#poor bby

the first time he gets sick after dating robby, his usual method of deny, push through, ignore, is flipped on its head- because robby, it turns out, is one hell of a caretaker. as soon as he notices dennis's slightly high temperature and red cheeks in October, hes on alert.

dennis sputters and squirms and tries to get away from his boyfriends hand on his forehead, but its too late. robby's eyes narrow.

"dennis whitaker, why did you not tell me you were sick? you know full well you have a fever, you can't do a shift tomorrow like this."

"robby, im not sick i swear! im just a bit.. sweaty, is all. i... went for a run?"

dennis tries to deny everything, but he can already feel his head starting to throb and his heart pound in his ears, drowning out his voice. his cheeks are hot, and he doesnt feel good at all. robby's hands come out to steady him where he sways slightly on his feet and his eyes go more vacant.

"don't lie to me, sweetheart. you're burning up and I can tell you're in pain. let me help you, denny. let me lie you down and get you some medicine."

dennis's heart drops at the thought of inconveniencing robby and the ER- that was one sure fire way to become a burden, as his father always said. the jobs won't do themselves, so what use was someone who couldn't do the job because their body was weak?

"robby... please, what about my shift, I can't let everyone be one man down, you know how busy it gets on a Friday!"

robby scowled but cradled dennis closer, not impressed by his boyfriends lack of self preservation.

"dennis, it's non-negotiable. you're swaying in my arms as it is. let me take care of you, mousey. besides, don't worry about the shift. I'll call shen and nazely in to ask if they can cover since they aren't due to work for a couple of days. it's fine, denny."

dennis could feel his back molars ache, a clear sign that he was on the verge of tears. he couldn't help it, he'd tried to hide it but now it looked like not only would he be missing a shift, but robby too- the attending! and all because he was weak and sickly, like the runt in a litter of puppies.

his head hurts and his joints ache and he's warm and cold at the same time and yes, he does start crying. all he can think about is the work he's missing and how miserable he feels, and he lets his head fall like lead on robby's chest. he doesn't have much more to give.

robby's face softens in love and worry, and now dennis has given in and checked out, he gets to work. he changes dennis into soft and comfy clothes and settles him into their bed, tucked in nicely and with a kiss to his oh so hot forehead. then he hurries to the bathroom for medicine, which he feeds to dennis with a sip of ice cold water.

the medicine makes dennis's feverish state cause him to be drowsy, and robby watches like a hawk as he drifts off into sleep. there are still tear stains on dennis's cheeks, and it makes the older man's heart seize. it unsettled him, how resisting dennis had been to accept that he was sick and needed to rest- and robby didn't want to think about how his harsh rural upbringing might have had something to do with it.

over the next few days, every effort dennis makes to haul himself into work- or even out of bed- is thwarted by robby. he was banned from shifts until his fever was well and truly gone, and every light meal was brought to him in bed where his boyfriend would then attempt to feed him by hand.

dennis was too exhausted from sweating out the fever to even put up a fight. he would eventually be embarrassed by how he'd opened and closed his mouth on command for soup to be given to him, but right now? he felt... safe, despite his illness. robby hadn't thought twice before taking time off indefinitely for him, and it made him feel something he was too shy to admit- real love. maybe he'd even tell the older man when he got better.

for robby, sat next to dennis and brushing the curls off of his flushed forehead, he'd already heard. dennis, addled with sickness, had muttered over and over and over again those fateful three words "i love you" when robby had been caring for him. he'd keep quiet though- let dennis have his own moment when he was better and could remember what he was saying.

Recluse: My childhood, all things considered, was a happy one. I grew up on a farm in the Vanilla fields outside of the Lily Kingdom. My family were shepherds, raising sheep for the palace and taking our wool to market on monthly trips. I'd spend my days in the fields, tending to the herd, helping with my family's garden. It wasn't until I was a little older that I went with father to visit the kingdom for the first time

It was there that I met the former queen and what all followed because of it--which is a tale I've told before so it doesn't bear repeating.

Altogether unremarkable, but perhaps one that I took for granted, given where I ended up.

Ms. Glinda realized that feeling might have another name, so she had to go hide in her room immediately!

But the feeling followed her there