Archive of Our Own ^beta

The rain has been falling steadily all night; come dawn, the sky is still overcast, not even a hint of sunlight making it through the heavy clouds. Ratio lets the curtains fall back into place before returning to their bedroom, where three snoozing cat-cakes have made themselves comfortable in the mass of unmade sheets. He supposes the gloomy weather does make for pleasant sleep.

If only that was true for a certain someone missing from the bed, rather than just their cats.

At least it's obvious where Aventurine went, although the sound of running water in the bathroom is a little muffled by the rain. Ratio would have run him a bath if he'd come in a little earlier, but evidently Aventurine hasn't bothered with that, so a shower it is. Aventurine's pyjamas are lying in a crumpled heap by the door; Ratio absently picks them up and sets them aside before shedding his own clothes, opening the bathroom door.

The cloud of steam that greets Ratio has him tamping down on a sigh. He plainly remembers Aventurine agreeing to his instructions yesterday, but that didn't last long. Aventurine glances up at Ratio when he steps into the shower, and his flushed face and too-bright eyes immediately have Ratio reaching over to turn down the water temperature. "I told you not to take baths that were too hot," Ratio chides, reaching over to scrub out some of the remaining suds in Aventurine's hair.

"Hm, you said baths. You didn't say anything about showers." Aventurine's voice is a little thin, and although Ratio can't quite tell if he's still feverish with how hot the water is, he would lay money on it — and unlike his partner, he's not a gambling person. "I'll be fine, Doctor. It's just hot water."

"You were just shy of boiling yourself," Ratio answers wryly. "May I remind you that it is inadvisable to raise your temperature further at this stage, considering your fever? Never mind the steam."

"I'll be fine," Aventurine repeats, taking a step forward — and immediately swaying so dangerously that Ratio has to scramble to catch him, swearing aloud as he turns off the shower.

"Aventurine!" There's no reply. When Ratio glances down, he sees that Aventurine's eyes are closed, the too-quick rhythm of his breaths evident even in his unconscious state. Swearing again under his breath, Ratio lifts Aventurine into his arms, making sure to mind Aventurine's head and his own footing as he steps out of the shower — which, he thinks sourly, is a very inconvenient place to faint in. Now they're both wet and naked, and not in a way he's enjoying at all.

And their bed is full of cats, so Ratio can't even put Aventurine down there. He spares little more than a second looking at them before he turns tail and goes towards the couch instead. Thankfully by the time Ratio has laid Aventurine out and retrieved a towel to start drying him off, he's starting to stir.

"Finally waking up, idiot gambler?" Ratio asks, not bothering to disguise the unimpressed note in his voice. From Aventurine's low groan, though, he didn't really process the words.

"Ratio…?" Aventurine's voice sounds so fragile that it has Ratio's heart clenching in his chest. Damn it, he can't even be angry at this nitwit. Reaching up, Ratio brushes Aventurine's wet hair back from his forehead, laying his hand over it. His fever definitely feels higher now, which isn't a surprise after what he did to himself.

"I hope you're reflecting on your mistakes," Ratio reprimands, but he can't bring himself to put any heat into it. "You need to take better care of yourself."

Aventurine laughs weakly at that, pressing into Ratio's touch. "You can say 'I told you so', Doc. I know you're dying to say it."

"I am not," Ratio mutters. "I'm just…" Concerned about you, he wants to say, but the words don't seem to fit quite right in his mouth. "I'm going to get you some clothes."

"That would be nice." Aventurine's eyes are closed again, and although it's still early in the morning, he already looks tired. Huffing out a sigh, Ratio tears his gaze away with reluctance, reminding himself that he does need to get both of them dressed before Aventurine's damned cold gets any worse. Everything else… everything else, he can deal with later.

Aventurine might have some regrets.

The shower had been one thing; he'd known it wouldn't do him any favours, and he'd been prepared to accept those consequences. But for it to get bad enough that he'd ended up fainting in it into Ratio's arms? Humiliating.

