, Waterboy - is it alright if I call you Herm right now? Okay, Herm. Flambae and I - Chad, that is - and I, have been… dating. For a while. And although yes, we did make a bet on who could get their lips on you first, we were going to work our way up to asking if you’d be interested in something.” Waterboy vaguely noticed Flambae fidgeting with hair in his peripheral vision, looking at Waterboy with utmost concentration as Robert spoke. “With us, that is. Both of us.”

Waterboy could feel his heart thump in his chest, eyes widening at the admission. Robert chuckled quietly, taking both of Waterboy’s hands into his, bending down so he could meet Herm’s eyes. “You can take your time to decide, as much as you need. I know you and Chad just kissed, and that might be weird, but… we’ll let it happen on your terms. If you want us, that is. If not… we can go back to the way things were before. We just don’t want to miss an opportunity if it could happen, you know? We care about you too much to not try. You deserve the effort, Herm.”

Flambae spoke next, unusually quiet compared to the way he usually was. “I know I am usually an asshole, but I can try not to be. At least a little bit. I don’t know why you would turn down all of this, but you can decide, little one. I won’t hold it against you.”

Waterboy’s brain was swimming in a copious amount of liquid. That’s what it felt like, at least, as his eyes began to pour water, tears running like a facet as his emotions crashed around him. He hadn’t expected all of this when he’d woke up this morning, another day looking forward to mediocre missions with varied results and a whole team that he adored. Never had he thought that two of them would confess that they had been thinking about him as much as he’d been doing the exact same about them - it left him with a heart that felt five sizes too big, his chest hurting with it.

Waterboy sniffed hard, scrubbing at his face with the heel of his glove in a futile attempt to stop the waterworks. It only made it worse; tears kept coming, sliding down his cheeks and dripping from his chin onto the table between them. “I— I’m sorry,” he hiccupped, voice wobbling embarrassingly. “I’m not crying because I don’t want it. I— fuck, I’m crying because I do.” He let out a shaky, breathless laugh, shoulders curling inward as if he were trying to make himself smaller. “I just… I didn’t think this was something I was allowed to have.”

Robert’s expression softened immediately, all teasing gone, replaced with something achingly gentle. He squeezed Herm’s hands, thumbs brushing slow, grounding circles over his knuckles. “Hey,” he murmured, low and steady. “You don’t have to apologize for that. Not to us.” He glanced briefly toward Flambae, who gave a short nod, jaw tight but eyes warm, before Robert looked back at Herm. “You don’t have to justify wanting anything.”

Flambae shifted closer, his knee bumping Herm’s under the table, heat radiating in a way that felt intentional now—comforting instead of overwhelming. “Yeah,” he added quietly. “If you say yes, it’s because you want to. Not because we sprung it on you or because you feel cornered.” He paused, then huffed a breath through his nose. “And if you’re asking why you… it’s because you’re you. You’re smart, you’re brave to a fault, and you make both of us want to tear our hair out every time you almost get yourself killed. It’s so stupid.” A corner of his mouth lifted, a look Herm hadn’t seen on him before. “That’s kind of our thing, apparently.”

Herm laughed wetly at that, the sound broken but real. He looked down at their joined hands, then up at their faces - Robert’s earnest, steady gaze, Flambae’s intense, barely-restrained concern - and something in him finally tipped over. The nerves didn’t disappear, but they rearranged themselves around a warmer, brighter feeling in his chest. “I… I would like to be something,” he said, voice small but certain. “With you. With both of you.” He swallowed, blinking hard. “If y-you both really want that.”

For a split second, neither of them spoke - then Robert exhaled like he’d been holding his breath for weeks. He stood so abruptly his shoes scuffed against the floor loudly, only to kneel in front of Herm again a heartbeat later, hands sliding up to cup his face. “Of course we do,” he said, reverent, like it was the most obvious truth in the world. He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to Herm’s forehead first, then another to the corner of his mouth, giving him time to pull back if he needed it.

Herm didn’t. He leaned forward instead, lips brushing Robert’s in a soft, tentative kiss that made his chest flutter. He felt Robert smile against his mouth, felt the kiss deepen just a little before Robert pulled back again, resting his forehead against Herm’s. “You’re ours,” Robert whispered.

Flambae cleared his throat, sounding suspiciously rough. “Alright,” he muttered, standing and crowding in close. “I’m not being left out of this.” He hooked a finger under Herm’s chin, tilting his face up, and kissed him - hotter, more sure, but still careful in a way that made Herm’s heart stutter. When Flambae pulled back, he wrapped his arms around both of them, tugging Herm up out of the chair and into his chest.

