#teledorian

TeIemachus slowly fluttered his eyes open, his senses quickly getting overwhelmed by the scent of breakfast being cooked. He groaned as he slowly sat up with a yawn and a stretch. Rubbing his eyes with his fist, he removed the covers from his body, instantly shivering from the cold February air.

Quickly, he grabbed his fuzzy purple house coat, wrapping it around himself. He headed to the bathroom, taking care of his business, before going to investigate what was going on in the kitchen.

“Dori?” His voice rasped as it normally did in the mornings.

The person in question startled and turned around, trying to hide the stove from view.

“Telly! My love! What…what are you doing up? So early?” Dorian squeaked, visibly holding up a spatula, but hid it behind their back once they realized.

TeIemachus couldn't help but giggle slightly at the sight, petting Copper's head when she'd trotted over to him. 

“I just woke up,” TeIemachus shrugged, brushing his hair back, “what're you up to?”

“I was gonna surprise you,” Dorian slumped and pouted.

“Oh, sorry,” TeIemachus smiled sheepishly. He walked over, hugging them, “you're cooking? Without burning the apartment down?”

“Shut up,” Dorian gently nudged him teasingly, kissing his cheek, “good morning, sunshine.”

“Morning, blue,” TeIemachus smiled and softly kissed their lips. “Sorry for kinda ruining your surprise.”

“Hey, don't worry about it,” Dorian smirked and pecked his lips, “breakfast isn't the only surprise I have in store for you.”

“Oh?” TeIemachus raised an eyebrow, stroking their arm, “well, what else do you have in store for me?”

“Well, that would really ruin the surprise, wouldn't it?” Dorian booped TeIemachus’ nose.

“Mmm, I guess you're right,” TeI shrugged, then sniffed softly, “oh, might wanna check on that breakfast-”

Dorian's face fell, “shit!” They turned to flip over the pancake just in time.

TeIemachus sat down at the breakfast bar, using his phone as a means for distraction so he didn't distract his partner again. Dorian placed the plate of red velvet pancakes that were somewhat heart shaped. They were decorated with whipped cream and sliced strawberries. Only then did it seem to register in TeIemachus’ mind.

“Happy Valentine's Day!” He shouted.

Dorian chuckled, “there you go, sweetie.” They wrapped their arms around him, “Happy Valentine's Day to you too.”

Tel leaned into their hug with a smile. How could he not realize it was one of his favorite holidays ever since he started dating Dorian.

Every year, they would alternate planning dates for each other, and this year was Dorian's turn. TeIemachus loved spoiling Dorian, but also enjoyed being spoiled by Dorian. And judging by the smug grin on Dorian's face while they were eating off their own plate, TeIemachus could tell this year was bound to be a great celebration.

Usually, Dorian didn't bother with Valentine's Day. They'd always thought it was another way to get people separated from their money. It was too commercialized and there was always too much pressure to perform. They always felt bad for the people who were grieving lost loved ones or the single people out there. To an extent, he still did feel bad for them. But since dating TeIemachus, he'd seen Valentine's Day in a new light. There wasn't much pressure to please because whatever they planned, TeIemachus enjoyed it. It didn't have to be a big extravagant thing.

However, this year was different.

Once breakfast was done, Dorian and TeIemachus went up to get dressed for the day. Dorian picked out a cute pink outfit. Black top with a black cardigan over it, long pink pleated skirt, a pink choker, and a pink beret. (Ever since that trip to the mall for Riddy's birthday years ago, they'd made sure to buy plenty of skirts and dresses since they were comfortable in them.) TeIemachus wore a red outfit. He was layered with a white tee shirt, gray zipped-up jacket, and a red zip-up hoodie that remained unzipped. He threw on some black jeans and styled his hair in the mirror, putting the top half in a ponytail. He put on his piercings and sat on the bed, waiting for Dorian to finish.

“You go ahead, Telly, I'll be right there,” Dorian assured him as they went through their jewelry box to search for the perfect gauge earrings to pick.

“Oh, I don't mind waiting,” TeIemachus shrugged and swung his legs back and forth innocently.

“Copper needs to be fed,” Dorian said, turning to his boyfriend, “you mind going down and feeding her?”

TeIemachus gasped dramatically, instantly standing up, “are you trying to starve our baby?”

“No, that's why I told you,” Dorian smirked.

