H.ucklerobbyâs (not so) Perfect Picnic.
Fandom: t/he P/itt.
Part: 1/?
Word count: 1.9k.
Another collab with the amazing @silentsneezes <3 we are bringing you established h/ucklerobby & a side of h/ucklerabbot for this fic!! I hope you enjoy :D!!
It could be a learned trait from his childhood, maybe: to give and give and give until he canât. Or maybe itâs his desire to prove that he can do more than just accept the constant favors people are paying him, ones he canât return as easily. He may not be able to pay Trinity rent or support Robby the same way the older man supports him, but he can sure as hell plan a picnic; he can give Robby extra kisses in the morning, learn how to make his coffee just right, and offer small comforts on the days where everything starts to feel a bit too much.
Itâs a flawed logic and he knows it, but heâs willing to do whatever it takes to make his newfound happiness last. Today that includes packing all the appetizers that Trinity had given the highest ratings in a cooler alongside a few types of cheese and a bottle of wine from Robbyâs pantry. Each item fits neatly in the container, but Dennis arranges and re-arranges them a few times nonetheless. His only stills when Robby comes up behind him, broad hands finding their places as his hips as he presses against Dennisâs back.
Dennis leans back into the touch eagerly, smiling as Robbyâs beard brushes against his ear. He feels a little kiss land on his neck. âYou ready?â Robby asks, watching as Dennis fits the last few items neatly into place.
âMhm. We just need to carry everything out to the car.â Dennis turns so heâs facing his boyfriend, grinning up at him with a giddy excitement. Itâs going to be a perfect day, heâll make sure of it.
He pushes himself up onto his tippy toes so he can give Robby a kiss, but the older man turns to the side just as he does, dodging him slightly so the kiss lands on his cheek instead. Dennisâs lips tug into a slight frown, pouting up at Robby as he feels a little pang in his chest from his aversion to the affection.
âSorry. Iâve still got coffee breath,â Robby excuses lamely. He squeezes Dennisâs hips gently. âGive me two minutes.â
With that, Robby leaves for the bathroom, and Dennis tries to ignore the slight doubt at his boyfriendâs excuse. Heâs been dating Robby long enough to know his routine, his habits, and he knows for certain that Robbyâs already finished his coffee and brushed his teeth over half an hour ago. âStop it,â Dennis thinks. Thereâs no need for more of his fanatic overthinking⊠right?â
âą
Somehow the next half hour follows according to Dennisâs plan; they drive to the park, find a lovely half-shaded spot to set up, and get settled in a relatively private area. The sun is shining, and there are a few clouds blowing in⊠but, that should be fine.
âI hope I didnât bring too much food,â Dennis murmurs more to himself than to his partner, as they begin to get everything out of the picnic basket.
Robby smiles, reaching his hand across to momentarily stop his overly-anxious boyfriend from unpacking for just a moment. âRelax,â he eases gently, âthis is all amazing, no matter how much you did or didnât pack. I promise you, youâve got this.â
Heâs already blushing â the way Robby can make his partner turn wonderful shades of pink and maroon always amuses him greatly â and Dennis clears his throat, before becoming momentarily distracted by an incoming tickle. The pollen is nowhere near as awful to him as it is in Spring, but where thereâs nature, thereâs usually a reason to sneeze, in his world.
âhh-eh-isShZziew! âksHh! âkshiew!â Dennis sneezes thrice into his bare elbow, sniffling afterwards and frowning in the vague direction of a nearby tree. âSorry, âscuse me.â He murmurs, a little sheepish, âI was trying to say thank you.â
Robby just grins. âBless you, bless you⊠buh-less you.â He starts helping Dennis unpack the last of the food, before eagerly reaching for a sandwich.
âThanks,â he mumbles, stabbing a paper straw into the little juice box heâs picked out first.
The first thirty minutes of the date go pretty perfectly, if Dennis could say so himself. They chat about idle things, a little bit about work, and about their plans for their next day off. They enjoy the food that heâs packed, and Robby makes sure to compliment almost every bite of something new. In fact, things are going so well, the at neither of them notice the clouds above start to turn to grey⊠until the dark shadows become too much, and their pretty picnic is now shrouded in gloomy darkness from above.
âOh, fuck, it looks like itâs gonnaââ as if the comedic Gods are sneering down at him, the heavens quite literally open at that exact moment before Whitaker can even finish his sentence, and it begins to pour. âârain!â He squeaks, fumbling to try and pack away the food as quickly as possible.
Robby is quick to step in and help, and although theyâre both almost soaked through by the time everything is packed up his help was most definitely needed. He rushes to the trunk of his car parked just a metre away, shoving the basket and a few loose items inside, and grabbing the picnic blanket from his boyfriend whoâs now very grateful for the temporary shelter of the trunk roof.
âYou okay?â Robby asks, slightly breathless, and silently wishing fuck, I wish I could kiss him right now out here in the rain. But⊠butâŠ
Heâs quick to turn away, and duck into his elbow, âHHUHâYYSHOO! âYSHH-UH!â Well, maybe the catâs out of the bag already. He most definitely has a cold, and being out in the rain clearly hasnât helped. Fuck.
âWoah-â Dennis blinks, stumbling in surprise. âBless you. Are you okay?â Heâs not sure if heâs ever heard Robby sneeze twice in succession like that.
âSorry,â Robby sniffles thickly, congestion having appeared out of nowhere all of a sudden. âI, uhââ heâs interrupted by a clap of thunder, that also makes Dennis yelp in surprise. âLet's get in the car!â Robby raises his voice over the sound of the rain, deciding it best to spend as little more time outside as possible while the Summer storm persists.
âą
âIâm sorry you caught a cold,â Dennis pouts, returning to his boyfriendâs side after having changed into some warm and dry clothing.
âI shouldâve mentioned it earlier,â Robby clears his throat, reaching for one of the strawberries on the picnic mat theyâd set up in the living room. âI just didnât want to ruin the afternoon youâd planned for us.â
Dennis smiles slightly, shuffling closer to his boyfriend. âThe weather did a good job of that instead,â he groans, remembering not that long ago when the pair were torrential rained upon, âmaybe it was a sign.â
âYou could go back to Santosâ? Just for a few days while I get over this cold â I donât think itâll stick around long.â Robby muses, planning to neck as much vitamin C as possible over the next twenty four hours.
But, Dennis is quick to shake his head, âI never get to take care of you, and besides, we spent the night together in very close proximity. Might be too late for me, but a valiant sacrifice it was indeed.â He grins, and Robby laughs, a ticklish cough catching on the end of it.
âWell, I didnât feel sick then. You might still be safe.â
âIâll be careful â wash my hands, not kiss you on the lips. Sorry.â He shrugs, feigning innocence at the last remark. âI could go make us tea? I know itâs not the picnic in the sun that we planned, but I also didnât have a spontaneous Summer storm on the itinerary. You get what youâre given, I guess.â He shrugs, glancing at the rainy skies outside of the window.
âIâll make us tea,â Robby insists, âyouâve planned a great day, donât put yourself down about some rain. The weather can be as unpredictable as one of our shifts.â He stands before his boyfriend can protest, and Dennis startles as he hears a rather loud â âhhHâAHâYYYSHHHâEW!â From the kitchen. Robbyâs congestion is clearly settling in, along with the telltale tickle that he gets at the start of a cold.
âBless you!â Dennis calls out, earning a stuffy, âthank you! Sorry!â right back.
As if the universe was trying to create a romantic comedy starring the both of them, Dennis succumbs to a sudden tickle (most likely caused by the residue raindrops in his hair that are intermittently falling) and ducks into the sleeve of Robbieâs hoodie heâd shrugged on earlier once dry. âHhâiShhH-! âtChH! âisSzzZshHiEw!â The last one comes out high pitched, and he hears Robbyâs low-pitched giggle in the room.
Dennis re-surfaces, sniffly and tearful for a moment.