The hug was overwhelming in the best possible way. Robert’s arms came around Herm from the other side, solid and grounding, and suddenly Herm was sandwiched between heat and strength and warmth, his face pressed into Flambae’s hair as more tears spilled over. He laughed again, breathless and disbelieving, clinging to them both. “This is… w-wow,” he managed. “Okay. Yeah. I- I definitely want this.”

Robert pressed a kiss to the side of Herm’s head, voice fond. “Then we should probably not do anything… too compromising in a conference room,” he said lightly, though his hands lingered at Herm’s waist like he didn’t quite want to let go.

Flambae snorted. “Speak for yourself. But yeah, fine.” He glanced between them, eyes gleaming. “My place is closer. And less… corporate.”

Herm flushed, warmth blooming low in his stomach as the implication settled in. He nodded, squeezing their arms, a shy smile tugging at his lips. “Your place sounds good,” he said softly.

The three of them shared a look - something excited, tentative, full of possibility - before they finally pulled apart enough to move. As they headed for the door together, Herm found himself walking between them, hands brushing theirs, heart racing not with fear this time, but with the giddy realization that this was really happening.

~~~

Flambae’s apartment was not what Herm expected.

He wasn’t entirely sure what he’d expected—something loud, maybe, all sharp angles and scorched surfaces, half-burnt furniture and empty takeout containers. A place that felt as brash and untamed as the man himself. Instead, the moment Flambae unlocked the door and nudged it open with his foot, Herm stalled in the doorway, blinking.

Warm light spilled out across polished hardwood floors. A deep green couch sat against one wall, pillows arranged with surprising care. There were framed prints—actual art, not posters—hung evenly, and a bookshelf that was full, not decorative-full, but dog-eared spines and carefully stacked paperbacks.

Herm turned slowly, taking it all in.

“…Oh,” he said.

Flambae shot him a sideways look, already shrugging off his jacket. “What.”

Herm flushed immediately, hands lifting in a flustered, defensive gesture. “N-no, it’s just -  I mean -” He laughed, soft and breathy. “I d-don’t know what I thought your place would look like, but t-this is… really nice.”

Robert, hovering just behind them, hummed thoughtfully. “That’s one way to put it.”

Flambae scoffed, tossing his keys into a bowl by the door with practiced ease. “What, you think I live in a fire pit?” He glanced back at Herm, eyes bright with something that looked suspiciously like pride. “I’m not Robert.”

“Hey,” Robert said mildly, toeing off his shoes. “My place is fine.”

Flambae snorted. “Your place looks like a furniture catalogue staged by someone who’s afraid of fingerprints.”

Herm clapped a hand over his mouth, failing miserably to smother a giggle.

Robert’s lips twitched. “I like order.”

“You like labels,” Flambae shot back.

Herm looked between them, eyes wide and shining, and for the first time since they’d left SDN, the tension in his shoulders eased completely. This - this easy back-and-forth, the warmth of the space, the way neither of them seemed to be posturing or performing - it made something settle in his chest.

“I like it,” Herm said softly, toes curling in his boots. “It feels… lived in.”

Flambae’s expression softened at that, just a little. “Yeah,” he said. “It is.”

They gravitated naturally toward the living room, like planets finding their paths.

Herm perched on the edge of the couch at first, unsure what to do with his hands, his energy buzzing too high to sit still properly. Robert lingered nearby, leaning against the arm of the couch, while Flambae disappeared briefly down the hall, returning with three glasses and a bottle of something amber.

“Water?” Flambae asked Herm.

Herm nodded immediately. “Yes p-please.”

He watched Flambae move around his kitchen - efficient, familiar, gentle in a way that surprised him all over again. When Flambae handed him the glass, their fingers brushed, and Herm felt it all the way up his spine.

They talked. Nothing heavy at first - mission debriefs that turned into jokes, Robert recounting something absurd that had happened during HQ repairs, Flambae rolling his eyes and correcting details with smug satisfaction. Herm listened more than he spoke, smiling until his cheeks ached.

At some point, he realized Robert had shifted closer. Close enough that their knees brushed. Close enough that Robert’s presence felt intentional.

Herm’s breath hitched when Robert’s hand settled at his lower back - not gripping, not pulling. Just there.

“You okay?” Robert murmured.

Herm nodded, a little too quickly. “Y-yeah. More than okay.”

Robert smiled at him, slow and fond, and something unspoken passed between them.

Flambae watched from across the room, eyes sharp, unreadable, until he huffed and leaned back. “If you’re gonna hover,” he said to Robert, “at least commit.”

Robert raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

Herm’s face heated instantly.

