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Barnes’s voice had been going. Cel’s too a bit. When Zolf had mentioned it during their chat in The Soggy Captain, Barnes had waved it off. Little cold going around the crew. Nothing worth worrying about.
Zolf was less sure this was true when he returned from his wander, a soreness forming in the back of his throat.
He ignored it, like he always did when it came to this kind of stuff. It could be dealt with later. When the goodbyes were said, Wilde turned to him. “It’s about a bit of a journey but we should be home by morning if we set out tonight.”
“Oh, yea, of course.” Zolf was caught a little off guard by the prospect of spending a whole night with Oscar in a carriage. That wasn’t to say he was dreading it. His thought was interrupted by a sharp sneeze.
“Bless you.” Wilde said without blinking.
Zolf nodded in thanks, wiping his nose with his sleeve and hoping no one saw. The carriage pulled up and Wilde helped Zolf inside.
Zolf settled into the seat, noting how comfortable it was.
Wilde smirked. “Comfy?”
“Loads more than my chair for hours. Not many places are wheelchair-kind.”
Wilde nodded, settling in himself and stripping off his jacket. “You said in your letters. Which I’ve missed by the way.”
Zolf flinched a little. “Yeah. I’m sorry. It got kinda hard to write, what with the sleeping in the streets and stuff.”
Wilde’s eyes were full of sympathy. “I wish I’d been there.”
“You were needed here.”
Wilde nodded. “You’re correct about that. “ he launched into a lengthy discussion of the politics and the new arrangements he’d help organize. Zolf barely understood but he watched Oscar talk and his heart felt more full than it had in a very very long time. Wilde’s brilliant monologue was interrupted by Zolf letting out another pointed sneeze.
Wilde frowned. “Bless you. Do you need a handkerchief?”
Zolf shook his head. “I’ve got one. And I’m fine.”
Wilde didn’t seem so convinced. “Okay. Well,
maybe we should try and get some sleep. I’m rather exhausted. Socializing can be tiresome.”
“You love it.”
“I do. Doesn’t make it any less draining.” Wilde settled back and closed his eyes. Zolf did the same but found it nearly impossible to fall asleep. There was a tickling in his nose that wouldn’t seem to go away and he could feel his throat swelling ever so slightly. After maybe two hours of trying to sleep, he gave up. He opened his eyes and cast around, careful as to not disturb Wilde. The man looked better but he still had far too much sleep to catch up on. The hills rolled past the carriage window at a pace that made Zolf slightly dizzy. He was just considering getting out a book when the tickle crested and he sneezed again. Once, twice, three times.
Zolf took a rag out of his pocket and blew his nose. He was starting to get a headache. No, it wasn’t a headache. It was the beginnings of congestion.
Wilde, who’d been leaning against the carriage wall, seemingly asleep, smiled softly. “Bless you.”
“Thanks.”
Wilde opened his eyes. “Are you alright, Zolf?”
Zolf nodded, trying to clear his throat. “You haven’t gotten a cat, have you?”
“No. I was considering it but seeing as you’re asking that to try and cover what is clearly the start of a head cold, I’m assuming that’s a bad idea.”’
“What do you mean?” Zolf said, trying to sound confused to play off the fact that he was starting to feel rather ill.
Wilde raised an eyebrow, “So I see you haven’t fallen out of these habits even when the safety of the world isn’t at stake.”
Zolf wiped his nose again. “No idea what you’re on about.”
Wilde rolled his eyes. “Well, if you insist. We’re nearly home. At least have a cup of tea when we get there.” Wilde played with the buttons on his jacket. After a moment, he spoke, “And just in case you had any plans of staying up all hours of the night, I’ll let you know that I actually sleep now so I will not be joining you.”
Zolf laughed for a few seconds until he looked up at Wilde’s face, which looked genuinely confused, “Oh, you’re not jokin’.”
Wilde shook his head slowly. “Sleep is a luxury I can now afford and you do know how I enjoy luxury. “
Zolf swatted his arm playfully. “Hope you’re house isn't as gaudy as I suspect.”
“It’s comfortable. You’ll like it.” Zolf didn’t doubt that. He would always like it if Wilde was there. He sneezed again.
Wilde’s pretense dropped. “Are you sure you’re alright? Cel mentioned a bug going around the Venga. If you’ve caught it…”
“It’s fine. “ Zolf said, swallowing slowly. His throat was beginning to go from mildly scratchy to actually sore.
“I don’t think I believe you.” Wilde said, scooting closer to Zolf.
