Going to the doctor is as much of an event as always.

Robin has to leave his phone at home to avoid being tracked, and he drives there himself. It’s weird going without his mom, but he thinks he could get used to it. He is prepared, he has his wallet and insurance card. Still, upon arrival he can’t help but feel nervous.

Robin somewhat knows what to expect, but this visit will still be different. He won’t have his mom, which means he can be more honest. Also, this is the first time he’s ever actually had something wrong. All the other appointments have been routine check ups, this is the first time he’s had a reason.

Robin makes his way into the building, checking in with the lady and waiting until his name gets called. After being brought to an examination room, he sits in a chair and waits for Dr. Eric. He can’t help but feel nervous.

What is Robin even going to say? How should he word this, without sounding completely pathetic? He seriously does not know, he doesn’t usually speak for himself like this. Unfortunately, he has to wait about five more minutes for the doctor to appear—each of which feel like an hour.

When Dr. Eric does finally enter the room, Robin straightens up. His nerves increase tenfold, and he fidgets with his jacket sleeve as the doctor smiles at him.

“Haven’t seen you in a while,” the doctor says, and it’s clear that he’s joking due to the fact that Robin was only here a little over a month ago. Typically this is a yearly thing. He smiles, and he knows it’s a bit awkward but he doesn’t operate well in new situations.

“So what’s been going on? Helen said you’re having problems with your medicine?”

Robin nods. Here goes. “Yeah, uh, I think I’m getting a tolerance.”

The doctor frowns, and that can’t be a good sign. “Are they not working? You can’t develop a tolerance for suppressants.”

Huh? That’s the only reason Robin could think of, though. He can’t help but to frown because he really wasn’t expecting that. Robin doesn’t know what to say now, because it’s not necessarily that the medicine isn’t working, it’s just been less effective recently.

“Oh. Well it hasn’t been working as well.” Is all Robin can think to say,

Dr. Eric’s eyebrows pinch together a bit, and he begins clicking around on his computer. Robin isn’t sure what to do right now, so he just sits there and stares at the floor while he waits for the doctor to say something.

“You are on Vivoxitrol for your scent, and Omeveset for your heats, correct?”

“Yes.”

“So there’s been no issues for three years, but lately you’ve been having problems?”

Robin nods.

“What’s been going on? I’m not sure I completely understand.”

Okay, wow. Robin really does not want to explain this. He genuinely contemplates saying never mind and showing himself out. However, he wants to cure whatever has been going on with him more than he’d like to leave the situation.

“Well, lately when I’ve been around my best friend—”

“The alpha?” Dr. Eric clarifies. Robin nods.

“Yeah. I’ve just been having a really difficult time ignoring my instincts? It pretty much only happens around him, though. I’ve been more emotional and submissive and stuff. I think it’s affecting him as well because I don’t know for sure but I think I may have accidentally caused his rut not too long ago? Maybe, but I could be wrong.”

The doctor appears to be taking this in. “So it’s mostly just your behavior? Nothing to do with your actual scent or your heats?”

Robin blinks. Yeah, basically. He gives the doctor an affirmative.

“Well, that doesn’t sound like a medicine failure, then.” Dr. Eric says, and Robin scrunches up his face. “Sounds more like you two are a good match.”

Robin tries to process that. What in the world does that mean? Good match?

Robin feels confused. “Huh?”

“If your instincts are more prominent around him, then it means you two are compatible. The medicine does a decent job of keeping basically every omega aspect of you under control, but if this friend of yours is able to bring it out...”

Oh.

Robin can see how that would make sense. Still, he and Jude are friends. He can only assume that this is happening because of how close they are. They’ve been best friends for so long, and they know each other better than anyone.

Their secondary genders are biologically designed to be together, so it only makes sense that—due to them being so close—it would find ways to present itself. Robin feels less concerned now, but his problem still hasn’t been fixed.

The doctor begins typing. “I can prescribe you behavioral suppressants, but they usually don’t work too well with either of the medications you’re on. So, I wouldn’t recommend it. This doesn’t seem like a situation dire enough to risk even more of your health over.”

Robin nods absentmindedly. He’s not dealing with behavioral suppressants again, especially after what happened last time he tried to get some. He’s too scared to risk a repeat.

Dr. Eric types on his computer for a bit longer, Robin feeling slightly uncomfortable with this new development the entire time. He really doesn’t know what to do now. He feels kind of awkward, because obviously he always knew about the alpha omega compatibility thing. However, it’s only been recently that he’s thought about it in terms of he and Jude.

They’re friends, though! That’s the thing. Robin doesn’t think they really act like anything more, right? Their whole relationship is pretty platonic. Sure, there’s been a few instances where it was a bit questionable; and sure, it’s sort of weird how obsessed Robin is with the guy’s scent. Other than that, though, there’s obviously nothing deeper going on.

Right?

The rest of the doctor’s appointment is uneventful, and Robin ends up leaving with more questions than he had to begin with. He drives home and goes to his room, flopping face down on his bed, on autopilot the entire time. He’s so unbelievably lost in thought, it takes about five rings for him to finally process his buzzing phone.

Robin doesn’t look at the ID, though it is someone in his contacts, and answers. A couple seconds later, he hears Jude’s voice;

“Hey, Robin?”

Jude’s voice sounds urgent, and that immediately gets Robin’s undivided attention. He thinks he can hear a female voice in the background, but he can’t be sure. “Yeah?”

“I have Kat.” Jude says, and Robin frowns. That’s odd. Sure, Jude and his sister have always liked each other and gotten along, but they’ve never been close enough to just randomly hang out. What are they doing together?

“Huh? Why?”

“I presented.” Kat says, and she sounds like she just ran a marathon. Robin immediately sits up as alarm floods his body. What?

“What? When? Why didn’t you call me?”

“I was walking home,” Kat says, “it wasn’t even that far away.”

Robin can only assume she’d been walking home and Jude saw her, then picked her up. Robin is really thankful for this. The thought of his sister walking home all by herself after presenting causes a sense of unease within him.

Robin wants to know why she’d just walk home instead of calling him, but decides to let it go for now.

“Robin, I don’t want to be an alpha.”

Robin freezes. Wow, he did not see that coming. He supposes Kat has always had the personality for it, though. He just assumed she’d be a beta like their parents, though.

“Why not?” Robin asks. “I think it’s awesome.”

“No,” Kat disagrees. “No. Mom and Dad are gonna hate me.”

Robin tries to ignore the spark of irritation he feels towards his parents. It upsets him that Kat just presented and the only thing on her mind is how they will feel about it. “They won’t hate you—”

“Yes they will!” Honestly, the girl sounds like she’s on the verge of tears. “When you presented everything was such a mess. I don’t want to deal with that!”