Flambae jerked his chin toward the couch. “You heard me.”

For half a second, Robert looked almost startled. Then he straightened, rolled his shoulders once, and very deliberately moved.

It happened smoothly, so smoothly Herm barely had time to register it.

One moment, Robert was beside him. The next, Robert’s hands were warm and sure at his waist, guiding him back until Herm felt the couch cushion beneath his shoulders. He made a soft, surprised sound as he went, heart leaping into his throat.

Robert hovered over him, bracing himself on one arm, the other still steady at Herm’s side.

“Still okay?” Robert asked, voice low.

Herm swallowed. His hands trembled as he reached up, fingers curling lightly into the front of Robert’s shirt. “Y-yeah,” he breathed. “Please.”

That was all the permission Robert needed.

The kiss was unhurried.

Robert kissed him like he had all the time in the world, like this wasn’t something stolen or rushed or precarious. His lips were warm, firm without being overwhelming, and he pulled back just enough between kisses to let Herm breathe, to let him adjust, to let him want.

Herm melted.

A quiet, involuntary noise slipped from him as Robert deepened the kiss slightly, angling his head, one hand sliding up to cradle Herm’s jaw. Herm kissed back with everything he had, nerves and affection and awe all tangled together, his fingers tightening in Robert’s shirt as if to anchor himself.

Somewhere nearby, he was dimly aware of Flambae shifting, of the quiet creak of the couch - but the world had narrowed to this. To the way Robert kissed him like he was precious. Like he mattered.

When Robert finally pulled back, his forehead resting against Herm’s, they were both breathing a little harder.

Herm laughed softly, dazed. “Oh,” he whispered. “You’re… really good at that.”

Robert chuckled, brushing his thumb along Herm’s cheek. “I’ve had good motivation.”

From the other side of the room, Flambae snorted. “Yeah, yeah. Get a room.”

Herm smiled so wide it almost hurt.

Robert didn’t move far when he pulled back, just enough to look at Herm properly, like he was committing the sight of him to memory. His thumb lingered at Herm’s cheek, warm and steady, and his other hand stayed planted beside Herm’s head, caging him in without actually trapping him.

“You’re shaking,” Robert murmured, not unkindly. There was something quieter in his voice now, lower, edged with intent. “Breathe for me, yeah?”

Herm obeyed without thinking, a soft inhale stuttering out of him as his fingers tightened reflexively in Robert’s shirt. He nodded, eyes bright and a little glassy. “O-okay.”

“Good,” Robert said, approving, and leaned back in.

The next kiss was slower, deeper. Not more urgent, but more certain. Robert kissed him like he knew Herm wasn’t going anywhere, like he was allowed to take his time and meant to. He nudged Herm’s head just so with his hand, angling him into the couch cushion, lips fitting to his with practiced ease.

Herm made another small sound, barely louder than a breath, and felt it echo straight through his chest.

From the corner of his eye - his peripheral vision fuzzy and unfocused - Herm noticed movement. Flambae had shifted from where he’d been lounging and was now seated at the far end of the couch, one arm draped along the backrest, posture deceptively relaxed. Watching.

The awareness hit Herm all at once, a spark of heat low in his stomach that made him squirm despite himself. Robert noticed immediately.

“Hey,” Robert murmured against his mouth, pulling back just a fraction. “Stay still.”

Herm froze, breath catching. “S-sorry-”

Robert smiled, brief and fond, then leaned in again. “Didn’t say stop. Just… stay with me.”

He kissed Herm again, one hand sliding from his jaw to his throat - not squeezing, just resting there, grounding. Herm could feel his pulse under Robert’s palm, could feel how fast it was going.

And all the while, he could feel Flambae’s gaze like heat against his skin.

Flambae finally leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. “You always gonna get like this when Rob kisses you?” he asked casually, voice low and teasing.

Herm startled, eyes fluttering open. His face immediately went pink. “I- I don’t-”

Robert chuckled softly, lips brushing Herm’s ear. “Careful,” he said, amused. “You’re flustering him.”

“That’s the point,” Flambae replied.

He scooted closer, close enough now that Herm could feel warmth at his side, could smell faint smoke and something clean underneath it. Flambae didn’t touch him at first- just leaned in until his mouth was near Herm’s ear.

“You like it,” Flambae murmured. “The way he holds you. The way he kisses you like you’re his.”

Herm whimpered quietly, face burning. “I- I do,” he admitted, barely above a whisper.

Robert’s hand flexed at his throat, thumb brushing gently along his jaw. “Good,” he said, voice warm but unmistakably pleased.

Flambae’s lips brushed Herm’s ear, not quite a kiss. “Feels nice, doesn’t it?” he continued, teasing. “Being looked after. Being wanted.”

Herm nodded, breath coming shallow. “Y-yes.”

