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It was never meant to last longer than one night.
Chad invited Herman over on a whim, hoping to get a good fuck out of the water hero and then go back to hating him. Unfortunately one night turned into two, then a week, then two weeks. Now Herman is over every night, sleeping in his bed and eating dinner with him. They pair disgustingly well and Chad can feel his temper calm when he’s around the other man, even if he does still push him around during missions. The way he treats Waterboy when they’re alone is for his eyes only. At least it was.
————
Chad ignores the heat licking up the back of his neck, the frustrations bubbling in his chest are making his powers act up. Robert is saying something about missions and teamwork but Flambae’s eyes are locked onto Waterboy across the table, watching every bit of water drip down his face. His gaze pulls away to Robert when Herman looks over at him, an embarrassed flush now coating his face. The flames on his shoulders grow stronger and start to seep down to his arms.
Robert glances over and raises a brow “problem with the presentation?” He questions, directing all the other Z-team members attention to the flamed up supe. Chad tsks and crosses his arms “Just that it’s boring as shit and I’m exhausted from today,” he huffs out. Prism gives a dramatic yawn “He’s right, no one cares about your fuckin’ PowerPoints. We want to go home, some of us have lives outside of work,” she snarks at the dispatcher.
Robert shoots her a look and checks his watch “Alright, but I seriously need all of you to do better tomorrow.”
Flambae stops listening once he agrees. He stands up and walks towards the door, the glow of his flames following after him. Chad waits patiently in the parking lot, watching heroes and dispatchers either fly or drive off. The last one to come out is Waterboy, already fidgeting his hands together nervously. Herman stumbles over to him and gives a short nod in greeting.
Chad knows the exact reason for his spiked anxieties, but he says nothing as he carefully scoops up the man and flies off. The flight to his apartment is short. He lands on the fire escape and sets Herman down before opening the window and climbing in. He’s already in the kitchen by the time Herman follows after and shuts the window.
”How’s ravioli for tonight?” Chad calls out, already pulling out the leftover pasta dough and some spinach.
He hesitates when there’s no response.
He turns around and finds Herman standing in the kitchen entrance, gaze trained on the floor. “My- uhm I-I wanted to sorr- apologize…” he stutters out. Chad sets down the dough and approaches slowly. Herman steps back, nearly slipping on the puddle on the floor, his powers are acting up with his emotions. “Was an accident- I didn’t t-think- know…I didn’t know,” he mumbles quietly.
Chad lifts Waterboy’s chin up to meet his gaze “Is ravioli alright for dinner?” He repeats the question. Herman furrows his brows up in confusion “yes. I-I like every that—anything that you cook,” he answers, the confusion lacing his tone only makes the other smile.
”Listen to me pequeña llama, nothing you could do would piss me off,” Chad says softly, a stark contrast to his personality on the job. “I know that before all this, I was a complete ass,” he sighs before continuing “but your stupid face makes me…happy. So like it or not, we’re stuck together.”
Herman hesitates before his shoulders begin to tremble and tears well up in his eyes. “Oh no,” Chad whispers. The water hero engulfs him in a tight hug, thoroughly soaking his supersuit and making Chad’s flames reignite. “I-I’m thanking—t-thankful to be stuck with you,” Herman hums out.
Chad let’s his smile widen as he pulls the other away “alright, go change and find a movie puddle boy,” he huffs, turning to the fridge to hide the flush on his face. Herman nods and hurries off.
————
Chad scrunches his nose up at Waterboy as he brings in two bowls of steaming hot spinach ravioli. “That’s my shirt, I thought we just brought over a bunch of your clothes,” he points out. Herman takes one of the bowls with an excited smile “they’re all mois—w-wet, need to be washed,” he explains “not my fault,” he mumbles the last bit. Flambae raises a brow but sits down without further questioning, too tired and hungry to care. “Looks good on you,” he adds on before taking a bite of the food. Herman blushes a bright red and directs all his focus to the fork in his hand.
They eat and watch a movie in mostly silence until Waterboy finishes his food and sits far from Flambae, his fingers digging into the couch nervously. Chad glances at him and lets his eyes roll in annoyance before he sets down his bowl and pulls the boy against him. “I told you it was fine, are you still being a baby?” He questions harshly, immediately regretting it when Herman shrinks in on himself. “That’s not what I…” Chad sighs and nuzzles his nose into Herman’s neck.