TeIemachus shook his head and hurried out the door. Dorian sighed in relief before pulling out the black ring box that was hidden in their underwear drawer. They opened it up and smiled at the beautiful silver ring with a diamond in the middle. On the inside, it said ‘♡ for forever -D’ in fancy lettering. It was engraved by none other than their guncle Otto, who had freaked out about the news. They both kind of squealed over the idea of a proposal. Smiling at the memory, they quickly hid the box in the inner pocket of their cardigan.

Looking into the mirror, they took a breath, “you've got this, Dorian.”

They nodded to themself before heading to the kitchen. They smiled at witnessing TeIemachus giving Copper some much deserved tummy rubs after she'd eaten her second breakfast.

“Hey,” Dorian greeted with a wave.

“Oh, hey!” TeIemachus beamed, “you look amazing.”

Dorian blushed and smirked, “only second to you, Tel.”

TeIemachus stood up and walked over to Dorian, “careful, I might just ruin your makeup with words like that.”

“What? Mess up this lipstick? It's smear-proof,” Dorian smirked and kissed TeIemachus's lips to prove it, “see?”

“I do,” Tel grabbed them by the collar of their cardigan, “but just to make sure.”

He kissed Dorian again, gently guiding them to the counter, wrapping his arms around their waist.

Before the two of them could get too distracted, Dorian's alarm rang, meaning it was time to go so they wouldn't be late.

Their first stop was a spa treatment. Mani-pedis and a deep tissue massage kept them both relaxed and refreshed. While TeIemachus had chosen a clear nail polish for his nails, Dorian went for a pink and red alternating pattern.

Next was lunch at TeIemachus’ favorite restaurant: Gyros n’ More. Tel enjoyed himself a delicious gyro while Dorian just ordered a salad, saving their appetite for the dinner they had planned.

After a lovely lunch, Dorian and TeIemachus went back to the apartment, leashed up Copper, and together, they all took a walk around the park near the apartment. TeIemachus had his arm looped into Dorian's as he rested his head on their shoulder. Dorian held onto the leash as Copper happily trotted along, smelling new smells as she styled her cute little sweater.

And then it was time for dinner. Dorian had taken TeIemachus to a fancy Chinese restaurant that had some famous chef's name written all over it. They got to their table and sat across from each other in a smaller booth. Everything was going according to plan and Tel didn't suspect a thing.

They ordered their food, Dorian getting a Sichuan Boiled Fish and TeIemachus getting classic chicken tenders. Dorian playfully teased him for it, making them both laugh.

Their food arrived rather quickly despite it being crazy busy due to the holiday.

TeIemachus and Dorian traded food to taste, however TeIemachus was unprepared for how spicy Dorian's meal was.

“Oh, Telly, I'm so sorry,” Dorian frowned and handed him some of their water.

TeIemachus coughed and took the water, gulping it down with tearful eyes. The water didn't stop the burning in his throat.

“It's so huck! hot!” TeIemachus cried as he fanned himself, holding his tongue out. “How can you hulp! eat that?”

Dorian took a little more than a second to respond to the question, “uh, I dunno, guess I'm just used to the heat. You, um…you okay?”

TeIemachus whimpered as he wiped his tear-filled eyes, “yeah, yeah, total-hlk!-ly…huck!-uh, feels like I'm dy-hingk! dying from fire hup!-augh!”

Dorian felt blood flowing to their cheeks as well as other places when they'd noticed TeIemachus’ continued hiccups. It had been months since his last hiccup. It had been a single, so not a full blown case. Still, they were shocked at this revelation.

As TeIemachus started to choke, hiccups firing off after every cough, Dorian shook his head free of distractions and called the waiter over. They requested some milk or ice cream to help alleviate the heat.

“Telly?” Dorian's voice cracked, so they cleared it, “you doing okay? The, um, the waiter's going to get you some ice cream or milk or something to help.”

TeIemachus nodded, his head jolting back with another hiccup. “Goo-ulk!-good. That was s-hip!-so ho-ock!-uh, hot hup'k! It ga--gave me the hic-HICK!-uh, hiccups.”

Dorian's eyes widened at their boyfriend's smirk. TeIemachus knew exactly what he was doing. The waiter returned with a dish of vanilla ice cream. TeIemachus thanked him before quickly scooping the cold treat into his mouth and letting it sit on his tongue.

Dorian observed the now muffled hiccups that were making Tel jump in his seat. They bit the bottom of their lip as their leg bounced.

