Disclaimer: Plot is mine and the characters are borrowed in this work of fan-made fiction off of which no money is made. Author's note: Fluff because I needed fluff. So because I'm not feeling my best; Tesla ends up sick and a certain Quinto Espada ends up taking care of him in this shortish Drabble. No real warnings though hints of m/m feelings and fluff. Just fluff. I'll probably write more for it at a later time but for now this is what you get. Enjoy.
Taking Care
He was hot, feverish, and did not want to get out of the bed. Except he was sure that if he didn't someone was going to become quite irate and the last thing he needed was his Master growing irritable with him.
So the sweat-slicked blond struggles to rise and ends up falling to the floor with a choked groan. There was no way he could manage it. None. Master Nnoitra was going to be so irate with him.
So irate. But Tesla's body didn't seem to care because he could not get himself off the cold floor. It felt good against his skin…
Maybe just a short nap. Surely he could still accomplish what was needed…
…Just a short…nap…
Out cold on the floor is where he is found two hours later. The snarl dies on the Espada's tongue as he takes in the figure. Crossing, he kneels down and fingers brushing sweat damp and hot skin has him biting back a curse. The idiot had worked himself sick.
Like he'd been warned he would. Szayelaporro would never let him live this down if he found out. And he was sure the pink-haired nuisance would somehow find out.
But that wasn't important at the moment. Carefully, he gathers up the form and moves him into the Espada's own chambers where there was more room. Laying him on the bed, the flushed face and pallid complexion has him huffing again. "Little fool…th' fuck ya think yer doin'?"
But he knew the answer to the question. There was really no need to ask it and certainly not while the male was unconscious. Tesla had only and ever tried to serve and take care of him. To please him. It was annoying as it was endearing though the latter was nothing he'd ever admit.
Peeling the soaked clothing from the male's hot skin just has another set of epithets escaping him as he'd dump the soaked material to the floor and go to get a bucket and a rag.
Returning, he sets to cooling the hot skin down trying to ignore the urge to glance down the other's body no matter how tempting it was. The male was unconscious and this was not a good time to ogle him.
But there was a lot of him to see splayed out like he was…
His thought-process has him rolling his eye as he focuses on slowly getting the other's temperature down. 'Idiot,' he thinks, 'Honestly, Tesla, what am I supposed to…'
His thoughts are interrupted by a low mumbled, "Supposed…to be working…Master….'s not going to be happy…"
Blinking, he finds himself a little annoyed that it was something that worried the male like this even now. "Ain't mad, Piglet," he retorts, "At least not 'bout that."
"Can't…fail…him…"
Great, he was talking in his feverish state. This certainly wasn't going to go well if he was too honest. Nnoitra dislikes the twinge of guilt at the other's words. "Ain't ever failed me, Tesla," comes the quiet response, "Don't think ya can actually. Yer not the one failing in this."
'I am.' But he'd never admit that aloud. Too many walls and ears and all that.
"Wish…he liked me…Even a little…"
These words have him freezing. What had he…"Liked ya? Ah…fuck…No, Piglet, don't be stupid enough to…"
"I…know he won't love me but…"
And the Quinto Espada freezes. Love. He'd just… 'He's feverish,' he tries to reason, 'He doesn't know what the fuck he's sayin'. He doesn't.'
But the problem was that now he'd heard it everything made sense in startling clarity. "He'd be an idiot," he finally answers quietly, "He'd be a fuckin' moron to miss how…special ya are."
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK. How in the name of Aizen was he supposed to deal with this now?! Dammit, things were not supposed to be this complicated. They weren't.
Feelings were not a part of things. They weren't in the goddamn plan. But here he was; having what boiled down to a feverish love-confession from the one person in the goddamn place that…
That might actually matter.
What in the actual fuck?!
Deciding that it didn't, that it couldn't matter, he just goes back to his task. He'd hope the other didn't remember this and if asked would deny anything happened.
Tesla never needed to know that he'd pretty much declared his love for him. Nnoitra had no intention of telling him.
But once he's got him settled and the male is curled up in his bed, he pauses at the door intent on leaving him to his rest and realizes that Tesla fit in his bed.
That he could get used to him being there is an even more disturbing thought and he forces himself out of the room. Let the blond sleep it off and then he'd tell him to be careful in the future.
Now he needed to find something to go and murder. Surely there were Hollows nearby…
He wasn't on the floor. That is the first thing that Tesla realizes when he wakes up. The second was that he wasn't in his bed because the space was far too big. Which meant only one thing; he'd been found. By Master Nnoitra.
He was in so much trouble. Slowly sitting up, he swallows at the realization that he was naked beneath the covers. Had…No, there was no way that the male had…But then why was he here in such a state?
A moment later, the door opens and his attention turns worry filling him at who he might see. The familiar pink-haired Octava doesn't quite make him feel much better especially not with the grin that appears. "Ah, you're awake. I was almost sure you would sleep another day or two considering the stress."
"I…did not mean to inconvenience Master Nnoitra. I should apologize at once…"
"You will do nothing but rest and regain yourself. Besides, our dear Quinto is just fine slaying Hollows at the moment. You certainly don't want him swinging Santa Teresa at you in the mood he's in."
Tesla swallows. "I…didn't mean…"
"He's not mad at you, silly," Szayelaporro continues, "He's just…Well, you know him; he doesn't deal with emotions well at all. Give him some time and let him calm down. You scared him a bit, I think. He's not used to…someone getting under his Hierro. Let alone close enough for him to worry."
The words have him stilling. Worried? His Master had been worried? "I…Well, I suppose to would be time-consuming to train a new Fraccion…"
Amber eyes fill with something close to amusement before the male starts laughing clearly amused at him. "Ah, Tesla," he chortles, "Honestly, you really don't…Ah…You are adorable. You both are. But no matter. This particular situation I cannot wait to see play out. It should be most…spectacular."
Confusion fills the blond as he wonders what the male possibly knew that he didn't. And finds himself too unsure to actually ask him. So he just finds himself settling back against the bed with a quiet, "I…suppose getting better would be best. After all…I am his Fraccion…"
Szayelaporro walks further in revealing a covered dish he was carrying. "That is a good way to put it. So just settle and eat. You'll be fine in a few days."
He was sure he was missing something when the other promptly leaves those eyes still sparkling and his lips curved upwards at the edges. The Octava knew something. Tesla just isn't courageous enough to find out.
He's dozing when the door opens and Nnoitra slips in. The sight of the dish telling him that Szayel had done as asked and fed the blond. Watching him curled up again has him huffing before he'd set Santa Teresa against the wall and get out of his hooded jacket and boots before approaching the bed.
Deciding that it was still his bed and he was allowed to be on it; he slides into it reclining beside the other. The feel of the other shifting and curling against him has him tensing a moment before he'd relax and slide an arm around him. Tesla was sick. He'd give him a pass this time.
He'd even allow the light nuzzling that follows trying to ignore the way the male's breath tickles against his skin and definitely ignores how perfect he fit in his arms.
It was just a couple of days. Then he was going back to his own goddamn room. No problem.
No problem at all.
