Work Text:
Fox had a headache. This wasn't something new or unexpected. His nights consisted of working through the datapads stacking up higher and higher in his already crammed office and his breaks were short and filled with trying to catch up on any non-urgent comms.
Maybe it's the lack of caf. Maybe it's the lack of sleep. Maybe it's the lack of positive thinking. Maybe it's the lack of reprieve from mind-numbing flimsiwork and speaking to less than friendly natborns. But by the stars Fox's head was about to explode by lack of alternative.
He was happy to read that Gree was still as fascinated as ever by any alien creature crossing his path. The holo he'd attached of an apparently non hostile plant with thorns bigger than a vod's arm swam before his eyes. He couldn't make out if Thorn had reacted to it yet, knowing he was probably still running Senate patrols after putting his foot down about Fox needing to "stay the kriff at base and stop aggravating hairline fractures before actually breaking something" he probably hadn't.
Fox groaned into his hands. He was tempted to put his bucket back on to turn on the temperature control and noise cancelling settings to maybe stop the piercing and throbbing sensation growing between his eyes. He knew it would only be a temporary reprieve and as soon as one of his men would catch sight of him they would sick their CMO Whiplash on him.
Sometimes he regretted not standing his ground against their medics' strict no-hiding-injuries-so-no-buckets-inside-base rule. Fox knew that he was very lucky they were stubborn bastards to match their commanders but force they were also just as unforgiving. Still - most times he recognized practicality and rationality in their guidelines.
So - no bucket to hide behind. Maybe he could justify another cup of caf though? Fox peered through his fingers and weighed risking Whiplash's wrath for overindulging in caffeine after just sweating a contraindicated bone mending substance out of his system. But honestly, his ankle was more than fine (Thorn needed to calm down) and it was as far away from his brain as any attached body part could be. Why should his brain not get a shot of its own healing substance?
If Fox had been any more lucid he'd maybe registered the footsteps nearing his office a lot sooner. As it was he just stared absentmindedly at the door swishing open to reveal Stone dressed in his blacks and lower armor. His oldest commander's expression was inscrutable as ever, his face set into a slight frown partly by choice and partly by lingering nerve damage.
"I see Thorn was right."
Fox couldn't hide how he flinched and hunched his shoulders, coiling into a tight ball of tension. Even Stone's smooth and level tone sent spikes of pain through his eardrums traveling over his temples right into the spot of agony on his forehead. He buried his head deeper into his hands again.
"Was gonna take a break."
His voice sounded small even to his own ears. He really did not want a lecture on how to take better care of himself from the person who seemed to be the most even keeled and stable vod ever decanted.
Stone wasn't cold in any sense of the word, so of course he cared enough to prioritize not aggravating the man somehow slumped and tensed at the same time. Fox knew he would but he still didn't anticipate warm hands gently settling over his own. When had Stone teleported to his desk?
"... come on. Just close your eyes."
Fox didn't have the presence of mind to even think about what Stone had probably said before. He didn't resist either when his ori'vod pried his hands from his face and pulled him up and over to the small couch basically molded into the wall behind his desk in one steady motion. The room spun around him but luckily he didn't have enough time to get nauseous before being sat down again.
Stone settled down beside Fox without letting go of him. He tucked him closer until Fox went down willingly, eyes closed, taking deep breaths and scrunching his nose in obvious malaise. Fox tried to turn on his right side to bury his nose in Stone's stomach but was stopped half way by warm hands settling on his clavicles. A displeased grunt escaped before he tried to squint against the too bright - oh Stone had actually dimmed the lights. How long ago had he entered Fox's office?
"Close your eyes."
Stone tutted again softly and Fox complied, bringing his hands close to Stone's, wanting to hold on but only brushing his vod's fingers clumsily. The warmth spreading to his chest and neck from the solid weight felt nice. Reading the cues Stone used his right hand to envelope both of Fox's and pressed them down onto his sternum. His left hand carded through Fox's disheveled locks a few times to disentangle any knots.
The pain still pulsed through his brain but the tension left his body completely. Stone put his thumb over Fox's eyebrow and stroked in a firm but gentle motion from the bridge of his nose to his temple, then over his eye and lastly over his cheekbone before repeating the motion on the opposite side. And oh this was nice. Even if they would have to get up and back to their duties in an hour or less. And he would have to go back to being the commanding officer. Right now he could just be a vod'ika enjoying comfort offered by one of his closest brothers. He was safe here.
Stone's gentle motions didn't stop, even as Fox slipped into blissful drowsy ignorance.