âBless you,â Robby hums, placing two cups of honey tea down onto the picnic mat and taking a seat again. âYou okay? Not trying to set a record time for catching a cold, I hope?â
âIâm fine.â Dennis responds immediately. He rolls his eyes when Robby looks at him doubtfully. âReally, just adjusting to being inside I think.â
Despite his reassurance that heâs okay, he berates his nose with the cuff of his hoodie, leaving it irritated and tinged with pink. Itâs a sight that Robby has grown more than used to, but still canât help but be endeared by. These small, domestic moments that warm his chest.
âFeeling chilly?â Robby offers, before the realisation, âI guess I canât really cuddle you.â
âYou can. Well â Iâll cuddle you. Youâre always taking care of me, let me return the favour?â Dennis pouts for extra effect, but smiles when his boyfriend laughs. âPlease? Iâll still be careful, like I said.â
âLetâs get up on the couch,â Robby gives in, knowing Dennis just wants to make him feel better. They both get settled, leaving the picnic items on the floor for now, and Dennis wraps his arms around Robbyâs middle; resting his head upon his chest with a contented little sigh.
The TV is switched on, and he flicks through various channels before settling on some nature show. Outside, the rain is still gently pattering against the windows, but the sun has come back out and thereâs likely a rainbow shining somewhere. Robbyâs comfortable, happy, and runs his fingers gently through Dennisâ curls.
ââM sleepy,â Dennis hums. âDo you need anything? In case I fall asleep?â
âJust you,â Robby murmurs, close to his boyfriendâs ear, making the hair stand up on the back of his neck and causing him to giggle softly. âYou sure you donât wanna go lie down? If I sneeze, Iâm waking you up immediately.â
âItâs okay.â He reassures. âNot your fault.â
âStill,â Robby hums low. âAre you sure?â
âMhm. Iâll just go back to sleep afterwards, so, like, bless you in advance?â Dennis yawns, clearly very close to slumber.
Part 2/?
Word count: 4.1k (we cooked a little too hard, maybe?)
When Jack eventually arrives just under an hour after Dennis had called him, he walks in to Robby dozing on the couch; the coffee table having become a portable pharmacy, and a very fluffy blanket covering his boyfriend. His stuffy snores are evident to the Summer cold heâs nursing, and Jack smiles to himself, glancing around for any sign of Dennis. He doesnât seem to be in the immediate vicinity, so the man quietly makes his way into the kitchen, searching the cupboards for soup ingredients.
Meanwhile, Dennis (who didnât hear Jack come in in the slightest), is busy tidying his and Robbyâs bedroom while his boyfriend sleeps. Heâs also ignoring the telltale ache in the back of his throat, and the fact that his nose is starting to get just a little bit itchier than normal, as well as the occasional need to sniffle more than he usually does. Itâs probably just the pollen from outside, thatâs all, and itâll dissipate soon. He glances outside at the late afternoon sun, immediately regretting it as the sunbeam hits his eyeline and he dives into his elbow.
âhhhâiTShhiew! âtShh! âyyYiew!â Dennis frowns, sniffling and rubbing his nose with the cuff of Robbyâs hoodie heâs still wearing. Oops. Itâs fine, heâll wash it later.
With a quiet huff of frustration, he wanders back into the living room to check on Robby, at the exact same time that Jack decided to do the same. And, having not known he was here this whole time, Dennis yelps in fright â clasping his hands over his mouth to try and diminish the sound once he realises what heâs doing.
âShit, Iâm sorryââ Jack whisper-yells, not entirely sure what to do.
âNo, no, no, itâs fine!â Dennis squeaks, the pair glancing at the couch as they hear Robby start to stir slightly.
Both of them are interrupted momentarily, as Robby sneezes⊠twice. âHHHâuHâYYYSSHHHEEH! HHâYYRSHIEW!â Directly into the blanket covering him⊠yeah, theyâll be washing that later.
Dennis jumps, and even Jack flinches, their attention now solely focused on their sick boyfriend fumbling to reach for the tissue box on the coffee table. âBless youââ both of them say in unison, and Dennis is quick to step back when he realises Jack is also going over to check on the man. Suddenly, he feels a little out of his depth.
âHey, you,â Jack greets, handing him the tissue box and sitting by Robbyâs feet. âYou feel as shitty as yâlook?â He grins, glancing at his boyfriend with a chuckle.
âI donât look that bad,â Robby rolls his eyes, pausing their playful bickering session to blow his nose. He throws the used tissue into the trash can Dennis had placed beside the couch earlier on, reaches for the bottle of sanitiser and rubs his hands together to ensure they stay clean. âBut, I guess I feel pretty awful to have slept sinceâŠâ
âUh, two thirty. You fell back to sleep at two thirty.â Dennis hates how he suddenly sounds so small, and feels himself shrink even more as both older men turn to stare at him. âItâs⊠almost four now.â
Robbyâs expression softens, and he gestures for Dennis to come over, but he shakes his head. âI, uh, was about to order soup for dinner, umââ
âHey, no need. Iâm making us some. You come and keep Robby company and Iâll be the chef for the night. Pretty good deal, if you ask me.â Jack jests lightly, standing and offering Dennis his seat.
Hesitantly, he walks over, sitting by Robbyâs feet.
âWhy donât you both stay for a bit?â It was no secret to the two other men that Dr. Robby, the stubborn and stoic man when at work, was actually a lover of some soft caretaking and a little fussing every now and then once behind closed doors. Jack has known for many years, and kept it under wraps for him, yet teased him endlessly all the same. Dennis has only learned this recently, but adores the way Robby smiles at him when he brings him tissues and kisses his forehead. Very endearing, indeed.
Robby shuffles into the middle of the couch, so that Jack can sit on the other side of him. âThe biggest softie, isnât he?â Jack smirks, wrapping an arm around Robby and squeezing Dennisâ shoulder slightly. Dennis smiles at the display of affection, already feeling himself start to blush.
âHey, Iâm right here, you know.â Robby sniffles, leaning his head against Jackâs shoulder and reaching out to hold Dennisâ hand.
âSounds like the congestion is settling in,â Dennis says quietly, rubbing his thumb across his boyfriendâs palm. âDo you need anything?â
As much as Dennis wants to offer Robby whatever he needs or wants, heâs also itching to make himself of use. Heâs grown used to it just being him and Robby, and while he takes no issues with Jack, heâs not exactly familiar with the attending outside of professional settings. Sure, heâs seen Jack exchange affection with his boyfriend, and Robby was quick to explain the circumstances of the situation when he and Dennis first started flirting. He takes no issue with Robby and Jackâs relationship â in fact, he rather enjoys getting to hear Robby talk about their past dates and stories that the older man is so endeared with.
But itâs always been just that: stories, brief exchanges, nights where Dennis stays with Trinity because Jack doesnât have a shift. It had always felt hypothetical to some extent, and now itâs very, very real.
Which means that, naturally, all of Dennisâs anxiety has taken a front row seat in his chest, nestled behind his ribs. Itâs not just âwhat do I sayâ and âis my body language decentâ but also âhow do I prove to the man thatâs loved Robby for years that Iâm capable of doing the same?â
And, worst of all, the question of âam I capable of doing the same?â
Heâs broken from his reverie as Robby answers with a simple, âno, thank you sweetheart,â and a shake of his head. He gives Dennisâs hand a little squeeze, smiling at the way their fingers slot together so perfectly.
Dennis relaxes slightly, his lips quirking into a smile as they always do at the sound of the petname. He can do this, right?
âShould we watch something?â Jack suggests as a silence fills the room, broken only by stuffy breaths from Robby. âOr we can just sit here listening to you sniffle all night.â
âIâd say the latter, you could learn some patience for once,â Robby teases, but he leans forwards to grab the remote.
Dennis canât help but steal a glance at Jack, and to his surprise, he finds the older man looking right at him. His breath catches in his throat, a quiet noise slipping out as his cheeks flush pink. Jack just smirks, placing a hand on Robbyâs thigh and noting, âno rom coms. I donât want you getting sappy.â
The teasing â light, affectionate, quick â comes so easily for the two of them, and it dawns on Dennis that they must know each other through and through. Thereâs an air of comfort between them that Dennis has observed before at work, but this feels different, closer; itâs the kind of intimacy that heâs just grown used to with Robby.
