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The team set out on another adventure in a group of four in the dead of night building up for a big fight (and probably drinks too due to the nature of fighting all day), because it's easier to not be seen going towards/into the city which is always full of life from the hilly outskirts of the place where the inn is.
But as for the others they all stayed in the inn and Chat is bedridden and of course sick due to too many reasons including sleeping in the stables a lot of the time, not really taking good care and some more personal things. The people downstairs, such as Mr. Bean and Obama sitting on the blown couch talking about something about flying as a bat and debating if Obama could out fly Dominic (the friendly dragon friend and Mint's best friend), who haven't notices Jefferson and Gilbert bolting around with their new toys from Uncle Magical John who just came back from a year long mission with King Carl Wheezer (the fat kid from jimmy neutron, his very official title).
“Jeff... Jeff attack legs time,” Gilbert whispered to behind one of the many couches in the meeting area, he looks at Jefferson in his little tank outfit, Jefferson look really confused “Uncle John” Gilbert said as they both run into his legs and try to knock the tall lanky man down, John stares down at the little kids trying to push him over, so he does what any person or whatever he is really, and slowly falls down trying to trap the little kids in his long arms, “RUN,” the little kids scream which alert both Mr. Bean and Obama but not Chat which is odd.
The two other tall men run to the noise, armed with their weapons and see John and the kids trap in his arms, “Obama nice new suit,” John slur his words towards his friend and teammate.
“Magical John, what a surprise,” Obama said, giving his hand, lowering his weapon, he helped John up as the little kids bolted it with his flower crown thing and to mostly their joint room or Chat’s, John's longish hair poofs out and is a messy state.
“Bean Bean (Hi John,)” Mr. Bean said, smiling at both tall men more so at Obama, John dusting off his hero gear, pushing his hair a bit back, taking off his Jacket and folding it into half and onto his arm to seem friendly (that's what he learnt from some of knights and King but it doesn't quite make sense to John).
“Hey Mr. Bean, hmm how was that plan you said ages back?” John asked, Mr. Bean knew what plan and Mr. Bean responded with “Bean….. bean bean(No, not yet)” with a very blushy face, turning his eyes to look at a wall.
“I heard Goofy got arrested. What happened there?” John asked, Mr. Bean and Obama just shrugged.
“Anyway, where’s Chat” John asked the guys, he look around not seeing any fire or yelling which is odd for this team, Obama answered with, “They are sick and in their room upstairs on the left”, that answer left John confused and said/asked, “How did you know I wanted to know where?”.
Obama gave that look of definition of bruh, “Uh let me be clear, Magical John, it's you…. And Chat” he said, stopped for a second, moved his hands up and then forward (basically BOIing John), then continuing, “you two are basically…. Jointed to the hip”.
“Fine fine yeah” John said, still confused at what he's doing with his hands and slightly red, as Mr. Bean and Obama went back to where they were sitting talking about something.
Magical John walked down the hall and then upstairs, thinking of what can he even say to Chat, when turned left and got to the door, he heard soft sniffing and he just freezes up, shaking, slowly putting his shaky hand to the door, “what if Chat doesn’t like me anymore or my scars or…. Or hates me even more than before” his thoughts were like this going over everything, What if he could think of. Before he sucked up his courage and thought “I…. We defeated God together I can do this” and knocked on the door.
“Uh hello… Gilbert, if that's you I'm going to...” Chat said in a really sick voice before coughing.
“Hey Chat” John said trying to not slur his words too much but couldn’t help it.
“JOHN” Chat sounds alarmed in their shot sick voice, footsteps fast to the door.
“Ye yes?” He stuttered from the loudness in their voice before he could say anything else, the door open to see a white almost grey hue blotchy all around their face and hands or any other visible skin. John hasn't seen them in a year it's almost impossible not to look at them, they shake more and more maybe to being sick or just pure energy, and the deep black eyes he could love just stare at forever with eye bags almost black under shadow that look like they haven't slept in years, their mouth slightly open seeping out soft smoke, Chat just look up at him with the most confused face in the world but physically their body relaxed and look like they were almost crying which made John very worried.