Oh, well. In a way, it's nice to have mundane regrets like this. If ever the day comes where the only thing he ever has to worry about is his own idiocy, he'll take that as a sign that he's achieved something in life.

In the meantime, he does have to say that his luck has certainly held as far as partners go. Ratio is a little too fussy, but his attentiveness is sweet; it's been at least fifteen minutes since he ruthlessly moved all the cat-cakes to make room for Aventurine on the bed (they're all still pretending Ratio doesn't exist), and he's still fussing. Aventurine reaches over to catch his wrist where he's smoothing out the blanket for the fifth time, a small laugh slipping out at the offended glare that earns him.

"Ratio, it's fine. I'm not going to die if there's a crease in the blanket, I promise. Plus, the cats will undo all your effort in a few minutes." He smiles up at Ratio, tangling their fingers together to keep his hand occupied. "And before you ask: no, I don't need more water. Yes, you've accounted for all the medication I need to take. And no, I don't need anything else, except for you to get back into bed with me."

He can tell he's stumped Ratio with that from the somewhat bemused stare he gets in answer, but when he tugs lightly on Ratio's hand, Ratio finally seems to get the hint. "I don't need to be in bed," Ratio says slowly, "but I suppose…"

"Just humour the patient," Aventurine tells him, and folds the blanket back.

Aventurine doesn't hesitate to press in closer once Ratio is settled by his side, exhaling in satisfaction as Ratio wraps an arm around him. The rain outside hasn't ceased; it patters against the windows in a steady, constant rhythm. One of the cat-cakes has returned to the bed, and is cuddled into a warm, purring ball on Aventurine's feet, while the other two are snuggled up on the rug together batting at each other. Aventurine doesn't know what game they're playing, but it's very involved. He thinks they might have a scoring system.

It's… nice. Peaceful. He's been ordered by the very credible doctor he's cuddling with to rest for at least another two days, and he's not about to challenge that judgment. He's never once won an argument against Ratio in that respect, and he doesn't think this one will be any different.

With that said, the good doctor is also starting to get restless, from the way he's shifting against Aventurine. "I do have to leave for work soon," Ratio reminds him.

"Do you really?" Aventurine heaves an exaggerated sigh, not bothering to move. "I think you could stand to take a day off too."

"I'm not ill, Aventurine."

"But I am, and I want you here." Never let it be said that he's above whining. He's learned from the best (three wide-eyed examples of the very best, one of which is sleeping on his feet right now). "Anyway, I thought you weren't teaching any classes today."

"Well… no. I'm not," Ratio concedes. "But there's a faculty meeting."

"Is it important?"

Ratio pauses for a long moment, and although Aventurine can't see his face from this angle, he's sure Ratio is looking at him. However Aventurine looks right now, it evidently serves to convince Ratio of his case, because the helpless sigh he breathes out is one that Aventurine knows very well. "I… suppose I don't have to be there," Ratio finally says, and Aventurine doesn't bother to hide his victorious smirk. "Don't look so smug, or I'll change my mind, damned gambler."

"Yes, Doc," Aventurine answers in his most obedient voice. Even though he's not looking at Ratio, he's very sure Ratio just rolled his eyes.

"Go to sleep. I've no doubt that you need it, gambler, so don't make me say it twice." Oh, Ratio has his teacherly voice on, the one he uses with his students. Hiding his smile in Ratio's neck, Aventurine cuddles in, exhaling in satisfaction.

"Alright… I can do that." It's getting to be more effort than it's really worth it to talk, anyway, and his eyes are closing of their own volition. "As long as you stay right here."

Ratio's hand finds his where it rests on the blankets, tangling their fingers together. "I'm not going anywhere," he answers, and he says the words like a promise.

Aventurine's head's still a little muggy from the fever, and he's too tired to really want to get out of bed, but… this isn't so bad, really. If the rest of his vacation days are just like this, Aventurine doesn't think he'd mind.