The water hero squirms and leans his head back, a very appreciated invitation. Chad peppers kisses along his neck as Herman whimpers and grips at his hair. An annoying ringing comes from his phone on the coffee table, unfortunately pulling Chad from the hickey forming on Herman’s collar bone. He grabs the device and growls at the screen “fucking Robert,” he grumbles but accepts the call anyway, placing it on speakerphone. “What do you want, little dick bitch?” Chad calls out as his lips return to Herman’s neck.
”How professional. We need you on a mission here, the others aren’t responding,” Robert explains, clearly too tired to think of a comeback. Chad scoffs and buries his hands up into Herman’s shirt “I’m off the clock, go bother your girlfriend to do it,” he speaks, muffled against Waterboy’s lips. Roberts sighs heavy “Courtney is still injured from Waterboy’s…mishap today,” he says. Chad doesn’t care to answer as he shoves his tongue into Herman’s mouth, pulling a whine from the boy.
Robert groans “Oh my god, please don’t tell me you’re with someone right now,” his disgust is very clear. Chad pulls away and grins “you call me on my off time, what did you expect?” He snickers. The dispatcher sighs and pauses for a moment “Okay. Just…fuck,” he mumbles “fine, I’ll try contacting someone else.”
”Mhm, that’s a great idea Bob Bob,” Chad hums, his focus entirely back on Herman’s neck. Robert scoffs and ends the call abruptly. “W-was that a good idea?” Herman speaks quietly, barely stuttering as he tugs gently on Chad’s hair. “They are going to find out soon enough dewdrop,” Flambae responds gently, his own hands finding their way to Herman’s pants.
Before they can go further, there’s that same annoying ringing. Chad grunts and grabs his phone but finds a blank screen. Herman quickly fishes his own phone out of his pocket and his eyes widen “It’s call—R-Robert is calling me,” he stumbles over his words. Waterboy tries to deny the call but Chad snatches the phone with a malicious grin. He answers the call and puts it on speakerphone “you still need something, little dick bitch?” Chad enjoys the way Herman’s face flushes bright red.
There’s a short pause, likely Robert checking he called the right hero, “Flambae? Is this your phone?” He questions. Chad chuckles “no,” is all he says. Another short pause. “Did you steal Waterboy’s phone? I told you, it’s another strike if you bully him again,” Robert threatens, now sounding more upset than confused. Chad hums and brings the phone closer to Herman “He’s right here, say hello Hermie.”
Herman shakes his head at first as he hides behind his hands, too embarrassed to speak. Chad clicks his tongue and leans close to him “be my good boy dewdrop, I know you can,” he whispers gently against Herman’s ear, quiet enough to ensure the phone won’t pick it up. Waterboy shudders before pulling away his hands “h-hi Robert…” he mumbles.
The phone is silent for a minute before Robert sighs long and heavy “Okay. Tell me you’re not in danger, kid,” he speaks slowly, like he already knows that isn’t the case. “I’m not! N-no dangerous…d-dangers here,” Herman speaks quickly.
”Jesus Christ…I can’t deal with this right now. I expect him completely uninjured at the office tomorrow Chad. If he has even one bruise, then I assume the worst and you’re suspended,” Robert explains. Chad rolls his eyes “yeah yeah, no bruises,” he replies halfheartedly before ending the call and dropping the phone. Flambae licks his tongue over his lips and leans down close to Herman “I have a great idea dewdrop,” he hums.
————
Robert steps into the break room and can feel any bit of joy left in his body immediately run screaming from the sight in-front of him. Waterboy is backed into the counter, his hands fidgeting nervously as Flambae grins and whispers some cheesy pickup line into his ear. When Herman notices Robert he lightly shoves Chad away and stands up straight “B-boss! I was—w-we we’re just…” his words trail off into nothing as Flambae’s hands find his waist.
Robert glances at the dark hickeys on Waterboy’s neck and could almost laugh at Flambae’s sense of humor. Instead he just takes a deep breath “Don’t let it effect your work, ‘kay?” Is all he says. Herman nods quickly and Chad shrugs “maybe,” he teases. Robert narrows his eyes, grabs a mug of coffee and leaves without another word. He’s well aware those two will become a very big problem, but for now he’s enjoying his morning coffee and giving Beef a treat.