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Fyodor was happy to be home, and in his own bed. Nikolai had run off to get him some ice, to try and reduce some of his pain. He’d mostly been out of it since getting home, with exhaustion dragging him down. It hadn’t been too long since he got out of surgery, so it wasn’t too surprising that he was exhausted, and planning to go back to sleep for a while.
Seeing his partner run back into the room, a weak smile turned his lips upwards, “I got the ice!”
“Thanks, can you just lay it on? I’m tired,” Fyodor quietly admitted, watching how the other brought it over.
“Of course, I’ll take care of you!” Nikolai was very enthusiastic, which was always a welcome sight.
Cringing a bit at the cold feeling, he tried to get comfortable again, “You don’t mind if I sleep for a bit, right?”
A gentle hard brushed his hair out of his face, “I don’t mind, the doctor told you to rest, so I encourage it.”
Nodding, he closed his eyes, relaxing under the soft blanket he’d been given. It was a before surgery gift, so he’d have something soft and comfortable after. The blanket was warm, and it helped him fall asleep.
—
The first week after his surgery was mostly sleeping, or reading, often calling on Nikolai to get him another book when he’d finished the one he was on. Having his boyfriend at his beck and call was nice, although there was some awkward fumbling.
Fyodor couldn’t raise his arms much, and that had been an issue when it came to eating and drinking. So, Nikolai offered to help, which made him feel a bit like a child. Drinking through straws that had to be held to his lips, and having spoonfuls of food placed in his mouth.
Sometimes, there was the issue of Fyodor being tired, and not wanting supper, and Nikolai telling him he had to have it. His mouth pressed into a tight line, while his boyfriend pressed a spoon to his lips. Food got everywhere, and it was a mess that Nikolai was left to clean up. A grumpy, and sleepy Fyodor heading to bed right after his face was cleaned.
—
There was also the cleaning hair process, which was far more work than either of them expected. Fyodor wasn’t sure how to keep his chest dressing dry, and Nikolai just put the shampoo in his hair. Then they figured out how to wash it out, which was less complicated than it first seemed.
Nikolai got Fyodor to lean against the back of the tub, then he grabbed a cup, and got him to lean his head back. The back of the dressings got damp, but the important thing was keeping the front dry, so they took it as a win. Although, drying Fyodor’s hair had to happen as soon as the soap was out.
He made a face when his head was shaken in the process.
—
After the first week, they went to the first appointment, Fyodor was more than excited to see how things looked. When the doctor removed the dressings, and made sure everything was healing well, he found himself unable to stop smiling. Then a compression binder was put on him to keep things healing as they were supposed to.
It zipped up in the front, which would make it easy to take off and put on. He was just glad that he could have actual showers again, even though he still had to be careful. Nikolai would still have to help him with stuff, but he was glad that he could do some stuff for himself again.
On their way home after the appointment, Nikolai stopped at a store, and told him to wait in the car. Heading inside, and leaving Fyodor confused, wondering if some groceries needed to be picked up. Of course, some snacks were picked up, but the main object that was being bought was something that Nikolai had seen while shopping a few days ago, and wanted to get for his boyfriend.
He only resisted getting it that day because Fyodor had called him and asked him to come home. The snacks he wanted were on the top shelf, and he wasn’t allowed to raise his arms that high. When he’d gotten home, he’d seen his boyfriend pouting, and sitting in a chair, waiting for him to get his snack down.
But, he now had the chance to buy it, and he knew that it would be a much loved item. It was a large octopus plush that was nearly the size of Fyodor’s upper half. He made sure to go around the back of the car, so the plush would be a surprise until they got home.
When Nikolai got back in the car, there was a question already on Fyodor’s lips, “What were you getting in there?”
“Some snacks, since you’ve eaten most of yours already, and I’d rather not drive out again later tonight when you eat the last of them,” Nikolai explained to him as he started up the car.
“I’m almost out already? I thought I still had enough for a few days,” he ravenette mumbled, surprised that he hadn’t noticed the diminishing pile of snacks.
Chuckling a bit, Nikolai stayed quiet, excited to show off the surprise.
—
Arriving at their home, Nikolai parked the car, and got out, getting Fyodor’s door, and then the door to their home. While his boyfriend headed inside, he grabbed the bags from the trunk, and carried them inside. He noticed that Fyodor had headed to their bedroom, and he assumed the other was waited for his help in changing into more comfortable clothes.
Setting everything down, he went to do just that. Getting both of them into their soft home clothes, before going to put the snacks away, and grab the plush. He held it behind his back as he reentered the bedroom where Fyodor was reading.
“Hey,” Nikolai was struggling to not have the widest grin ever, wanting to have a slight bit of surprise.
“Huh? What’s up?” Fyodor asked, looking up from his book.
The plush was pulled from behind his back, and held out to the one laying on the bed, “Surprise!”
Eyes widened at the sight, followed immediately by, “I need that now.”
Unsurprised by the demand, Nikolai walked over to the bed, and handed over the plush. Fyodor put his book down, and hugged the plush to his chest, resting his face on it. The squishiness bringing a smile to his face.
“This is the best thing ever,” Fyodor simply stated, continuing to hug it.
“I knew you’d like it,” Nikolai cheered, sitting beside his partner.
He watched as the plush continued to be squeezed, and was glad he’d gotten something that was going to be a permanent part of their bed from that point on.