“I-“ Zolf was going to protest but he had no idea what to say. His want for Wilde to come close overtook his desire to hide that he felt ill. Wilde slid his arm over Zolf’s shoulder, allowing Zolf to rest his head on Wilde’s boney shoulder. There was a moment’s pause. “I’ve missed this.”
“So have I, Zolf.” Wilde said, his voice soft and happy in a way Zolf had rarely heard it. There was another moment’s silence, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.
Zolf cleared his throat, trying to get the soreness to go away, “Thank you for uh... ya know. Letting me stay with you.”
“Of course. You’re always welcome. Especially now that you’ve taken ill.”
“I’m not ill.”
“Really?”
Zolf responded with another sneeze. “Ugh. Figures. The second I can take a breath, I end up with a bloody cold.”
“So you do admit that you don’t feel well?” Wilde said smirking.
“God you’re insufferable,” Zolf said, laughing, “Dunno why I put up with you.” Because I think I love you, Zolf thought. He wanted to say it but just.... Couldn’t.
Zolf swallowed again, trying not to wince. “ I…was kinda scared I was gonna show up and you were gonna have, I dunno, a boyfriend or something.”
Wilde was taken aback, sputtering for a moment, “I want you to know how hilarious that sounded coming from you.”
Zolf blushed and hoped his beard covered it well enough, “I’m serious, Oscar!”
Wilde kissed Zolf on the cheek. “No, Zolf. I do not have ‘a boyfriend, as you so eloquently put it. In any case, you’re the one who’s been all over Europe. How was I to know you weren’t going to show up with a pretty young lady or gentleman on your arm? You do have double the options that I do, Zolf.”
“And I still chose you.”
Wilde’s eyes widened, a gentle smile spreading across his face. Out of nowhere he lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Zolf in the biggest hug he could muster. Zolf’s first instinct was to pull away, to reflect the affection, but after a moment he melted into Wilde’s form.
For who knows how long, they just held each other, content with their presence. After a moment Wilde spoke. “I-I probably would have kissed you if you weren’t, you know, sick.”
“Y-yea. I uh... I figured.” Zolf laughed, “I am not actually feeling all that well... I’m sorry for tryin to hide it.”
“It’s alright, Zolf,” Wilde said, his smile gentle. “I know how stubborn you can be. We’ll be home soon and you can rest in a proper bed.” That honestly sounded amazing to Zolf. He was properly stuffed up now and he let out another string of sneezes.
“That doesn’t sound good.” Wilde said, pressing a hand to his forehead, “You might have a bit of a fever too.”
“Stupid Barnes getting me ill.” Zolf muttered, wrapping his coat around him more tightly.
Wilde laughed. “Didn’t know you got so childish when ill .”
“He said there wasn’t anything to worry about!” Zolf said, flailing his arms slightly.
“I think you should have taken a hint when he said everyone on the ship had it.”
Zolf groaned, hating to admit that Wilde was right, wrapping his coat around him again.
Wilde kissed him on the cheek again. “Yup, okay. You absolutely have a fever. The second we get home it’s into bed with you.”
“Not gonna argue with that,” Zolf said leaning into Wilde’s side and feeling himself pulled down by sleep and by sickness.
Zolf must have fallen asleep because the next time he opened his eyes, the carriage wasn’t moving and Wilde was lightly shaking him.
“Hey sleepyhead, we’re here,” Wilde whispered. Zolf’s head was cloudy and he didn’t want to open his eyes. Begrudgingly he sat up and after a few moments and help from Wilde was in his wheelchair again, looking at a small house in a small town on the English countryside. It was idyllic to say the very least.
Zolf’s mouth hung open a bit. Wilde chuckled. “I knew you’d like it.” “How’d you come by it?” Wilde took a slightly awkward breath. “Uh, my brother actually. Willie, you’ll meet him. He, er, went back to Dublin when everything got set back and he said since I didn’t have a place, I could live here.”
It was perfect, at least to Zolf. It was comfortable. Not too big and not in a big city. It was their own space. Wilde wheeled Zolf inside. “I’ve got a maid. “ he gestured to a young girl, who seemed to be sweeping in the kitchen. “Samantha. She cooks a bit but it’s not really her job so you have free reign of the kitchen. I’ll have her make you some soup, though. For your cold.”
Zolf sniffed. “Yeah…” His voice was starting to go; just like Barnes at the restaurant. He was beginning to ache all over, his head full of cotton and his throat scraped by steel wool.
“Let’s get you inside, alright? Can I push you or would you like to wheel yourself?”
Zolf breathed a sigh of relief, “C-Could you push me?” Wilde nodded, carefully wheeling Zolf in through the front door which had already been fitted with a ramp.
