Work Text:
“Joshua, are you feeling alright?”
Clive’s voice rings like a gong in Joshua’s head.
He nods, slowly. He doesn’t move from where he lay near catatonic in bed though. He’s been stuck there for a few days now. Occasionally he coughs, when his does blood comes up. An iron tang on his tongue, staining his teeth, painting his lips.
Clive hesitates at the door. He doesn’t believe it. But he also doesn’t fight it either. Is it really worth it? Joshua is already so sickly, a horrible relapse into poor health washing over him once again.
Still, he takes a step out and speaks, “Alright.”
“Actually, Clive,” Joshua starts in his weak and wounded tone.
“Yes?” Clive asked, immediately pivoting back into the room to face his brother.
“Could you stay with me for a while?” It’s a vulnerable ask, “Just until I fall asleep.”
“Of course I can.”
Clive doesn’t abandon any of his armor, just sits at the foot of Joshua’s bed and lays back. It’s nice. Joshua oozes warmth, it can’t be avoided from either of them. A soft warmth though, not hard to deal with, comforting, like a blanket. It’s been too long since he’s gotten to bask in said warmth.
Just one little white lie won’t hurt. His missions can wait when Joshua needs his presence. It was his promise, was it not? Even if everything that held up that promise has long since eroded, he’d like to keep it. To protect Joshua just a little bit longer, to make him feel a little bit better in such an awful state.
“Thanks.” Joshua’s voice isn’t much louder than a whisper. The inflection is agonizingly nostalgiac.
“Any time, Joshua.” Clive’s answer is nearly reflexive.