(Untitled)

[out_of_realm]

On the couch in the common room, Tom was sprawled out in sweatpants and a wife beater, blankets pooled around his hips and an old buddy cop movie flickering on the projector screen. He wasn't used to this, being so god awful sick. Once in the last five years, maybe, and that had been when the flu had hit him in the middle of snow storm out in the

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[little_moons]

It's been going on a week now, and no matter how much he tries to shrug it off, I know he's gotta feel like total shit. Can't fuckin' believe it. A goddamn winter cold in the middle of a fuckin' tropical island. Former tropical island. It'd be sorta funny if I wasn't worried for the guy. No matter how much I don't wanna be, I can't really help it.

Giving the other guy a glance, I sit down on the tiny bit of empty couch in front of Tom's hips, lifting a corner of the pillow and peeking up under it. "Hey there, sunshine."

[out_of_realm]

"Want to give me a sponge bath?" Tom said gamely, although in his current state it could have passed as a sincere request.

"I really appreciate it, though," he offered up, pulling up the blankets a little higher. "Don't know what I would have done without you the past few days, you know. You put up with me too much."

[little_moons]

"You're sick, you dumbass. It's not like it's all that much of a fuckin' hardship," I say, rolling my eyes. I'd pretty much put up with him no matter what, he oughta know that. Smirking, I add, "But you're welcome."

[out_of_realm]

"Mike didn't have much trouble turning me out on the streets. Trails. Boardwalks, whatever. Still. You're a good nurse maid," Tom said with a smile. "I can hardly complain."

[little_moons]

"Just 'cause of the girls," I point out quietly, 'cause Mike'd do fuckin' anything for him, I'm pretty sure that includes putting up with some sniffles.

"You keep callin' me a nurse maid, I'll be kickin' you out next."

[out_of_realm]

"Next on the list is Mamet," Tom mused thoughtfully. "And I don't think he can pull off fishnets as well as you."

[little_moons]

"Yeah, he's got those knobby knees," I say, flashing him a crooked smile, "Sucks, though. The snow won't be around too long. Feels like you're missin' all of it."

[out_of_realm]

"I'm coming out of it," Tom insisted, if only to make himself believe it was true. "And I'll catch it next year or the year after. Even this psychotic place falls into ruts."

[little_moons]

"Yeah, I know," I murmur. It's scary, thinking about the future here, knowing in the back of my head that it might all disappear at any moment. But that's what I want. I wanna be here a year from now, with both of them and the girls and this whole fuckin' family I've made for myself.

"You want anythin', 'fore you pass out again?"

[out_of_realm]

"Nope," Tom said, voice thick with congestion and sleep. "Me and Mel Gibson are doing just fine."

He nudged Neil's hips, pinching him gently. "Go on, go help the girls make ornaments. I'll be on my feet by the end of the day."

[little_moons]

"You tryin' to get rid of me?" I ask quietly, smiling faintly and pushing a hand through his hair. Sorta weird, but I guess I've got practice with this. Lookin' after Mom when she was sick. When she was too plastered to get off the sofa. Lookin' after Logan when he was too depressed to leave the hut.

He needs the sleep, though, and making ornaments with the girls doesn't sound nearly as lame as it should.

[out_of_realm]

"You're cramping my style," Tom said, grinning tiredly. "Honestly, I'm gonna be asleep in about ten minutes, maybe fifteen, and then all you'll do is sit around and listen to be breath. Get out of here, alright? I'll be fine. Just give Mike and the girls my love."

[little_moons]

"Fine, fine. Jesus," I laugh, leaning over to press a kiss to his forehead and then pushing to my feet. "Try not to infect the whole fuckin' compound, alright?"

[out_of_realm]

"I won't lick anybody," Tom managed, coughing daintily into a tissue. "I promise. Not this time."