Dennis pulls his knees to his chest as he watches Robby flick through their recently watched shows â theyâve both fallen into a slight Friends addiction over the past few weeks. He barely registers the fact that heâs started rubbing at his nose with his hoodieâs sleeve. The fabric collects a bit of moisture against its surface, leaving a small damp patch. Unfortunately, the rubbing does nothing more than spark a shock of irritation from the tip of Dennisâs nose to his sinuses. It festers in the left side, taking root and prickling stubbornly with every breath.
No problem, right? Dennis just has to hold his breath, press his tongue to the roof of his mouth, and â âhhâ â a little hitch breaks through, the itch growing with unexpected strength. His lashes flutter and his eyes fill in itchy, dewy anticipation as another hitch catches on his tongue, and another.
Dennis is quick to tent his elbow over the lower half of his face, clamping his jaw shut and swallowing as the next hitch tries to slip out. He knows without a doubt that heâs attracted Robbyâs attention by now â afterall, the man is used to this whole ordeal by now â but thatâs much less embarrassing than the fact that he can feel Jackâs eyes on him too.
His eyes squeeze shut just as his head bobs down with the first stifled ângGâSt!â The itch sears through his sinuses in protest of the suppression, forcing another few back to back sneezes, âhnNGtângsxch!isch!â
The stifles do absolutely nothing to appease the burning sensation, and he hiccups into a few quick, quiet gasps before falling into another flurry of sneezes, ângck! hkâKxt! ihânsXt!â
He barely registers Robbyâs little admonishment of, âdonât hold them in,â through his bodyâs need to rid itself of the itch. Whether or not Dennis intended to stifle the last sneeze, it slips out in a high pitched, âhâiTtschHâyiew!â
The fit leaves him breathless for a moment, and he keeps the lower half of his face shrouded in the hoodie sleeve. He can feel his embarrassment flushing pink up to the tips of his ears, and it only worsens when he hears, âjesus, bless you kid,â from Jack. Itâs not rude or judgemental, but shocked â itâs a reaction heâs accustomed to after sneezing like this all his life, and itâs much preferred to the teasing he gets from Trinity.
Robby offers a soft blessing as well, and Dennis nods his thanks, wordlessly reaching for a tissue from the box heâd opened for Robby. He misses the silent communication that happens behind his back: an eyebrow raise from Jack followed by a concerned but affectionate smile from Robby.
âYou always sneeze that much?â Jack asks as he shifts on the couch, adjusting his posture and crossing his legs. If possible, Dennis flushes an even darker shade of red.
âUhm, yeah. Usually, I guess. Sometimes itâs only two or three, if Iâm lucky,â he wipes his nose with the tissue as he replies, determined not to look back at either Jack or Robby.
âDamn.â Jack leans closer to Robby, dropping his voice to mumble a quiet, âand here I was thinking you were exaggerating.â
âIâve never exaggerated a day in my life,â Robby whispers back, unable to stop himself from laughing at the blatant lie â catching a ticklish cough into the crook of his elbow closest to Jack.
Dennis is snuggling himself close to Robby again, eyes half lidded and feeling warm and cosy. The embarrassment from his sneezing habits have subsided for now and all he really wants to do is rest, and hope that his symptoms will keep at bay for as long as possible.
âą
Dennis knew he couldnât stay undetected for long, because by dinner his nose is starting to run from the steam that the soup kicks up and although he could simply blame it on that alone, heâs sniffling even after excusing himself to the bathroom where he blows his nose. He tries not to, but minutes after leaving the bathroom he can feel the dampness return and he has no choice, unless he wants a consistently damp Cupidâs bow. Theyâve all been sat on the couch in the same order as before â Dennis, Robby, Jack â and watching old reruns of Friends. He had been hoping the TV and the pairâs idle conversation would have them distracted from Dennis and his own goings on, but sadly, he hoped wrong.
âHey, you okay?â Robby turns, looking down at his boyfriend, whoâs just sniffled once again. He notes the slight pinkness on his cheeks, and around his nostrils, and frowns.
âHuh? Me? Yeah. Why?â The answer probably sounds suspicious, especially the way his voice raises an octave higher with each word. Dennis clears his throat, blinking a few times to try and reset himself.
âSniffling a lot,â Robby notes.
âOh, that. Yeah⊠soup was really steamy, sorry. It was really good though!â He leans across to catch Jackâs eye, who smiles in response.
Seemingly pleased with that answer, Robby goes back to discussing the current episodeâs storyline with Jack, bickering quietly about something or other seconds later. Dennis just focuses on staying undetected for as long as possible, reaching for a tissue to softly blow his nose. He leans against Robbyâs arm afterwards, letting the other menâs voices slowly soothe him, starting to doze before he can stop himself.
When he wakes, itâs to the sky turned to a rosy pink shade of dusk outside, so he hasnât slept too long, but maybe⊠two? Three hours? The next thing he registers is that heâs no longer leaning against Robby, but thereâs a cushion in his place and heâs been covered by a blanket. Thereâs distant voices somewhere nearby, maybe in the kitchen, and Dennis rubs his eyes before sitting up. The ache in his throat has gotten a little worse, and when he breathes in through his nose, itâs accompanied by a liquid sniffle, followed by a dissapointed groan.
âOh, hey, sleepy head,â Jack reappears in the living room, Robby following after him with a mug of tea in his hands. âWe made tea â you want some?â
âUmââ his voice cracks. Brilliant. Fantastic. âNo, thanks. Iâm okay.â Dennis clears his throat, covering a yawn with the back of his hand. âSorry, itâs been a long week.â
Robby sits down beside him, silently desperate to kiss his forehead but refraining due to his germs. Dennis notices that his nose is even redder, and that heâs officially resorted to mouth breathing. He curls closer, not caring about his cold (mostly because he knows he already has it.)
âYou sure youâre okay?â Itâs Jack that asks, taking the words right out of Robbyâs mouth. âItâs fine if you arenât.â
Dennis swallows. âIâm good. Did I sleep long?â He subtly runs the cuff of his hoodie sleeve under his nose, hiding it before anyone can see the dampness that forms, and then he sniffles.
âAbout two hours,â Jack replies, pressing play on the remote again, âitâs not too late. Although I might need some convincing to get Robby to go to bed early â before he falls asleep on here after telling us heâs not tired.â He smirks slightly, glancing at them both.
âIâm not tired. My head hurts like a bitch, and I canât breathe, but Iâm not tired. I practically napped the day away.â Robby rolls his eyes, and continues to drink his tea.
Dennis canât help but laugh softly at that, but also feel a little sorry for his boyfriend. âYou donât have a fever, do you?â He asks instinctively, looking up.
âNo fever. A full exam has been carried out.â Jack insists, and Dennis isnât too sure of what heâs implying and suddenly feels a lot out of his depth again. Although, he doesnât get to dwell on the anxious feeling for long, because the tickle has reignited inside his nose and his entire attention is now focused on not sneezing. But, even when heâs coming down with something, his nose doesnât usually get that kind of memo.
âhh-â he shakes his head, as if thatâll will the sneezes away. âhHhhâiiâehhh-excuse m- hhânGgTtâchu! âmmxxâch! âiTtxxchHuh! hhhâh-ITtzzYshiew!â He squeaks out a half-stifled fit against Robbyâs sleeve, too overwhelmed with the itch and perhaps a little more under the weather than he thought; because he neglects to move and the realisation settles in just moments after. He shuffles away from Robby immediately, sweater-paw hands coming up to his face to cover his mouth and nose. âSorryâ!â Dennis yelps, sniffling helplessly. âI-Iâm still half asleep, Robby, Iââ
âWoah,â Robby hushes gently, âyouâre fine. Bless you.â
And, suddenly all of his fears and anxieties from the evening and the dull ache behind his eyes are all becoming too much and Dennis feels his eyes starting to sting with the threat of tears â and, itâs all silly, really, because it doesnât matter. It doesnât matter that he sneezes like this, it doesnât matter that he already caught the stupid cold, or that he feels so tiny in the presence of Jack. Theyâve tried to tell him that none of this matters, yet now heâs overcome with the creeping guilt that theyâre going to have to take care of him now when all heâd wanted was to take care of Robby, and hell, apparently he canât even do that.