John slowly kneeled down to their height, putting his Jacket on the floor (and since he was away, he grew even more taller so he kind of had to). “Chat?” John said in a confused voice, before getting hugged by Chat, he wraps his arms around Chat, they stay there for a solid few seconds.
“Aren't you sick? You should not be up. You should get to bed Chat” John said worryingly and they just shake their head and all he could think is “why in god’s name” so he did what anyone would with a tiny person and pick them up, closing the wooden door behind him, Chat just accepted this and moved their arms into a comfortable place, not having a fit and John just walk into the room, walking towards Chat’s bed, “Chat Sleep” he said as he got to the bed and sat down, and they answer in the most sassy voice, the smoke pick up into a more blacker colour smoke by the end of the sentence, “Why? Gonna do something about it?”.
“I might” he said in response sitting down on the bed, Chat wouldn't let go, “Might what?... Leave?” They said, breathing in really deepy, they were almost annoyed, sad maybe and sleepy because of the tone of their voice, it's like they haven't slept in days.
“What? No… hmm” he said his voice highen, a bit more than his usual tone then lower down to his slurrly creepy like tone/voice, almost completely taken back by Chat's words, he sat down, still tightly hugged them while he thinked for a good few minute until he continued what he was saying, “Maybe…. Just maybe I will lay with you so we can catch up if you are not going to sleep”.
“Aren’t you going to get sick?” they asked the smoke to turn into more grey smoke.
John shakes his head and said in a more softer voice, “no flowers don't get human sick dumby” and just start to lay back, Chat made a funny sound and then said a bit angry, “Why would you do that magic man”, sitting slightly up, John just shrugged and said still in that tone, “eh I'm not magic man I'm magical John, and I wanted to lay down” before pulling Chat into a hug.
The both of them lay there in a very much loving and needed cuddle, the thing that was odd but John didn't mind is “how much Chat did not protest maybe because of the long year he was away or just because he smelt like lavender (and the smoke thing they really like) and that's one of their favorite flowers or just maybe they missed him…. Or maybe they are just tired”
Maybe after a few minutes, Chat fell fully asleep and softly and slowly John move to his side, their death grip on his white slightly button-down shirt, breathing in and out very slowly nuggle their head into him, he put his arms around them fully, he didn't mind cuddling in his hero gear minus the flower cap thing, he has “I need to take that hat back from those babies” he thought, as he slowed down his breath into a calm slow one, he didn't really how warm his face is until he put his hand to his face, trying to readjust the heavy amount of blankets Chat has on their bed.
The rain came in a soft tap like music overhead on the roof of the Inn, Chat snuggled into John, moving their hand from the death grip to his back with a slightly less death grip, as his thoughts came in by storm just wondering, “I wonder why Chat has such a death grip, do they think I'm going to leave again…. Are they?.... Do they trust me?....well at least I know that they sure do because I am hugging them and they aren’t like pushing me away…. their hug is a hot cup of tea, or a rainy day curled up with a book” his thoughts turn more lovingly as he heard Chat mutter “feed” in their sleep, he smiled to himself looking up a bit to the window, “They are so handsome and it's just comforting weirdly, and it's amusing at times that I would fall for someone so….. So amazing. I wish I could show them how much I love them but I don't want to overwhelm them so even this” He thought as he pulled Chat more into him if that's a physically possible grid locking their arms to his, he continued to think, “this is what I like best”.
John stared at the window, watched the rain go on, just holding on Chat a little tight, shielding their ears from the sound, when hearing the thunder, "I wonder how long Chat has been sick… has the team…. at least try to….. I don't…. Know…. Where was most of the team… surely on a mission or….. I want.... I want to help them" John thought, worried still stared at the window, the wooden frame it's metal little door handle open up breathing in a very cold like winter cold, John look at the handle and then to his hand on Chat's ears and slowly take one of their ears and push the other one more into Chat a bit to use the pillow as a replacement. A deep green vine grew out of the hand, spanning over the small bedroom latching onto the metal piece, closing it shut and locking it.
John's vine curled around some blankets in the corner and put it on him and Chat, it just slipped back into his hand and then put it back onto Chat's ears slowly and most importantly softly to not hurt Chat.
The blankets were supposed to be a secret (the littles ones hid for him with of course a deal for toys) a surprise for Chat and act like well peace offering or something.
