Sylus taking care of you when you're sick
notes: first post on this acc yippeee! the new trailer made me so soft, and i needed to get domestic sylus out of my system. enjoy! cw: sick fmc, soft sylus, established relationship, cuddles, kissing, strong language, slightly (VERY SLIGHT) sexual content, mentions of sex?, fluff wc: 3.5k+
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In truth, you felt it coming. Having trained your body to its physical peak to fight wanderers, you could always tell when you weren't at it. You felt slow yesterday, misstepping where you normally would have parried. It took longer for you to catch your breath, shallow and hurried breaths replacing deep and mindful ones. You denied it all the way home, even as your nostrils filled with mucus and your throat grew more and more pained. There was no more refuting it when you woke this morning, your first swallow of saliva stinging down your raw throat. Your head pounded, sweat lining your brow as a fever broke through you. Calling out of work expended all the energy you had, your scratchy voice sounding more like a crow's caw than English. As you sat in bed, holding your pounding head in your hands, you knew it would be a long and shitty day.
7:08 AM
mephisto's baby daddy: Morning, Sweetie. Text me when you get up.
9:23 AM
mephisto's baby daddy: Your location says you haven't left for work. Taking the day off? I hope you have plans to come over then. I'll plan a date for us.
11:18 AM
mephisto's baby daddy: Whenever you have a day off, you usually sleep in until 10:30. After that point, you are glued to your phone in bed for an hour. Your lack of a response is worrying me. Please let me know if you're all right. I'm coming to your place at 12:30 if you don't text me before then.
Sylus is typically a very go-with-the-flow person. Not much can get past his thick skin and aloof facade. Violence and turpitude are all a part of his world, and to survive, you need nerves of steel. The only thing to make him pace and sweat is you. He's been staring at his phone, waiting for a text from you like a dog waits for a bone. He's busied himself with mundane tasks like dusting his vinyls, organizing his closet, and even fixing one of Mephisto's wings. He's run out of idle activities to occupy his mind from you, and he's at his wits end. He collapses against his office chair, huffing as he checks the time.
11:36 AM
Fuck it.
He can't wait anymore. He shrugs on his blacker than onyx jacket, his helmet and keys barely making it into his hands as he rushes through his mansion. He's a blur of black and white as he makes it outside, his motorcycle barely purring to life before he takes off, the deafening roar of the engine making even his ears ring. As he flies through the streets of the N109 Zone to Linkon, all he thinks of is how he hopes you're okay.
12:04 PM
You are not okay. Your bed is littered with used tissues as you attempt to clear your nose from the suffocating feeling of congestion. You lay sprawled across your mattress, your limbs stretching to each corner of the bed. Your plush white blanket lies abandoned on the floor, along with several of your stuffed animals. You had tried to sweat the fever out, but it didn't work. If anything, it made it worse, your fever rising to an alarming 103.4° F. Any attempt at movement was a fruitless endeavor, your achy limbs and lightheadedness making even standing without support a difficult task. As you contemplated writing your will, you heard three firm knocks at your door. Your head snaps towards the sound, your skull threatening to split at the movement. After a moment of contemplation and dread, you force yourself to stand. Your body protests at each agonizing motion; any effort threatens to send you crashing to the floor. Stumbling to your door, you look through the peephole and nearly cry at the sight of that soft silver hair and those ruby eyes. Your shaky hands unlock your door, a sheepish smile breaking across your face as you meet his somewhat frenzied gaze.
"I didn't know you were coming over today." Your hoarse voice sounds unfamiliar to you, a deep rasp replacing your once smooth and tranquil cadence.
A beat of silence passes between you as you look up at him. It takes a moment, but you realize he's looking you over. Suddenly self-conscious, you shift on your feet as you realize how rough you must look. You discarded your pajama pants earlier, donning one of Sylus's shirts that he left here months ago. Your hair is a dishevelled mess, sweat dripping from your hairline and flushing your cheeks. Your nose feels irritated and is no doubt a deep red that you're sure rivals Sylus's pointed gaze.
"I sent you a few texts saying that I would be on the way." He leans against the door frame, his arms crossed over his muscled chest.
You curse internally.
"I'm sorry, I haven't looked at my phone today except to call out of work." You rub your temples, talking hurting both your head and throat. "I didn't mean to worry you."
He gives you a soft, knowing smile.
"I'm always worried about you." He states, as though it's obvious.