âDennis?â Robby treads carefully. âBaby?â He reaches a hand out and touches his knee.
âSo, uh, I donât â I donât feel well.â Is all Dennis manages to mumble, gaze trained downwards at his own hands and feet. He feels stupid, and small, and everything heâs always felt before he met the most amazing people he has in his life right now.
âHey,â he doesnât notice Jack get up from the couch and kneel down beside him, until he has two hands resting against his knee. âYou wanna talk about it?â The elder man clearly senses that something more is wrong, but Dennis lightly shakes his head.
âYou wanna sneeze about it?â Jack risks a small joke, and grins when it successfully makes Dennis laugh a little.
âProbably,â Dennis sniffles, swiping the fabric of the hoodie at his eyes and underneath his nose.
Robby wraps a careful arm around him, âyou know, tissues were invented for that purpose.â Itâs not a harsh tone at all, but Dennis still blushes with embarrassment, going to apologise before Jackâs finger meets his lips. Fuck, now heâs blushing even harder.
âNo more saying sorry. Iâm going to go grab some things from the store, and you and Robby are going to be good boys and stay right here, cuddling, or something.â He stands with a small grunt of effort. âIf you try to exert yourselves in any way shape or form while Iâm gone, thereâll be a hard ban on forehead kisses.â He points at them both with a faux stern look on his face.
Dennis finally gives in once Jack is gone, flopping his body against Robbyâs chest. A few tears fall down his cheeks, and he tries to be as quiet as possible in the ordeal, but crying isnât often a silent task. He sniffles a few times in succession, drawing his boyfriendâs attention back to him.
âHey. Youâre holding it all in, I can feel it. Just let it go.â Robby rubs gentle circles against his back, and continues to do so until Dennis has stopped crying and reaches the sniffly hiccups stage. âThere,â he coos. âBetter?â
Actually, he does feel a lot better. Pent up emotions are one of Dennisâ specialities, and Robby can most definitely relate. âYeah, but I feel like an idiot.â Dennis murmurs, completely stuffed up now, blunting each and every consonant. âAndââ he hitches softly, going to move, but Robby holds him close still.
âCanât catch my own cold, sweetheart. Just let it out.â He places a kiss atop of Dennisâ head, seconds before he falls victim to another ticklish fit of sneezes.
âhhâiiitishhiew! hhâyyZzshiew! âiTTshhH-tSH! hehhâtzzYysHhiew! âchuH!â It feels good not to stile, but heâs still left with a lingering tickle at the end of it, and sits up in a small daze.
âBless you. Dizzy?â Robby asks, sympathy dripping from his words.
Dennis nods. His ears are stuffy now, the cold starting to properly take hold. âI didnât want you to feel guilty about all this.â He murmurs, rubbing his sleeve over his face; the fabric truly messy now, but Dennis is too emotionally exhausted to really care. âI just wanted to take care of you, and I felt⊠I donât know. Itâs different â not bad different â but, with Jack. Yâknow?â He peers up at Robby, whoâs listening sincerely with those warm, brown eyes trained on his sniffly boyfriend.
âNeither of us expect you to be used to it. Itâs new, we both know that. And if itâs ever too much, you just let me know, okay?â He holds Dennisâs gaze, every word spoken with a genuine care. One of his hands makes its way to the back of Dennisâs neck, providing a grounding, warm touch that Dennis definitely needs in that moment.
He nods and sniffles again. âI know. I guess Iâm just⊠used to being the last choice in my family. Iâm the youngest, so I was always just⊠there.â He has to pause to sniffle again, digging his knuckles against his right nostril â which has resigned itself to be entirely blocked. Robby waits patiently; heâs always been good at lending Dennis the time to compose and express his thoughts, and now is no different. âItâs not fair to compare this to being at home, but I guess Iâm nervous that things will change? Maybe thatâs selfish, I donât know.â
His uncertainty is almost tangible, creasing between his brows in an anxious twinge. A small breath in hits the wall of nervousness in his chest and forces a light cough directed towards his wrist.
âDennis,â Robbyâs voice cuts through his anxious haze, even as itâs seeped in congestion, âIâm not going anywhere, alright? Not unless you want me toââ
âI donât,â Dennis interjects, earning a smile from his boyfriend.
âWell, thatâs always a good sign,â he jokes, his fingers applying a gentle pressure to Dennisâs neck and rubbing the tension away, âweâll take this one day at a time, okay? We can always go back to the way things are, Jack and I are happy to keep our relationship separate.â
Dennis nods a little, blinking away the sleepiness thatâs lingering in his body and brain; it dulls his senses, as if a fog has taken residence in his mind. âCan we talk about it another time?â
âOf course.â Robby shifts on the couch. He pulls Dennis closer, wrapping his arms around the smaller manâs waist now that he knows Dennis has already caught his cold. Dennisâs head ends up nestled on his chest, tucked just beneath his chin. âComfy?â
Dennis nods, âcomfy.â
âIâm sorry you ended up catching this,â Robby adds, rubbing Dennisâ back.
âIâm not,â Dennis responds, a smirk toying at the corners of his mouth whilst he looks up. âMeans I can do this, now.â He shifts and presses a kiss to Robbyâs mouth, though itâs short lived due to the fact that neither can breathe well enough through their noses.
âOh, yeah?â Robby chuckles, pressing his palms against Dennisâ lower back to better support him. âJack said donât exert ourselves.â He pecks Dennisâ forehead.
Giggling, the younger man leans in again, yet this time Robbyâs facial hair tickles at the skin near his nose, and Dennis has to break apart the kiss to duck into his elbow. âHhâtshhâiew! âssyzzShHiew! âtch, âtch, -tTchHhâuhâisHhiew!â He sniffles thickly, rubbing his nose against his sleeve. A small groan falls from parted lips.
âBless you,â Robby lets Dennis lean back against his chest, clearly a little tired out from the latest fit.
âI should take a shower,â he hums quietly, âI feel kinda gross.â Heâs definitely used less tissues than he should have, which isnât usually like him, but sometimes he just gets so fatigued from fit after fit. Plus, Robbyâs a very comfortable pillow.
âCan I come?â Robbyâs already grinning, and Dennis laughs softly.
âNo exerting ourselves.â He reminds his boyfriend, glancing up at him.
Dennis carefully rises to his feet. âI wonât be long,â he reassures, âmaybe when Jackâs back, we could watch a movie? I donât think I can sleep just yet, after accidentally sleeping, like, the whole day.â He stretches his arms above his head, Robby appreciating the view it gives him as Dennisâ shirt rides up slightly.
Robby watches without complaint, grinning as Dennis continues to stretch, oblivious to his attentiveness. After a moment, Dennis catches Robbyâs eye, immediately recognizing his expression and flushing pink. He drops his hands to his sides, but he canât help but smile. He steps closer to his boyfriend, pulling him in for another brief kiss â he always gets greedy about kisses when he feels bad â before saying, âIâll be back soon. You okay here?â
âIâd be better in the shower with you,â Robby says smoothly, and it takes every ounce of self restraint Dennis has for him to shake his head; how Jack ever says no to his brown eyes, Dennis isnât sure.
âI just want to rinse off,â Dennis excuses, which isnât entirely false, though he mostly wants to stand under the steam until the congestion blocking his nose eases. Robbyâs already witnessed enough sniffling from him in the past half hour, he doesnât need to be privy to whatever sneezes the shower coaxes out.
âOkay.â The older man concedes with a tired grin, âhollar if you need anything.â
Part 3/?
