ah...
if there's anything that can get him to set aside his internal tug of war he's playing with himself, it's
the way Nehan sweetly presses a kiss to the cartilage of his ear.
it makes his brain stall. makes him stare up in wonder at him.
hopeless, utterly lovestruck wonder.
the softness to his voice and gentleness in his eye does nothing to diminish that wonder, either.
This is why I will do anything I need to for you, he thinks.
Anything. Even if you'll be angry with me for it.
because others may not see it — hell, they may not feel it either, but it was something that Seox knew
deep within his core;
Nehan was worth fighting for.
every drop of sweat, every night spent soothing him, and more recently, every effort he could put
in to preserve this radiance.
I will do anything.
this thought echoes in his mind before as he watches Nehan disappear behind the door, and its
click signifies Nehan's ultimate leave.
it isn't long before his phone buzzes with the text he'd requested, though, and looking at its contents...
Seox lets out a small chuff.
he always did like a challenge.
Alright. I'm game.
⸻ ✧ ⁺₊ ☾ ⁺₊ ✧ ⸻
by the time Seox returns, it's been several hours, as expected.
but what isn't expected is how many trips he'd need to make back to the car to grab each bag he'd filled
to the brim with more than Nehan had suggested.
candy, yes. his sticker book, yes.
then came the coloring books. the stuffed toys. the plastic ring game for the younger tots. the several wooden
bead mazes. stickers to give back to the children.
small slinkies. squishable toys. bubble wands.
(all sterilized before bringing in, of course.
it was the only way both Asha and Nehan would allow it, and Seox agreed with the logic behind why.)
though, one sentiment remained glaringly obvious.
I went completely overboard.
of course, Asha did seem impressed by the very large donation Seox had provided for the pediatric
ward, but he also caught the amusement in her eyes knowing that she knew why he'd done it, and
that certainly made him metaphorically tuck his tail before hurrying him and his many bags into the elevator.
as he hurriedly presses the button for the ward's floor, with sweat beading down his brow, he laments;
I know. I'm a hopeless fool. You all can stop telling me already.
— oh, god, Tikoh will see him first, won't she?
how is he going to live with this?
were his anxiety medications twice a day, or once?
he can't remember a thing.
why is it so damn hard to simply exist in this hospital.