Sylus looks you up and down once more before bringing the back of his hand to your forehead. He hisses, holding it there for a moment before withdrawing.
"You're burning up. Come on, kitten. Let's get you in bed." He doesn't hesitate before scooping you in his arms, tucking you close to him. He kicks the door behind him as he makes his way through your apartment to your bedroom.
You want to protest, insist you're fine, come up with a snarky quip as you usually would, but you have no energy for it. Instead, you allow yourself to be vulnerable and burrow further into his warm embrace.
Sylus strolls in and sees the disheveled state of your room. Where pillows and blankets should be, tissues and cough medicine occupy. His heart gives a small pang as he thinks of you taking care of yourself.
"Sit here for a second, baby." He sets you down on a swivelling chair near your bed. His voice is soft and quiet, as if he knew that any excessive noise grated on your nerves. You sit, slightly confused as to why he set you down, before you realize he's going to pick up your mess.
"Sy, you don't have to do that." You begin to protest, feeling a bit embarrassed at him touching your used tissues.
He smiles softly, not listening to your objections as he continues to clean.
"I want to take care of you. Your comfort is my top priority." You can't say anything to that. His voice is so genuine that it makes your stomach flip.
Once he's done, he extends his hands out to you. You take them gratefully, allowing him to lead you to your now tidied-up bed. He tucks you in so you're fully enveloped by the thick blanket that once had a home on your wood floor. You're sure from his perspective, you resemble something of a cocoon.
You feel ridiculous.
"Have you had any medicine besides that cough syrup?" He asks, sitting on the edge of the bed next to you. His calloused hands brush against your head, soothing your hair to bring you comfort.
It works.
You close your eyes as you soak in the feeling of his fingers against you. His touch was slow, gentle, and almost reverent. You opened your eyes to find him already staring at you.
"Nope. I couldn't find anything else." A soft laugh leaves your lips before you're ravaged by coughs. You sit up quickly, bringing your elbow to your mouth so you don't cough all over him. He rubs your back softly, his brows furrowed with worry.
"I'll be back." Sylus leaves the room in a hurry, not even giving you time to ask where he is going. You sniffle, sighing as you bring your knees to your chest and rest your chin against them. Fatigue works its way to your eyes, making you close them for some reprieve. You hear the clanging of metal and the rush of water after a few moments, and softly smile at the thought of such a large man fumbling around your small kitchen.
You're grateful that he's here.
12:29 PM
Sylus enters your room after a few minutes with a steaming mug.
World's Best Mom. Sylus thought he was so clever when he gifted that to you, calling you Mephisto's adopted mother. You'll never admit how dearly you love it, though some part of you feels he already knows.
You smile affectionately as you meet his eyes, reaching out your hands to grab the cup.
"I made you some tea. It will soothe your throat, kitten." He hands the mug to you, watching as you take a sip. Your face contorts as the sweet and hot liquid meets your tender throat.
"I know, baby, but you'll feel better after you drink. Bottoms up." He sits on the bed again, this time settling himself in it. He kicks off his shoes, curling up under the blanket with you. You continue to drink the tea in small sips, Sylus watching you the whole time. His fingers trace idle, mindless patterns over your arm, and you're not sure if the chills you feel are attributed to your cold or his touch.
He takes the mug from you when you take your last sip, setting it on the nightstand next to your bed.
"You should rest, kitten. I'll be in the living room, okay?" He presses a kiss to your temple, moving to get up, but you grab his arm before he can.
"Stay with me? Please?" His gaze pierces through yours, a moment of stillness passing as he weighs letting you rest peacefully or with him. Once he sees the look on your face, he realizes he could never deny you anything. He doesn't hesitate before lying back down and opening his arms to you. Your shoulders sag in relief, leaning back down and nuzzling your head into his chest as you get comfortable. His strong arms wrap around your waist as he cradles you, his cheek pressing against the crown of your head.
"Always." He whispers after a moment, rubbing small circles into your hip. The warmth and firmness of Sylus's embrace brings heaviness to your eyes, and sleep comes easily.
Throughout your semi-lucid rest, you feel Sylus come and go. One moment his hand is pressed against your forehead; the next, he's tucking you in. You feel as though you could cry; the act of being taken care of so intimate. He does it like it's as easy as breathing.
Maybe it is.