Word count: 5.2k (I told you we cooked.)
Dennis hadnât intended for his shower to end up being too long. âTen, fifteen minutes tops,â is what heâd initially told himself; just long enough for him to work out some of his congestion, wash the feeling of sick off his skin, and maybe use one of Robbyâs nice conditioners.
Somewhere along the way, he finds himself standing brainlessly beneath the waterâs stream, his skin gradually turning a darker shade of red as the hot water pelts against it. The entire bathroom is filled with a thick, hot cloud of steam, and itâs working wonders on Dennisâs congestion. Sure, heâs spent a good amount of his shower stumbling in and out of fits, but each of them leaves his sinuses a bit looser than before.
He vaguely registers the sound of talking from the living room, although he canât actually make out any words, just the distant lull of Jack and Robby. It feels nice, domestic almost, to know that there are not one but two people awaiting his return from the shower â two ridiculously hot people who also happen to be his boss's bosses.
Dennis stays in the shower until heâs dizzyingly warm, but the comfort of the hot water disappears as soon as he steps out and starts toweling himself dry. A small shiver works its way up his spine, and he hurries to pull on the pajamas heâd nabbed from his drawer in Robbyâs dresser. And, he doesnât hesitate to pick up a clean hoodie from the laundry pile, belonging to his boyfriend of course.
He walks back into the living room, painfully aware of how the couple already sat down seem to go silent almost immediately, yet their smiles are warm at least. âHey,â Robbyâs voice sounds rough. âGood shower? Help ease up the congestion any?â He pats the space that he and Jack make between them on the couch.
Dennis nods, yet sniffles still. âYeah, a lot, thanks.â He says quietly, sitting in the middle and feeling a little unsure of where to lean. He naturally gravitates towards Robby, but doesnât want to offend Jack, yet the issue is solved when Robby pulls him gently into his arms.
âI see youâve commandeered another one of my jackets, huh?â He teases lightly, running his fingers through Dennisâ curls.
âToo hot to wear it yet.â So, apparently, heâs just cuddling it.
âYou two sickly lovebirds wanna choose a movie?â Jack interjects, but itâs not out of spite, and he chuckles softly. âLike I said before, though â no rom-coms.â He holds the remote out towards Dennis.
Dennis is slow to react, his brain eventually kickstarting enough that he accepts the remote with a little, âsorry,â mumbled under his breath. Maybe the shower had made him more disoriented than heâd initially recognizedâŠ
He sniffles as he flicks through various tv shows, movies, and advertisements. His nose is apparently less than happy with its sudden change in climate, working to undo all his progress in decongesting. After a minute or so of mindless scrolling and endless sniffling, he feels Robby gently coax the remote from out of his hand. His grip loosens within an instant, and he feels Robbyâs other hand settle over his hip with a little squeeze â a silent âis this okay?â
Dennis nods, pressing himself further against his boyfriendâs side and watching as Robby takes over in deciding what to watch. The warmth of the shower seems to have washed a new layer of sleepiness over him, too, because he doesnât really remember much of the movie Robby ends up choosing. He somewhat recalls Jack enticing him to stretch his legs out across his lap, and then he mustâve dozed in and out throughout the entire thing. So much for not being sleepy anymore.
âą
Dennis leans against the doorframe of the bedroom, watching Jack tease Robby and pretend to tuck him in, before rubbing vapour rub all over the sick manâs chest. His gaze travels to Robbyâs exposed skin, watching the gentle and tender strokes Jack makes and â
âDennis?â
Maybe he was watching a little too intensely.
âHuh?â He straightens himself up, clearing his throat.
âYou coming to bed?â Jack has climbed off of Robby now, and is standing a few feet away.
He shakes his head. âOh, umm⊠no, thanks. I was thinking ofâŠâ he scrunches his nose, the effects of the medicinal lotion already getting to him. âUmâŠâ he avoids Jackâs eyes as the man gets closer, still holding the little pot of sneeze inducing nightmares.
âRobby said your chest gets pretty congested with colds, soââ
âNo, thank you! That stuff usually really m..mhh-makes me- hhâMmmâIshiew! âKkshHiew! hhânGxT! âxXkjShH-SHiew! GuhhhâŠâ Dennis succumbs to an itchy fit, trying his best to muffle them and stifle against the sleeve of Robbyâs hoodie heâs since put on.
âSneeze?â Jack finishes off for him, eyebrow quirked upwards and a smirk to match.
âMhm.â Dennis sniffles pitifully, soft little hitches teasing him before he gets the chance to properly recover.
âhhh-â
âhhâiiH-â
âhhhh-?â
Jack watches, slightly entranced by the way Dennisâ seems caught in that pre-sneeze limbo, temporarily tortured by the itch, yet with no relief. He watches him flutter his eyelashes, blinking away tears and sniffling again; he drops his arm back by his side, after no relief comes.
âStuck?â Robby asks from the bed, and both of the other men jump slightly; having been interrupted from their different trances.
Robbyâs eyes flick over Jackâs expression knowingly before he turns his attention to Dennis. He pats the spot beside him in bed, willing Dennis to forgo his previous denial, âcâmon. It might be good for you to work out some of your congestion.â
Wordlessly, Dennis steps around Jack and pads over to the bed. Seeing the clear sheen of vapor rub over Robbyâs chest is enough to make his nostrils flare again. The unmistakable scent of menthol permeates the area around the older man, but Dennis is too tired to deny taking the spot beside Robby. Itâs not his typical place in bed; usually, he and Robby have a relatively equal split between the bedâs sides â that is, until Dennis inevitably works his way onto Robbyâs side. Tonight, however, Robbyâs laying in the center of the bed, and Dennis opts for choosing the far left side.
He doesnât even get the opportunity to sit down before another hitch teases at his senses, imploring his eyes to slip shut, âhhHâih?â
He stands, expression pinched and hazy, at the bedside. After a few seconds of remaining frozen in anticipation, his breath falls in a disappointed exhale. When he opens his eyes, heâs immediately met with Jackâs gaze glued to him from the other side of the bed. Dennis flushes pink and looks away â if he hadnât, heâd have realized that Jack looked almost as sheepish as he did about being caught.
Robby pushes the blanket and the sheets down, patting the bed once again to prompt Dennis, who slips into bed and practically melts into the mattress. It hugs at his sore limbs, the warmth of Robbyâs body nearby easing some of the discomfort lingering in his body. Unfortunately for him, the proximity also gives his nose what it needs to finally break past the point of hitching â âkSSchH! hh?!-ischâiSCHhyi!â
He only gets a second of reprieve before his body forces another pitchy gasp and a few itchy sneezes, âszSCHh!⊠ihâyhSXchi! itTsSChhyu!â
âBless you, although, I have a feeling youâre not done.â Robby hums, turning away a little to cough into his fist.
Dennis shakes his head, still entrapped by the pre-sneeze limbo; soft little hitches spilling from his lips. âhhâyYzzsHhiew! âishhiew! âkkâsHh-ShHtt-Yyshâoo!â He doesnât try and stifle this time, tired out and dizzy, the rapid triple coming at the end with practically no chance to breathe in between.
âBless you,â Robby whispers softly, listening to Dennis wheeze for a few moments, regaining his composure. âYou okay?â
He doesnât say anything in response, a slightly bark-like cough being caught against the sleeve of his hoodie, thatâs already a little damp from the sneezes. Dennis looks up, noting that Jack has disappeared. Great, heâs managed to gross him out already. Or annoy him. âYeah,â he murmurs. âYour cold sucks, by the way.â He smirks slightly â more confident since the first time Robby took care of him when he was sick.
âIt does,â Robby agrees. âHowâre you feeling, though? Symptom check? Iâm going for throat feeling like it has shards of glass inside, ears sounding like Iâm underwater and nose blocked up to the nines.â He chuckles quietly.
