(Okay so… I have not, in fact, written a new fic involving hiccups or any of my usual fic kinks, oops. I mentioned before that I wrote a little bit of a Wolfram sickfic and since there was in fact interest in it, I’m posting it anyway! I had this hanging around in a notebook, it was actually very tiny and I ended up expanding on it a bit while cleaning it up, so it turned into a bit more of an emotional day for Wolfram than what I usually write.)
Periodically during Wolfram’s time in the Academia Arcana or when he studied under his personal master, there would be days when he found himself feeling… Well, if anyone were to ask, he would insist he was quite fine. Despite any chills or headache, despite a general sense of exhaustion, despite any other number of symptoms that may have plagued him. None of those symptoms existed as far as anyone else needed to know.
After all, Wolfram’s life was a busy one. When pursuing knowledge of the arcane, an art that takes years of dedication, there is no time to stop simply due to some minor congestion spurred on by allergies or a head cold. And that is why, when Wolfram awoke one cold winter morning to a sense of malaise and a mild ache in his head and neck, he chose to say nothing about it while Allister prepared for work. Wolfram was tempted to remain in bed, but he had work of his own to tend to. He had been slacking in his self-studies of magic, and it was time to correct that.
“You know, if it’s gonna be this freezing cold in the morning, the least it could do is give us some prettier snow,” Allister complained as he pulled a sweater on. The recent snow had come down more as sleet, the slushy kind that leaves a mess on the streets rather than nice snowbanks for snowmen on the sidewalks. Given the road conditions, Allister was leaving for work earlier than usual in order to avoid any need to rush. “You going to be okay getting breakfast for yourself?”
Wolfram nodded, a movement that his headache did not agree with, and said, “You won’t need to worry about me, Allister.” He found his throat meanwhile hated the act of talking and felt raw as he said those words
“Well, alright.” Allister planted a kiss on Wolfram’s forehead, then looked at him with eyebrows furrowed. “Hm… Are you feeling alright, Fram?”
“What? Yes, I’m quite fine,” Wolfram said, just as he always did in this sort of situation. He smiled to seem more genuine. Yet he was met by the palm of Allister’s hand traveling to his cheek, then forehead.
“Allister?”
“You just seem a little warm,” Allister said, concern in his voice and a frown on his face.
Wolfram took Allister’s hand in his own and smiled again. “I really feel fine, Allister. I’m sure I feel warmer in contrast to the winter temperature. A shame I can’t keep you in bed with me for the day, it’s much warmer under the covers.”
“It is…” Allister sighed. “Alright, but take it easy if you do feel sick, okay? You can call me at work if something happens. You know how to use the phone, right?”
Wolfram stepped over to the bedroom door and opened it. “Allister, please, you have nothing to worry about. Now, you wanted to have an early start to work, you’re going to waste that if you stay here fussing over me.”
Allister still gave a skeptical look, but relented and made his way to the door. “Yeah, fine. But I mean it, get some rest if you don’t feel good.”
“I will if it’s needed,” Wolfram assured before escorting his partner downstairs.
…
Wolfram missed Allister the moment he’d left, of course. He was noticing the ache in his head and neck spreading to other joints in his body. A day in a warm bed with Allister at his side sounded more appealing by the minute. But Allister had to work just as much as Wolfram did. Just as had always been the case.
Wolfram was never the only busy person in his life. His peers were often just as skilled as he was and thus had important things of their own to do. If Wolfram were ill, should he pester them by complaining about his condition? If someone needed his assistance before they could proceed with their own work, should they be delayed simply because Wolfram came down with a fever or something similar? That would be nonsense.
It was no different with Allister. He was kind and gentle, the type to take care of a sick partner, Wolfram could guess that easily. But Allister had to work. Should he spend his day working while burdened with worry for Wolfram? Just as much nonsense.
Wolfram stared down at the old books before him on the desk, trying to make heads or tails of this passage’s contents. Given the complexity of magic, it was slow-going. And even slower as Wolfram struggled to keep his eyes open.
By the time he realized he had reread the same passage three times over without absorbing any of the words in it, he decided it would be time for a break and some tea. Perhaps also that breakfast that Allister insisted on, but Wolfram felt no appetite. As a result, breakfast became tea and some toast.
…
His family was busy as well. Intelligent, just like Wolfram. A father renowned for his magic and a mother who made for a cunning and well-off merchant. Wolfram did not have notable memories of spending time with them. He hadn’t spoken to them in years. There was simply no lasting bond after he’d matured.
Did… Did Wolfram have any memories of being cared for by either of them when he was unwell as a child? As far as he could tell, any memories were met with the faces of their house staff.
Wolfram put his pen down, staring at the books before him. A sound brought him out of his thoughts. The front door opening downstairs. It was only just past noon, so Allister should have been working still. But Wolfram, looking outside and seeing the car returned, made no further effort to question that. He only cared at Allister was home.
Standing up from his seat in the study reminded Wolfram of the aches in his body and sent a fresh wave of chills under his skin. He hardly wanted to move, but forced himself out of the study and downstairs.
By the front door, Allister was in the middle of removing his coat and scarf, hanging them on the coat rack in the front hall. Wolfram stood in the doorway that opened into the hallway, watching until Allister glanced to the side and noticed him.
