“Okay, and you’re still taking your medicine daily?”

Robin slumps back on the bed he’s currently seated on, situated against the wall. His mother eyes him for any sign of disrespect, but he learned long ago to be nice to adults. She just has this weird impression that Jude is rubbing off on him.

“Yeah.”

Doctor Eric nods, and Robin folds his hands together. The man types something out on his computer, before stopping and turning to fully face the teenager. Here we go.

“You’ve been taking heat suppressants and scent blockers every day since you presented, you’ve hardly even experienced a heat. You do realize how unhealthy this is, right?”

Most omegas only take suppressants to make their heats more manageable, not to get rid of them entirely. Robin started taking suppressants before he ever had his first heat, right after he presented, which were expensive but after a lot of pleading his mother conceded. Suppressing your heats entirely is dangerous, because when you eventually don’t take your medicine and have one, it can be unbearable without help—and once it’s started, no medicine can stop it. Robin could literally be driven to complete carnal desire or even insanity.

Robin decided a long time ago it was worth it.

He bites the inside of his cheek, breaking eye contact. He really does not like to discuss this. It’s just... awkward and uncomfortable. He’s not used to people knowing he’s an omega, and it’s weird to openly talk about it. He wants to get back to his normal life of pretending like he hasn’t presented.

“I know,” Robin mumbles, scratching his arm. He doesn’t have the doctor that originally prescribed him the suppressants anymore, because apparently the guy messed up and should not have allowed Robin to get on the medication so early. His new doctor has had a problem with it ever since.

Doctor Eric sighs. “I know that this is about that alpha friend of yours,” he states, and Robin stares down at his fidgety hands. “Robin, look at me.”

Begrudgingly, Robin raises his eyes to meet his doctor’s, who is giving him a meaningful look. “I want you to think about telling him. Sometime soon, because you can’t go on like this forever.”

Over Robin’s dead body.

“Okay,” he falsely concedes, and that seems to pacify the doctor for now.

He has no intention of listening. Doctor Eric has been telling him the same thing for two years now, but Robin flat refuses. He takes his pills religiously—has two separate alarms on his phone. Jude is never going to find out. He can’t find out.

Robin doesn’t know if the guy would treat him differently, however, he has to be safe. He can’t be optimistic about this. Secondary genders have ruined friendships, torn families apart, and Jude is the most important person in the world to Robin. He prefers the risk if it doesn’t jeopardize their relationship.

A life without Jude... no, Robin doesn’t even want to think about it.

He’s keeping this secret, he doesn’t care if he hurts himself in the process. Anything’s better than losing Jude.

Robin just can’t risk it.

-

“Okay, stay still.” Jude says, wrapping some Saran Wrap around Robin’s shoulders and partially on his neck. Robin rolls his eyes, like he hasn’t done this a million times. Jude can be so dramatic sometimes.

Robin starts picking at his hangnail, seated on the desk chair that Jude rolled into the bathroom. He stares at himself in the mirror, then glances at Jude, who seems to be positioning the Saran Wrap perfectly on Robin’s shoulders. Honestly, they’re only dying his roots, there isn’t a need for all this.

Jude reaches around him and puts the little ear caps on him, then starts mixing the dye with the hair coloring brush. He has these huge black gloves on that go up to his elbows, and he is obviously taking his job seriously. Like dying roots is some kind of intricate process. It might be if you don’t have years of experience.

Robin smiles, but doesn’t say anything. Instead, he asks, “did Mrs. Henderson give out homework today?”

Robin wasn’t paying attention in class, but he remembers getting a few papers towards the end of it. Thankfully Jude is much more organized than he is, because this isn’t exactly an uncommon thing.

Jude starts running his hands through Robin’s hair, finally taking the brush out of the dye and beginning to actually paint Robin’s roots. Absentmindedly, he replies, “yeah, she gave out a study guide. I think it’s optional, though.”

Robin frowns, already knowing that he needs to do that. He’s noticed that when he does study guides, his tests tend to improve a whole letter grade. His mom will kill him if he gets anything below a C, so he’ll take what he can get. He makes plans to get it done after his hair is finished.

A few minutes go by of Jude focusing, and Robin finding the fact that he takes this job so seriously absolutely hilarious. Then, he asks, “so what did the doctor say?”

Robin can’t help but to frown, momentarily grateful that Jude is so focused on his hair. He doesn’t see the omega’s mood change entirely. Still, Robin keeps a neutral voice when he responds;

“Fine. He said I’ll probably present... sometime.”

Jude snorts, parting more of Robin’s hair and continuing the dyeing job. “That’s helpful,” he says sarcastically. Robin half smiles.

Robin goes quiet for a while, just watching Jude in the mirror. He’s not even paying attention to Robin, too focused on painting the black hair dye onto Robin’s inch or so of blond roots. Jude’s caramel brown hair has been cut shorter on the sides, so the front is sweeping in his face as he continues taking this dying job deathly serious.

Robin basically just watches Jude until the guy finishes, putting a shower cap on his head and preparing to wait for the next half hour. He walks into his bedroom and turns the tv on while he waits, sorting through the channels and taking a seat on his bed. Jude lays next to him.

He gets in the shower thirty minutes later, and that’s how Monday goes.

One thing that needs to be noted, is the fact that Jude is quite literally the most intimidating person in their entire school. Almost nobody dares to fuck with him. He’s gotten in far too many fights to count, and he just has a naturally powerful aura. Add on the fact that he’s an alpha, and people stay out of his way.

That said, most people steer clear of Robin as well, despite the fact that he’s a prime target for bullying. The fact he hasn’t presented is more than enough fuel for people to treat him differently, and the only way it would be worse is if people knew he was an omega. Male omegas are looked down quite a bit in society. Most of them aren’t even open about it.