"In all honesty to me, myself, I don't know what or how I could've given to them without seeming off or I don't know….. I hope they like the blankets, I did make them" he thought thinking about the lonely nights in the mission that seem never ending but that doesn't matter, what only matter to John is cuddling Chat right now.
John look down at Chat, they are cough fit in their sleep which he immediately started rubbing their back to try and help them, his mind just came to stand still, Chat's breathing soon came into a calm mellow tone, moving slowly his hands to their face almost impossible to look away from their face and all he could think is "pretty", his face grew hotter kind of embarrassed of be such a childish person for the trick them to sleep and this whole crush business, he hasn't had that well since the real olden days.
His body just moves closer into Chat's small frame, "I miss them so much it's almost too embarrassing, I fucking hated that mission. With them it's always talking about something then jumping to another topic and another and so forth, it makes life and adventuring so much more fun. Or how they adore books but can't get through one without talking about something else to themselves or me. I always love listening to their talks even if it's about things I don't know about. Or how they love their family but show it in more unconventional approaches or ways if you will but on that mission, it was nothing but fighting pure raw fighting and no talking just the king wanting to…. Not say rule more say food" he thought, a bit uncomfortable at the thoughts of the king as his hands perfectly fit over their arms holding them close to his chest, his face is smitten by his own thoughts of Chat and of course the lovely warmth of them (and forth or Firth maybe sixth weighted blankets and the flower blanket John made for Chat), and he fully fell asleep under all of that holding Chat softly and breathing in and out slowly into John, “Chat is my lovely home…. I hope I can show them that” he thought finally closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep
Magical John slowly woke up, his head feeling heavy, blinking trying to get used to the light that is hitting into the room, feeling a small frame huddled really close to him, his arms around Chat, his hands perfectly on their back and one on their waist, legs tangled together, with a ton of blankets on them weighing his body really down.
He could feel his face feel very hot and probably looks like a rose from maybe the heat or maybe because he's really close to his long-term crush on Chat.
He wants to get up and do something but he thought "no, cuddle Chat more, it's nice and they are really warm" so he decided with his thought and considerately put his head more down towards Chat's.
John could hear their soft warm breathing, the grip they have on his shirt is there but it's more around him near his waist, he could feel Chat's face press into his chest almost impossible to miss their muttering to themselves about something.
He could eyeroll and be annoyed to millions to his tiny Chat any other time but being so far away for so long, he just enjoyed himself listening to them talk about a king, "what kings does Chat know let alone talk or mutter about" he thought to himself, a weird emotion spun into his heart and chest mostly his hug around Chat tighten, his thoughts almost spilled into a new one but he stopped those thoughts.
"Hmm John" Chat said, sleeping, John's grip lessened when they said his name, the thoughts still in the back of his head wanting out, he couldn't get his brain of that thought or even the small thoughts as their grip tightened around him and pulling into him in a way.
John slowly and softly put his hand on the back of their head, he wouldn't get that feeling off him but it was almost amazing how his emotions changed in an instant, looking at Chat in his arms.
He could stare at Chat all day and night, Chat looks nice and his emotion flickers to a brighter one, he rubs their head, moving his hand slowly to their forehead touching it to see if they have a hot or cold head.
"Hmm, the temperature is rather….. awkward…. Not the right word….. it's hot but the rest of their body like the back of their head is cold, not icey but cold" John thought, complexed by the odd temperature, completely lost in his own thoughts of confusion.
Chat began to stir in their sleep, their breathing stiffen and soon became panicky with a breathey "John", John softly moved his hand from their forehead to their shoulder squishing it, the other hand moved down to their back mumbling a soft question to Chat, "are you alright?" He softly puts his hand onto the back of their neck.
Chat's breathing still very unevenly came out, in the softest voice John talked to the stirring Chat, "Chat it's alright, I'm here it's okay" he rubbed their back in a soft circle motion as he soon hums to himself their breathing soon came back to a soft slow calm breathing, the back grip still there holding almost impossible to not feel it type grip on his white shirt.
"It's alright now Chat, I'm here for you" John said, looking down at Chat his inside urges almost impulsively wanting nothing more to kiss their forehead and just give all the love to them.
