#x nonbinary reader

You decide to take the stairs to avoid the bright fluorescent lights in the elevator and the possibility of awkward small talk with any of your coworkers. At this point, all those flights of stairs hardly phase you. It doesn't take long before you've ascended to the top floor of the care center, which doubles as the living quarters of the staff. Making your way down the hallway you greet a few nurses and doctors heading down for the evening shift with a polite nod and smile, before finally reaching your door. You punch in your security code before entering, closing the door, and kicking your shoes off with a sigh. Finally, you think. You can relax.

The motions of your sacred little evening routine are easy to kick into gear. Tonight, you decide to turn on your favorite local radio station for some background noise. Afterwards, you grab your favorite pair of sweats, a fluffy towel, and start your shower. Steam fills the bathroom and you hum along to the easy melody that's filling your little space. You let the water fall against your back first and the hot water slowly but surely unwinds most of the tension you had built up during your shift. You decide to take your time with your shower, taking great pleasure in unwinding after the hard day.

After your out of the shower and blow drying your hair, you notice the smell of coffee first. The corners of your lips quirk up, You have a special guest this evening. Sure enough, when you're finally done in the bathroom, you have a certain someone sitting on your two-seater couch like he owns the place. Probably because he quite literally owns the place. "Seems like I've finally found the culprit for our costly water bill." He says with a Cheshire smile.

"Victor," You chuckle "I wasn't expecting you." You approach him and take the spot next to him. His eyes track your every movement, something you've likened to a predator. Not that you mind the attention. "I had some … free time." Victor responds. Sitting on the coffee table is a fresh brew of decaf in your favorite mug and prepared exactly how you like it. Right next to that are two Excedrin tablets. You take them and wash them down with he decaf before leaning back into the couch. You pretend not to hear or notice as Victor breathes in your scent.

"You? Free time?" You nudge him with your elbow. "Hard to believe you're wasting it on little ol' me." You tease him. "Waste?" Victor tilts his head, uncanny yellow eyes scanning your content facial expression. "No amount of time spent with you, my dearest partner, could ever be a waste." His large fingers soothe over your freshly washed and dried hair from the side of your head to the base of your skull. His tongue darts out and his nostrils flare. He dissects every note of your scent as if he hasn't done so a million times before. You meet his eyes and feel warmth climb up your neck.

"Well, I'm happy my old partner still thinks of me now that he's making it big." You reference his work with the ever mysterious Zeno. "Come now, I haven't been gone so long." He pulls his hand way. You and Gideon were partners in more ways than one, practically in every sense of the word. You had been at the center since the beginning, you were there beside him even before that, during Umbrella. More than that, you were still loyal to him now, knowing everything. When he changed, you accepted him in this new form.

"Looks like you're not just here for quality time though, hm?" You motion to the laptop and files that are also sitting on the coffee table. "Correct." He says slowly. Victor knows that you don't mind, not that it would make a difference even if you did mind. He has told you more than once that his work stops for nothing and no one. Of course you accept that. You also accept that most of his work with Zeno is confidential, so you don't wait around for a non-existent explanation about what work he brought with him.

"Listen, as long as you don't ask me to play tech support again you can stay as long as you want." You drink down some more decaf before placing the already near empty mug on the coffee table. You decide to get a little more comfortable. You lay on your back with your legs hanging over the arm of the little couch. Your head just so happens to be resting on your favorite pillow: Victor's lap. You had rested your head here perhaps a thousand times before. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm just gonna rest my eyes for a bit." The man grins down at you, who's already closing their eyes, before grabbing the throw blanket from the back of the couch and draping it over you. One of his large hands settles on top of your skull, curling a lock of hair between his fingers.

"I won't get much work done like this, my dear." Victor chides. You huff through your nose in response. "Feel free to use my face as a desk. I doubt that would wake me up." You say, voice already getting drifty. It would appear as if you really are ready for bed. He chuckles and decides he'll figure something out. At the very least, he can read over his newest files. Looking down at you know, he feels an increasingly rare warmth bloom in his chest. You're older and grayer than you were all those years ago, but still carried all the same spunk. "Well, have it your way." He says, although there is a hit of affection in his tone. "Rest now. I'll be here when you wake." By the time he peaks the last word you've already drifted off.

Today was just not going your way. From the moment you woke up, you felt nauseated and just overall gross. Sure you had tried to ask your parents if you could stay home from school; but yours were the type that would say 'if it's not vomit, you're going'. Which lead to where you currently were.

Sitting in your first period class, head on your desk and nearly half asleep to the sound of you teacher droning on and on. What was he talking about now? Gravity or something, you didn't care. It all sounded like gibberish to you.

It wasn't until the bell finally rang did you snap out of your dissociative state. As you packed up your things, one of your girlfriends; Veronica Sawyer, walked up and placed a hand to your shoulder.

"Y/N?" Her tone was soft, full of concern. She'd been watching you the entire class, you looked like a mess. Though, unlike your other girlfriend Heather Chandler, Veronica was a little nicer. She spared you the trouble of knowing just how terrible you actually looked right now. It was obvious to anyone with a brain that you were feeling like complete shit.

You glanced behind yourself at her, offering a small, weak smile that only further proved her point. Veronica knew your real smiles and that... was far from it," hey, Roni." Even your voice sounded sick.

"Okay, I'm getting Heather and we're taking you home. No arguing," she added when she saw you about to protest and whine. You simply sighed and gave her a look, she rolled her eyes and grabbed your hand. Pulling you through the halls to find the Demon Queen.

Heather was hanging outside by the front of the school, sitting on one of the benches and talking to Heather D & Heather M. She was lost in conversation, so she didn't notice the two approach her until Veronica cleared her throat next to her.

