Whumptober 2025 Day 20: Symptomatic

[rosanicus]

No 20: "That's new."

Symptomatic | Fancy Event | Resignation 

A little sprinkling of Cub whump, although really he's got nothing but comfort in his near future - and in just the way he can cope with, aka Gimlet puts him to bed then smokes thoughtfully at the window instead of asking any questions about his physical or mental state.

"Oi, Cub," said Copper, as sotto as his voce ever got. "You feeling alright? You're white as mum's sheets on a wash day."

Cub didn't reply. He was engaged, quite suddenly, in fighting back a wave of nausea so strong he thought he might actually vomit onto his dinner plate.

Trapper, across the table, narrowed his eyes. He had been forced - by Gimlet, of course - to tie his long hair away from his face. Unlike his habit of nagging Copper, Gimlet had yet to dare suggest a haircut. "The malaria?"

"Of course it is," Cub bit out. The headache had been brewing all day, but he'd dismissed that as a sign of stress rather than impending doom. "Those blessed mosquitos were chewing on us the whole trip, I hardly should have expected otherwise."

But he had, because he was young and usually healthy, and now he was caught out at the Ritz with an hour-long journey home to his flat ahead of him.

"Best go and lie down, my son," said Copper, with the faintly paternal air which sometimes overtook him now that he'd passed the ripe age of thirty. "The chief won't mind lendin' you a patch of sofa."

"Indeed not," said Gimlet, from behind Cub's shoulder. Cub jumped, then shivered, then winced at a throb of pain in his head. Gimlet put a hand on his shoulder, seemingly to steady him, then hooked it beneath his armpit to pull him upwards.

Cub wished he found the presumption irritating. Unfortunately, his adolescence had led to several wires being permanently crossed in his brain, and he instead found the intrusive action quite comforting. He could leave things to Gimlet for a bit, and safely take a lie down while the other man kept watch.

Well, as much as watch needed to be kept. But Cub always had half an eye out, which was exhausting enough without adding an attack of malaria on top.

Comments

[tweague]

I LOVE THISSSSSSS <3 <3 <3 So much love for the Kittens keeping an eye out for each other - faintly paternal is an excellent look for Copper. And loved loved loved Cub's constant watchfulness and permanently crossed wires, which mean that being bossed about by Gimlet (and watched over by him <3 <3) is about the most comforting thing he can imagine. They're such a mess I love them <3

[philomytha]

Aww, Cub! Being put to bed and reliably guarded by Gimlet is undoubtedly very comforting if you've had the life Cub's had <333