My brain worms have been activated:
I think you pass out like... Ten seconds after you guys beat LoS.
Like you were running on Complete Fumesโข after healing Sage's corruption but you just narrowly manage to stay awake for the rest of the fight thanks to adrenaline.
Sage turns to you just in time to watch you hit the floor, the Astrolabe rolling out of your hand. It glows softly. Flickers.
Sage doesn't support necromancy but in that moment he is Fully Prepared To Go Into The Void And Drag You Back And Anyone Who Stands In His Way Will Taste His Sword
Felix (and Rime but Felix is significantly nicer about it) quickly explains that no you aren't dead, you're just completely drained and need to rest for a while. A long while. Rime - ever one to twist the knife - points out that Sage was really badly corrupted (whether he went full dragon or not) and you had to push yourself to basically The Brink of Death Itself to heal him.
Obviously Sage feels better but he still feels pretty bad
Now that the corrupted have been cleared out you guys can go back to Fathom. Everyone cleans up your room and tucks you into bed. Felix and Rime figure you'll be knocked out for around a month or so.
You missed out on the destruction of Porrima and now you're missing out on the rebuilding
For the first,,, week or so, Sage just stays in your room or in the hallway. He doesn't want you out of his sight. What if something happens? What if the Astrolabe sends you back to Earth again? What if Gramme somehow comes back from the dead and goes after you? He makes Felix and Rime ward your room several times.
After a while, Tulsi comes to sit with him for a bit. She jokes about how he's shirking his duties again, oh how nice to see that all this shit that's gone on hasn't changed his work ethic
When she leaves, she says she really missed him these last six months, and she Really Really Really doesn't want to lose him again.
The next morning everyone is meeting up to get to work and Sage nervously walks up to the group. He doesn't really wanna be around a lot of people and he doesn't really wanna leave you alone but he knows that you'd encourage him to go help out. Everyone is surprised but welcomes him and gives him a task. Probably has him partner with Tulsi so she can keep an eye on him. She's proud of him but doesn't make a big deal about it.
The days go by. He finds some comfort in fixing things. The refugees who were so anxious around him in the camp are gradually warming up to his presence. At least he doesn't get stared at as much anymore.
There are even a few times that everyone drags him to the tavern for a pint. He doesn't drink nearly as much as he used to - probably just a tankard or two, partially because he went six months without any alcohol and partially because he's way too paranoid to get drunk, at least this early on.
Every night he comes back to your room though. Maybe he curls up on the bed next to you, his tail winding around your wrist. Or maybe he pulls up a chair and sits beside you, elbows braced on the mattress. He looks you over. If you're in a dreamless sleep then he makes sure the pillows are fluffed the right way and you're covered in blankets without being too hot, just whatever he can do to make you more comfortable (even if you aren't conscious). If you do have dreams then he watches your face a lot. If you're having a good dream and you're smiling then that makes him smile to. If you're having a bad dream then he carefully, lightly brushes the back of his hand along your cheek and kisses your forehead and coos, or tucks his head under your chin and purrs to try and cheer you up a bit.
He talks to you. Tells you about his day. Complains about Rime bullying him. Chuckles about a joke Felix made. Admits that he and Elowen actually had to work together on something and Hey, It Could Have Been Worse. Asks about your dreams. What you want to do when you wake up. He wants to finally take you on a proper date, if you'll let him.
He's patient. As patient as he can be. Because this time he knows you're coming back.
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