#shaboom

"Mm morning Charlie, d'ya need me to bring you an energy drink to work today?" Pim yawned. Charlie wasn't one to make phone calls, let alone at 7 in the morning.

"It's Saturday."

"Oh. Oops.... Sorry Charlie, my brain's still calibrating. You know it's 7 AM...A bit early for you isn't it?"

"Yeah... yeah it is. I'mb sorry for bothering you. I just..."

"Are you doing alright?"

"Yeah!.... well ndo, actually. Actually I feel like shit. Just kind of.... ummb...sick. A-and I know you like to..." Pim's heart raced. He cut Charlie off before he could say anything else about what he 'likes'.

"You want me to come over Charlie?" He was already halfway done with the buttons on his pressed and clean white shirt.

"Mbaybe I do."

Pim did his best to obey every stop sign on the route to Charlie's apartment. His eyes were on the road but his mind was speeding ahead, imagining what will happen once Charlie opens the door. Does he really want him there? Duh... he called you. Does he really though? He said maybe... He called you first! He wishes there was a Charlie voice in his head to fight against the hurtful voice of his own. He arrived at Charlie's apartment door out of breath, a tote bag slung on his shoulder of random things he'd grabbed from home.

"Doors open!"

He imagined a lot of *situations* on his drive, he did not consider that Charlie would be laid up in bed ripping his bong next to the window.

He blew out a puff of smoke that made him cough toward the window, rough & ragged, triggering a raspy sneeze.

"hhHH'DDDZZSCHOOO! Fuck. Ouch. Oh that feels good though."

"Charlieee whyyyyy are you smoking weed while you're sick.... In your apartment. Is that even legal?" He shouldn't be surprised in the slightest, but he had to be a voice of reason. A gift and a curse. Charlie's personal nagging conscience. The bigger critter coughed again, clearing his throat which made him wince.

"Cuz. I don'dt have any mbedicide. Gotta use Our Lord's mbedicide. You're right though, that shit hurt my throat."

Pim sighed. He cannot believe he found this man so endearing. There must be a screw loose up there making red flags green.

"I brought some. Can you even take it if you just smoked?"

"Yes."

Pim was already typing on his phone, knowing Charlie wouldn't know the true answer.

"Ehhh I think you'll have to wait a bit." Pim dropped his bag and grabbed the fresh box of tissues he'd scavenged from his closet. Always prepared, once again.

"You'll have to.. Hhh... D-deal with a lot of- HAHh'DZZZSCHOO.. *snrrff* a lot of mbe sdeezing thend. Ow."

Pim squashed his budding arousal along with the urge to ring Charlie's neck for talking so dirty so casually. He decided to focus on something other than his large irritated dripping nose, as difficult as that was.

"I c-can make you some tea!! For your throat.. I brought this lemon honey to try."

Charlie fought the urge to say 'no, I'm fine, I'll tough it out'... Pim had come all this way to take care of him. Pim cared for him, he cared that his throat hurt. He brought him tea & honey without being asked. Charlie felt weird being so seen & cared for, but a gnawing fire inside of him begged for it. He wanted so badly for Pim to fuss over him. Replace the pounding in his sinuses and searing pain in his throat with soft touches & warm sweet liquid.

"That would be so awesombe mban...I mbean, I thindk a beer would do but... hondey sounds really ndice right about ndow." He looked down, blushing. It was so hard to accept the care, it was equally hard not to beg for it. Pim softly put a few tissues in his large palm, petting Charlie's cheek as they made eye contact.

"Blow your nose honey, I'll be right back." And he was gone, taking fast strides towards the kitchen. Thank god. Both of their pounding hearts needed a break. Pim was bold sometimes, it always surprised the larger critter when he took control like this. He thanked God that Pim's heart was so big, that his love... that he showed his love and bared his soul to Charlie in all his little ways. His nose burned, making his whole face itch. *Snnrrffff*... Large yellow hands prodded and squeezed, aggravating the already pinkened skin of his septum. If his eyes weren't so teary, he might be able to see Pim sneaking looks.

"hhHh! hhh....... *snrrfff* ughhh. *snfSNFFF* Gh! ZZZZSCHOOOO HDZZZZSCCHOOO.... HDZZZSCHhhh ouch." He was thankful for the handful of tissues as his nose emptied itself. Even after a hearty blow, it was obvious his sinuses were inflamed by his heavy mouth breathing. His whole head felt heavy.

"Oh Charlie, bless you bless you bless you. My poor sick guy...."

Pim gently placed the steaming cup next to the bed.

