Dedicated to my boyfriend who cuddled me while I was sick!
He shivered a little, wishing he had worn a thicker coat. It had been still fairly warm the day before, but Winter was quickly setting in. The Emerald City's streets were as crowded as always, and all he wanted to do was get home.
No, not get home. He had no huge desire to return to the Vinkus, which was technically his home. He knew he would go back eventually, but was in no hurry. Sarima and his children would still be there if it took him a little longer than he planned to return. He also didn't want to go back to his temporary home, the overpriced hotel in a wealthy part of town.
No, he had no real claim on the place he actually wanted to go. But all the same, it was the one place where he truly felt comfortable. He looked at the brightly colored flowers in his hand, wondering why he bought them. Elphaba wasn't one for flowers, not in the least. She thought they were showy. While she did admit they were beautiful, they died to quickly. Hopefully she would like these anyway. They were poppies, not the rather cliche roses he had considered getting for her. Large, bright red blossoms.
He eventually reached her buliding, running up the stairs. She'd given him a key at one point, saying he was welcome unless she had specifically asked him not to come. Lucky for him, he had always obeyed that particular command.
He heard her cough before he reached her flat. Mildly concerned, he poked his head in. It was earlier than when he usually came to her. "Fae, I brought you these. Don't fuss, I know they die. I just thought you could enjoy them while they lasted. Then I'll get you more."
She didn't fuss, smiling instead. "Hello, my Yero." She grabbed a glass, instructing him to fill it with water from the pump outside; she didn't have running water in the flat. He cheerfully completed the task, pleased she hadn't been angry at the impractical gift. He put the flowers in the make-shift vase, sitting them in the part of her apartment that served as a kitchen... He wasn't so pleased when he heard her cough again.
"You're sick," he nearly accused.
She frowned. "Just a cough." But the sentence was punctuated by a sneeze. He found her a handkerchief, which she thanked him for.
"You're sick," he repeated.
"I'm fine."
He rolled his eyes. "Get in bed... don't give me that look, I don't mean that! I'm not that male!" He went to the icebox and found some milk he had put there, filling another glass. "Here." He went to sit down beside her, handing her the glass.
She sipped it. "Thanks."
"You don't need to thank me." He pushed a bit of hair out of her face, noticing she was a little warm. He frowned. "You really should rest. No defying wrong-doers for you tonight."
"That means no sex for you, love."
"I just sad I wasn't that stupidly male!" He got her to relax backward onto the bed, curling up beside her, pulling her close so her head rested on his chest. Once she was settled he reached over and grabbed the book she had, open to her place, resting on the floor. "I'll read to you, until you fall asleep."
"You do realize that book is about the finer points of the digestive systems of small felines... Malky was sick!" She protested at his incredulous look.
He rolled his eyes, walking over to her bookshelf, scanning the contents, and seemed satisfied with a selection, returning to the bed, cuddling up to her again. "This is more like it... I think the Wizard brought this over from his world? Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm."
"Those aren't as happy as you might think. The Brothers were indeed grim."
"Well, if you get scared, I'm here."
She rolled her eyes. "My hero, my Charming Prince," she said in a deadpan voice, gently mocking him.
"Hush." He ruffled her hair, cracking the rather beaten book open. He read aloud to her, not noticing when she fell asleep, content against his chest.
Who says fairy tales are for kids?