Robert leaned back just enough to look at him again, eyes dark but soft. “You’re doing beautifully,” he said. “Just tell us what you’re feeling.”

Herm swallowed, chest rising and falling fast. “I f-feel… safe,” he said honestly. “And- and warm. And kind of o-overwhelmed. But in a good way.”

Flambae huffed a quiet laugh. “Cute.”

Herm let out a tiny, embarrassed sound, which only seemed to encourage them.

Robert kissed him again, shorter this time, sweeter, before resting his forehead against Herm’s. “We’re not in a rush,” he said. “You don’t have to keep up with anything. We’ll move at your pace.”

Flambae reached out then, finally, fingers brushing lightly over Herm’s arm. “But,” he added, smirking, “that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun watching you fall apart over him.”

Herm hid his face briefly against Robert’s shoulder, mortified and thrilled all at once. “You’re mean.”

“I warned you,” Flambae said, unapologetic.

Robert laughed quietly, arms coming more securely around Herm as if to shield him, even while clearly enjoying every second of it. “Mean,” he agreed, “but not wrong.”

Herm peeked back up at them, heart racing, and let himself relax into the space between them - the couch, the warmth, the attention.

Robert’s voice stayed close, steady in Herm’s ear, even as his hands finally began to move with intent.

“Stay with me,” he murmured, one palm sliding from the cushion beside Herm’s head down along his side. “You’re doing great.”

Herm shivered at the praise, breath catching as Robert’s fingers found the seam of his suit. The zipper tugged gently, deliberately, just enough to make Herm acutely aware of every inch of contact. The sound of it - soft, drawn out - felt impossibly loud in the quiet room.

Flambae didn’t wait.

He leaned in from Herm’s other side, heat blooming instantly, one hand bracing against the back of the couch as he claimed Herm’s mouth. This kiss was nothing like Robert’s - no measured pauses, no careful pacing. Flambae kissed him hot and open, breath mingling, a low, pleased sound rumbling in his chest as Herm gasped softly against his lips.

Herm’s hands flew up without thinking, fingers curling into Flambae’s shirt as the kiss grew messier, wetter, louder. He could feel the difference immediately - where Robert steadied him, Flambae set him alight.

Robert noticed of course.

A quiet, approving sound left him as he worked the zipper down another inch, his knuckles brushing warm skin beneath the suit. “That’s it,” he said, voice low and almost indulgent. “You look so good like this. Letting yourself feel it.”

Herm whimpered, torn between the grounding pull of Robert’s voice and the overwhelming heat of Flambae’s mouth. Flambae kissed him like he was hungry, teeth grazing just enough to make Herm gasp, breath stuttering as a soft groan slipped free before he could stop it.

Flambae pulled back just long enough to murmur, “God, you sound like that just from kissing?” before diving back in, clearly pleased.

Herm’s face burned, but he didn’t pull away. Couldn’t. He melted instead, body instinctively arching a fraction as Robert’s hands eased the suit further open - never rushing, never taking more than Herm seemed ready to give.

“You’re allowed to be loud,” Robert said gently, as if reading his mind. “You’re safe here.”

Herm nodded weakly, eyes fluttering shut as Flambae kissed along his jaw, breath hot, lips lingering at the corner of his mouth. The contrast was dizzying - Robert’s calm, controlled presence behind him, Flambae’s fire at his side.

The zipper stopped halfway.

Robert paused there deliberately, and Herm could see his eyes lingering on the faint line of hair that he could now see leading down towards his groin. “Tell me if you want me to stop,” he said.

Herm swallowed, chest rising fast. “D-don’t,” he whispered. “Please.”

Robert smiled - Herm could hear it in his voice. “Good boy.”

Flambae let out a low, satisfied sound at that, hand tightening briefly at Herm’s waist as he kissed him again, slower this time, as if savoring the reaction.

Herm felt overwhelmed in the best possible way - warmth, heat, praise, attention coming from both sides until it felt like too much and somehow still not enough. He clung to them, breathing uneven, heart racing as he let himself be held in that space between control and fire.

Herm startled a little as the zipper slid lower, a rush of sensation following it that made his thoughts scatter completely. He made a soft, helpless sound into Flambae’s mouth—and then, all at once, panic cut through the haze.

“W-wait,” he blurted, hands tightening abruptly. His breath came quick, eyes flying open as he pulled back just enough to look between them. “I- I’m sorry, I just-”

Robert stopped immediately.

The zipper froze under his fingers, his hand still but warm at Herm’s side. “Hey,” he said calmly, not even a hint of frustration in his voice. “That’s okay. What’s going on?”

Flambae paused too, pulling back just far enough to look at Herm’s face. “What’s wrong, little one?” he asked, brows knitting - not sharp, just curious.