Then it hit him, "they have a fever, they just need sleep" he thought trying to push that impulse dumb want out of his head, pushing his lips together, making a funny face to himself still rubbing Chat's back with his hand, “I hope they get better It’s not fun being sick on a adventure,” he thought as Chat make a small mumble of robe or feed, moving their head more closer to John, it's almost more than one voice is mumbling while Magical John looks at the window the sun finally shining down on his face, grin on Chat’s head, screwing over his eyes but not his powers so he lay there closing his eyes and just basking in the sunshine, it felt warm and soft against his pale skin.
After a little while it got annoying so he decided with his vine he pulled the curtains shut and returned back to hugging Chat moving his head to not be right onto Chat, he started thinking about the mission he was on for a year and how he missed the team and how incredibly lonely it was, “why did the king choose me? I’m not like I Want Die or that main crew of really cool and out there stuff, I’m just Magical John, Does the group even like me anymore? Sure I sent a letter maybe like what…. Once every few months just to check in and see if I was needed. I feel too deep into the king’s worth well” he thought, spiraling against him into a self hated inworldz rage it was almost impossible to get out of, the thoughts kept coming, a ugly truth his brain always vile towards him at night until he felt slim hands on his face cupping his wet face, he didn’t realise he was crying.
Chat was looking up at him with the deep black eyes, he could get lost in, his vision wasn't great but he could tell Chat’s face physically softened at the sight of him and wiped his tears with their hands and in a soft tone, they asked him, “What’s wrong, Magical John?”, he wanted to look away from their eyes but he couldn’t. Something in him wanted to say no but really is he wondered “why Chat is being like this to him of all people”.
He breathed in slowly and closed his eyes and breathed out a soft, “No I’m…. I’m not okay” his voice fell out of his mouth soft and sad, something he hates about himself. “I’m here for you if you want to talk about it,” Chat said, rubbing his face in a circular motion. “I… I” he stuttered, mentally cringing at himself, at the state of whatever was happening.
“It’s okay to take your time John,” they said softly, one of their hands' fiddle in an almost brushing manner with his longish brown hair, John could not stop thinking his eyes tear up, his arms move into a comfortable hug, his hands fiddled with each other in a very sad but nervous manner and shaking in back and forward.
“I was thinking about the…..” he mumbled in a sad soft tone, he didn’t want to say mission he hated that word, too formal, too much not him, Chat brushed his hair a bit more and in a soft response, “the mission?” Their voice was so sweet to his ear he could listen to them for days on end, he leaned into the hand on his face and just said, “Yeah”.
“Do you want to talk about it?” they asked, generally concerned, rubbing his face with their thumb gently.
"Hmm kind of yes" he mumbled, he couldn't understand the sadness within his own voice, studying their face, something within him deeply swept him, Chat's hand was brushing his hair softly, after a good minute.
All he wanted to do is say sorry but it's almost impossible to look at Chat while saying those words, he doesn't like this feeling of sadness pushed into his head by some really unwanted thoughts.
"It's okay to take your time, Magical John" Chat said, their hand gently wiping the tears off his face, they looked at him, and he could see them, his face fell with unsureness, he didn't want to burden Chat and they were sick too. They repeat the words, "it's okay" one more time before he decides to tell them.
“I… the mission wasn’t at all good. That king” John said, shutting his eyes, his tears came out more as he continued, “that king was not at all the man we knew”, Chat’s hands were soft against his wet face, he couldn’t stop crying, it was all too much to think about and he felt like he could shake at any time.
“If you want, we can just hug it out... if it's too much” Chat says softly to him their voice felt warm and homely, John just nodded.
Chat leads their hands to his shoulders giving small squeezed long and down his arms and slowly went to his waist and wrapped around him, John’s hands shaky go to their back and hold them, his hands could not stop moving.
“I want to… sleep” John said softly, putting his grin on their head, and all they say is “if you want you can, I am here John”, that comfort going all over his body with those small but big words in his head is all he wanted.
“Thank you Chat… Can we together?” John asked, his eyes felt deep and heavy, and almost barely able to not feel that sense of sleep overcoming him.
“Of course Magical John Of course” they said and they lean more into him and his hands stop and just wrap around them and falls asleep.