He squeaked though when they felt TeIemachus grab their leg, take his sandal off, and put his foot right against his stomach. The next couple of jolts sent pulses of pleasure through them and Dorian had to hold back their vocal chords.

TeIemachus smiled, despite still feeling the heat, “m-mk!-might as well-hickulk! take advantage w--while we can hngkolp!”

TeIemachus scooped up some more ice cream and placed it into his mouth, relishing the coldness hitting his tongue.

Dorian was quite speechless as every word he tried to say caught in his throat in helpless whimpers.

TeIemachus’ hiccups remained, even after the dinner was over and the two of them were enjoying one last walk around the park. Dorian held onto Tel's hand as they walked, observing the way he'd started muffling his hiccups and looking around if one accidentally slipped out. 

“Gosh, you're adorable like this,” Dorian whispered and kissed his cheek.

TeIemachus blushed, “shut hmk'mm! up.”

“Hehe, what? No more teasing?” Dorian smirked, but seeing TeIemachus’ tired expression gave them all the answer they needed. “Ah, they've overstayed their welcome.”

TeIemachus nodded, the action interrupted by a hard “holk!” that made him wince and rub at his chest. Dorian gently moved to rub his stomach, trying to ease the pain. TeIemachus smiled slightly in appreciation, “tha–anks, hun.”

“Of course,” Dorian kissed his forehead.

“M'sorry hulmpk! these aren't fu-uck!-fun anym-hup!-uh, anymore heekolp!” TeIemachus frowned, now covering his mouth.

“Don't you worry your pretty little head about that,” Dorian shook his head.

As they continued walking, Dorian noted they were getting closer to The Spot. TeIemachus' hiccups still hadn't let up. Dorian was getting anxious about what they'd set out to do. What if TeIemachus thought it was too soon? What if he said no? What if he broke up with them because of this? What if-

“HUP!HUCK!HICKUH!”

TeIemachus's eyes widened in shock as he turned to Dorian. “Dori-hick!?”

“So-HAUK!-gmmp!-ugh, scu-ickup!-scuse m-hm'mp!hmp!HIMPK!-gee--eez,” Dorian patted their own chest at the quicker than usual onslaught.

It was the nerves, of course it was. They were surprised the hiccups hadn't started earlier.

“Did you just hup! give yourse--elf h-hiccups through shee-heegulk!-sheer wil-hlk!-uh, willpower?” TeIemachus raised an eyebrow.

“Di-hick!HIUP!-didn't wan-HICK'ul!-want you hup!KUP! feeling a-HAULP!-gah, alone. hick!-ah-HIP!HU'UCK!HICK!-fu--ck!” Dorian couldn't even joke around with these. Usually, they found the spontaneity of their hiccups to be fun. But now that they'd arrived at The Spot, he needed to get rid of them so he could say words.

The Spot was at a gazebo lit up with fairy lights with a pond nearby. The crickets could be heard harmonizing their chirps. Fireflies lit up the pond as well.

At his next “HIGGOLP!-HUCK'L!HIMPK!-ugh,” Dorian requested a break to sit for a while. TeIemachus of course accepted and they both took a seat, hiccups popping out of both of them, Dorian's faster than TeIemachus’, but neither of them were racing.

Dorian offered TeIemachus to feel their hiccups. They were in a private enough area and if any stragglers walked over, a chest or tummy rub to “ease discomfort” was normal enough.

They were stronger than usual, TeIemachus noticed. Every rise of their chest was sharp and sounded like it knocked the wind out of them. He started rubbing their chest.

“You n-ngk!-need to cur-huerk!-cure these,” TeIemachus said.

“No HOUP!HUG'K!ulk!-mm que-HIUP!-mph-hm'MULK!-uh,” Dorian abandoned whatever they were going to say and held their breath.

TeIemachus watched curiously, muffling his own hiccups in the process. His foot was steadily tapping on the wooden floor of the gazebo. He watched as the hiccups continued, muffled, but still loud and strong. TeIemachus furrowed his brows in confusion. Holding their breath always cured Dorian.

Dorian looked just as concerned when they exhaled with a huff when he couldn't hold it anymore. Not even a second later, another cluster hit them and Dorian dragged a hand down his face.

“This is hup'k! not how I hickup!hickULP!-uh want--ted this to--o go HULP!UP!HU'UP!…HEEK!-ugh!” Dorian slumped, immediately jolting straight up with another strong hiccup.