Herm swallowed hard, face flushing as his nerves rushed back in full force. He gestured weakly downward, then toward the couch, already noticing the faint dampness spreading beneath him. “I-I don’t want to- I mean-” He laughed breathlessly, mortified. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to n-not… do that. I don’t want to ruin y-your couch, Flambae. It’s really nice.”

For half a second, there was silence.

Then Flambae barked out a laugh.

“Oh my god,” he said, incredulous and fond all at once. “That’s what you’re worried about?”

Herm nodded miserably. “Y-yeah.”

Robert huffed a quiet chuckle behind him, the sound vibrating lightly against Herm’s back. “You’re adorable,” he murmured, one hand lifting to rest reassuringly at Herm’s waist. “But thank you for stopping us. That was the right thing to do.”

Flambae shook his head, still smiling as he leaned back in closer. “Relax,” he said easily. “I’ve got it handled.”

Herm blinked. “You- what?”

Flambae didn’t answer right away. Instead, he shifted closer, deliberately closing the distance again. The moment he did, Herm felt it - the warmth blooming around him, more focused now, more intentional. The faint chill of damp fabric faded, replaced by a steady, comforting heat that spread wherever Flambae was near.

Herm gasped softly, looking down in disbelief as the moisture stilled, evaporated, stopped building the way it usually did when his emotions ran high.

“…Oh,” he whispered.

Flambae smirked. “Told you.”

Robert’s hand slid gently over Herm’s side, curious but respectful. “That’s impressive,” he said, amused.

“Yeah, well,” Flambae replied, clearly pleased. “Perks of running hot the way I do. As long as I’m close, I can keep him mostly dry.” He leaned in again, lowering his voice near Herm’s ear. “So you don’t have to worry about making a mess. I won’t let you. At least not like that.”

Herm’s chest tightened at the certainty in his tone. “You- you really don’t mind?”

Flambae snorted softly. “Herm. If I minded you being you, we wouldn’t be here.”

That did something to him. Settled him, loosened the last of the tension wound tight in his shoulders. He nodded slowly, breath evening out as he let himself relax again.

Robert waited a beat longer, just to be sure. “Okay if I keep going?” he asked quietly.

“Yes,” Herm said, more confident this time. “I’m okay.”

“Good,” Robert murmured.

His fingers returned to the zipper, unhurried as he finished the motion he’d started earlier. The sound was soft, steady, accompanied by murmured praise that made Herm’s head spin all over again.

“Such a good job telling us,” Robert said. “You’re doing everything right.”

Herm exhaled shakily, eyes fluttering shut as Flambae leaned back in, pressing a warm, lingering kiss to his cheek, then his mouth again, slow and heated, but not rushing him.

Between Robert’s calm, guiding presence and Flambae’s steady warmth, Herm felt himself settle back into the moment. Or at least, he tried to.

Herm’s chest was rising and falling a little too quickly, each inhale sharper than the last. Robert noticed it first, the slight tremor in his shoulders, the way his fingers clutched at the front of his shirt like he was trying to anchor himself.

“Hey,” Robert murmured, voice soft but firm, leaning back slightly to give Herm a bit more room. “You’re… breathing a little fast. Let’s pause for a second, yeah?”

Herm blinked, startled. “I-I’m fine,” he tried to insist, but his voice was shaky, betraying him. Flambae’s eyes narrowed just slightly, sharp with concern, though the corners of his mouth were twitching in that familiar, teasing half-smile.

“You’re not fine,” Flambae said, reaching out to tuck Herm between them more securely. “You’re shaking, and your chest… come on, Herm. Let’s not do this all at once.”

Herm’s knees gave a little, and he exhaled shakily. He wanted to keep going - he had never been so eager to feel close to anyone - but the rapid rush of everything had overwhelmed him more than he expected. He let himself sink back against the couch cushions, Robert to his right  and Flambae pressing warmly against his left.

“C’mon,” Robert murmured into his ear, voice grounding. “Lean back. Let’s just… hang out for a bit. No pressure.”

Flambae shifted so that Herm was effectively sandwiched in the best way possible. Robert nestled into Herm’s side, Flambae on his other, his hand resting lightly over Herm’s stomach. That warmth, that steady pressure, was enough to quiet the frantic rhythm of Herm’s heartbeat a little. And somehow, Flambae’s proximity still managed to keep the dampness at bay, letting Herm melt into the comfort without worrying.

“Television?” Flambae asked softly, nodding toward the small screen mounted on the wall. “We can distract you with something dumb while you… recalibrate.”

Herm managed a breathless laugh, nodding weakly. “Y-yeah… sounds good.”

They put on a show - something silly, loud, and full of jokes - and Herm rested his head against Robert’s chest, legs slightly draped over Flambae’s lap. Every so often, either man would press a little closer during a punchline or scene transition, warm hands brushing against his sides, back, or knees. Small touches that made him gasp softly, heart racing, yet grounded because he knew they were aware, they cared.