4:18 PM
A deliciously savory smell begins to waft through your apartment, the pungency waking you from your slumber. As you grogily wake up, your eyes squinting as you look around your room, you feel your stomach rumble. You pull your sweat-soaked sheets away from you and begin to stand. You still feel like shit, but resting definitely helped.
In your kitchen, you see Sylus tending to a pot on the stove. He's humming softly to himself, stirring occasionally. You stand there for a moment, smiling to yourself as you admire your lover.
"I could get used to this view." You tease, your voice still coming out a bit harshly.
Sylus stiffens a bit before his rich laugh bounces off the walls of the kitchen. It makes you feel warmer than your fever.
"I'll cook for you as often as you like." He muses, turning his back to the stove and facing you as you begin to approach him. You stop just a step away, looking up at him with both of your hands on your hips.
"Don't tempt me, Sy. I'll have you in here more often than you think." You grin at him.
"Mm. If that's the case, I'll invest in a 'Kiss the Cook' apron so I can at least get something out of it." His eyes twinkle as you banter with him. He's glad you're feeling better.
"You don't need one of those to get a kiss from me." You narrow your eyes at him, an incredulous look on your face.
"Oh, I'm aware." He grabs your hips, pulling you so you're chest to chest with him for emphasis. His eyes bore down into yours, a silent question waiting in them.
"Sylus, I don't want to get you-" You start before Sylus cuts you off.
"I don't care." He barely finishes before bringing his lips to yours. A soft sigh escapes him as he raises a shaky hand to cup your cheek. His mouth moves unhurried against yours, his lips holding a sort of tenderness that makes you weak in the knees. You bring your hand to tangle in his hair, tugging it back softly, which earns a light moan from him. He bites your lip, tugging it back and soothing it over with his tongue. His hands reach down to lift you by your thighs to sit on the counter. He stands between your parted legs, a hand on each knee.
"I missed you." He pants, breathless as he kisses down your neck.
You loll your head back as you soak up the feeling of his lips against your throat and collarbones.
"I missed you, too." You whisper back, feeling a different warmth beginning to spread through your body.
You bring his face back up to look at yours before pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. You rest your forehead against his, your eyes closing shut as you try to catch your breath. Being sick makes it harder to kiss, it seems.
"I'm making you chicken noodle soup." He whispers after a moment.
You wink an eye open, huffing a laugh as you pull away and lean back against the cabinets behind you.
"You ruined the moment." You squint your eye at him, mock annoyance lacing your voice. You sit criss-crossed on the counter as he lets go of you and moves away to stir the simmering pot on the stove.
"It was on purpose. If I kept going, I wouldn't be able to stop." He says over his shoulder, his tone resembling a parent explaining something obvious to their child. You feel heat flush up your neck at his reasoning. You're not sure you would have been able to stop either.
"Smart. My body appreciates that; I'm not sure I have the stamina right now." You joke, staring at the back of Sylus's head.
He laughs an easy and languid laugh that brings a smile to your face. A few minutes of comfortable silence pass between you both, giving you a moment to rest your eyes. You open them up again only when you hear the opening and closing of cabinets and see Sylus pouring soup into two bowls. He sets them on the table near the kitchen and turns to approach you again.
"I hope you're hungry, kitten." He grins a boyish grin reserved only for you.
"Starved." You hum, slowly sliding off the counter and wobbily making your way to the table. He pulls your seat out for you, letting you sit before pushing you in. He takes up the spot next to you, disregarding his soup and taking yours in hand. He moves around the broth to cool it down, taking a spoonful after a few moments and blowing on it.
"Wait, are you going to feed me?" You raise a brow, genuine surprise lacing your features.
He quirks a brow right back at you, a "duh?" expression on his face.
"Yes? Don't even try to refuse me. I might take offense." He fails to suppress the smirk growing on his face as he lifts the spoon to your lips.
"Wipe that grin off your face." You grumble, opening your mouth to drink the soup. You hum as it meets your mouth, the broth thick and savory. He cools off another spoonful and continues to feed you until there is nothing left.
After the last bite, you lean back in your chair, patting your stomach with a sigh.
"You need a career change, Sy. You could make like a bandit as a chef." You affirm, appreciating the food he made for you. Seriously, he is a great cook.
"I already make like a bandit, sweetie. Besides, I'd rather be your personal chef. Should I start charging?" He questions with a smug expression, beginning to eat his own portion. You roll your eyes, resting your chin on your palm, admiring him as he eats.