“Aw, hon-nk!,” TeIemachus frowned and pulled them in closer to comfort them, “I'm still-ilk! having a goo-hoolk!-good time with y--ou, hic-kulp!-s or not.”

Dorian huffed, then hiccupped, then groaned in frustration, “I don't hup!HUP!-grmp!-ugh, want t--nglk!ULP!-uff, to have hauk!hulp'k!IP!HICKOLP!-ughhhh-holp!-hh the hiccups right n--gmp!-now.”

“Well that's a fir-hulgk!-first,” TeIemachus stroked their hair, “I wonder why hold--ing your breath didn't work-uck!”

“Nerves,” Dorian bit their lip and looked away from TeIemachus's eyes.

“You're nerv-uck!-nervous?” TeIemachus caressed his cheek and guided their face to look at his. “Dori, it's ok--kay, it's ju-ulk!-just you and hickulk! me.”

“I-huck!hup!HIUP!-I kn-hngk!-know, jus-s'hippup!-just HOLP!-” they sighed, their dual-colored eyes looking into TeIemachus's worried brown ones.

It was now or never, Dorian decided and pulled out the ring box from the hidden pocket in their cardigan. TeIemachus spotted the ring box and his eyes widened. He covered his mouth with both hands and started trembling as his eyes watered.

“Dorian…”

“I, um hickup! had this hip!HU'UH!-uh, all-hu'gulk! planned out HULP! You see-heek!ULP!, we're b--by the wa-hauk!UP!hi'auk!-uh-hip!-the water,” Dorian took an interrupted breath before continuing, “I was hickup!ULP! go-hing to use my hmmk! powers to spe--spell hickulk!HOLP! out ‘will h'kcup!hilp!HOLP!-ugh, will you hoolk! marry me?’ us-ing! the wa--aulk!-” they swallowed as that particular one almost choked them, “water, but I can't hic'KUP!HUUUP!-uhhh, use my pow-w'hip!hick!houp!-powers while I'm hiccup-ULP!-ing like this, so-hock!holp!…I guess hip'KUH!huck!HU’UH!-”

TeIemachus interrupted them with a sniffling nod and a kiss on their lips. Dorian's eyes widened with so much joy before they closed. He kissed him back, placing a hand in his hair. They pulled him in closer, their breaths synchronizing. Dorian smiled into the kiss, gently pulling away, “is that a yes?”

TeIemachus sniffled and nodded his head, giggling, “yes, obviously yes! I would love to marry you! I love you so much!”

“I love you so much too,” Dorian smiled widely and hugged TeIemachus close.

TeIemachus hugged them back, happy tears still flowing down his face. Dorian's eyes were quick to follow.

After they released their hug, Dorian opened the ring box, showing TeIemachus the ring and the engraving on the inside. TeIemachus couldn't stop smiling as Dorian put it on his finger.

He squealed, “it's the perfect fit. And it's beautiful, Dori, I love it, I love you.”

TeIemachus cupped their face and pulled them in for another soft kiss. Dorian kissed back, smiling happily.

They were getting married! This was becoming real!

“I promised guncle Otto a pic,” Dorian sniffled and wiped a tear–but not his eyeliner, that was waterproof.

TeIemachus chuckled wetly, “gosh, I know I look a mess. How are you still so perfect?”

Dorian giggled and pulled out his phone, “you still look perfect to…me, wait…”

Their eyebrows furrowed a bit and TeIemachus caught on, “oh my gosh…our hiccups…they're gone!”

“Which means I can do…this!” 

With a little effort and concentration, he used the water from the nearby pond and spelled out the words ‘Will you marry me?’ Dorian smiled at TeIemachus, who smiled back.

“That's incredible, Dorian,” TeIemachus rested his head on their shoulder, arms wrapped around their arm. “The answer's still yes, by the way.”

“I know,” Dorian chuckled and kissed his forehead. “Now, I know the perfect backdrop for our- oh, wait…meh, it's guncles Otto and Atticus, they can handle it. I trust them.”

“And if they can't, we could always say we edited the pic to had water-like words,” TeIemachus suggested.

Dorian chuckled and nodded, kissing his cheek. The two of them posed, TeIemachus making sure the ring was in the frame. They took two selfies, first without the water and the other with the water spelling out ‘HE SAID YES!’