âUh, same, I guess. Itchy.â Dennis sniffles, scrubbing at his nose a second later, as if to prove his point. âVery itchy.â
Dennis continues to scrub at his nose, scrunching it up in protest of its irritation. The scent of menthol still hangs in the air, thick and bothersome. Beside him, Robby tugs his shirt back on in an attempt to lessen the vapor rubâs scent.
âSorry, I know it doesnât agree with your nose,â Robby offers sympathetically, noting the frustrated pinch of Dennisâs brows. The younger man continues to berate his nose, doing his best to fight back the little hitches threatening to surface, as if his previous fit hadnât been enough.
His breath stutters into a few light coughs directed towards his elbow and a teasingly close false start, âhhDtââ A huff of disappointment falls from his lips instead, and the pawing at his nose begins again.
âHey, stop,â Robby chastises lightly, âyouâre just gonna make it sore.â
Dennis huffs dramatically at that, but does as heâs told, resorting to simply wriggling his nose instead.
âHandkerchiefs,â Jackâs voice travels back into the room, âIâll leave them beside the bed.â
He climbs into the bed, leaving Robby comfortable in the middle. âIâm going to turn off the light now, you two get some rest.â He announces, leaning to switch off the lamp on Dennisâ side, his hand lightly grazing the younger manâs shoulder. Shivering a little in response, Dennis curls against Robby and shuts his eyes.
âą
Somehow, despite the amount of sleep heâs already had, Dennis falls asleep first. Jack isnât really tired, so heâs more than happy to lie awake softly talking to Robby about work, and asking him idle questions to get to know the sleeping, sickly beauty beside them a little better. Dennis snores, stuffy breaths punctuating the pauses in the pairâs conversation, and it isnât long until heâs hitching in his sleep.
âIs heâŠ?â
âOh, yeah. He can sleep sneeze. If heâs tired enough.â Robby smirks slightly, trying to get a glance at his elder partnerâs reaction. Jackâs eyes are glued on Dennisâs face, taking in every detail as his features scrunch together in anticipation.
âYouâre kidding,â he comments despite the very obvious build up that proves Robby is not, in fact, kidding.
Dennis doesnât allow Robby time to reply. His breath hitches into a final soft gasp before heâs sneezing softly against his pillow, âhhâkKshiew! âksHh-shiewâŠâ Robby sits up slowly, careful not to jostle Dennis as he reaches over him for the tissue box on the nightstand. âitsSchu!â
Pinching the tissue between two fingers, Robby wipes away the moisture pooling at Dennisâs philtrum as gently as possible, trying to avoid triggering more sneezes. The younger manâs nose twitches in protest, and he stirs in his sleep, to which Robby whispers, âitâs okay. Itâs just me.â
Dennisâs nose twitches again and he rolls over partially, burying his face in his pillow and throwing an arm carelessly to the side. It falls over Robbyâs waist, draping itself in an awkward â and certainly uncomfortable â position. After a few seconds, his stuffy snoring returns, this time muffled into the pillow.
Robby grins and tosses the tissue in the general direction of Dennisâs nightstand before giving Jack another glance. âYouâll get used to it.â
âDoes he do this every night?â Jack whispers back, lying back on his pillow.
âNot every night. If heâs sick⊠or his allergies are playing up. So, yeah actually. Most nights.â Robby chuckles to himself.
After a heavy exhale, Jack runs a hand down his face. âYou think heâll wake up if weâre gone for a few?â He murmurs, considering⊠things.
Although his partner canât see him, he can practically hear Robbyâs smirk in response. âIf weâre quiet.â
âWhich is impossible when it comes to you, can I add.â Jack scoffs slightly.
âNow, thatâs just rude, considering you like it like that.â Robbyâs shit-eating grin causes Jack to just roll his eyes in response.
The pair are as quiet as possible whilst getting out of bed, and Robby ensures Dennis is properly covered over and still asleep whilst Jack fetches his prosthetic. They leave their snoring third fast asleep under the covers, none the wiser.
Heâs not sure exactly what time it is when he wakes, but Dennis certainly knows he feels ten times worse. He mustâve developed a low grade fever, and mouth breathing has made his throat a lot more sore. To make things even worse? When he rolls over expecting Robby to embrace him, heâs not there. âRâbby?â Dennis murmurs pathetically, his hoarse voice cracking slightly.
Nothing. âJack?â He pushes himself into a sitting position, sniffing and immediately regretting the action. âhhâKkKshiew! âkkyYzzZsh! ugh⊠âtchieW!â Three itchy sneezes leave a mark against the cuff of his hoodie, and he groans at the pain they cause his throat.
âRobby?â He calls out again, a little louder this time.
ââYYDSHHhHhâHHYUE!â Somewhere in the distance of the apartment he hears Robby sneeze. Well, that explains his absence.
âBless you,â Dennis mumbles, forgetting that Robby most definitely canât hear him. He sniffles again, curling into the covers and hoping Robby will be back soon; fully aware heâs reached the clingy stage of his illness.
He mustâve drifted back off, because the next thing he knows is thereâs a slight dip on both sides of the bed, and somehow Dennis is now in between both Jack and Robby, instead of at the edge of the mattress. He grumbles softly at the intrusion, his mind foggy, and rolls over directly into Jackâs chest. âWhereâd yâgo?â Dennis slurs, voice still sleepy, not even opening his eyes.
âI⊠had to sneeze,â Robbyâs voice sounds from the other side, and suddenly the half-asleep Dennis in the middle is blushing, realising where he is instead of against his usual person.
He rolls onto his back, coughing slightly. âHeard you,â Dennis admits, âdid you⊠were you sneezing?â The sentence makes more sense in his head, but Jack catches on before Robby does.
âFour times. Heâs got nothing on you, though. Donât worry, kid.â Jack reaches for Dennis hand,â giving it a soft squeeze, making the younger man giggle slightly.
Thereâs a small pause, whilst Jack looks at Robby, still lightly holding onto Dennisâ hand, when the aforementioned owner of said hand begins to hitch. âHh-â once, âhhhiih-â twice, âhiH-hhnnnghhhâŠâ thrice, yet nothing. Itâs something that tends to happen at the beginning of a cold for him, and it drives him insane every damn time. Not to mention the fact that thereâs still a fair amount of pollen outside, and now that the storm has settled the rain will have washed it all down. Thankfully, Robby has AC and so thereâs usually no need to sleep with the windows open.
Instead of a sneeze, Dennis moves his hand from Jackâs grasp and coughs into his elbow, scraping his throat and emitting a sound somewhat akin to croup. Something Dennis has been acquainted with at various times in his life, embarrassingly also as an adult.
âThat doesnât sound good,â Abbot hums, âshould probably get that checked out tomorrow.â
âYouâre a doctor. Iâm a doctor. Canât I just⊠fix it myself?â He mutters, and Robby canât help but chuckle at the grumpiness in his tone.
âOh, yeah? With what equipment and medicine?â Robby teases, pulling Dennis into his arms to distract him from any plans of an argument.
He just whines into Robbyâs chest, which is a clear mistake because he had forgotten all about the vapour rub residue on the manâs shirt and â
âhhâmmâtTsHh! âtsSH! âiiZzZzsShH! haH-guh⊠hhhâzyShHhâkiiEeewwW!â At least his sneezes have finally been coaxed out, yet at what cost? His head is spinning slightly now, nose running against his boyfriendâs shirt and an irritated cough slips past his lips once again. ââM sorry-â Dennis squeaks, leaning back and realizing what heâs done.
âNo harm done,â the elder man reassures gently, âthis thing will be in the laundry tomorrow anyway.â He reaches out, brushing some hair from Dennisâ forehead and feeling the sticky heat.
âBless you,â Jack adds, having somewhat been silent a second before. âHandkerchief incoming.â He leans back over, deciding first to offer the material to Dennis instead of immediately doing it for him; theyâre not quite at that level of intimacy yet, at least in his mind, and he doesnât want to scare him in any way.
âIâm gonna grab some TylenoâŠâ Robby trails off, caught in just a secondâs pre-sneeze haze warning, before crumpling forwards into the vague direction of his elbow as heâs half sat up. âHUHH-DZZSHhHhHOOH!â The sneeze hits him harder now that his cold has progressed a little more, leaving him a little dizzy and groaning at the pain in his back.