"What will this meal cost me?" You inquire, humoring him for just a moment.
He contemplates for a moment, shoveling a spoonful of that perfectly hearty broth into his mouth.
"Just you getting better."
7:48 PM
Sylus ran out to grab some more medicine, despite your protests. The tea and soup he gave you have dulled a lot of the symptoms, the only ones that are persistently bothering you being your cough and congestion. Even now, as you sit in front of your TV hacking away and blowing your nose, you feel infinitely better than how you did before Sylus came over. You hear the door open and turn to find Sylus hauling multiple bags from the local pharmacy.
"Sylus! What is all of this?" You exclaim, sitting up on the couch and wondering what he could have even bought to bring multiple full bags.
"Necessities." He deadpans, dropping all but one of the bags on the coffee table in front of you. Tentatively, you begin to pull out the items, most of which are medicines for coughs and fevers. Coughdrops... honey sticks... electrolytes...You fight the smile threatening to break your face and opt to bury your face in your hands.
"You can be so sweet sometimes." You mutter, shaking your head in your hands.
Sylus beams, feeling a slight flutter in his chest at that.
"Mm. I'm sweet all the time, for you, baby. I'm sure I'll win some brownie points with this too..." You raise a brow as he pulls out your favorite ice cream from the mystery bag he was still holding. "I bought you some ice cream, since I figured you'd want something sweet. Your favorite."
You feel yourself getting a tad emotional. Thoughtful gestures, no matter how silly or unimportant they might seem, always mean the world. You open up your arms, inviting him into your embrace.
He walks over after setting the ice cream down and collapses on top of you. Your back hits the armrest of the couch, and you adjust yourself so he can slot his body between your legs. Your fingers tangle in his hair, twirling and idling with the moon-kissed strands. He lifts his head to look up at you after a relaxing moment, your lips finding his forehead. They linger there for a few beats.
"Thank you for taking such good care of me." You whisper, his gaze growing softer as it meets yours.
"I love you. It's easy." He whispers back.
You take a moment to admire him after his declaration. Bringing your head down, your lips meet his in a gentle caress. They dance around each other, exploring, tasting, appreciating. You hope he can feel what you're trying to say.
Loving him is easy, too.
9:21 PM
The rest of the night was spent on the couch, Sylus's weight on top of you providing a strange sense of comfort. You had shared the ice cream with him, even using the same spoon (much to your dismay).
"You're gonna get sick." You argued, holding your spoon out of reach.
"We've been kissing all day. If I'm going to get sick, it's already done." He refuted, finally grabbing the spoon from your hand and shoving the ice cream into his mouth.
You never win those types of arguments. Sylus's true superpower is his stubbornness. You could never stay frustrated, though, especially not now. You look down at him snoozing on your chest, your nails tracing random patterns across his back. He always looked beautiful, but in moments like this, where his face was unaccompanied by furrowed brows and scowls? He looked angelic.
You allowed the movie to finish before nudging Sylus softly.
"Baby, let's go to bed." You whispered, softly pressing your hand down on his back.
He winked an eye open slowly before closing it again and nuzzling further into you.
You almost laughed. Sylus loved to cuddle as much as the next person, but he had moments where all he wanted to do was stay attached to your hip. If he could crawl through your skin, you think he would.
"I would carry you to bed if I could, my love, but you're way too big." You tease softly, your hand continuing to soothe his back.
A beat passes.
"I feel like I should be offended." He mumbles, his voice raspy from sleep.
You shrug, a cheeky smile on your face.
"Let's go?" You try again and hear Sylus take a big sigh through his nose before getting up sluggishly. He sits on the couch for a moment as if trying to come back into his body. You wish you had your phone on you so you could snap a picture of his bed head and grumpy expression. You stand slowly, realizing you're feeling a lot better, and extend a hand to him. He stares at it, as if not processing that you want him to take it.
"Come on, you big baby." He takes your hand after a moment, shuffling his feet as he stumbles after you. You make your way to your bed, the darkness enticing you to rest. Sylus crawls into bed after you, quick to find your body and tangle your limbs together. You breathe in his scent as he envelops you tightly against his chest.
"Goodnight, kitten." He huffs, feeling relaxed with you in his arms.
"Goodnight, Sylus." You whisper, kissing his bicep and closing your eyes as sleep welcomes you once more.
Today wasn't so bad after all.
