Sick Leave

[silverlunettes]

Who: Reim Lunettes and Xerxes Break
When: Last week, going with Friday afternoon.
Where: Their house.
Summary: Reim is sick and stuck in bed, leaving Break to care for him. Should be a good time.
Warnings: All of the cuteness. Other warnings maybe added

Comments

[break_xerxes]

It wouldn't be a surprise in the slightest if Reim had beaten Break off for intruding his bed like that, especially when he was so under the weather like he was. Break getting sick too, however? Now there was a thought... the Clown didn't really cope well with much of anything these days, let alone a raging cold, no, it was probably for the best that he stayed away from Reim altogether when he was sick.. fat chance of that happening though.

"How do you know what well feels like? I've never felt well a day in my life and I've managed just fine~"

Break startled a little, his sightless eye growing wide when the sound of the ball bounced and hit the floor, going to grab his cain for a moment then, thinking that the sound belonged to someone trying to break in. It was sad, that depended on Reim so much, still trying to hide just how much he needed the other. Reim being stuck up in bed like this had Break's nerves up, they were the only two in the house now after all.

"That dog of yours made a mess in the hall way~ I'm not cleaning it." Swiftly changing the subject and taking the attention off of himself and the fact he had displayed fear. Oh! and by mess? what Break really meant to say was broke a vase and by that dog of yours? he actually meant his own clumby self~

[silverlunettes]

Reim only sighs at that first statement. He could make a comment about how "fine" usually involves pestering others, but he's more worried about that sudden look of shock. He knew Break had a hard time seeing, and they were close enough for him to see... right? Well, Xerxes had been here for a while. Was it possible that his vision got worse?

Then that swift change of subject. No, Xerxes wasn't getting out of this.

"Xerx... has your vision gotten worse?"

[break_xerxes]

Break seemed to ignore what Reim was saying, leaning in and taking the glasses from his face and placing them over the bridge of his own nose. "There, its all better now~♫" Though if truth be told, Break was pretty much blind now, what little sight he'd had? ... was long since gone. Possibly from wearing himself out so much the last time he used Mad Hatter.

Wriggling a little more, until he was laying down at Reim's side, pushing the other over some, so that he could enjoy the warmth of the bed sheets and pillows. Sure, he was concerned that Reim was under the weather, but he felt the need to keep acting as normal as he could.

[silverlunettes]

Reim sighs. Though Break wearing his glasses was strangely funny, Reim wasn't in the mood to laugh. He was sick for one, and Break was avoiding question for another. He almost doesn't want to say anything. In his state, he shouldn't be under that kind of stress. But he'll just panic more if he doesn't know.

"You didn't answer my question."

[break_xerxes]

He takes the glasses off, using a baggy sleeve to mock the way in which Reim cleans his glasses, pulling the same face the other does too might I add!

Was it really so unusual for Break to avoid such a question as that? really now, Reim should have expected as much before opening his mouth in the first place.

"I did~ I said it was all better now that I had your glasses on didn't I?" Rolling over, feeling out and resting the glasses back on Reim's lap, pulling the sheet up so that it almost covered his head up, all that was really showing was his snow topped head. Curling up like a child in the loving comfort of a parent, a side of the Clown that not everyone got a chance to witness. He looked strangely at peace beside Reim, silently needy infact.

[silverlunettes]

Really? We're mocking him now. Reim sighs at that too, but doesn't bother with anything past that. Break will be Break.

No, it's not unusual, but you're still not getting out of it. And curling under the sheets like that isn't going to help. Those sheets are not a shield, you know. Reim puts his glasses back on, sniffling a little as he did so.

"Yes, but that doesn't make it true. Please don't lie to me." Reim looked back down at Break, hidden under the sheets. He almost looked broken, in a way. Reim would probably never admit this to Break, but that terrified him. Seeing someone so much stronger than him in a state like that, but not depending on anyone. Reim wished Break would at least talk with him.

[break_xerxes]

Indeed, Break would be Break after all, so there was really no point in trying to tell him off for mocking and misbehaving. Not as if he was hurting anyone.

To say Break looked broke, wouldn't be all that far off the truth. The man was old and where as his age might not have been showing through his face and attitude, it was showing at moments like this. In the milky cataract of his single right eye, that once burning bright rich claret, was nothing more than the shade of a watered down mouthful of cheap wine.

"Would I lie to you, Reim?" Spoken mostly into the pillow and in a less of a joking tone. Perhaps if Reim asked again, maybe in a different direction of question? perhaps then Break would give him a straight answer instead of riddles?

He was more relaxed laying there, I hate to say it- but he probably wasn't going back to his own bed now. So there were a perfect chance of them having to talk, Break was worn down already, all Reim had to do was push a little more.

[silverlunettes]

Even if it sounds like he's deflating, Reim sighs again. Would Break lie? Not to Reim, but being vague is pretty common. Like now. Reim settles down, lying back on his bed.

"No, but I'd like you to tell me instead of being so vague. I could help you, Xerx." Reim hopes that will be enough to urge Break into a serious conversation for once. He's not entirely in the mood to keep pushing like this.

[break_xerxes]

Break rolled over onto his side, his cold nose pressed to Reim's face, to his cheek to be exact. That blind eye was looking straight forwards, at Reim. You could see how milky it had become, how used his powers had been and how drained the Clown looked when he wasn't putting on his normal light hearted act.