After sending the latter selfie to their extended found family, Dorian and TeIemachus started to head home.

“Y'know,” TeIemachus spoke up and Dorian hummed in acknowledgement, “both of us h-hiccupping at the same time like that was kinda fun. I didn't even mind mine staying that long after you started, to be honest because you were hiccupping with me.”

“Yeah, I agree,” Dorian nodded, “maybe we could try it again sometime, maybe without the hiccups caused by nervousness. Those…kinda sucked.” They cringed.

“Aw, I understand,” TeIemachus squeezed their hand, “when you couldn't cure them, that right there worried me.”

“Ah, no need to worry about that. I'm sure if they were caused by any other thing, I'm sure I could've cured them.” Dorian reassured him.

“Nonetheless, you're definitely getting some chest and tummy massages when we get home,” TeIemachus smiled.

“Ah, a man after my own heart,” Dorian dramatically placed a hand on their chest, “true love is real!”

TeIemachus chuckled and stopped walking, taking Dorian's other hand so he was holding both hands. He leaned down and kissed Dorian's lips again, meaningful and passionate. Dorian kissed him right back, their thumb feeling the ring on TeIemachus's finger.

They knew from this day forward, they would be by each other's sides.

Fandom: EPlC, Modern AU 

Second year, first semester, week 5

Sunlight filtered into the dorm room, the sound of birds chirping filled the sky, and Dorian was humming a song they'd been listening to on their headphones.

TeIemachus had slept in, and Dorian let him. He didn't have to be in class until later anyway. Though, they did find it weird that he hadn't woken up earlier. TeIemachus was an early riser. Every day, he would be the one who woke Dorian up with a sweet kiss or whispers in their ear that sent a shiver down their spine. It was honestly their favorite way to wake up nowadays.

Dorian didn't have any classes scheduled for today–he liked to have Fridays all to themselves to study. However, he was aware of TeIemachus’ class that started in about…3 hours, they checked on their watch.

Deciding to surprise his beloved with breakfast, they got dressed in a black vest with a chest window, black ripped jeans, and covered up with a dark green varsity jacket. Throwing on their sneakers, he grabbed his key card and walked over to TeIemachus, placing a soft kiss on his forehead.

“You're burning up…” he noticed and removed the blanket from covering him.

Dorian, now concerned, placed the back of his hand against his forehead. Their lips were right, TeIemachus was unnaturally warm. He gently shook him, “Telly? TeIemachus, wake up, dearest.”

TeIemachus groaned and whined in protest, moving away from them. Dorian kept attempting to wake him until they saw his eyes slowly flutter open.

He squinted his eyes at the brightness, turning to look at Dorian. His voice was hoarse from a mixture of his morning voice, and what Dorian figured was a sore throat, “Dorian?”

TeIemachus winced and held his throat. It felt like needles were constantly scratching his throat and he was sweating, but also cold. He pulled up his blanket and covered his mouth to cough. One cough turned to two turned to an entire coughing fit.

Dorian watched him concernedly, “that…does not sound good, hun.”

TeIemachus groaned and pouted, “m'sick…”

“My poor guy,” Dorian frowned, “I was going to surprise you with breakfast from the cafeteria, but…I think I need to send someone else. I'm not leaving you here by yourself.”

They grabbed their phone, ignoring the time that said 8:30am. Out of their three friends, they called on Ari, as she was the most responsible. 

It took a few rings before Ari answered the call, “Dorian? What did you do now?”

“He- wait, why do you think I did something?” Dorian was taken aback by the question.

“You never wake up this early on your day off,” Ari raised an eyebrow.

“Right, well, do you mind doing me a favor?” Dorian cut to the chase. “Telly's sick and I don't want him here by himself, so can you please pick up some medicine and breakfast for him? Something not too rough for his throat.”

Dorian heard a sigh, but eventually heard the sound of movement and he knew she was getting ready.

“What is he sick with?” Ari asked him.

“Uhhh, I dunno,” Dorian shrugged, starting to pace the room, “he's burning up, so he probably has a fever, and he's been coughing, also, I think he's got that weird hot and cold thing going on? You know when-”

“Yes, I'm familiar. Any nausea?” Ari asked.

Dorian looked at TeIemachus, his face melting into concern at TeIemachus’ pathetic look. They brushed his hair back, feeling the heat radiating off of him, “hey baby, you feeling any nausea?”

