Work Text:
Henry jerked back in his uncomfortable chair not realizing he had been falling asleep until Ms. Shapen appeared in front of him yelling, “Well? Do you have an answer Mr. Hart?” She snapped. Henry shifted his eyes slightly to the right, hoping it’d be an answer Charlotte could give him without giving them away, but his friend didn’t move. He could feel his face heating up being thrust into panic mode, but it seemed luck was on his side because as he was about to confess to not knowing the bell had rung.
“Dismissed!” Their teacher called before moving up back to her desk, not taking her glare off Henry.
He quickly packed his notebook and pencil away thankful to have dodged that bullet. As if he wasn’t considered to be a loser enough, to get bullied by Ms. Shapen by all people would’ve just crushed him even more. The three made their escape out into the hallway and Henry finally felt like he could breathe again.
“Sorry Henry, it’s hard to mouth the 8 reasons why Rome fell without getting caught.”
“That’s ok I get it, my bad for falling asleep anyway.” He muttered, kicking a rouge floor pen into the wall.
Jasper stopped and turned to face them with a weird look, “I know you don’t like history but you’ve never fallen asleep before, what’s going on dude? You feeling ok?” It was an oddly serious question for Jasper that Henry was actually caught off guard. It was valid though, he truly did hate history but he was never tired in school, Ray almost always made sure that even if he wasn’t home on time, he was sleeping at the cave and well fed, or at least caffeinated.
“I don’t know, I’ve been tired these past few days and once I’m sitting I’m out like a light. Maybe I’m getting sick? Ray’s gonna kill me if I am though.” The other two nodded and started walking again, nudging him forward. Sickness would explain the random hot flashes and tiredness, unfortunately though, not the weird want to get himself off all the sudden.
Henry simply tried to shake off the uncomfortable feelings he was having, praying whatever would pass quickly so it didn’t affect his time as Kid Danger. While Ray gave him a lot of crap for calling out if he thought something was off with Henry he’d be benched so fast. He tried to think back, looking for any times he may have been shot with a ray gun and maybe the symptoms had been delayed but he couldn’t recall anything. It had honestly been such a peaceful week.
The rest of the school day pretty much passed in a blur and Henry was exhausted by the end of it. Their walk to Junk n’ Stuff did little to wake him up nor cool him down. He wondered if this was the point of fever and hoped if so this sickness would be over soon. Charlotte had tried talking him out of going to work, more specifically the hero work, but if there was one trait he got from his mom it was his stubbornness, no way would he let a little illness keep him from helping people.
“Wow you don’t look good kid.” Ray said after looking up from his computer as the elevator doors opened and closed.
“That’s what we’ve been saying!” Charlotte exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air before stomping over to the couch. Henry just rolled his eyes, protective alphas. Even though he hadn’t presented yet, Ray and Charlotte were constantly on him over silly things. Jasper and Schwoz being betas had their own version of possessiveness but theirs was a lot more subtle and less defensive.
“I’m fine guys! It’s probably just a cold, nothing to worry about, I'm a big boy now.” He chuckled, punching Ray in the shoulder, but it seemed to do nothing to convince them.
It was honestly insane, he has been fighting super villains since he was 13, he could deal with a little tiredness. Henry could feel Ray’s eyes follow him as he grabbed a water, suddenly very thirsty. The cool liquid helped to get him a bit more energized. “Well the good news is then that it’s been very quiet so you can rest easy kid- uuuugh, are you kidding me?!” Ray yelled as the alarms began to blare. Henry shook his head, he didn’t know what Ray was expecting by using the Q word here.
“What do we got Char?” Henry asked.
“Looks like- the tooth fairy?” She blinked a couple times before rolling back the footage from someone’s camera that had been submitted. Sure enough there was a man in white leggings and tight t-shirt with wings you’d think to find in a Party City store. “The report says this man just broke into a dentist and stole all of their teeth and seems to be on route to another dentist office.”
“That’s so gross.” Henry cringed, trying to keep his lunch down at the thought of someone stealing people’s teeth.
Ray nodded in agreement, looking just as equally disturbed, “Well as weird as this is, the city of Swellview needs someone to return these teeth and who better than Captain man.”
Henry rolled his eyes, “Um and Kid Danger.” Because despite how weird this way Henry was not sitting it out.
“Yeah not happening, somethings wrong with you and we’re supposed to save people, not make them sick.” Ray scoffed, trying to usher Henry to the couch to sit down. Determined though, Henry sidestepped him and grabbed the gum tube, intending to blow a bubble before anyone could protest more, sadly though he hadn’t noticed Charlotte behind him till she already had the tube. “Ha! Not happening tonight kid, I’m going alone.”
Henry felt a sudden rush of anger sweep through him, what would normally would be a joke he could take had him fuming. “Why are you treating me like I’m breakable?! You always get mad when I call in and suddenly you want me to stay back. We’re supposed to be partners, man!” The room froze as Henry breathed heavily. He could feel his face start to heat up, just like it had during school. This time though the fuzziness around his vision wasn’t going away.
