Work Text:
Fred was acting odd.
Very odd.
"Earth to Billy, are you there?"
Billy's eyes widened as he looked back at Sherlock who sighed.
"You've been staring at Fred for five minutes, I know he's your boyfriend but geez, stay focus."
"Says the man who's literally holding William-kun's hand right now."
Sherlock looked at his husband who chuckled, and Billy looked back at Fred.
"Fred has been acting weirdly lately." Both Sherlock and William looked back at their friend and looked at eachothers.
"I noticed." William confessed. "I tried to talk to him but, looks like he's not ready to talk it out yet."
"I don't want to force him to talk but...I'm just worried about him."
Sherlock smiled before looking at Billy.
"I know, he's your boyfriend and you want him to be okay, but Liam's right. You should let him come up to you, not the contrary."
"You can initiate a conversation about it and see how it goes." William proposed and Billy nodded.
"I'll do that... Thanks."
"Henry. Here's your instructions for your next mission."
"Ah, perfect,thanks darling!"
Fred smiled softly at the nickname and the boys started to walk in the corridor.
"Say Fred, can I ask something?"
"Anything."
"Are you okay?"
Fred's eyes widened as he looked at his boyfriend, who looked back at him worriedly.
"You look like you haven't been doing well recently...If I can help, you know I'm here."
Fred looked down and continued to walk.
"I'm sorry."
Billy frowned.."What are you sorry for?"
"I made you worry about me. I'm sorry."
"What? Why are you apologizing for that? I'm your boyfriend, it's my job to be worried about you."
Fred laughed softly but slowly his laugh turned into sobs and soon tears were falling from his blue eyes.
Billy put the papers on the closet furniture and hugged his boyfriend gently. He slowly passed his fingers around his dark hair while leaving kisses next to his eye.
"Whatever happened, it's over. You're alright, you're safe with me darling."
Fred burried his face in Billy's neck, opening slightly his eyes.
"How about we go to your room, we will be more comfortable there."
Fred nodded and slowly detached himself from the warmth of the hug, heading to his room, Billy holding his hand. Once they entered the room, Billy took a moment to observe it.
It wasn't the first time Billy went here : Either to wake Fred up -which was rare since Billy was much more of a sleeper than his boyfriend- or simply because the couple often had sleepovers together. Yet something was different this time, he looked at the flowers to see them really dry. Billy knew his boyfriend by heart and Fred always takes good care of his flowers no matter what, which meant that if he didn't took care of them, he was probably not able to do it, probably due to a lack of mental strength. The bed wasn't done either, and Fred always did his bed.
His lover must have really feel awful lately.
They sat on the bed and Billy slowly dry a tear in the corner of Fred's eye.
"Are you able to tell me what's up, or do you prefer talking about something else?"
"N-No." Fred answered. "If I don't talk about it now, I never will."
"I'm proud of you." Billy said kissing his forehead. "I'm listening love."
Fred took a deep breath looking at his hands tangled with his lover's.
"I've just...been feeling so awful lately...I don't know why the final problem suddendly came back in my dreams and now..." he let out a shaky breathe. "I can't get sleep because I'm afraid if I wake up all of this was just a dream and Mister William is dead, Moran is gone or in prison, and that I never met you and-"
Fred hid his face crying, and Billy bit his lower lip, hating seeing his boyfriend in such a state. Slowly, Billy put his lover's head on his shoulder and rubbed his back in a gentle manner.
"I-I'm sorry..."
"No, it's okay. You're not dreaming Fred, William is fine, Moran is fine, I'm fine and most important of all, you are fine." Billy passed his arm around Fred's shoulder to bring him closer.
Fred nodded slowly before closing his eyes, letting himself dozz off on the warm embrace.
"Sleep well darling." Billy gently said, kissing his forehead softly.
The pink haired boy gently carried his boyfriend and laid him down on the bed, removing his shoes and covering him with his covers.
Billy closed the windows and covered them with the curtains to make sure the light wouldn't bother his sleeping lover. But suddenly he heard a gasp and immediately looked back at his boyfriend. The youngest was breathing heavily and was sitting up panicked. The American rushed to him, sitting next to him.
"Darling, hey, hey Fred, calm down, you're safe."
"H-henry..." The spy said breathlessly before hugging his lover. "I'm here." Billy answered. "Take a deep breath, you're okay."
"Stay with me..." Fred asked tearing up.
"Of course, I wasn't going to leave you."
Fred nodded and Billy slowly laid down, still holding his lover, calming him down.
That's when he noticed Fred's forehead being hotter than it should be.
Is his health that bad...?
"Fred, do you feel okay? Like physically?"
"N-Not really..."
"Yeah, looks like you have a fever. I will get you a towel okay? Can you wait for me here darling?"
"C-come back soon..."
"I'll be there in a minute!"
Billy slowly got away from his boyfriend and went to get a towel and some water.
As he came back, he noticed Fred being paller than before, he surely caught a bad cold.
"I'm back Fred, turn around for me?"
Fred did as his boyfriend said and Billy put a wet towel on his forehead.
"You surely caught a cold or something. Don't worry, it's been cold lately, it only makes sense you're sick."
"I guess..." Fred tiredly said as he put his hand in Billy's.
"I'm tired..."
"Rest a bit okay? I will be right here darling."
Fred blushed and looked at his boyfriend.
"Your hand is warm..." The smaller boy noticed.
"That way, you know I'm not just a dream." Billy added kissing the boy's forehead.
Fred nodded, he wanted to keep talking with the other man but his eyelids were becoming heavier by the second and before he knew it, he fell asleep, in peace.
Billy put his hand in his arm, deciding to rest a little as well while his lover gain his energy back.
"Have nice dreams darling."