The sneeze sets off a chaotic chain of events â Dennis startles, his body jolting at the sudden interruption, and in Jackâs momentary lack of focus and amongst his own mild fright⊠Dennisâ face collides with the hovering hand Jack was holding above him. A soft âoof!â followed by an âuh oh-â alert Robby to something happening, and he reaches to switch on the light, which only further aggravates the matters at hand.
Dennis is sitting up now, but has to fold once again into the sleeve of his jacket as the sudden burst of light triggers more sneezes from his already worn out nose; â-ttshHyiew! âkShhH-hhâTtchKiew! oh, owââ itâs then that he pulls away, and Jack and Robby realise his nose is bleeding, running past his slightly parted lips and down his chin.
âOh, fuckââ Jack reaches forwards, covering the lower half of Dennisâ face with the handkerchief as quickly and as gently as he can.
ââM sorry,â his voice is muffled and much stuffier from the hold Jack has against him, in order to slow the blood, âthat happens sometimes.â
âYou bumped into my hand, Iâm sorry, I mustâve moved the wrong way andââ
âItâs okay!â Dennis reassures, âIâm honestly due a nose bleed, to be honest. Uh⊠I said honest twice, didnât I?â He frowns, trying to bring his hand up to cover an incoming cough, but Jack tsks him softly â heâs got it covered.
Robby, having regained his composure after the small domino effect from his sneeze, is now rubbing soft circles against Dennisâ back. âI startled you both,â he points out, and Jack shoots him a look that says âdonât blame yourself for this.â
âItâs okay! Hot weather makes this happen anyways. I proâbise, Iâmb fiâdne!â The sentence sounds extra nasally, and Robby smiles slightly from endearment.
Jack slowly removes the handkerchief a moment later to assess the bleeding, satisfied that itâs slowed down enough to carefully clean Dennisâ face; all the while trying not to trigger anymore sneezes for the moment. âThere,â he hums, âgood as new.â
Dennisâs eyes flit around as Jack gently wipes the blood from his face, doing his best not to meet the other manâs eyes. Until today, his touches with Jack had been reserved to smaller motions â the kind Robby used to enact at the beginning of their flirtation: a hand on the shoulder, a brush against his waist, and playful nudges. This is entirely new terrain, though not unwelcome.
âYou okay?â Jack confirms, his voice soft. He positions two fingers beneath Dennisâs chin, prompting him to meet his gaze. Dennis blushes crimson at the action, nodding wordlessly and finding himself unable to look away. Jackâs eyes soften around the edges, creasing as he smiles. Itâs a little strange to see him look so⊠soft. Dennis knows just enough about Jackâs past to understand that heâs been hardened by a multitude of experiences; he sees it at work whenever he works overtime and bleeds into the nightshift.
Robby breaks Dennis from his trance with a rough cough, directed loosely towards a raised fist. His chest rattles with the expulsion, followed by a shaky breath as his throat constricts painfully, clearly unhappy with his bodyâs need to expel whateverâs taken hold of him. Robby barely manages the single breath before heâs doubling over again. Jack acts more quickly than Dennis, sitting up and reaching across the smaller man so he can rub Robbyâs back.
His hand works from between Robbyâs shoulder blades up to the nape of his neck and back down in small circular motions. Once the coughing fit seems to be calming down, Jack lets his fingers make their way up to Robbyâs neck once again. They press themselves just below his hairline, working to ease out some of the pent up tension.
Without thinking, Dennis finds himself leaning into Jackâs close proximity. He wishes he wasnât so stuffed up â maybe he would have been able to smell Jackâs cologne. Itâs a scent that heâs noted all too often in the pitt. Whenever he crosses paths with Jack, he gets a whiff of it. On occasion, heâll smell it on Robby after the two of them exchange goodnights or goodmornings when switching shifts.
Dennisâs body seems intent on breaking him from his thoughts once again. His breath catches in a soft hitch as the steady buzzing in his sinuses rears its head again. A prickling itch blooms in the base of his nose, taking root in its left side and urging him to scrunch up the appendage. With hoodie covered hands, he reaches up to paw at his nose, mixing the action with a few damp sniffles.
If he hadn't been so preoccupied with the itch, Dennis might have noticed the way Jackâs attention snapped to him at the sound of his hitching. With his nose buried beneath his sleeves and burning in anticipation, however, he misses the older manâs movement. He only notices when Jack brings a hand to his wrists, tugging his hands down and replacing them with the handkerchief.
Dennis startles at the contact, and itâs just enough to break through the build up, forcing a quick âhhâ followed by a little flurry of sneezes. âitSSch!hh?!-kSch!iSXhyi!â They tumble out one after the other, casting a light spray against the cloth steepled over the bottom half of his face.
Whether his fever has dulled his senses or heâs just grown more comfortable sneezing around Jack, Dennis isnât sure, but he doesnât feel nearly as embarrassed as he had earlier. Realistically, his rising fever and the fact that itâs nearing 2AM are probably the leading factors. Even then, he goes to apologize, as if by instinct, âsorhhyâyYsSCHhiew!itTsXCh!â
âBless you.â Robby and Jack murmur in unison, and Dennis clears his throat before trying again.
âSorry. That wasâŠâ
âCompletely unintentional?â Jack supplements when Dennis pauses.
âI was thinking more along the lines of gross.â Dennisâs sheepish admission is accompanied with a little smile as Jack brushes his hand over his side.
âRobby was right. You apologize too much.â
Dennis blinks in surprise as he processes Jackâs words. He turns to Robby, his affronted expression earning a little grin from his boyfriend.
âDonât start. Itâs too late for this.â Robbyâs teasing deflection is in part true. They should all be asleep, especially if the two sickies want to kick this cold soon. Dennis huffs, but lets his complaints go unsaid. Jack flicks off the lamp on the nightstand and shifts closer so Dennis is perfectly wedged between the two attendings â God, Trinity would have a field day if she saw him like this.
âIâll start tomorrow then,â Dennis mutters indignantly, but Robby can tell that heâs smiling after saying it.
Thereâs a pause, just as Dennis starts to feel incredibly cosy and safe, when Robby curses under his breath. âTylenol,â he remembers aloud, moving slightly in an attempt to sit.
âOh, no you dontââ Jack sits up, grabbing his crutches and prepping himself to leave the room instead. âYouâre sick too. Iâm getting you both some. Maybe some cough syrup too, actually.â
âWhat flavour?â Dennis asks, groaning extra dramatically as Jack leaves the bed; taking away half of the comfort and warmth he was gaining so accustomed to.
Thereâs no answer, so he fears the worst⊠although, heâs so stuffy he wonât really be able to taste it much. Dennis stays lying down, curling up against Robby now, who wraps his arms around him and mumbles something about how theyâre going to have to sit up soon and the light will be back on.
A few minutes later Jack returns, giving a gentle pre-warning about the incoming burst of light⊠which, even though he hides his eyes, sends Dennis into a small fit once again. âhhâishHyYiew! âkshiew! âtsH-ShhH-!â Caught against the pillow he had been trying to use as a shield against the enemy (the lamp.)
âBless you, darling,â Robby hums, his voice sweet like honey to Dennisâ ears.
Jack, who had been busy opening up the cough syrup, smiles. âWhat he said.â
Dennis shakes his head a little, sniffling as the itch persists. He pushes himself into an upright position, blinking rapidly as his eyes flutter shut, âhhihââ he ducks into his elbow just in time to catch a quick double, âschHhew! tâchhiew!â
âYou done?â Jack asks with a little smirk and upon receiving a nod from Dennis, he adds, âGood. Bless you.â
âThangk you.â Dennis pauses as he registers the congestion in his voice, sniffling to try to combat the discomfort settling in his sinuses.
âHere,â heâs handed a clean handkerchief by Jack, âblow your nose while I force meds into Robby.â He jests slightly, smiling.