After a while, the kissing started again. It began with little pecks from Robert on his arm, dotting over freckles and scars that Herm had long forgotten the stories of. 

Herm felt a thrill run through him at each touch, each careful, intimate press of lips against his skin. Robert’s hands moved with deliberate patience, tracing the lines of his shoulders, skimming over his arms, learning the rhythm of Herm’s reactions. Flambae’s kisses started slower, lingering in heated swirls along his jaw, his neck, teasing enough to make Herm squirm yet steady enough that he never felt unmoored.

“God, you’re so soft,” Flambae murmured, voice low and rough, one hand slipping to brush the underside of Herm’s forearm, fingers feather-light. “It’s ridiculous.”

Herm’s laugh caught, breath hitching. “I-I’m… not used to this…”

Robert’s lips pressed against Herm’s temple, a soft chuckle vibrating through him. “Not used to being wanted?”

Herm shook his head, heat spreading into his chest. “I- I’ve wanted it… just… not like this.” His fingers fumbled weakly against the fabric of Robert’s shirt, clutching at the solid warmth beneath.

Flambae’s grin was wicked but tender. “Not like this, huh? Careful, little one. We might just have to show you every way it can be.”

Herm flushed, swallowing hard at the idea, at the intent in Flambae’s gaze, at the deliberate, measured attention of Robert. Between the two of them, he felt pinned, enveloped, and cradled all at once - terrifying and exhilarating.

Robert shifted slightly, hand moving lower to rest over Herm’s hip, fingers brushing deliberately at the curve. “You feel amazing like this,” he murmured, lips brushing over Herm’s jawline. “All of you. Just… like this.”

Herm shivered at the affirmation, body taut, heart hammering against his ribs. He tilted his head, giving in to the dual warmth of their presence, feeling Flambae’s hands ghost over his sides, down to his thighs, brushing gently, coaxing him to relax.

Herm exhaled shakily, letting himself fall further into the couch, into them, into the embrace of Robert’s and Flambae’s attentions. The world outside - the missions, the tension, the fear - felt impossibly distant. All that mattered now was the way he felt alive under their touch, the way heat, affection, and unspoken promises coursed through him.

Robert’s lips found his again, this time softer, slower, a gentle grounding presence as Flambae’s kisses trailed along the line of his neck, teasing and igniting at once. Herm’s hands moved to clutch at both of them, anchoring himself as sensation built in waves, overwhelming yet comforting.

“What do you say to finally moving this into the bedroom?” Robert murmured, eyes focused on Waterboy’s face. 

Herm blinked at Robert, breath catching in his throat. The words made his stomach flutter and his pulse spike. “B-bedroom?” he echoed, voice small, unsure.

Robert’s lips curved into a slow, fond smile. “Yeah,” he murmured, thumb brushing gently over Herm’s cheek. “We’ve been careful, and now, if you’re ready… we can move somewhere a little more… private.”

Flambae’s grin was mischievous, but his hand stayed reassuringly at Herm’s waist. “Private, huh? I can think of a few ways to make it worth your while,” he teased softly, tone low and intimate, eyes dark with heat. His thumb traced absent-minded circles at the curve of Herm’s hip.

Herm’s chest tightened, heat blooming between his legs at the words, the tone, the nearness of both of them. His hands went to clutch at Robert’s chest instinctively, seeking grounding, and he felt Flambae’s hand tighten just slightly at his side, anchoring him. He could barely speak, words trapped behind the frantic rhythm of his heartbeat.

“I-I think… I’m ready,” Herm whispered finally, breath shaky. “If… if you both still want me there.”

Robert chuckled softly, lips brushing over Herm’s temple. “Do we ever not?” he asked, voice low, teasing, but completely sincere. “Come on then.”

Herm nodded, clinging to both of them as they led him down the hallway. The apartment felt warmer now, smaller, and intimate. He could feel their presence all around him - Robert slightly ahead, guiding the way with calm assurance, Flambae close behind, teasingly warm, heat pressing gently along his back. Every step sent shivers of anticipation through him.

When they reached the bedroom door, Robert paused, hand on the handle. His eyes met Herm’s, soft but intense. “You sure?” he asked, thumb brushing Herm’s cheek in a familiar, grounding gesture.

Herm nodded, swallowing hard. “Y-yes,” he whispered. “Please.”

Robert’s smile was gentle, full of warmth and certainty. He opened the door slowly, stepping aside for Herm to enter first. Flambae nudged him forward with a teasing smirk, letting his warmth linger close behind. Herm stepped in and was immediately struck by how inviting the room felt - soft lighting, neatly made bed, personal touches that made it feel lived-in but intimate. 

As the door closed behind them, Flambae leaned in, lips brushing along Herm’s jaw again, whispering, “Now it’s really just us.”