Sighing, just like his bed-buddy had just done, walking fingers over Reim's arm, playing with the grooves in the fabric he was wearing. "You do help me, Reim. You help me far more than any other." It was a true statement, one that pained Break as it parted from his lips in a hushed, almost ginger voice. No one should have to play burden to Break's woes, Reim had taken on so much since meeting Break, he deserved time to relax, time that he didn't have to spend worrying over the Hatter.

Break knew as well as the next man person that, that wasn't going to be the case. It was just built into Reim's DNA to be a fuss pot when it came to his white haired companion.

"I can't see, Reim ... not even a inch before my nose."

[silverlunettes]

As that cold nose pressed against his cheek, Reim jumped a little. He didn't expect his skin to be so cold. Glancing over, he saw milk white coating the other man's eye. He couldn't be that blind... could he?

Then those soft words fell out of Break's mouth. The truth. It hurt him. Just those ginger words gave him the truth he didn't want. Still, it was there, hanging over them. Sick or not, it didn't matter. Now, all he could think of was how much Break had to suffer. Alone. All this time Reim was away.

Without even thinking, Reim turned to his side, wrapped him arms around the man, and pulled him just a little closer. Words failed him. Anything he wanted to say just fell against his lips.

[break_xerxes]

It was but one of the many pains Break had to deal with day to day. The contract with Mad Hatter was ripping him apart slowly, it had been getting worse what with the pull of the core here sending the Chain a little more insane from time to time. Controlling it had been a challenge Break was getting too old to handle, but it was a must, something that just had to be done. Then there was Albus... that previous Chain had left scars so deep within Break's body that no matter how much he smiled and laughed, the pain was there in the back of his heart, twisting in like a hot blunt knife through a well baked scone.

Reim was warm, he smelt good, it reminded him of home, of flowers and white tea, lady Shelly and her family, he smelt of a happier time, a time after such great strife and before a second life of pain and kept promises.

When Reim fell silent, Break did the same. Cuddling in closer and scooting as under the blankets as he could, he was cold, he was always so cold, to the point that it grew painful from time to time. His old joints ached and his heart bled out into his lungs. As grim as it was, Break was just so used to swallowing the blood now, rather than coughing it up, the sweet things he scoffed down helped to take the metallic taste of iron in the blood down, keeping his breath sickly sweet instead of just sickly... if only Reim knew just exactly how old and worn Break really felt.

" Reim? " He asked in a hushed voice.

[silverlunettes]

As Break got closer, Reim thought of nothing more than pulling him closer, clinging onto that physical body that was left. Cold. He was so cold. Reim hugged tighter, almost as if he was afraid of losing the man. Partially because he was.

That soft voice was bittersweet on his ears. Hushed. Quiet. It showed Reim that Break was able to trust him this much, but at the same time, it showed him that the white-haired man was frail. Fading. That made Reim pull him even closer.

"Yes?"

[break_xerxes]

It was possibly because of Reim, that Break was still here, still alive and living, though until he arrived here in this port, even Break's very existence was fading. As Reim pulled him closer, Break tried to sit up, to get a look at him. The motion of looking at and for someone was muscle memory, as Break could only make out a few shadows and movement these days, the darkness was becoming so familiar that he couldn't tell when he had his eye open or closed.

He continued talking after a moments pause. "... Does it bother? My being sightless now?"

[silverlunettes]

Reim lets him sit up, though he doesn't want to let go. He doesn't want to lose Break. The very man that's lost far more than he would admit to anyone else. It's heartbreaking to see that layer of film nearly hiding that crimson red Reim was so familiar with.

Right after the question, Reim shakes his head. "No, of course not." It's good to know, however. He'll just keep a better eye on the man. Be his vision, in a way.

[break_xerxes]

An unsteady hand came feeling out, fingers twitching just before they made contact with Reim's face. Break's digits traced over a cheek, bumping into his little button nose before tracing down over his mouth. Reim's lips were soft, softer than Break had thought they would be, they were warm though, it felt nice against his cold fingertips.

After a moment of feeling slowly over Reim's face, Break let his hand slip to the back of Reim's neck, twirling a finger idle as it ambled through the strands of hair that fell into place there. "I don't want anyone else to know." Meaning he was trusting you with this, Reim. Of course he knew people might know already, but he knew he could count on Reim to cover for him.

Break inhaled slowly, exhaling as he shifted his hand into the pillow behind Reim's head, leaning back down to rest over his dearest of friends chest, his face was a little closer than he'd thought it would have been, causing their cheeks to brush and Break's face to nuzzle into settling, in the crook of Reim's neck, between his shoulder and throat.

[silverlunettes]

Reim watched as those fingers made contact, but couldn't help but jump a little. So cold. But, as those fingers skated against his skin, it almost felt nice. Well, not almost. Cold fingers dancing over his lips, Reim had to hold in whatever breath wanted to escape.

Then Break's fingers slipping to the back of his neck. Cold. Still cold. He couldn't help the hitch of breath that escaped from his throat this time. It felt a little too nice to just be cold. Maybe he shouldn't admit that now. Especially after Break nuzzled into the crook of his neck. Reim sighed lightly, regaining enough composure to speak as his hand lingers, hand resting on the upper part of Break's back.

"I won't tell anyone." His words is absolute, especially towards Break.