Also, he dresses like a 14 year old that just discovered the wonders of Hot Topic and listens to bad indie songs in their room at night. He stands out, which people don’t like. At least, not in his case.

Anyway, anyone that has ever messed with Robin has met Jude’s wrath. People don’t really do it. That is, except Miles and his crew.

Jude and Miles are the most notable people in the school. When something important happens, one of the two are usually involved. They both have the best grades—though Jude is technically the first in their class, Miles second. They’re both alphas, with a striking and powerful presence and a muscular build. If Jude wasn’t, well, Jude, he and Miles would be remarkably similar. They radiate don’t-fuck-with-me-energy, which many find captivating.

Their only difference is that Miles is evil and wants to see Robin suffer. He absolutely despises Robin, mostly because the omega is nearly untouchable.

Sadly, though, the guy has learned Jude and Robin’s individual schedules, and knows just when to strike without facing a confrontation. Robin doesn’t like to feel like a damsel in distress, so he’s yet to really ask for Jude’s help on the matter. He doesn’t need Jude to save him, he can handle himself.

This mindset gets him in trouble. A lot.

Robin is in the middle of putting his books in his locker, right after third period. It’s technically lunch, but he hasn’t made it to the cafeteria yet. However, he drops all the books and papers he’d been holding when he’s roughly grabbed and slammed against the locker.

He is met with the sight of none other than Miles Novak, two feet away and staring down at Robin with an ugly snarl on his face.

“Where’s your boyfriend, Bird Boy?”

Miles calls him that all the time, which doesn’t make much sense to Robin. It’s supposed to be an insult, but robins are birds. He says it like it should be hurtful, but Robin doesn’t feel offended.

What does get under his skin, is when anybody talks about Jude in a negative way, including mockingly referring to them as a couple. It’s nearly as bad as when someone hints at the fact that he’s Jude’s sidekick or that he in anyway needs to rely on Jude for things, including saving him.

“Eating lunch, probably,” Robin replies, not even feeling up to denying the dating assumption. Miles doesn’t actually believe that the two are together, he’s just being a prick. He tries to find any way to get to Robin.

Miles gets up in Robin’s face, pinning him with a forearm against his throat, pressing down roughly. It’s enough to be uncomfortable.

“I wonder what he’ll think,” Miles says, “when you finally present as an omega—he’ll probably let me beat you into a fucking pulp.”

Robin frowns. Yeah, Miles is absolutely positive that when Robin does ‘finally present’, he’s gonna be an omega. It sort of bothers Robin that the guy is basically right. Still, he doesn’t let it show on his face.

“You should probably let me go soon,” Robin reasons, staring up at the bully that is over twice his size. “If I’m gone too long Jude’ll look for me.”

“I’m not scared of Jude-Fucking-Silas,” Miles snarls. Right, Robin forgot that was a trigger for him. He just wants to avoid conflict, he wasn’t trying to imply anything. “I could turn him into fucking toothpaste.”

Robin has to suppress his amusement, because there is a reason Jude is feared. He’s never lost a fight—actually, Robin has seen Miles fight Jude before. Jude got some good hits in before they were separated, and Miles was a bloody mess.

“I’m sure,” Robin replies. “But I think we’re both hungry right now, so...”

Miles presses even harder on Robin’s jugular, narrowing his eyes. Robin can’t help but to choke a bit, but he recovers quickly. Honestly, the things he’d do to get this guy to leave him alone. He’s missing lunch!

“I hope you tell fucking Jude. Tell him to come do something about it, too. I’d love to ruin that pretty face of his.”

With that, Miles turns around and walks away. The three people that were with him give Robin passing glares, and he tries not to roll his eyes. He makes his way to the cafeteria, not even bothering to get any food, and walks to the table he usually sits at with Jude. The guy always saves a spot for Robin, but the rest of the occupants of the table change daily.

He takes the empty spot beside Jude, who immediately looks over at him, face questioning. He’s probably wondering why Robin is late. Then, he glances at Robin’s most likely red or bruising neck, and his expression darkens.

“Robin.”

Robin folds his arms on the table, then reaches over and starts eating the fries on Jude’s tray. The other people at the table quiet down when Robin arrives, but start up conversation pretty quickly after that. Robin just hums in response. He’s definitely about to eat all of Jude’s fries.

“Why do you look messed up?” Jude asks, and Robin glances up at him, catching sight of his less than happy expression. He probably already knows.

“Miles says hi.”

"Robin.”

Robin rolls his eyes. “I can handle myself, drop it.”

“Obviously not, your neck is fucking red.” Jude starts moving to get up. “I swear to god, that fucking douchebag—”

Robin grabs Jude’s arm, pulling him back so he’s sitting properly. The guy has to let him do it, because Robin is nowhere near strong enough to overpower him. He hates it when Jude gets like this, like Robin is weak. The last thing he wants is Jude getting in trouble over something this stupid.

“It’s over, Jude, let it go.”

“But he does this all the fucking time, I’m sick of it.”

“Stop,” Robin states, frowning at Jude. “I don’t need you to protect me.”

“Clearly you fucking do—”

“I don’t,” Robin states, resolute, tone final. Jude gets an even angrier expression on his face. “It doesn’t bother me, so don’t let it get to you either.”

Jude studies Robin’s face up and down, then notes the fact that everyone at the table is staring at them. Practically huffing like a child, he faces forward with a pissed off look on his face, not even touching his food.

Robin rolls his eyes at the over dramatic alpha, and continues eating off his plate.

Honestly, the things he does to keep the peace.