Chapter Text
Brad still wasn’t used to just…walking into Ransom’s quarters. But they’d been stuck together for what felt like ages now, and at one point Ransom had just said to come in any time. It was much more pragmatic, after all. So he walked into Ransom’s quarters. Only occasionally, if he really needed to. He’d found a new lead for them to follow, and figured they could get a quick start on it today. The doors slid open. Brad opened his mouth.
And then quickly closed it again. There was a loud sound of heaving coming from the bathroom. Brad hurried forward and found Ransom crouched by the toilet, vomiting. Ransom started and coughed, leaning back.
“Uh, hey,” Ransom said.
“Heeey,” Brad said. “Are you okay?”
Ransom just grimaced. “I’m fine.”
Brad came and sat down next to him. “Wait, have you been sick this whole time?”
Ransom blinked. “Huh?”
“We haven’t interacted this earlier in the day before. Do you vomit every morning?” Brad winced. “That sounds awful.”
“I—no. No. This is just…um.” Jack swallowed. He looked pale.
Brad frowned. “Do you need me to go get someone from medical?”
Ransom grabbed his arm. “No. No, I’m fine.”
“Are you sure—“
“That’s an order,” Ransom said, voice raspy.
They sat in silence for a minute. Ransom let go of Brad, and leaned against his counter.
“I just need a few minutes,” Ransom said. “What did you need?”
Brad blinked. “Oh, right. I had an idea. The blast was emitting a specific radiation that I think we could use.”
Ransom nodded. “Walk me through it.”
***
It took several more loops for Brad to realize that Ransom wasn’t eating. In his defense, their bodies reset every day, so it wasn’t like they could starve. Not that it made Brad feel any better. He’d gone by Ransom’s quarters again and heard him vomiting. Started keeping a log. It wasn’t every morning. Just some of them. Which meant…well. It meant they needed to talk. So Brad had headed to Ransom’s quarters. Ransom wasn’t there yet, which Brad hadn’t even considered. So he just sat on the couch and waited. The door slid open, and Ransom entered.
“Oh, hey Boims.” Ransom started to unbutton his jacket.
“Hey,” Brad said. “Um…we need to talk. About the other day, when you were sick.”
Ransom paused. “I think something from the replicator just didn’t agree with me.”
“I think you forced yourself to puke,” Brad said. “I think you haven’t been eating, and I think this is…like, an actual issue.” He swallowed.
Ransom looked away. “It’s…not that big of a deal.”
“Sir I think it is.” Brad took a step towards him.
Ransom rubbed his forehead. “It’s…stupid.”
“Well, you’re in luck because I’m like, the king of stupid issues,” Brad said. “Seriously, ask Mariner.”
Ransom snorted. He closed his eyes. “Bradward I’m just…tired. I keep doing everything I always do, but it doesn’t matter anymore. I like being in shape, keeping an eye on my body, but working out just doesn’t matter. What am I supposed to do when it just doesn’t matter?”
Brad didn’t respond for a minute. He finally sighed. “I think we just have to find our own meaning here. It can’t be…the same reasons. The same things we wanted before. We have to find something new.”
Ransom took a step towards Brad. “That was rather profound, Mr. Boimler.”
“Let’s find something new,” Bradward said. “Besides just escaping. Because you’ve always been right about that, we need breaks sometimes.”
“Well, then, let’s find something new together,” Ransom said, voice soft.
Brad nodded. Then offered a small smile. “But let’s get you something to eat first, okay?”
Ransom blanched.
“Or some coffee, at least,” Brad quickly added. “We can take it slow.”
Ransom’s throat bobbed, but he nodded.
***
They’d been a team for so long. Every little thing, they’d done it together. They’d taken care of each other. But now, Brad couldn’t stop the image of Jack’s face in his head, grimacing as he’d grabbed the PADD back from Brad. “I—sorry. I apologize. I just…this is classified.”
Brad didn’t give a damn about the file. He did give a damn about his boyfriend, though. And not being able to fully know if he was okay? Nothing felt right. It hadn’t for weeks now. But this…this was the worst.