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Varian wasn’t sure what he was expecting. “What?!” Really, he shouldn’t have been so concerned at all. Hugo was more than capable of caring for himself and actually insistent on doing so. Varian was convinced that if Hugo had ever gotten stabbed and taken to an infirmary he’d apologize to the doctors for taking up their time.
Still, he worriedly scooted across the boat to where Hugo was slightly hunched over the side, theatrically howling in pain. “Hugo?! Wh- WHat’s wrong?! Hey!”
“Ohhh goggles… It’s too late for me! This is it!” The blond whined, body slightly shifting against the uncomfortable wood of the boat wall beneath him.
“What are you talking about?!” Varian grabbed the taller male by the shoulders, lightly rattling him, brows knitted into genuine concern. “What’s going on?!”
“I see a light…” The blond’s head lolled to the side. “T-Tell my boyfriend… Tell him that…”
“I-I’m right here, Hugo! Tell me what?”
“Tell him… My finger hurts.”
“What.” Varian’s voice came out angered and strained. The word was more of a statement than a question.
The ex-thief held up his index finger to Varian’s vision, a small blot of blood pooling on it from being pricked by one of the fish hooks.”It hurts.” He repeated, struggling to shove down an amused smirk.
“Are you serious?!” The alchemist snapped.
“What?! I could get tetanus!” This time the older couldn’t hide the snicker that worked past his lips.
“Oh. My god.” Varian sighed with exasperation.
Hugo slyly chuckled. “Not even god can save me n-- AUGHK!” He squawked sharply as he unceremoniously shoved over the edge of the boat by the unimpressed boy that was next to him.
Varian watched with mild satisfaction as Hugo swam back to the boat, resting his arms and upper body over the sides, glaring up at the alchemist through his soaked bangs, droplets sliding down his drenched clothing. “I hate you.”
“You love me.” Varian sang through a toothy smile before leaning down to press a small kiss to the pouting man’s forehead. “Eugh!” The boy reared back, nose scrunching in disgust as his mouth made contact with the taste of salty water. “You taste disgusting.”
“Do you go around licking people or something?” Hugo hummed as he pulled himself back into the boat, the wooden floor under him turning into a saturated dark brown as water coated it from the tall man’s soaked frame.
Varian rolled his eyes with a fond smile. “You know what I meant.”
“You know what else I know? Something else you tas-- ACHOO!” Varian wasn’t sure whether to be grateful or concerned as the blond’s raunchy joke was cut off by a sharp sneeze.
Oh no.
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“You’re stupid.” Hugo whined through his nasally voice, throat sore and scratchy. “Really stupid.”
Varian huffed, practicing self-restraint as to not slam the bowl of soup down on the table or pour the scolding liquid on the other’s head. “I know. You’ve told me a million times.”
“And I will tell you a million times more!” The blond shouted through his pained throat. “You’re the one who got me into this mess and now you have to deal with me.”
“Brat.” Varian set the soup to the side gently, mattress sinking down as he settled his weight on it next to the sick male. He pressed the back of his hand against the other’s forehead.
“You’re a brat--” Hugo cut himself off as he fell into a harsh series of wet hacking coughs, causing Varian to instantly pull his hand away.
“Ew! Cover your mouth, that’s disgusting!” The boy admonished as he shook small bits of saliva from his wrist.
“It’s karma!” Hugo chuckled as his coughing fit died down leaving him only sniffling.
Varian grabbed a small vial from his pocket, uncorking it. “I will rattle you like a maraca.”
“I’d like to see you try.” Hugo mused as he resisted the urge to lean away from the small tube of medicine as it was pressed to his lips by the younger man.
“I almost kicked your ass the first day we met.” He pulled the vial away as Hugo finished consuming the liquid, putting the empty bottle to the side.
“I beg to differ.” Hugo crossed his arms over his chest.
“Then beg.” Varian looked over at the soup, blowing huff of air over it to help it cool. “A few minutes after we met I threw you over my shoulder, held you down with my foot on your chest, and then you said you didn’t know if you should be scared or attracted.”
“I-I did not do that last part!” Hugo’s face flushed red and this time it wasn’t because he was sick.
Varian laughed softly, grabbing the bowl of soup, swirling the spoon around in the broth a few times. “Oh, so you admit to the first part then?”
“W-Well-- I-I--” The blond looked up to see Varian smiling the smuggest smirk to ever be smirked and in that moment the thief had never wanted to kiss and punch someone so badly. “I loathe you.”
“That’s a weird way to pronounce love.” The alchemist teased, spooning a small amount of soup.
“Shut up.” Hugo pouted as he was handed the spoon, gingerly grabbing it so as to not spill the contents on the blankets. He softly sipped the warm liquid from the silverware, repeating the process until most of the soup had been consumed.
Varian took the bowl from his hands. “Good. Now as much of a brat as you like to be, I care about you so you best get some rest.” He sifted a soft hand through sweaty tangled blond locks of hair before pressing a soft kiss to the man’s forehead.
Hugo whined. “Don’t kiss me, you’ll get sick too!”
The alchemist pulled away, scoffing lightly. “I’ll be fine, love. Go to bed.”
The ex thief sniffled but smiled softly. “Night.”
Varian stood, turning before he left the room. “Night, Hugh.”
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Varian wasn’t sure whether he’d say Hugo becoming semi-delirious from the effects of the sickness was amusing or a waking nightmare. On one hand, watching Hugo babble and get soft about things he didn’t usually talk about was certainly a sight to behold, as was the hysterical crying about how he missed his boyfriend no matter how many times Varian assured him he was right there.