Robby, who is very good and does as heâs told, takes the Tylenol he is handed and then the spoonful of cherry flavoured cough syrup; only pulling a slight face of disgust afterwards. âWas that really so bad?â Jack chastises, a smirk on his lips.
âPersonally, I prefer the blackcurrant stuff,â Robby replies, lying back down.
âYeah, well they were all out, wise ass.â
Grumbling, Robby lies back down, but they both know he isnât really upset about it. âGood boy,â Jack teases, tucking the covers over him, before moving on to Dennis.
Despite having just reassured Jack that heâs done sneezing, Dennis is waiting with a hazy expression, the handkerchief half raised as his brows knit together. His nose is twitching again, the itch just present enough to demand his attention. After a few seconds of enduring its teasing, Dennis scrunches up his nose in an attempt to lessen the buzzing of his sinuses.
The itch dances to the tip of his nose, forcing his nostrils to flare outwards and his breath to stutter into a little hitch. The gasp falls lamely into a light cough before building up once again. He waits, sitting in that irritating, inexplicable limbo as his sinuses tease him.
Jack watches with bated breath, his mouth going dry as he observes Dennisâs expression be so utterly desperate. Robby follows his gaze, letting out a quiet noise of sympathy as he notes Dennisâs evident need to sneeze.
âStuck again?â
Dennis nods, his mouth falling further agape with a sharp âhhHââ that once again forms nothing more than an exhale and a quiet whine. Moisture clings to the ends of his lashes, collecting at their base and threatening to slip down over rosy cheeks. In sum, he looks just as miserable as he does desperate.
Robby shifts closer just as Dennis starts hitching again, breaths stacking on top of each other more quickly than he can handle. âYouâre okay,â Robby hums, his hand finding the nape of Dennisâs neck â itâs warmer than it should be, he notes. âCan you take a deep breath in?â
Dennis shakes his head, curls bouncing as he wordlessly expresses his inability to do anything aside from hitch. Robbyâs fingers apply a light pressure to the back of his neck in an attempt to ground him. âMâkay,â he acknowledges, âwe can wait it out.â
His thumb rubs little circles over Dennisâs spine, and Robby can feel each gasp and hitch. Theyâre occasionally interrupted by a small cough or a false start that leaves Dennis whining at the false promise of relief.
Once Jack breaks himself from his trance, he follows Robbyâs lead, placing a hand on Dennisâs knee and giving it a little squeeze. He meets Robbyâs gaze, brows knit in concern at the younger manâs evident discomfort and receives a small nod of encouragement from Robby. Jack shifts closer to Dennis, his eyes remaining glued to his face.
He racks his brain trying to remember the details and stories Robby has told him, filing through his memory in an attempt to find something, anything that might inform him how to help. His mind falls short, and heâs left with the uncomfortable truth that this is uncharted, very much unknown territory.
With Robby, Jack knows what to say, what buttons to push, which boundaries never to cross, when to touch, when to tease, how to comfort, how to protect. With Dennis, Jack knows only what heâs learned in their brief encounters and the stories Robby tells. He mustâve done something right though because even in Dennisâs desperation to sneeze, some of the tension in his leg eases as Jack touches him.
After another excruciatingly long minute of hitching, Dennisâs breath finally stutters into a flurry of soft, congested sneezes, âidâdSCh! ngKSxCh!idSSCh! kâtTzZXchâew! ihHsSSCH!-tsch-tssh!â
âBless you,â Robbyâs hand slips down to Dennisâs lower back just as his breath catches again, his body apparently unappeased by the fit. Robby raises a brow. âAgain?â
Dennis isnât even granted the opportunity to reply. He dives deeper into the handkerchief, shoulders hunching with the second wave. âhgKsChh!hihâidDtTSCHhâksch! ih-hHhâŠâ he pauses briefly, faltering with a false start and a whine of utter frustration.
âJesus.â Jack canât help but comment; it falls somewhere between sympathy and surprise.
âSorry,â the younger man sniffles, silently contemplating whether or not to get up to the bathroom to hide away and blow his nose; and most likely sneeze more, away from the extra pair of eyes. He knew Jack meant no harm, but sometimes just one extra person who wasnât Robby being around when he was like this felt all too much.
âHey,â Jack begins, moving his hand up to Dennisâ shoulder, âyou donât have to apologise. You canât help it â is there anything we can do to help?â He offers gently, still feeling a little lost and in uncharted territory.
Dennis shakes his head, keeping the handkerchief steepled over the lower half of his face. âNo, it just gets like this when Iâm sick. Thereâs not much to do aside from hhââ his sentence stops with an abrupt hitch, earning an another irritated whine followed by a few quick sneezes, âidSChâkzZxdchâitâsSChh!â
Luckily, the itch abides after the soft triple; theyâre barely even full expulsions, just breathy, damp aftershocks from the fit.
âBless you,â Robby hums again â how he hasnât gotten tired of saying it today, Dennis isnât sure.
Dennis finally lowers the handkerchief, his nose a darker pink than it had been before, and mumbles, âthank you.â
Part: 4/4. (Part two incomingâŠ)
Word count: 530. (I shouldâve split it up better, but I only have one brain cell, so there we go.)
It reaches three am, and this time both Robby and Dennis are asleep, which only means thereâs double the snoring, snuffling and general noises of congestion there to keep Jack awake. He doesnât actually mind it all that much â it lets him know his partners are doing okay, and itâs all rather endearing. But, come four am when heâs still struggling to drift off, he contemplates his choices; search the nightstand as quietly as possible for some ear plugs, go and sleep on the couch or⊠just wait it out.
He chooses the latter, because heâd rather hear better in case one of them needs him, and being in the living also makes that difficult â not to mention lonely â and, it must eventually work, because the next thing Jack knows is that heâs being dragged out of his slumber by quiet whimpering coming from beside him. Jack rolls over gently enough so as not to disturb anyone, and reaches out for Dennis.
âHey,â he whispers, âyouâre okay.â Assuming heâs having a nightmare, Jack rubs the manâs shoulder, moving down to the small of his back; the smaller man curling into the touch, the whimpering and quiet sounds of distress beginning to dissipate already at the comfort.
Dennis goes quiet (well, aside from the obvious symphony of general cold noises) for a moment or two, staying still, before turning his body again and beginning to hitch a little as he rolls toward Robby. Jack isnât sure if heâs asleep, awake, or somewhere in between, but tries to reach out to him all the same.
âDennis?â He whispers, drawing him carefully away from Robby so as not to wake him, too. âYou okay?â
âhhmmnnnghh..â is the only reply, which Jack supposes is potentially a clue to the fact heâs definitely somewhere in between wakefulness and sleep right now.
âBad dream,â Dennis whispers against Jackâs chest, as he seems to become a little more lucid. âDid I wake you?â
âNo,â Jack lies, âyou need anything? Sounding a little wheezy there.â Their close proximity has Dennisâ body heat radiating against him, and⊠each and every part of the pair is close, but Jackâs too tired to properly consider that; as is Dennis, clearly.
âMmm⊠deal with it tomorrow?â He murmurs, sniffling. ââSâokay.â
Jack slips a hand over Dennisâs back, resting it between his shoulderblades and feeling the unsteady rise and fall of his breathing. âYou sure?â He asks doubtfully, only receiving a nod in response.
Dennis all but melts against Jack as he starts to doze off again, apparently unbothered by the sticky warmth trapped between the two of them. Dennisâs fever must have risen, his skin wouldnât be radiating heat if it hadnât.
Against his better judgement, Jack drops the subject, letting Dennis cling to him and hoping that a few more hours of sleep will help his body recover. âAlright,â he murmurs, âsleep well.â Just as Dennis returns to his state of stuffy snoring.
Jack smiles. Heâll keep an eye on them both, listening out for any signs of worsening, but for now they all seem to be comfortable. Maybe himself the least so, but would he trade it for anything else? God no.
End.
Part two incomingâŠ

















