Chapter Text
No one else in the Protocol, aside from Cypher (cause he's Cypher) and probably Sova due to Cypher, knew about Ollie being in a Queerplatonic relationship with Adrijan (Miks), Mateo (Gekko) and Li Zhao Yu (Iso). It wasn't that it was such a big secret they wanted ta hide, it was more that Ollie had things they wanted to keep just to themselves, like their power’s origins and so forth. This was one of them, especially due to the fact that they knew not everybody really knew what a QPR was and they didn't want to have to answer questions where they didn't need to.
The other 3 were pretty chill with their relationship being known, but respected their boundaries and were never explicit about it during their interactions. The Protocol were aware of the 3 of them dating, romantically, but Adrijan had been the first person told about Ollie being in a QPR with Mateo and Zhao Yu since they had all wanted to start dating and Ollie was a part of their relationship that was non negotiable.
Anyways, all in all, the Protocol wasn't aware of them being in a QPR with the throuple and they liked it that way. They were a bit more affectionate with Teo and Adri due to how both of their relationships had developed in the Protocol's eyes before they had established the QPR, and a normal type of close to Zhao Yu. Which was actually seen as ‘pretty close’ due to how he formed relationships and how closed off/reserved he was to most. That's what they were all comfortable with, and while Ollie was still outgoing, friendly, the social butterfly, they refrained from petnames, cheek kisses, hand holding, etc with them when in public. The PDA they were okay with stayed when it was just the 4 of them.
And then they might've slipped up a few times.
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It was a typical movie night for the Protocol Agents. The leaders had decided a long time ago, with some input from the old and new agents, that there would be weekly events to encourage fraternizing. All of them were pretty okay with each other, but the better their team chemistry, the better they perform. Or something like that, Waylay might've mentioned it a few times.
Anyway, normally Ollie is there early enough to snag a spot by Teo or Zhao Yu (or Adri after he joined), but they'd gotten sidetracked by doomscrolling and ended up late. Of course, they knew one of them would save a spot beside them as they always made space for them, it was an unspoken rule as their 4th partner that Ollie was allowed to squeeze their way between them whenever they pleased.
Teo and Adri are absent when they enter the common area. They check their phone when they notice and remember their mission got extended a couple of days. Annoying, they lowkey had wanted to laugh with the pair over whatever crappy romance movie was chosen by Phoenix and Yoru, but overall they understood. Zhao Yu is there, sitting on one of the bigger beanbags meant for 2 or 3 people. Normally, depending on who is on missions and who isn't, the 4 of them try to squish onto the beanbag. It's hard when there's all 4 of them, but it's easier when there's only 2. However Ollie's not sure that it's ever been only them and Zhao Yu before.
They're aware that many in the Protocol call them a ‘4th wheel’ of the 3, but it doesn't really bother them. First, those are their partners and second, other's opinions on them don't really bother them. Plus, the 4 of them are allowed to act however they want without other people being up in their business and judging them.
“Aye, babe, scoot over a bit,” Ollie requests when they get close enough to the beanbag, nudging Zhao Yu with their foot.
Zhao Yu sighs and does as requested, scooting over to give them room. They flop down unceremoniously, holding their head up with their hands as they lean back, stretching out in the beanbag. It takes a few moments for them to notice that the quiet hum of the room had turned silent. They look up, their foot still nudging their partners incessantly, and notice eyes on the pair.
“What?” Ollie asks, sharing a look with Zhao Yu and noticing he's just as confused.
“Mate, you just called Iso ‘babe’,” Phoenix points out, an eyebrow raised.
Ollie rolls their eyes, realizing the issue. “Must've picked it up from Mateo and Adrijan, my bad,” they shrug, in a ‘what can ya do’ way.
Jett laughs. “You hang out way too much with those 3, Clove! You should come hang out with us sometime!”
“And get between whatever Phoenix has going on with Yoru and Chamber? No thank ya,” they tease in return with a grin.
Phoenix splutters while Jett starts laughing again, and twin grins split across Yoru and Chamber's faces from across the room.
Ollie can feel eyes on them, and notices instantly that it's Reyna and Sage. Reyna's eyes are intense, as if trying to stare a hole into their head, while Sage's is contemplative, eyebrows furrowed. They give the pair a small wave and then turn to look at Zhao Yu.
“Ya okay?” They ask quietly, trying to keep from prying eyes.
“You're the one who's more uncomfortable with PDA, Bǎo bèi,” he murmurs in reply, offering over a pair of earbuds.
“Eh, it's fine, just a small slip up,” they wave it away, but take their earbuds.
Zhao Yu had developed the habit of carrying around 4 pairs of earbuds, his own as well as a pair for each of his partners. It was his way of offering comfort without having to take out his own comfort items. He only never carried them out onto the battlefield, knowing he, Adrijan and Raze were the only 3 who listened to music while actively out in battle, but they were in his duffle he brought with him on missions he shared with his partners.
Ollie lets the low hum of the music thrum into their veins, eyes finding the TV just as the first movie starts. Their foot isn't nudging their partner's anymore, instead they just crossed their ankles and rested them atop of his legs. This, at least, was allowed. They were physically touch-y with most people they were friends with, they'd drape themself over Jett, grab Deadlock's hand or wrist to drag her along, even ruffle Yoru's hair to catch him off guard, so this wouldn't be seen as anything but ‘Clove being Clove’ to the Protocol.