“There’s a snow storm coming in, so we closed up early,” Allister said, a smile crossing his face. “Which means we can have that day in bed.”
The moment Wolfram heard those words, he felt something wash over him. At first, he may have called it relief, but that hardly seemed right. Whatever it was, it brought sudden tears to his eyes. He tried to brush them away quickly, but it was too late to cover up his feelings from his attentive partner.
“Fram?” Allister asked, and Wolfram failed to come up with words to reply with. Allister asked again, “Fram?” as his voice filled with concern.
A moment later, though Wolfram’s eyes were too blurry with tears to notice what was happening at first, he was pulled into Allister’s arms. A warm embrace that was both firm and gentle, caring and protective. Wolfram pressed his face into Allister’s neck, as Allister kept one hand on his back and the other in his hair.
“Fram, what’s wrong? What’s going on?”
“I… I don’t feel well,” Wolfram said. The words were strange to him. He felt uneasy admitting to his condition, but he was so safe in Allister’s arms. “Please… please stay with me?”
“Oh, Fram…” Allister’s hand lowered to the back of Wolfram’s neck, quickly retreating when the contact cause Wolfram to shiver more. “Oh, I’m sorry. You definitely have a fever, though… Well, listen, I’m home now, okay? I’m home, and I don’t have anything else to do today. What do you say we get comfortable - do you want the bed or the couch?”
For Wolfram, it hardly mannered where he was, so long as Allister was with him. Allister, who had treated him so kindly from the moment they’d met. Who had given him a place to call home when Wolfram had nowhere else. Who had been so supportive, and caring, and kind this whole time. “I just… May - may we sleep in the bed? Both of us?”
“Of course.” Allister rubbed his hand up and down Wolfram’s back. “But I’m gonna get you some medicine first, and… Have you eaten anything today? I can make you some soup.”
Wolfram shook his head slowly. “No, I… I am not hungry. I only want you to stay. Please.”
“Fram… Okay. C'mon, let’s get you to bed.”
…
“Were you feeling sick this morning after all?” Allister asked as he climbed into bed next to Wolfram.
Finally, in bed and under the covers, where he was feeling warm at last, Wolfram was starting to feel as if his emotions were coming under control once more. Now that Allister asked that question, Wolfram felt a surge of heat rush to his cheeks and he tried to hide his face in his pillow. “I… Somewhat, I suppose.”
Allister gave a worried hum of a noise and brushed a hand over Wolfram’s hair. “How come you didn’t say anything?”
“I did not… wish for you to worry. And you are busy, and I am as well, and… I…” The gentle contact from Allister’s hand made Wolfram want to just say everything at once that was on his mind. “I’ve… I do not know how to say something like this. I don’t… No one… I’ve never had… Someone to care for me like this.”
There was a pause, and Allister said softly, “No one?”
Wolfram shook his head, but then looked back up at Allister. “It’s… I think - are things different now? Are you… Are you alright with this?”
“With wh… With taking care of you? Fram, of course I am. Besides, it’s not the first time, you’re terrible with Halloween candy still, remember? Have I ever seemed bothered by any of those times?”
“Well… Well, no.” That was true. Allister had always been supportive any time Wolfram had felt unwell. Perhaps the fever was making Wolfram more emotional than usual, or perhaps it was the cold weather. Or perhaps Wolfram had just grown so accustomed to Allister’s care that the time he was away for work had been too much. “Then… Then you don’t mind? Are you certain?”
Allister smiled, then leaned forward and kissed Wolfram on the forehead. “Of course I am. I don’t ever want you too feel like you don’t have someone to take care of you. And I know you’d do the same for me.”
Wolfram smiled back. Allister’s words helped, he felt calmer with that affirmation in mind. “In that case… Is there an extra blanket? I’m still rather cold.”
“Of course. You don’t mind me getting out of the bed?”
“So long as you’re quick about it.”
Allister laughed. “There, that’s the sort of bossy cuddliness I missed. More of that, please.”
Wolfram couldn’t help but smirk a bit with that comment. Allister truly didn’t mind. Wolfram was safe here, with the person he could trust. The person he loved. “Well then, I’d like some hot chocolate after our nap, I think.”
“You want hot chocolate when you’re sick? You should probably have some soup or something, you know. It’s better for you.”
“But it would make me feel better.” Wolfram added a playful pout as he said that.
“Alright, listen. How about soup after our nap, and then hot chocolate for dessert?”
Wolfram considered that. It was acceptable. “Fine. But I’d still like that blanket.”
Allister smiled again and climbed out of the bed, returning to the room shortly with a quilt from the upstairs closet. Once Allister returned to the bed, Wolfram shifted closer to him. He was tired, his eyelids heavy and threatening to shut at any moment.
“That better?”
“Mm.” Wolfram nodded, feeling himself begin to drift off. “Thank you… Thank you for staying with me, Allister.”
“Of course, Fram. I’m going to stay right here with you as long as you want, alright? Have a good nap.”
Wolfram was asleep before he heard the last of those words, but he’d heard enough to be at ease.
hi my loves! I am really struggling with creative block STILL but I hate to leave you all hanging for so long :) here is some work that is part of a larger piece (the same piece that includes this gem) that I may never finish (knowing me!!)