TeIemachus winced, his voice crackling with a nod, “yeah…a l-little.”

“Aww, poor Telly,” Dorian frowned sympathetically. He hated seeing TeIemachus like this.

“Dorian?” Ari questioned on the phone.

“Right, yeah, he's a little nauseous,” Dorian replied to her original question.

“Fever, nausea, sore throat, chills and sweats…sounds like the flu to me,” Ari deduced, “I'll get him lots of fluids, lozenges, the medicine, and soups and oatmeal will probably be his best bet.”

Dorian's eyes widened and he backed away from TeIemachus, “the flu? Isn't that, like…contagious?”

“Highly,” Ari confirmed. 

“Oh gosh…” Dorian bit their lips.

“Is there a problem?” Ari raised an eyebrow.

“Uhhhh…no, not at all,” Dorian lied, looking at TeIemachus worriedly, “but, uh, thank you and I'll send you the money and everything for you.”

“Alright, I'll be there in about 30-45 minutes,” Ari told him.

“Okay, thank you,” Dorian hung up the phone and took a shallow breath.

See, Dorian was afraid of being sick. They literally felt like death whenever they would get any kind of sickness. From just a head cold to a simple sore throat to a stomach flu, it would overtake them and they'd be bedridden until it was over.

“D-Dori…? ” TeIemachus sounded confused, looking around for him.

“I'm right here, Telly,” Dorian reassured him, “over here.”

TeIemachus locked eyes with him and reached for him, “Dori…no feel good…”

“Aww, I…I know, TeIemachus,” Dorian backed away, “I'm sorry, but you're contagious, I can't be near you…”

TeIemachus only frowned and attempted to sit up, the world spinning in circles. He whimpered and closed his eyes. Dorian frowned, “hey, lay back down, you need to rest.”

“But snuggles…” he whined and made grabby hands.

Dorian sighed, “fine, just…just give me a minute.” They walked to their bag, then turned to TeIemachus, “and lay back down.”

TeIemachus groaned but did what Dorian told him to, getting snug under the covers. With him situated, Dorian turned back to their bag, grabbing some gloves and a face mask. Putting on the equipment, they looked back over to TeIemachus, reminding themselves that they were doing this because he loved TeIemachus.

And his TeIemachus was requesting cuddles. Pronto.

“Okay, I can do this…” they muttered, hyping themselves up, “for Telly.”

Dorian walked over to the germ-infested bed. TeIemachus saw him and reached for them. “Dorian…”

“Yes, I'm…I-I'm here,” Dorian looked a bit apprehensive, looking at the bed, then at TeIemachus’ face and nodded to themselves before climbing into the bed. “I'm here for you, Telly.”

TeIemachus instantly latched onto Dorian, snuggling close. He had always been a bit of a snugglebug, but with the addition of being sick, he'd turned the snugglebug factor up to snuggle monster levels. Dorian cringed slightly, but snuggled him back.

“Dorian…” 

“Is your vocabulary limited to just saying my name whilst you're sick?” Dorian smirked and kissed his forehead through their mask.

TeIemachus groaned and turned his head away from Dorian, coughing himself into another harsh fit. Dorian kept a hand on his back, supporting him. The boy frowned and whined, taking a moment to catch his breath as he wheezed. 

“You good?” Dorian asked him concernedly.

“Ngh…I hate this,” TeIemachus frowned even more, coughing again into his arm.

“I know,” Dorian empathized, “but I'm gonna be here with you the whole time.”

“Kay…” TeIemachus nuzzled back into their arms, “my knight and shining armor.”

“I think it's ‘knight in shining armor.’ babe,” they corrected him, stroking his hair back.

“Meh,” he replied nonchalantly and closed his eyes again.

As Dorian nuzzled close to him, TeIemachus had fallen back asleep, clinging to them closely. Dorian smiled and kept a close eye on him.

Later on, after Ari dropped off the supplies, Dorian woke him up and fed him. TeIemachus whined, complaining about not being hungry. Dorian was patient with him and once they'd gotten him to eat half the bowl of soup they prepared, they were satisfied. They grabbed the medicine, coaxing TeIemachus to take it to help him feel better. He swallowed the grape flavored medicine and cringed.

“Blegh, that's not how grapes taste,” TeIemachus complained.