Robert followed, hands moving to rest on Herm’s hips, guiding him toward the center of the bed.

Herm’s heart raced as he sank onto the soft mattress, the warmth of both men enveloping him. Robert settled at his side, fingers tracing along his jaw and down his arm, while Flambae leaned in from the other side, lips pressing along his collarbone, hand ghosting over the curve of his hip.

Robert’s hand moved lower, brushing along his stomach, fingers light but deliberate. “If at any point you want to stop, tell us,” he murmured. “No pressure, Herm.”

Flambae’s hand skimmed over Herm’s thigh, teasing the edges, warm and grounding. “But if you want to keep going… we’ll show you everything,” he said, voice low, rough, playful.

Herm’s chest rose and fell rapidly, mind spinning from the dual sensations - the tender patience of Robert, the smoldering fire of Flambae. He shivered, heart hammering, breath shaky, and for the first time, he let himself fully sink into the promise, the reality, of being between them.

“Yes,” he whispered finally. “I want… this.”

Herm’s words hung in the air like a spark, igniting something deeper in both of them. Robert’s thumb lingered at his cheek a moment longer, then slowly trailed down to rest at Herm’s stomach, fingers splaying lightly underneath his belly button. Flambae’s hand brushed over the sensitive line where Herm’s hips met his torso, grounding him even as the heat from his touch made his stomach coil in anticipation.

He didn’t really acknowledge when the rest of his suit was discarded, along with his goggles and everything else he’d been wearing. Robert was now hastily undressing, naked except for his boxers, the outline of his dick bulging through the grey fabric. Herm whimpered at the sight, his own dick pulsing at the base with need. He  felt vulnerable, legs spread wantonly across the sheets. Robert then nestled in between his legs, and after one soft kiss on the inner expanse of his thigh, a squeak erupting from Herm’s mouth, Robert pushed a digit into Herm’s ass and groaned at the feel.

Herm hadn’t felt more full in his life. It had been a while since he’d played with any of his toys, and a hookup had been out of the question while he’d been so busy working for SDN, especially on the Z Team. He was startled at the noise that erupted from him as Robert began to thrust his finger in and out, in and out, the wet squelching making Herm blush dramatically. 

Herm’s body arched instinctively as Robert pushed his finger deeper, the unexpected fullness making him shiver. “Ah-Robert… oh!” he gasped, fingers clutching at the sheets.

Flambae leaned in closer, lips brushing along Herm’s shoulder as he murmured, low and teasing, “Look at you, so wet for him.” His hand slid over Herm’s side, thumb grazing the sensitive skin just under his ribs, grounding him against the mattress.

Herm’s hips lifted slightly on their own, thrusting against Robert’s hand without thinking. “Mmph- Robert,” he whimpered, voice trembling as his senses became a blur of heat and sensation.

Robert hummed approvingly, lips brushing the inside of Herm’s thigh with a feather-light kiss. “That’s it, baby… just like that,” he murmured, fingers moving in slow, deliberate circles inside him, watching Herm’s reactions with careful attention.

Flambae’s mouth trailed down Herm’s neck, teeth grazing gently over the hollow of his throat. “You sound so good… makes me want to hear more,” he said, voice rough, and then kissed him firmly, tasting Herm’s breath, nipping gently.

Herm moaned, arching between them, one hand reaching to clutch at Flambae’s hair. “Ah! Oh… oh god-please…”

Robert chuckled against Herm’s skin, the vibration sending shivers down his spine. “Patience, little one. You’ve got us here… we’re not going anywhere,” he murmured, slipping another finger inside Herm with a slow, steady push. Robert shifted, pressing gentle, deliberate kisses along the inside of Herm’s thigh while keeping his fingers steady inside him. Flambae’s hands and lips continued their relentless exploration, each touch balanced between grounding and igniting.

Herm’s soft noises, half moans, half squeaks, filled the room as the pleasure built, pulsing in his lower belly and spreading through his chest. Every brush of lips, every teasing stroke made him melt further into the bed, trapped deliciously between them.

Herm gasped, whimpers and moans spilling out uncontrollably, every inch of him alight with sensation, completely and utterly theirs. “Alright, I think that’s enough prep for you,” Robert said, raising himself back up onto the mattress with a crack coming from his knees. He settled in front of Herm, and placed one of Herm’s hands onto the lip of his boxers. “Be a good boy and take these off for me, won’t you?”

Robert’s gaze flicked up to Herm’s face as soon as the words left his mouth, watching him carefully for any hint of hesitation. His thumb brushed once over Herm’s knuckles, slow and reassuring, like he was reminding him that this was still a choice. Herm swallowed, eyes flicking down to where his hand rested against the waistband of Robert’s boxers, then back up again. His face was burning hot, chest tight with nerves and anticipation, but he nodded anyway, a small, earnest motion.

