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“Doctor…?” Aventurine started, his voice hesitant. He hadn’t ever expected to find Ratio asleep on the job, the man just wasn’t like that. And in a public space at that; Aventurine was baffled, concern slowly building in his chest.
He wasn’t sure how to approach the man before him in a situation like this, he’d never seen the professor in poor health before. At least, that’s what he assumed was the cause of the scene before him.
Could Ratio even get sick?
Of course he can, don’t be silly.
Aventurine shook the thoughts from his mind and took a few steps closer to the man slumped back in an office chair. He reached out slowly, pressing the back of his palm to the other’s forehead.
The doctor startled a bit, eyes opening blearily as he made out what was happening.
“Vasha…?” He asked quietly, his voice rough- from being sick or from just waking up, Aventurine wasn’t sure.
“Hi, doctor.” Aventurine replied back, pulling his hand back once he was confident in his inference. “How nice of you to join me in the land of the living.”
Ratio looked down to where his desk lay out before him, then at the chair he was in, and back to Aventurine.
He opened his mouth and looked as though he was about to ask a question, but then he looked at the clock on the wall instead.
“Oh.” He said, head still clearly foggy. “I do apologize, it seems I’ve missed the start of our lunch rendezvous.”
“Indeed you have, doc.” Aventurine smirked, his voice returning to its usual playful teasing. “How could you make a handsome man such as myself wait? It’s embarrassing to be stood up, you know.”
The doctor sighed, not in an annoyed tone, but one that had a little huff of a laugh at the end of it.
“My sincerest apologies, dear gambler. I don’t know what came over me.”
Aventurine’s smirk turned to a frown.
“Well you are burning up,” he responded matter-of-factly, “you do realize this, no?”
A flit of surprise crossed Ratio’s features, but then his face returned to its usual deadpan expression.
“Ah,” he started, “that would make sense. I had just thought my symptoms to be caused by a headache I had this morning. I did not anticipate a fever.”
“Yes, well, it seems like this is much more than a headache, considering I found you slumped back at your desk, during work no less.” Aventurine continued after a pause, “Let’s take rain check on lunch, doctor. Go home and rest up.”
He looked the doctor up and down, trying to gauge if the man was capable of making it out and to his car.
Stop it, he’s a grown man. He can get home just fine without your help.
“Yes, that seems like the plausible solution.” Ratio said, his eyes looking up to the other.
“Alright! Well then, I’ll leave you to it doctor. Message me once you’re better and we can go on our little make-up lunch date!” Aventurine said, cringing internally.
He wanted to say more, to offer to help, but he didn’t want to crowd the professor. The man already put up with enough of his antics and overwhelming him while he was sick wasn’t the best idea.
Solidified in his decision, Aventurine turned about-face and began to head for the door.
“Aventur- Vasha, wait.” Ratio uttered out, stopping in his ministrations of putting away his work.
Aventurine perked up -not too visibly, he hoped- and turned with a soft small to look back at the man.
“Yes?” He asked, voice quiet but hopeful.
“I recognize that I’m in no state to make good on our lunch plans today, but…” Ratio said, thinking for a moment before finding the right words, “would you perhaps like to call tonight?”
He started up again, “That is, if you’re free to of course. Don’t feel any obligation to do as such, it is my fault for making you wait and miss our lunch together. But, I genuinely do look forward to our meetings each week, and I do quite enjoy your company. I’d be amiss as to not take the chance to speak with you more today.”
The professor finished his proposal quickly, out of breath by the end of it and a slight blush adorning the bridge of his nose.
Aventurine’s eyes sparkled as he giddily realized that the doctor enjoyed his time and company as much as he did. He wasn’t entirely sure if he was too forward before, but this, this changed his perspective.
Trying not to be too hopeful that this meant something, but failing terribly, Aventurine replied.
“I’d love to, Veritas.”