Dorian covered his mouth to hide their amused smirk, not realizing it was already hidden due to the mask over his nose and mouth. “I should've told her to get the bubblegum flavor…”

“Probably wouldn't have made a difference…hate medicine,” TeIemachus frowned as he held his stomach uncomfortably.

Dorian frowned concernedly, “Telly?”

TeIemachus replied with a sickly burp and a whimper. Dorian's eyes widened and he mumbled an expletive before hurrying to grab the trash can from the kitchenette. They brought it over just in time for TeIemachus to gag into it.

‘Shit shit shit, this is bad,’ Dorian freaked out internally. He was terrified of the thought of throwing up, seeing others throwing up, and being around vomit. But the one person he loved most in the world was suffering right now. They had to be there for him.

TeIemachus gagged again and Dorian closed his eyes, rubbing his back, “i-i-it's ok, T-T-Telly, I'm h-h-here.”

The boy coughed wetly, and groaned before he jolted with a silent but strong hiccup. Dorian peeked at TeIemachus, their hand still on his back. “Tel?”

“M'go—od,” TeIemachus winced and rubbed his chest.

Dorian blinked, his brain somewhat malfunctioning. “A-are you gonna…?”

TeIemachus shook his head, then held it regretfully as the room spun around him, “ugh, no, I think I'm ok—kay, ow.”

“Let me get you some water,” Dorian made to stand up, but TeIemachus grabbed their hand. “I'll be right back, just a few steps away. I think Ari said she'd gotten you some anti-nausea meds too.”

“Bu-huck-” TeIemachus frowned.

Dorian failed to hide the way TeIemachus’ neck caving in and chest jolting made their breath shudder. That was his fourth hiccup which pretty much confirmed he'd gotten a case. They couldn't help the initial excitement of the rare occasion, but they also knew TeIemachus was hurting, so they wanted to cure them as soon as they could.

“I-It's okay,” Dorian stammered, closing his eyes and telling himself internally to get it together, “I'll get you some water. It might calm the nausea…”

“But I hmp I got the hngk-” he winced quietly, “got the hiccups hngkuh…”

Dorian shivered and took a shaky breath, “I-I know…but it's gotta be hurting your throat, I hear those winces. These aren't fun ones. And I still love you regardless, okay? You gotta take care of yourself too…”

TeIemachus frowned, but inevitably nodded through a silent hiccup that jolted his head back. Dorian kissed his forehead a second after that. Then they stood up, grabbing the room temperature water as well as the anti-nausea chewables. He walked back to the bed and sat down, feeling the bed shake with TeIemachus’ next “huckuh! ow…”

“Here, honey,” Dorian frowned as he opened the bottle of water for him and helped him drink it.

Unfortunately, TeIemachus hiccupped as he swallowed, causing him to choke. Dorian's eyes widened and they patted his back as TeIemachus was attacked with hard cough after hard cough mixed with hiccups after every cough.

TeIemachus groaned once the attack was over, leaning into Dorian’s shoulder, once again jolting against them with another hiccup.

“Hun?” Dorian stroked his hair comfortingly.

“...hingk! owww,” TeIemachus whined, his voice crackling making his hiccups squeakier.

“Aww,” Dorian frowned, “you wanna try holding your breath?”

They really hated how much discomfort his boyfriend was in. As TeIemachus started to hold his breath, they rubbed his back in a circular motion. Dorian wanted to provide as much comfort as possible.

As TeIemachus eventually started releasing his breath, they both waited for the results.

“I think…think they're HICKGOLP!-owwww,” TeIemachus whined and shut his eyes tightly, preparing himself for the next, “hi'ip!-nnngghh.”

“I'm sorry, sweetheart,” Dorian frowned, watching him rub the front of his neck.

“Guh hickuck!,” Tel replied and leaned more into Dorian’s shoulder, closing his eyes.

Dorian hugged him closer, feeling every jolt that seemed harder every time. Any other time, they would love hearing TeIemachus hiccup, it's such a rare occasion. But these were painful and they hated hiccups that caused pain. Especially to his boyfriend.

It took them a moment to realize that TeIemachus had somehow managed to fall asleep while he had the hiccups from hell. Was Dorian really that comfortable?

They slowly lay them both down on the bed, Tel resting on their chest, still hiccuping strongly. His face would scrunch up slightly before relaxing again. Dorian wished there was something they could've done to cure their boyfriend before he'd fallen asleep, but maybe time was all he needed. They watched Tel sleep for a bit before dozing off himself.