"Oh, hey Veronica. Y/N." Heather looked at the two of you, then paused when she saw how pale you looked," shit, babe. You look like you just crawled out of a grave."

Veronica sighed, leave it to Heather to tell you how you look. You rolled your eyes and folded your arms across your chest, giving her a pout," gee, thanks. You're just full of compliments today, aren't you?"

Heather D snickered and Heather C shot her a glare for it, quieting her. Heather C stood and walked over to you and Veronica, hands on her hips. Waiting for Veronica to speak.

"We need your car to take them home," Veronica stated, pointing beside her to you. Who, in that moment, had started feeling incredibly nauseous. Before Heather could even respond to Veronica, you had doubled over and thrown up right on her shoes. Causing her to grimace.

"God you two are insufferably alike," Heather muttered, referring to when Veronica threw up on her back at the party. Veronica just gave her a sheepish smile, making Heather roll her eyes," well, now I gotta go home and change anyway. So, come on." She muttered, clearly not pleased with how her morning was turning out.

Heather took the three of you to her place, when she got there she headed right for the shower to get the smell of vomit off her. As for you and Veronica, Veronica helped you up the stairs. Supporting most of your weight and carrying you to Heather's bed. She helped you get changed into some of Heather's comfy pjs, then tucked you into bed. Following in only a moment after. Snuggling right up to you, even if you were sick.

This... wasn't what Rusty was expecting. He had come home early in an attempt to surprise you but it seemed like you were the only one doing any surprising.

"How the hell did you do that?"

Rusty grumbled, his question coming out harsher than intended. His eyes were glued to the medical boot on your foot as you sulked in bed.

"I was being stupid... I'm sorry..."

Rusty frowned, glancing up at you. He hushed you, kissing the top of your head.

"Don't say sorry, stuff happens."

He assured you as he pulled away. He slipped off his jacket, not having a chance yet to get into comfortable clothes.

"Why didn't you call me?"

He questioned as he took off his boots, tossing them by the bedroom door. His eyes never left you as he waited for your response.

In all honesty, you were so busy with breaking your foot, and the hospital trip, and having to figure out the nightmare that was getting up the stairs that you had forgotten to even tell Rusty. Part of you also didn't want him to worry, or worse, be mad.

"I just.. I don't know, I forgot."

Rusty let there be a beat of silence as he stared at you before speaking.

"You... forgot?"

He repeated as he approached you, sitting down on the edge of the bed. You hummed, knowing it sounded a little silly.

"I got busy with all the hospital visits and the meds they gave me, it just slipped my mind."

You murmured, shifting in bed with a slight pout.

"Not because you didn't want me to worry?"

Rusty said, knowing you too well. You chuckled softly, shaking your head.

"A little, but mostly because I forgot."

Rusty smiled slightly now, happy to see that sad look fading from your face. He patted your thigh gently, rubbing small circles with his thumb.

"So, how was your trip?"

You asked, smiling now. Rusty scoffed as he shook his head.

"Absolutely not. You ain't changing the subject that easily."

You laughed. You weren't trying to change the subject, you were just trying not to talk about your foot. There was a difference! Not that Rusty saw it though.

"What did the doctor say about your foot?"

You groaned quietly, staring daggers at the boot trapping your foot inside.

"6 to 8 weeks till it's better. She said I should stay off of it for a couple of days."

Rusty nodded, his hand trailing down your leg and to your shin. He continued tracing shapes onto your leg, this time, on your shin above the boot.

Before he could speak, your stomach growled, loud too. He chuckled softly looking back up at you.

"You eat?"

You hesitated, knowing Rusty was gonna make this a big deal.

"Uh... technically no but it's only because I can barely get up and down the stairs."

Despite your trying to give Rusty a reason, he just stared at you with that disapproving look. He didn't say anything as he picked you up or as he carried you down the stairs. He finally spoke once he set you down onto the couch with a blanket and pillow.

"This is why you should have called me."

He grumbled before heading to the kitchen, presumably to make you something to eat. Despite Rusty putting on the mean act, you couldn't help but smile as he made your food. He was so sweet under all those layers of mean, a sweetness reserved only for you.

When Rusty came back, he had a plate with a sandwich on it and a glass of water. He set both onto a folding table he had grabbed and set next to you for you to use. You murmured a thank you before digging in. It hit you how hungry you were as you inhaled the sandwich. Rusty chuckled as he lifted your legs so he could sit next to you on the couch, gently placing them back down onto his lap.

The sandwich was gone and you had drunk the whole glass of water. You and Rusty sat quietly together watching whatever garbage was on the TV but you noticed how Rusty would glance at you every so often.

"Do I have something on my face?"

You joked, trying to break the silence lightly. Rusty shook his head, letting his hand lazily caress your legs.

"You really should have called me."

He muttered in a quiet tone, not looking at you yet.

"You were hurt, I would have come home or at least liked to know what I was coming home to."

He finished with a huff. He turned, finally looking at you with kinder eyes.

"I just... I want to know what's going on with you."

You nodded, feeling bad that you didn't call him now. You hesitated before speaking, thinking hard about what you wanted to say.

"I'm sorry, and don't tell me 'don't say sorry' because I should. I just had so much going on and I didn't want you to worry. I was fine, mostly."

Rusty shot you a glare but didn't interrupt.

"But, I still should have, you're right. And I will next time."

"Nuh uh, there isn't gonna be a next time."

Rusty teased, bringing the mood back up.

"You do something stupid like this again, I'm wrapping you in bubble wrap."

You laughed, kneeling Rusty slightly as payback.

"I thought you said I wasn't stupid."

"Never said that, I said 'Don't say sorry"."