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"Atchoo!"
Doc sighed and wiped his nose for what felt like the hundredth time. He just didn't get it. Ever since he'd set out that morning, he just couldn't stop sneezing. It didn't seem like a cold and he felt perfectly fine, apart from the unrelenting itch in his nostrils.
Wandering beneath the arching beams of the barge, he tried to concentrate on his chores. Let's see... I need more sand for concrete, perhaps some golden carrots to-
"Atchoo!"
"Bless you, my dude!"
Doc spun around to see Ren entering the shop. The dog hybrid had a huge grin on his face and Doc imagined the man's eyes twinkling with mirth from behind his signature shades.
He waved his hand in greeting. "Hey Ren! Good to see you, man." Inside, his cogs were whirring. What did Ren find so funny?
"Good to see you too! And you are a beautiful sight to see indeed, my friend." Ren lifted up his sunglasses to get a better view in the slightly dimmer light of the indoors. "Purple is seriously your colour, dude! Really brings out your... arms."
Ah. That would explain it. Doc thought back to waking up earlier that morning in Scar's snail, and smiled. His boyfriend had been snoring softly and, much to his amusement, cuddling the cyborg's labcoat closely. So, naturally, Doc had raided Scar's wardrobe for something else to wear instead of disturbing him, and a lilac wizard's robe from earlier in the season had seemed like the best option.
The organic side of his face heated up a little, and he hoped it didn't show against the green of his skin. "Um. Listen man, it's not what it looks like. I only borrowed this from Scar because-"
"Please, say no more." Ren interrupted. "I do not need to know what the two of you were getting up to in Larry last night!
Doc was sure even the robotic half of his face was flushing now. "I have no idea what you are implying, but I... I..."
"Achoo!"
Well that was one way to change the subject.
Ren was now squinting at Doc, slightly concerned. "Are you okay, man? That is some serious sneezage!"
"I have no idea. I don't think I'm ill, but it's been like this all day." As if to illustrate his point, Doc let out yet another enormous sneeze.
Frowning, Ren placed a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder. "Maybe you should head back home and let your boyfriend look after you for a while, just in case."
Doc shrugged off the hand, although he could see the sense in Ren's words. "Maybe I will. Thanks dude, I'll see you later then."
"Anytime!"
~
After almost falling out of the sky twice due to sneezing while trying to fly, Doc made it back to the familiar fantastical village. He climbed up the ladder and walked through the empty doorway of the snail starter base, only to see something he was not expecting.
"Scar?"
The man in question was part way through sorting out one of his legendary chest monsters, which was unusual enough on its own, but he was also wearing a familiar white labcoat.
"Oh, hi Doc! You're home early," he smiled, before rushing over to embrace the other. "What have I done to deserve this unexpected treat?"
Doc loved that even after several months of dating, he never got used to his boyfriend's shameless flirting. He hugged back before pulling away. "Actually, Ren sent me home from the shopping district because I can't seem to stop- atchoo! Sneezing."
Instantly, Scar's eyebrows creased and he placed his hands on either side of Doc's face to inspect it for any signs of ailment. "You poor darling! Do I need to tuck you up in bed and have Jellie sit on you to keep you from escaping?"
"Darling?"
Scar smirked and snorted softly. "Sorry, dear. Or should I say, honey?" He giggled at Doc's expression.
Doc took back his previous thought. He hated that he could be embarrassed by his boyfriend even after several months of dating. Ridiculous. "Well anyway, I swear I feel fine! There is no need to lock me away yet."
Unfortunately, another poorly timed sneeze did not convince Scar. He kissed Doc softly on the nose. "Bed, now. Or I'm going to have to carry you, and remember what happened last time when I almost dropped you down the hole into the storage room..."
"Fine, fine. I'm going," Doc grumbled, secretly not that disappointed to have Scar fussing over him.
In no time at all, he was sitting in a purple bed, legs tucked under the soft covers. True to his word, Scar went to find Jellie and deposited her on Doc's lap. She curled up comfortably and began purring as a hand tickled her behind the ears.
"ATCHOO!"
Doc sneezed even louder than before, and didn't stop. Blindly, he reached for a tissue, eyes watering.
Worried, Scar looked between the creeper hybrid and the happy cat. And then an idea slowly dawned on him. He picked up Jellie and held her away from Doc. "This is just a thought, but you know how you're part creeper?"
Doc nodded, wondering where this was going and grateful for a break from the sneezing.
"Well, creepers are scared of cats. So maybe you just have an allergy to Jellie here!"
Could it really be that simple? "Then why have I been sneezing all day when she hasn't been around?" Doc countered.
Scar's face lit up. "Because you're wearing my cloak! That old thing must be covered in cat hair from the closet!" He booped Doc on the nose and pulled an annoyed face. "Serves you right for stealing my clothes!"
"Stealing your clothes?" Laughing, Doc got out of bed to assert his height dominance over Scar. "You stole my labcoat first! I only took the robe because I didn't want to wake you up."
Scar shrugged. "Whatever you say! Luckily for you, Mr Sneezy, there is a very easy solution to this." He kissed Doc on the corner of his mouth. "Take off your clothes."
"Wouldn't a potion of some sort work better?"
Pouting, Scar stepped back. "I suppose it probably would."
Doc pulled the shorter man closer again and kissed him on the lips.
"Nevermind. I like your idea better."