Rhys being turned into Rhysie is one of the best iterations of nickname usage I've ever seen. Ever. Of fiction and reality.
And I myself have a lot of nicknames from friends and family.
Rhysie tops them.
Considering how good the characterization is, given who adorns him that nickname and that it comes so naturally.
It compliments Rhys's goofball nature and Jack's admission to nicknames. It also notes a tone of endearment or affection, despite that it sounds just as good being said in annoyance, or being used as annoyance.
It also feels. Soft. And Rhys is a soft person, under his Hyperion exterior. And if you're a rhack fan, it's intimate as well. Rhys is a special one who gets his name, as a nickname, with Jack. Nish gets hers shortened as well, sure. But even still.
I don't believe anyone else in the world could or would call Rhys that and get away with it, the way Jack does.
Summary: Reader is injured and Rhys takes care of her :)
Warnings: mention of injury, all fluff though, Drabble, hurt/comfort
1k words
The door swings open, revealing a sleep-deprived Rhysand and a tray of my favorite food. I smile softly up at him as he kicks the door shut behind him. "Rhys," I say, my grin widening as he attempts to mirror it. But ultimately fails due to the crease between his brows, only resulting in what looked like a pained grimace across his face.
"Hi darling," He replies, his voice tender and honeyed.
"Finally off work?" I ask as he settles the tray beside me.
"Finally off work," He nods with a stifled sigh. Being the High Lord of the court attempting to hold everyone together was a straining job, especially without his High Lady. I offered to do some work, at least remotely but he refused to let me even think about the idea.
"I don't know how you manage without me," I say, my smile faltering as I attempt to sit up. I wince at the sharp pain in my abdomen, my freshly sewn-up torso stretching at the movement.
"Gods, let me help you." He slips his arms under my back and lifts me from the mattress, propping me up on a tower of pillows pressed to the headboard.
"Rhys," I grip his wrist and he winced, feeling my pain second-handedly. I've been too weak since my injury to decipher which parts of his mind I should shut him out of, and he told me he'd rather feel my pain and stay connected to me than be shut out entirely.
"I know," He whispers. "I know it hurts baby," His voice is raw as he speaks, hands soothing over my back as I recline into the pillows.
"Eat something and then you can take more medicine alright?" He brushes a hand through my hair. I nod and he settles the tray over my lap.
I smile down at the meal, tucking my hair behind my ears and away from my face as I begin to eat.
Rhys sits in a chair at my bedside, observing me occasionally, but ultimately choosing not to interact with me in an attempt to preserve my strength.
"How was your day today?" I ask anyway and his brows raise a fraction.
"Don't waste your energy," He says with a shake of his head and I frown.
"Talk to me, I haven't seen you all day, please," I practically whine and his features soften, his violet eyes scanning over my begging features.
"It was, long," He shrugs, leaning back in the chair he's been sitting in for the past three nights. "Like it always is when you're not around," He props his legs up onto our bed and I roll my eyes.
"I told you I'm willing to work—" I try but he cuts me off.
"And I told you not until you're better," His drawl made me glare at him stubbornly. He sighed and reached forward, his fingers intertwining with mine. "It's my fault you're hurt," He muttered like the admission was the greatest fault of his life. "I shouldn't have let you go out there, shouldn't have—" He continued but it was my turn to interrupt him.
"I'm a Valkyrie, Rhys," I look at him with a pointed gaze. "One of your best warriors, it'd be a mistake to not put me out there with the others," I claim and he rubbed at his eyes with his free hand, unable to stomach it. "And I'm fine, a little scratched up but I'll heal," I smile, running my thumb over the back of his palm.
"I love you," He says, his voice soft and tired. I smile cheekily.
"I love you too, Rhysie." I lean in, puckering my lips dramatically. He shakes his head with amusement before meeting my mouth with his and giving me a soft peck, his hand coming to my cheek. "You're too good to me," He murmurs, inclining his position so his forehead rests against mine.
"Nonsense," I whisper, pecking his lips quickly once more, pulling away as quick as I came.
"You finished eating?" He asks and I nod, leaning back into the pillows with a huff as he takes the tray and places it on the bedside table. I shift down beneath the blankets, looking up at his gleaming eyes as he reaches into my mind and soothes whatever pain I might have been enduring from my sudden movement.
I yawn, my body exhausted from rapidly healing itself back together.
"Can you read to me tonight?" I gesture to the bookshelf across the room, lined with books of all different kinds, the variety enough to satiate any need.
"You're tired baby," He shakes his head and I frown, attempting to guilt trip him.
"Please?" I whisper. "Your voice helps me sleep," I explain and I watch as he physically gives in, his shoulders slumping as he stands, approaching the bookshelf.
"Which one for tonight, my love?" He asks, taking in the entire wall of colorful, broken spines.
"The blue one, to your right," I flick my hand, knowing the entire shelf by heart. He smiles and plucks the novel from its place before returning to my side.
"I swear we've read all of these at least twice," He murmurs, opening the book and flicking through its familiar pages.
"We need new ones, my birthday is coming up," I say with a suggestive smile, pumping my brows.
"If you think I'm getting you books for your birthday, you're sorely mistaken," He said and I grumbled a curse, matching it with a frown. "No— I mean, I'll buy them for you anyway." He rushed to say and my lip twitched upward, but I still wasn't fully satisfied.
"How about once you're better we'll go to the book shop and you can pick out as many as you want?" He suggests and I nod with a pleased grin. "Alright, lie down," He waves his hand at me and I do as he says, my blankets up to my chin as I stare up towards him. "You better be asleep by the end of this chapter." He crosses a leg over the other and I nod, knowing well that I have no intentions of sleeping anytime soon. After an eye roll at my devious expression, he begins to read.
I need to motivate myself to stop procrastinating and finish the unfinished projects I'm working on, so I procrastinated by creating this motivational poster :´)
