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I’m cold.
Those two words were all Logan needed to know something was wrong with Kurt. The furred mutant was not one for admitting he was cold. Not with out some prying anyways. So when he told Logan, looking tired and saggy eyed, he knew something was up. Especially since it was late spring and Kurt’s fur was beginning to adjust to the warmer temperature. So Logan knew it wasn’t the weather.
One trip to the medbay and a thermometer use later, it was confirmed that Kurt was, in fact, sick. With a fever of one hundred at that.
“You need rest and fluids.” Hank stated, concluding his observation. “And I’m going to prescribe some antibiotics.”
Kurt nodded, snuggly holding onto the blanket he was wrapped in. Leaning against Logan, who stood beside the cot Kurt was sitting on, Kurt watched as Hank made deductions. Logan, meanwhile, was listening, but had an arm wrapped around Kurt's shoulders.
“Do we know the cause, doc?” Logan inquired. “Elf isn’t exactly the sickly type.”
“Well, he was put under quite a bit of stress while on Genosha,” Hank noted, finishing up the paperwork, “and I’m certain the water wasn’t kind to his system. Especially with his fur being soaked for who knows how long.” It was a plausible theory as the trip to Genosha was fairly recent. “And with the weather changing, seasonal allergies are high and some people will have terrible issues with their sinuses for a little while.” Hank set his glasses on the table. “It could be one or more of those honestly. My guess would be stress and cold sea water shocking his system.”
Logan's hand slowly motioned vertically on Kurt's arm as the Canadian listened tp the prognosis. Kurt nodded, trying to to get up. Vertigo and lightheadedness disagreed with him, causing him to lose balance and fall back. Logan grabbed him, helping the blue mutant stand. Kurt almost fell forward, if not for Logan keeping his arms around Kurt’s torso.
“This is why you need sleep.” Hank lectured. “Your going to hurt yourself.”
“I’m with doc on this one.” Logan agreed. “Your going to take a nice long nap.”
“Can’t I just relax in the common room and go to bed early?” Kurt moaned.
He tried to walk again, but tripped. This time, Logan picked him up when he caught him. Kurt was too weak to fuss, but strong enough to feel embarrassed.
“Absolutely not.” Logan denied. “I’ve got nothing planned today, so I will be on your ass about this.” Kurt groaned at the refusal. “You got yourself in this position, bub. Deal with it.”
~
Kurt twisted and turned under the covers. Logan kept true to his word, carrying Kurt all the way to Logan’s room to get some sleep. With nothing to do, Logan was adamant on keeping him in bed, and his room, well equipped with what they needed.
That said, comfort was not on Kurt’s plate as he tried to get comfortable. Even with pajama bottoms and a loose tank, he felt like he was burning and unable to get comfortable. Logan was sitting on the other side of the room, in an armchair, reading a book. He wasn't completely ignoring him, but he was leaving it up to Kurt to get rest.
The fever had yet to settle, but not from a lack of trying. Kurt was given his antibiotics and some water and prescribed bedrest. But given how much he was struggling to get comfortable, he was only going to make it worse on himself. Frustration ate away at Kurt, causing him to roll out of the bed wrapped up like a burrito.
“…Logan…” Kurt huffed.
“Yes, Elf?” Logan inquired, looking up from his book.
"I can't sleep."
"Why not?"
"I'm hot and my head is throbbing. The bed's uncomfortable and I feel like I want to cry from the frustration."
Logan set his book down on the nightstand. Kurt looked pitiful, wrapped in a blanket with his hair messy and curling. Logan couldn't help but chuckle at him, feeling bad, but finding Kurt's whining adorable.
"Come here you overgrown kitten." Logan requested.
Entranced by Logan’s more nurturing pet name, Kurt shuffled closer to Logan. Once he was within arms’ length, Logan pulled him onto his lap. Feet were swept of the ground and placed over the arm of the chair as Kurt rested his head against Logan’s chest. His tail slunk down, peaking out by his ankles. Leaning the chair back a bit and pulling out the leg rest, one of Logan's arms comfortable rested across Kurt’s waist while the other wrapped around his shoulders.
“Better?” Logan inquired.
“Mhm.” Kurt confirmed, taking in Logan’s scent.
“Good.”
Logan gently kissed Kurt’s forehead, prompting the mutant to curl slightly. The smell of cigars, whiskey, and mint were comforts to Kurt’s nose as his body finally registered that it was tired. It wouldn’t take long for Kurt to fall asleep like, so when Logan heard soft breathes, he knew Kurt was out. It was as cute as it was routine, and Logan loved it.
Since getting with Kurt, Logan realized that Kurt was a cuddler. Maybe it was from the lack of affection from his biological parents, loneliness, or an underlying need to be loved, Kurt loved being surrounded by others. It didn’t take long for Logan to realize this either as, several nights after becoming official, Kurt snuck into Logan’s room because couldn’t sleep. Something to do with a habitual nightmare about mobs and the circus.
At first, Logan thought Kurt was terrified to be alone after these nightmares, but it soon became apparent that Kurt needed comfort and affection. He was certainly more open about it compared to Logan. And Logan, who wasn’t as cold hearted as some made him out to be, was willing to give it to the blue mutant.
But now, looking at the sickly blue mutant, Logan knew it was more than that. A creature of neglected affection needed the very thing he was starved of in order to find life’s small joys. Finding it in Logan, someone who Kurt cared about as much as Logan did Kurt was an added bonus. And Logan wouldn’t give it up for the world.