#iceclops

Bobby Drake was laying on the floor of his bedroom full of pain. Scott had given them a particularly difficult and long session in the danger room. Bobby didn't mind the learning experience but staying iced up for so long left… after-effects. After-effects that Bobby would rather not deal with. Unfortunately he hadn't closed his bedroom door completely.

"Bobby? Are you okay?" Scott's voice came from the doorway.

"Oh yeah," Bobby drawled. "I'm fantastic."

Scott pushed the door further and stepped into Bobby's room. Bobby felt mildly embarrassed that his training clothes were strewn all over his floor and his bed was unmade. Bobby knew Scott's clothes were always in the correct spot and his bed was made right after he got up. Scott set high standards for the rest of them and they could be hard to live up to.

"I don't think you are. Did something go wrong in training? Did you get hurt?" The concern in Scott's voice was obvious. "Did I push you too far?"

Bobby shook his head. "It's not your fault."

"But something is wrong."

Bobby shrugged and looked up at Scott. "I'm good."

Scott fully entered the room at sat down next to Bobby, his hand just brushing Bobby's scalp. "I'm not leaving until you tell me what's wrong."

Bobby fully intended to be petulant and not tell Scott a thing but pain shot through his thigh and he whimpered.

"Bobby, seriously. Tell me what's wrong. What can I do to help?"

"I… I… I don't thaw evenly. Sometimes things stay frozen longer and shards of ice get caught internally. It hurts real bad and… there's not much I can do about it. I just have to wait for the ice to melt and hope it isn't sharp enough to tear anything internally."

"Oh Bobby," Scott gasped. "Can I do anything? What do you usually do?"

"Lay down and wait for it to go away."

Scott ran his fingers through Bobby's hair. "Bobby… I'm sorry. I'm sorry this happens and I'm sorry I ran training so long. I'll keep your pain in mind next time."

" 's okay Scott."

"Can you get up? I'll help you into bed."

"I'd rather stay on the floor."

"Are you sure? Is it comfortable enough?"

"It's fine." Bobby fought back a sharp gasp of pain as the ice in his thigh shifted again.

"Can we melt the ice?"

"I don't know," Bobby whispered.

Scott continued running his fingers through Bobby's hair. "Where does it hurt?"

"M' leg. Lower abdomen."

"Right or left?"

"Right." Bobby half-heartedly tapped his thigh.

"Inside or outside?"

"Inner."

Scott nodded. He got up and repositioned himself next to Bobby's splayed legs. Scott laid down so his chest was pressed into the inside of Bobby's right thigh. He draped an arm over Bobby's leg and rested his head against Bobby's hip. Scott knew that the warmest part of his body would be his chest and he would still be warm from training.

"Mmn." Bobby groaned quietly with relief. Scott's heat and weight felt great against his cold aching skin and muscles. Bobby was cozy with Scott tucked against him, providing the warmth Bobby's own body could no longer produce. Bobby has been cold since his mutation developed. Destined to always be cold.

Scott shifted so he was closer to Bobby, spreading as much warmth as he could. "That helping?"

"Yeah. Yeah, thanks Scott."

"Why haven't you told us? We could help, you know."

"Cuz its stupid."

"It's not stupid Bobby, you're hurting."

"Oh yeah, "hey guys, when I defrost there's still ice in my body, can you melt it please?" That sounds ridiculous Scott. I don’t need anybody knowing about my stupid side effect."

"I get bad eye burns when I use my beams. If I could do something about that then I would. It's not noble to suffer Bobby." Scott's tone was quiet, almost gentle.

And yeah, it made Bobby feel like an asshole. "Scott, you know I'd help you with your eyes if there was a way to—"

"I know you would Bobby. But why don't you let me help you with your icing problem? There is something we can do about that."

"Well… you all seem so… so competent and capable. I don’t want to be the weak link. I'm already the youngest of us and… the smallest."

"Bobby… That’s not what teams are," Scott adjusted himself to look up at Bobby. Bobby stared at the ceiling though. "Sweetheart, we work together. No one is a weak link. We all have strengths and flaws and we work around those. It's my job to learn both and formulate plans around them. You can trust me Bobby."

"I do trust you!" Bobby protested before wincing as the ice in his abdomen shifted. "I trust you."

"I know you do. I know you do. Take it easy Bobby." Scott rubbed small circles into Bobby's hip bone. "Do you still feel the ice in your leg?"

"A little."

"Whaaat are you guys doing?" Warren's voice came from the doorway.

