Work Text:
“Dhurke!” Apollo wails. “I feel—”
Apollo cuts himself off with the disgusting sound of retching.
“Father!” Nahyuta cries. “Apollo’s been sick!”
Dhurke’s eyes flicker open, his attempt at a nap failing. He yawns and hauls himself to his feet, wandering through the house. When was the last time he got some sleep?
Upon entering the boys’ bedroom, he is met by an unfortunately familiar sight as of late. Nahyuta and Apollo are tucked up in their beds, but both are flushed with fever and sobbing, their cries, like always, hitting him in the chest. And Apollo’s clothes and blankets are covered in vomit, and he continues to dry heave as he cries.
“Don’t cry, boys,” Dhurke says. “Apollo, I’m not angry with you. and Nahyuta, don’t worry about Apollo.”
Nahyuta sniffs. “Yes, Father.”
“Now, Apollo, let’s clean this mess up,” he says, smiling and giving Apollo’s sweaty hair a quick ruffle.
Apollo smiles through his tears. “O-Okay.”
Apollo is soon in the bath, his soiled blankets and clothes in the old-fashioned washing machine. Dhurke sits beside the bathtub, helping his foster son clean himself up, and Apollo manages a smile when Dhurke accidentally splashes himself with water.
After the bath, Dhurke is carrying Apollo back to his bedroom when the front door slams. Which, as always, signals the arrival of his ever-noisy partner.
“Hey, AJ!” Datz says, running over to Dhurke and Apollo. He ruffles Apollo’s damp hair and kisses Dhurke on the cheek. “Still feeling sick?”
Apollo nods. “Uh-huh.”
“Well let’s get you back to bed, and I’ll take over caring duty, okay?” Datz nudges Dhurke. “And that means you go and sleep.”
Dhurke smiles, passing Apollo to Datz. “Thank you.”
And he leaves his sick sons to his partner, and heads off to have a well earned rest.