Wilde wheeled Zolf into a room made up just for him. “I kinda assumed we’d…sleep in the same bed, but I figured I’d have a bed for you just in case and since you’re under the weather I thought you’d rather have your own space to recover in.”
Zolf’s heart sank. He was quiet for a few moments. “Oscar, I....” he wasn’t sure how to phrase it. He decided to tell a version of the truth, “I don’t think I’d like to be alone.”
Wilde took his hand. “Zolf, I’m not leaving, I promise. This is…” he paused, thinking. “This is a quarantining measure? Give us a place without germs to go when you feel well while this one is cleaned.” He parked the wheelchair beside the bed. “I'm absolutely not leaving you alone. Not after this long. Especially not while you’re ill.”
Zolf was utterly speechless. A man who he’d barely seen over the past five years had put this much care into preparing a space for him. Tears started to well in his eyes and they fell down his cheeks before he could stop them. He’d blame it on the fever. Wilde didn’t say anything. He simply wrapped his arms around Zolf and held him tight.
“S-sorry,” Zolf muttered. “Th-think I might feel worse than I thought.”
Wilde pulled away, tears shining in his eyes. “That’s alright. I’m here to take care of you.”
Zolf shrugged off his coat, and Wilde lifted him into the bed. It was soft and smelled of clean lavender. Like Oscar. In the absence of his coat, Zolf started to shiver. Wilde pulled the covers up over him, “Is that any better?”
Zolf nodded, sinking onto the bed. “It’s nice.”
Though he had his eyes closed, he could hear Wilde’s smile. “I’m glad. “ He pressed his palm to Zolf’s forehead. “Seems like I’m going to need to find the thermometer.”
Zolf was realizing how achy he was, which was more than usual. He knew the room was warm because a fire was lit in the hearth, but he still shivered under his blankets. “Yea, that’s probably a good idea.”
“Are you going to be okay if I leave?” Zolf nodded, pulling the blankets closer around him. Chills. He especially hated chills.
He closed his eyes and tried to ignore them. He already knew it was going to be a long night, but he didn’t care. He was somewhere he trusted. Actually trusted. Places like that had been hard to come by over the past five years.
He didn’t know how long he laid there, but it felt like both an eternity and a moment before Wilde was back and beside him again. His hands carried a silver tray laden with supplies: Handkerchiefs, tea, water, a thermometer, honey candies for his sore throat. Wilde placed the tray on the bedside table and picked up the thermometer. “Can you open up for me?”
Zolf did so, and after a few moments, Wilde took it, and squinted at the tiny numbers. After a second he reached into his pocket and pulled a pair of wire-framed glasses and put them on. Zolf laughed slightly. He looked a bit silly with them on. Wilde scoffed, “Sorry, but I don’t have your fancy dwarven eyesight, Zolf,” he said, laughing lightly, before his expression went serious again, “But you do definitely have a fever. I’m afraid you might be down for a couple of days.”
Zolf groaned under his breath. “It’s okay. At least you’re here with me.” He felt a slender hand on his shoulder. “Well I'm not going anywhere.” He helped Zolf sit up, pressing the cup of tea in his hand.
Zolf took a sip. After all this time, Wilde still knew exactly how he took him tea. Despite the fever, despite the sore throat, despite the stuffiness, Zolf smiled.
“Is there anything else you need?” Wilde said, his voice full of a honey-like reassurance that seemed to melt the tension in Zolf’s shoulders. Zolf looked over at him. He’d shed his coat and in the light of the fire, his white hair looked like falling snow catching the first rays of the sun. He was beautiful and Zolf’s heart felt full for the first time in a very very long time.
He shivered slightly, wiping his runny nose on his rag again. “I’m cold.”
“Oh! I can go get you another-“ Wilde went to stand but Zolf grabbed his sleeve.
“No, I-I meant-“ he took a deep breath that wanted to become a cough but he wouldn’t let it. “Lay with me?” He didn’t have the energy to be embarrassed.
Wilde smiled slowly. “Yes of course.” He pulled off his tie and slid under the covers, wrapping his arms around Zolf, letting the dwarf rest his head on Wilde’s chest.
Zolf was breathing entirely through his mouth and he huddled close to Wilde. Wilde’s heart broke a little. “Dear, you seem miserable. The bug the Venga crew had didn’t seem this bad.”
“It’s-“ sniff “probably not. I just haven’t gotten to let my body rest in a while. Immune system’s-“ sniffle “-a bit shot.”
“Well, I suppose then you’ll just have to rest.”
“The fuck you think I’m doing?” Zolf sounded half asleep, seconds from nodding off.
Wilde kissed his fever-reddened cheek. “Sleep, darling.” Zolf was snoring away in a matter of minutes.