“O-okay,” he whispered.

Herm made a soft, embarrassed noise, but his fingers curled anyway, hesitating only a moment before tugging gently at the fabric. Robert sucked in a quiet breath as the waistband slid down his hips, the sound doing something dangerous to Herm’s stomach. He watched as Robert hefted a leg off the bed to fully toss his boxers off, focusing once again on Herm after doing so.

Herm couldn’t look at anything other than the erection that jutted from Robert’s pelvis. He had a pretty dick, uncut with a pink head that glistened with precum. He had neatly trimmed hair, nothing outrageous like Herm had seen on men he’d slept with in his past, and he internally cheered that he’d been chosen by people who knew proper hygiene instead of assuming since he was someone with a water superpower that he wouldn’t care.

“Before you say anything, it’ll be Bob Bob fucking you tonight,” Flambae voiced from where he now rested propped up against pillows, his dick in his hand. “I kissed you first, so it’s only fair. Although I won’t be this fair in the future, so beware, Bobert.”

Herm blushed, all of a sudden shy. “Y-you’re sure? I’m… I could.. try?” 

Robert shushed him with a finger over his lips, his eyes hooded as he looked at Herm. “No, no. Chad can wait. Let me have my way with you first, baby, okay? There’ll be opportunities in the future for you to get fucked by both of us in one night, don’t worry.” Herm’s stomach did flips at the pet name, grinned embarrassingly wide as Robert hooked one of his legs over his shoulder, positioning his dick at Herm’s entrance and pushing in in one fleeting motion.

“A-ah! O-oh, God-” Herm began babbling the minute Robert set the pace, not too fast but definitely not slow, and Herm winced as he felt the telling heat in his groin building. Robert changed small things about their positioning, switching between either of Herm’s legs on his shoulders and then folding him like a pretzel, hitting an angle that had Herm squealing into the night, Flambae groaning as he furiously jerked off beside them.

“Oh! Oh, Ro-obert, please,” Herm begged, thrilled when his words had Robert fucking him harder, deeper, causing the man to moan loudly above him.

“Fuck, you’re both so hot, this is fucked up,” Flambae said angrily, and Herm now noticed he had moved towards the two of them, was positioning his dick over Herm’s stomach as Robert pistoned into him, groaning along with Herm as he did so.

The anticipation of what was building grew into something that felt like it filled the entire room. Robert had grabbed Herm’s hips and began using them as leverage, the cadence of their moans reaching a higher pitch, indicating that they were both close. Flambae sounded similar, his hand moving so fast Herm could’ve sworn he saw sparks. Before he could stop himself, though, he reached a hand out towards Flambae and wrapped it around the man’s dick, in awe at how hot it was under his touch. 

“Oh shit,” Flambae ground out between his teeth, reaching up to card one of his hands through his hair. He looked like a God, Herm thought to himself as Flambae came over his face, managing to catch a bit of his seed as he opened his mouth. His dick pulsed, trapped between his stomach and Robert’s, at the knowledge that he got to see Flambae like this. Taste him like this, too.

It all set Herm’s skin on fire. “I-ah! I-i think I’m g-going to-” Herm started, his voice ratcheting higher than it had before. Robert’s thrusts began to get sloppy, the pace slowing down as sweat began beading along Robert’s hairline. “Yes, fuck, cum for me baby, be a good boy and let go, we’re here for you, you’re all ours-”

Herm saw constellations explode behind his eyes as he came, shooting over his stomach and Robert’s as he fucked into Herm a handful of times before cumming himself, filling Herm with a worn-out groan as he flopped on top of him.

The silence immediately afterward wasn’t awkward, nor deafening. The three of their voices panted from exertion, a humidity settling over the room, no doubt from Herm and Flambae’s powers mingling together without control.

“I-I think we need a-um, uh. A dehumidifier?” Herm said, and squeaked in surprise as Flambae laughed lightly beside him.

“You’re right, Herm. I’ll ask my sister to buy one when she’s at the store next.” Herm sighed as Flambae pushed his hand through his hair, drying it from the dampness that had accumulated while they hadn’t been pressed against one another. Robert sighed from where he rested on Herm’s body, and then groaned in disgust as he pulled away and felt the stickiness between them.

“I’m going to get a towel before this gets even worse,” Robert said, gently rising up off of the bed, tapping over to the bathroom. 

“Quick, or else I lick it off, Bobert!” Flambae shouted, grinning.

“I’d like to see you try,” Robert commented sarcastically from the other room, and Waterboy smiled.

He could most definitely get used to this.