"Bobby was cold." Scott answered as Bobby's face flushed.

"Oh no, cold?" Warren entered the room and settled on Bobby's other side. "Why aren't you in bed?"

"Laid down and couldn't be bothered to get back up," Bobby mumbled.

Warren made a sympathetic sound. He laid next to Bobby and stretched a wing over Bobby’s torso. Warren snuggled right up against Bobby, pressing himself fully into Bobby's side. Scott didn't comment on Warren's wing smacking him in the back of the head.

With the combined warmth from Warren and Scott, Bobby's internal ice melted. Bobby gave a small groan of relief as he stretched out, without pain.

"Doing okay?" Warren asked.

"Ice is gone," Bobby confirmed.

"That's great Bobby," Scott smiled. "Want to get up now?"

"Yes and no."

"Why not?" Warren asked, shifting so he was able to look down at Bobby instead of being pressed against him.

"I like having you guys curled up with me."

Scott smiled. "We can cuddle in bed Bobby."

"Promise?" Bobby didn't mean to sound so childish, but he couldn't help it around Scott. His boyfriend was so many things Bobby thought were amazing. Scott was calm and collected in the heat of a battle, quick witted, tactical, incredibly fierce and protective. The things Scott was Bobby just… wasn't. Bobby feared that Scott would realize he was better off partnered with someone like Jean or Warren. It led to some insecurities on Bobby's part that often seeped into his interactions with Scott.

"Of course Bobby," Scott murmured. Bobby heard the unspoken "sweetie". The things Scott couldn't say unless they were alone. The way their relationship fell behind closed doors.

"Can I get dressed first?" Bobby asked quietly.

"Of course," Scott ran his fingers over Bobby's side.

Warren watched the way Scott and Bobby interacted. The familiarity they had with one another. Something Warren was envious of. The simple comfort between the two felt impossibly far away for Warren, something he'd never be allowed to have. He envied his friends.

Bobby slipped off to the bathroom to pull sleeping pants on. Scott got off the floor and stretched, his joints popping loud enough that Warren could hear it.

"Jeez Scott, are you okay?"

"Mmn?"

"You were just popping. Are you okay?"

"My body just does that. It's no big deal."

"It could be—"

"Warren," Scott sighed. "It's normal. Your physiology is a little different than mine so maybe your joints don't pop. But its just the depression of fluids when I stretch. It's perfectly normal."

Warren nodded and hauled himself off the floor. He shook out his wings, a few feathers falling to the floor.

"Warren, honestly," Scott huffed. He bent over to pick up the feathers. "You need to quir leaving these all over the place."

"Then tell Jean to clean up her hair! It's gross finding the clumps in the drains!"

"I'll talk to her about it."

"Talk to who about what?" Bobby asked, entering his bedroom.

"Jean about her leaving hair in the drains. And Warren needs to quit leaving feathers everywhere."

Warren stuck his tongue out at Scott's back. Scott was busy making up Bobby's bed. Bobby hovered, wanting to apologize and thank Scott and finding he didn't have the words to do either.

"Bedtime Bobby," Scott said when he'd finished fixing the comforter.

Bobby nodded and crawled into bed, tucking the pillow under his head in the way he liked. Scott slipped under the sheets next to Bobby and curled against his side. Warren hovered for a moment, looking ready to leave.

"Warren, are you joining us?" Scott asked.

"You want me to?" Warren fidgeted.

"Of course birdbrain." Bobby reached out for Warren. "The more warmth the better."

Warren smiled, pleased at being invited to join in the comfort. He slipped into the bed on Bobby's other side and wrapped his arms around Bobby. Scott snuggled in close so Bobby was sandwiched between his closest allies. His best friend, his secret boyfriend. The only thing that could make this any better was Hank’s presence. Bobby was thrilled that he was being offered warmth and pain relief from his friends. There was something deeply satisfying about knowing he was cared for.

Scott tucked the blankets around the three of them and murmured, "get some rest Bobby."

"I'll try."

"You deserve some after your painful thawing."

"Thanks Scott."

Warren nuzzled his face into Bobby's neck. "Scott's cutting us some slack Bobby, take full advantage of it."

Scott snorted, "I'm not that bad."

Bobby shrugged. "You can be rough."

"Oh." Scott chewed his lip. "I don't mean to be."

"We know. You should rest too." Bobby squeezed Scott's hand under the sheets.

"I will," Scott whispered. "I promise."