"Thangk you Pimb. Hope I'mb not grossi'g you out."

Pim frowned. He gave Charlie the biggest loving puppy eyes he could manage.

"You're not gross Charlie.... not at all." He swallowed loudly. Use your words Pim, tell him how you feel.

"Y-You're... you're very handsome.... even now... maybe even a little extra." He bit his lip and broke eye contact, but Charlie put a finger on his mouth, pulling it out to keep him from biting at his own skin anxiously. The feeling of Pim's lips on his finger... he imagined it going into Pim's warm mouth. God why did he hit the bong right before Pim got there.... His mind was prone to wandering, but the leash was cut. His breathing got heavier & Pim must be a mind reader. He peppered Charlie's finger with small kisses, kissing down his palm, down his wrist.

"P-Pimb I ndeed to-"

"It's okay honey just let it out, it'll help you feel better."

Pim at some point had crawled into his lap, now kissing the tip of his quivering nose.

"Ah-hh! It's sendsitive! You're ind the.... Hhh!! splash zonde mban...."

Pim looked up at him lovingly. His nerve was shock straight. He looked... excited. Charlie knew how messy his sneezes could get, he couldn't just drench Pim like that, sitting so sweetly in his lap... He tried to aim over Pim's shoulder. The fine mist raised all the hairs on his arms.

"Hheh... Heh! HH'DZZZZZZSCHOO!! H'NNDSSCHOO!! ugh. bless mbe." His arm instinctively went up to swipe the strands of mucus dangling precariously over Pim's head. He wasn't quick enough, the small critter was already softly dabbing a tissue under Charlie's nose. Smiling deliriously in a way he had never seen.

"Blessss you bless you. Your poor throat must hurt, I'm so sorry you're sick Charlie..." Charlie had to avert his eyes from Pim's simultaneously concerned and wild expression. He hoped God wasn't watching this.

"Ndo I'mb alright mban it's ndot that bad." He picked up the now cooled tea and took a sip, shivering as the honey glazed his raw throat.

"Charlie.... it's okay to be sick. You don't have to be... y'know like a strong guy all the time." Pim was rubbing his chest, gentle on top of his scars. He shivered for a different reason, his whole body felt so sensitive. He relaxed into Pim's warmth and sighed.

"Yeah.... yeah. Sobetimbes if I like, say how I'mb really feeli'g out loud I feel like *snrrff* I cand feel it get worse. Does that mbake sendse?"

"I think you just need to let it out & relax Charlie.... pretending it away won't actually make it go away. B-but I'll be here. To take care of you!"

"Thangk you. For combing over. Umb... for being ndice to mbe. Mby whole body feels... bad. My head feels bad. Could you... ndo ndevermind."

"Oh please please please tell me Charlie!! I want to help!!"

"When mby head is really stuffed up umb.... this mbassage on my cheeks can help. Like rubbi'g my sinduses. You don'dt have to."

"Oh! I can't believe I didn't think of that... I know what to do!! Lemme just...." Pim was blushing pinker than he'd already been. He softly brushed Charlie's cheek and got to work. His thumbs were gentle but pressing just hard enough to work out some of the congestion clogging up Charlie's brain. He swiped out from his nose over his warm cheeks, rubbing circles under the corners of his nostrils like a trained professional.

"Hh'HDDZZSCHOO!! Oughh fuck sorry, sorry it snduck up on mbe. Fuck that's gross."

"Well I think it's working." Pim smiled & giggled at Charlie even though he had just sneezed all over him, a strand of mucus connecting Charlie's nose to the middle of Pim's forehead. He wiped it away with a tissue. Charlie searched his face for disgust or uncomfort but there was......nothing. Nothing except the loving look he'd been giving him since he got there. He dropped his forehead into the corner of Pim's neck. He'd felt so strung up and nervous but now he just felt.... sick. and tired. And relaxed, with Pim's weight in his lap. The feeling was so bizarre to him, unwell but loved. Sick but relaxed. Cared for.

"Oh Charlie. Bless you, by the way. You're pretty hot..."

"Thandks mban, you're pretty hot too."

"No ... n-no I mean. Your forehead is feally warm."

"Damnb"

Pim kissed the side of his nose, frowning at the heat at his neck.

"I think you can probably take those meds now, I can go grab them!!"

"Ndoooo mby pillow." Charlie flopped his head back on his shoulders giving Pim an exaggerated pouty face. Pim kissed the pout right off of his lips.

"I'll be right back, there's nowhere else I'd rather be Charlie."