“Ok, you two go home, I’ll call you later.” Ray commanded, straightening up.
Henry could hear their protests but couldn’t make out what they were actually saying, all he knew was his sudden desire to fight everyone while also having the overwhelming urge to lay down. “Now!” The booming alpha voice had him dropping to his knees in a panic. He brought his hands up to his ear hoping the unpleasant tone would disappear.
“Easy kid, just breathe.” Fingers wove in between his bringing their hands down to his lap.
“Ray?”
“Yeah kid, you’re ok, I’m sorry for scaring you like that, I just needed everyone gone.” He said softly, pushing Henry’s fringe away from his eyes. The gentle touches were helping a lot to clear his head. Only then did he realize there was no one in the cave but the two of them now. Absently he wondered how Charlotte took Ray using his alpha voice like that.
Henry didn’t understand why he was so hot and fidgety. All he wanted- actually he didn’t know what he wanted, there were so many mixed feelings going on inside of him. “I don’t- why- why can’t I think straight? Da- alpha- what’s happening?” He sobbed, even catching himself off guard, no clue he was so close to tears before.
“Henry, you’re presenting, and from the looks of it to an omega.” Ray said, wrapping an arm around his back, hand coming up to cup the back of his neck.
That broke him out of the fog, “What? No, no, I’m supposed to be an alpha like mom, like dad, not some omega!” He tried breaking free of Ray’s hold but just a little squeeze of his neck had Henry folding, putting his face into his boss’ shoulder. Ok so he was definitely presenting as an omega.
But how! Sure there was always a possibility, even with having both alpha parents and a long line of alphas there was a chance he could be an omega, one no one in the family had ever entertained but here they were. They were going to be so disappointed in him.
“Shh, everything is going to be fine Henry, you hear me? Now, we need to get you to your room, Schwoz is gathering nesting materials for you and you can ride it out here till it’s safe for you to go home.”
The only good thing was omega’s presenting heat didn’t send them into complete blind urge to simply fuck, but there still something there and Henry didnt know which would be worse being around his parents during that or his boss. Obviously definitely his parents but both seemed embarrassing. At least he knew Ray wouldn’t make a move on him, Henry had seen him help more than enough omega’s to heat shelters while patrolling.
And even if he did Schwoz would take him out, despite being indescribable Schwoz had protocol to take Ray out if he went into a true alpha rage. Even with his immaturity Ray took protecting omegas seriously. Almost to a fault, he once knocked a man out because he got close to an omega, even though he turned out to be her boyfriend.
“Here we go!” Schwoz announced, walking into Henry’s room with blankets, pillows, and jackets he recognized. The combined scents of his found family nearly had Henry fall out of Ray’s arms trying to grab everything in a rush.
“Thank you Schwoz, I’ll call when we’re ready for food.”
“Of course. Henry, this button is for you. If you need anything, do not hesitate to push.” Schwoz said, handing Henry a buzzer you’d see on a game show.
“Thank you Schwoz.” He parroted. The beta smiled at him before leaving.
Henry was quick to start digging through all his new nesting options. Mainly blankets but he also found a flannel of Jaspers and one of Charlotte’s hoodies that immediately went to the top of the nest. He was enjoying his search till he came across a familiar yard of red silk. “Really?” He laughed, holding up the stupid cape he thought he successfully got rid of.
Ray just smiled from his seat across the room. Henry almost forgot he was there with how silent he was, now that he remembered though, it was unnerving. While the whole day had been weird so far it was unnatural for Ray to not be cracking jokes or trying to make it all about himself. Him treating this so seriously made Henry want to spiral.
This was really it, he was presenting as an omega, this wasn’t a joke.
“Ray?”
“Yeah buddy? Do you need something else for the nest?”
Henry paused as he kneeled in the middle of the bed, looking around at what he had built. He wanted to ask Ray ten million questions but would he as an alpha even know the answers? The biggest thought on his mind though he knew only Ray could answer. The blonde felt the tears come back.
Taking a deep breath before letting it out he asked, “Is this the end of Kid Danger?”
He watched Ray’s eyes widened before he got up from his spot and made his way over to him. “May I?” He gestured to the bed. Henry nodded, settling himself against the headboard as his boss sat opposite of him. He slowly reached up to grab Henry’s hands, “Henry, this changes nothing between us, you will always be my sidekick. You mean the world to me, you’re like the son I never got. Being an omega is a gift, I know not everyone sees it that way but it’s the truth. Understood?”
If it weren’t for the overpowering smell of protectiveness coming off of him Henry might’ve been scared but he wasn’t. Ray said he was like the son he never had but the alpha was like a father he never had. Someone to run to when he messed up and actually get help not just to be brushed off. A person to joke around with and not get a lecture on something completely different. Those thoughts were what broke the dam and he was sobbing again.
Ray brought into a strong hug that had his head spinning. “Thank you.” He mumbled trying to pull himself together. Henry felt Ray place a kiss onto his head but didn’t say anything, which was fine, Henry understood perfectly.