More than Anything

The alarm went off next to Damian's ear and he bolted upright, reaching over to press the snooze button. He sighed as he threw off the thick blanket. He was covered in sweat but he didn't feel hot. He glanced over at Cameron who lay on his stomach, drenched in sweat. His mouth was open and his breathing was coming in short rasps as if he was having some trouble breathing. When the alarm went off, he didn't even flinch.

Damian frowned to himself, worried for his boyfriend. He made his way down the hall of their apartment in his boxers into the kitchen. He and Cameron were supposed to go to acting class today but if Cameron was sick, he would have to stay home to take care of him. Damian put the tea kettle on the stove to heat some water. A few minutes later when steam spurted out of the kettle, Damian pulled a tea bag out to make a cup. When he finished, he tip toed back into the bedroom, setting the mug on the bedside table. He sat next to Cameron on his side of the bed and shook his shoulder lightly. Cameron groaned tiredly. Damian bent down and kissed Cameron's forehead. It was on fire.

"Mmm. Class?" Cameron asked disjointedly.

"Cam I think you're sick," Damian whispered quietly.

"No, I can't be. We have to go to class," Cameron said as he tried to lift himself into a sitting position. He couldn't do it and collapsed back onto the bed.

"Here, I made you some tea," Damian handed the grumbling Cameron the tea mug, a sympathetic look on his face. Cameron looked up into Damian's eyes and smiled a bit. He felt clammy and gross; he didn't really want Damian to see him like this.

"You'd better leave; you're gonna be late," Cameron said as he sunk lower into the blanket to hide his face.

Damian pulled the blanket down and looked at Cameron sternly. "Absolutely not. I'm staying here to take care of you."

"But-"

Damian cut him off. "No buts. Today I am Nurse Damian and I will answer to your every whim," he said, smiling a bit.

Cameron laughed at this but the chuckle turned into a fit of coughing. "Water," he choked out. Damian ran into the kitchen again and returned with a bottle of water already unscrewed, complete with a blue bendy straw. "Gee, thanks mom," Cameron said teasingly.

"Hey, straws always made me feel better when I was little and got sick," Cameron smiled and reached his hand over to take hold of Damian's.

"Thank you for taking care of me. I don't think I can even sit up, let alone get up to get water," Damian turned his lips up and squeezed Cameron's hand lightly.

"I'd do anything for you," Damian replied, staring into Cameron's eyes for a minute before turning away to call their acting coach and let him know they weren't coming.

Cameron watched him talk on the phone, speaking in his smooth accent. Cameron smiled fondly at Damian, feeling extremely lucky to have him there with him. Not just when he was sick but all the time. Whenever Cameron felt the least bit sad or upset or angry, Damian was right there to make him feel better, saying the right things and supporting him in the right ways. He felt a great rush of love towards Damian and smiled when he moved back over to the bed, putting his arm around Cameron's shoulders.

"What d'you want to do? Sleep or watch TV or what?" Damian asked, still a little worried about Cameron's fever. He didn't really know how to take care of sick people.

"Do you mind if we just lay here for a bit? I don't want to sleep but rest would be nice. And I want you next to me," Cameron closed his eyes, his head facing the ceiling.

"That's fine," Damian replied, tickled pink by how adorable Cameron was when he was sick. His little runny nose and the slight cracks in his voice made him seem so vulnerable. Damian hated seeing Cameron in pain but it was cute at the same time.

Damian lay on his side, his head resting on the pillow next to Cameron. He memorized Cameron's silhouette. Every angle his lips made, every line formed by his eyelashes. Cameron's eyes opened slowly and he turned to look at Damian, sweat still beading on his forehead. He saw the look of adoration on Damian's dace and smiled, knowing that the feeling was mutual.

"Are you sure you wanna be in here though? I don't want you to get sick too."

"Cam," Damian scooted closer, "there's nowhere I'd rather be," he said, resting his forehead against Cameron's and moving his chin forward to kiss Cameron lightly on the lips.

"I love you, Damo. More than anything."

"I love you too," Damian responded. They spent rest of the day in the same position, simply drinking each other in.