On the other hand, getting the male to calm down from his sobbing fits of loneliness or getting him to drink his medicine was proving to be difficult. In Varian’s opinion, being kidnapped and attacked by your ex-friend and ex-crush for a stupid scroll was one of the hardest things to go through, but Hugo was beginning to rival that idea.
Of course, the impudent whining and occasionally flailing of limbs from the defiant man didn’t help either.
“Oh my god! What? What is wrong now? Why won’t you take the medicine?!” Varian did his best to keep his angry gesturing to a minimum as to not spill the small vial in his hand.
Hugo’s lip jutted out as he pouted. “I don’t need your help, I only need my boyfriend’s… I need my boyfriend!”
The alchemist had to stop himself from screaming. “Oh my god, for the last time, Hugo: I AM YOUR BOYFRIEND.”
The frazzled blond blink once or twice before shaking his head. “No you’re not.”
Varian was thankful he had become much more well-versed in the art of not bashing his head off a wall, (aka anger management,) as his eyelids drooped into an annoyed expression.”Why? Why do you think I’m not?”
“My husband is much handsomer.” Hugo hummed blissfully, lost in thought of his boyfriend.
Varian wasn’t sure if he was offended or flattered. “You’re insufferable…” The male muttered before something in his mind clicked like a buffering video finally catching up. “Wait-- Did you say… Husband?”
“Oh… I guess I did! Well, we’re not really husbands yet, but I’d like to be! We haven't really even talked about it yet… I wanna make sure he’s ready too, yknow? God… Imagine the smile on his face when the day comes… He always had little dimples when he smiles, did you know that?! He’s a dork…”
Varian only looked on in shocked silence as the blond thief rambled excitedly, the alchemist starkly aware of the blush creeping up his face. He was frozen in place, heart thumping suddenly.
“Shit!” Varian’s mind snapped back into the living world as the vial in his hand nearly slipped from grip. He caught the tube last minute, preventing it from dousing the sheets in sticky medicine. He turned his attention back to his boyfriend. “Y-- You can’t just say things like that!”
“Hm?” Hugo shrugged. “Why not?”
The alchemist sputtered for a moment, trying to keep his flustered feelings at bay. “B-BECAUSE!”
“Oh my god…” The older man mumbled, “you're right… What if he hears and finds out?! You can’t tell him, okay? It’s a secret!”
Varian only shoved his face into his hands and all but screamed.
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The next morning was calmer, much to Varian’s relief. He couldn't spend another day nearly keeling over in embarrassment from a sick Hugo.
Said male's fever had gone down significantly and he was only left with occasional sniffling and slightly achey muscles. Varian had never felt so relieved to see Hugo was recovering and back to his old self of throwing around stupid insults as the alchemist cared for him.
Still, thoughts of the previous night floated in his head. Was Hugo really ready for marriage…? Varian always wanted to talk about the possibility before either of them proposed for comforts sake, but he hadn't expected the discussion to pop up during a fit of sickness from Hugo. He wouldn't lie and say he hadn't considered bringing the topic up, the two had been dating for almost five years now and Varian was more sure than ever that he'd like to call Hugo his husband.
Regardless, he felt prickly nervousness all over his body at the thought of talking to his now very-much-not-delirious boyfriend about the subject.
He sighed, pushing down his anxiety as he entered the room to give Hugo his final dosage of medicine for the day. It's now or never.
He gingerly opened the door, vial in hand as he smiled softly at the tired figure of Hugo. "Hey Hugh, how you feeling?"
Hugo sniffled. "Better." He mumbled, "I think I'll be okay in the morning."
Varian nodded, handing him the vial of medicine, stifling a chuckle at Hugo's childish habit of sticking his tongue out at the liquid with a small "blecgh!" Before swallowing it.
As Varian remembered what else he had in his mind, his hands feel clammy and he huffed softly. "So uh… do you remember anything from yesterday?"
Hugo hummed thoughtfully as he handed the tube back. "Not really?"
The alchemist sucked in a breath, momentarily contemplating dropping the idea all together. He mentally smacked himself. No more being a coward! Just ask! "W-Well… you uh, you said something while you were… sick."
Hugo’s face paled slightly. "Okay…"
"Um… you just said that… er… you'd want to be married one day."
Hugo looked like he'd just received the most devastating news in his life before he shoved his face into his hands, cheeks suddenly red. "Oh my god- Goggles, I'm so sorry, please forget I said anything I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable--"
"No!" Varian interjected. "I-I mean… I've been meaning to ask for a while… I'm not sure when or if we ever will get married, but… if you're okay with it, I'd really like to one day… I don't want anyone else but you." The man softly looked at the other as he spoke quietly.
Hugo froze for a moment, nervously chewing the inside of his cheek. "O-Okay… uh, look, I'm not good with words, or emotions, or having emotions, or being a person, really… A-Are you sure you're okay with marrying someone like that."
Varian snickered. "Hugo, I wouldn't have dated you for almost five years if I didn't want you to stick around." He grabbed the blond's hand in his own, gently rubbing his thumb over the other's knuckles. "Yes, you're messy and you're loud and a little insensitive sometimes, but you're also charming, and sweet, and you are so loving… I wouldn't want anyone else."
"Haha-" Hugo chuckled softly, looking away to avoid the embarrassment of seeing his boyfriend looking at his blushing face, but he couldn't help the large smile on his face. "-wow, okay… Then, yea… me too… I'd like to get married sometime in the hopefully near future… I love you, Varian… I don't say that enough."
"I love you too, Hugo… more than words can tell… I'm so glad I'llbe able to marry you."
Hugo sneezed sharply.
"Maybe not when you're sick though."
"Yeah.