Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Are you okay, kid?,” Sully asked, glancing up from his map to peer at Nathan.

Nate snapped out of his melancholy long enough to plaster an exuberant, charming smile on his face,” Yep, all good! Just thinking”

The young man polished it off with a double thumbs up.

(Oh my god, stop! Too much! What are you doing?)

The older man replied with an unconvinced, curt nod and went back to examining the recently pilfered, priceless, 3,000 year old map. Nathan copied his actions and his eyes roved over the northern quadrant, probing for a clue, mentally cross-examining with contemporary maps for anything out of place, something.

“Why are you still dressed like that?”

Nate’s doe eyes flittered up to meet Sully’s scrutinizing pair,” Excuse me?”

A judge-mental pale finger waved in the general direction of the man’s outfit,” Like that. Why are you dressed like that?”

Nathan took a puzzled peek out his chosen clothes,” This is dress code, you called me here straight after work”

“Where?”

Nate rolled his eyes,” At my bartending job. You know, where we unfortunately met? Look, can we get back to-“

“Why are you still working there?,” Sully’s condescending response cut into his thoughts.

“Um..let’s see because we lost most of Magellan’s gold and you coveted the rest, which I SAVED, it is my only outlet to meet new people-“

“What’s wrong with me?”

“You’re a selfish grump, Mr Whiskers is the only benefit being your acquaintance has, stop interrupting. Well..because I like it, I guess”

“Like what?”

“Getting ordered around and not being part of the union,” Nate deadpanned,” No, dipstick! Serving drinks and pickpocketing”

The older man fell silent and Nate went back to inspecting the yellowed parchment. A warm presence intertwined itself around his calves and he looked down.

“Hey, ‘Whiskers,” Nate cooed, forgoing the latex gloves on his hands and bending down to pick up his furry little buddy. The cat fell limp against his warm hands and purred as it settled on his chest.

“Whoa, whoa, watch it! Cat sheds like crazy and this is a priceless artifact. Also watch how you hold him, she doesn’t like her stomach being touched,” Sully exclaimed, shooing him away.

“She arranged himself on my arms, ‘Whiskers is fine,” Nate said, ambling off towards the couch, cat in tow.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m not three and you’re not blind!,” Nate answered, yawning slightly,” I’m taking a break, it’s like 1 am”

“Alright, kid, take a nap or something, I don’t care”

As the young man made the trek to the couch, the kitten sat up in his arms and batted at Nate’s neck, snaking a sneaky paw through his tastefully undone shirt and pawing at his bare skin. It tickled and Nathan nearly fell trying to keep a straight face in front of Sully and not drop the cat.

Giggling slightly, he plopped the cat down on the black furniture, relieved to have a break from the torture. Nate shed the uncomfortable dark vest and draped it over the chaise’s side then plonked down next to the pretty kitty and slipped off his shoes, leaving his feet bare in dark socks.

“Hey, boy, aren’t you a cutie?,” he cooed, curling up with Mr Whiskers in his lap. He scratched the underside of her chin as she lapped at his shirt, claws nicking the fabric.

“Aye, aye, aye! Princess, stop”, he protested, carefully detaching her paws from the button-down.

——————-

Sully yawned and stretched, back audibly cracking. He paused for a moment, expecting the kid to make a quip about it. He was met with silence.

“Nate? Kid?,” he called, walking over to the delicately tousled thatch of brown hair that rested on the chaise armrest.

Soft snores were his reply, Sully smiled softly. There, spread out on the lounge, Nathan was asleep, curled up around Mr Whiskers whose petite little body was pressed up against his chest. The man’s boyish facial features were lax and one hand had wormed its way between the armrest and his head, cushioning it.

Victor’s eyes narrowed, Nathan’s snoring was congested and his breathing was off. Now that he was actually paying attention, Sully noticed that there was a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead. His hair was additionally slightly damp, brown curls stuck to his face.

Sully kneeled down by the boy, mumbling nonsense about back issues. Cupping Nate’s face in his calloused hands and inadvertently disturbing the cat, who leapt away. The older man maneuvered him around so he could feel his temperature and pulse.

“Not feeling great, huh, kid,” Sully muttered as he sensed the unsettling heat wafting off him.

Nathan’s nose scrunched up and Victor froze, fearing he had awoken the younger man. A loud, kitten like sneeze erupted from him and Sully flew back in shock, accidentally jostling the sick kid who woke up.

Blearily blinking back the last vestiges of sleep from his muddled brain, Nate stared at Victor, who was shaking his body in a frenzy, as if that would accomplish disinfecting himself.

“Sully?,” he called out, bringing up a hand to rub at his eyes and yawning,” What are you doing?”

“You just sneezed on me!”

Nathan gave a noncommittal nod and hum in response, then turned over to fall back asleep.

Victor gently prodded him out of unconsciousness ,” No, no, no. C’mon, kid, stay awake for just a second”

Nate whined and sleepily huffed in response to the annoyance but opened his hazy, hazel eyes. Sully, murmuring a prayer, hooked his hands under the kid’s armpits and heaved him off the couch. Nathan screeched in protest and weakly, futilely shoved his invasive hands away. Eventually tuckering himself out and slumping against Victor’s chest, breathing out hot puffs of air next to his heartbeat.

Sully hadn’t budged an inch since Nate began struggling, exasperated, he prompted,”You done?”

“You’re a jerk, you know that?,” Nathan mumbled in reply.

“Whoa, harsh! You know, maybe don’t say that to the only person who is holding your ungrateful little behind upright,” Victor playfully dropped his hands.

Nate yelped and immediately latched on to Sully for support, burying his nose into the elder’s collarbone.

“Alright, kid. I feel like both of us want to go to bed so…,” Nathan’s hands were carefully pried away from Victor’s shirt and deposited on his forearm.

“Hold still, alright?,” Sully, using precise moves, held Nate’s arms over his head and spun, so his back would face the young adult.

“Hop on”

“What?”

“Kid, hop on. I’m not going to ask again”

Fumbling on shaky legs, Nathan clambered onto Victor’s back, exerting way more energy than he would have liked to.

“Ow! Watch it!,” Sully hissed as the younger man’s knees made contact with his sides.

“‘m sorry”, Nate apologized, settling against the elder and burrowing his face within the crook of Victor’s neck.

He sighed,” It’s a good thing you’re cute”

Sully could detect the tremendous amount of heat against his back, invading his shirt.

(It’s gonna be a long night)

“You drool and I will not hesitate to murder you”