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Josh sits on the edge of his bed, his head in his hands, trying to process the cramping pain in his lower abdomen. He looks down at the dark stain spreading across his light jeans and sighs. "Fuck, not today," he mutters, standing up and trying to assess the situation.
He's always been irregular, but this catches him off guard. He's never been more grateful for the small apartment he shares with Oliver; at least he doesn't have to walk far to get to the comfort of his bathroom. Sitting at the kitchen table, Oliver hears Josh's muffled curses and the distinct sound of jeans being shimmied off. He tilts his head, trying to place the sounds and the emotions behind them.
His prosopagnosia makes it hard for him to recognize faces, but he's learned to read people through their voices, their mannerisms, and their unique energies. He can tell something's wrong with Josh, and he's there in an instant, his chair scraping loudly against the floor as he stands up.
"Josh? You alright, babe?" Oliver calls out, knocking gently on the bathroom door.
Josh opens the door, leaning against the frame, his face pale and his eyes squeezed shut in discomfort.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Just... fucking period cramps," he says, trying to play it off with a weak smile. "Caught me by surprise."
Oliver's brow furrows as he takes in the sight of Josh, his mind racing to connect the dots. He's seen this before, the way Josh sometimes winces when he stands up too fast, the way he'll suddenly need to sit down during a long day of work. He just never put two and two together.
"Oh, shit, that sucks. You need anything? Heater pad? Some ibuprofen?" He steps closer, his voice softening with concern.
Josh nods, appreciative of the offer. "Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks, Ollie."
He turns back into the bathroom, grabbing a fresh pair of underwear and some clothes. When he emerges, Oliver is already waiting with a heating pad and a glass of water, two ibuprofen tablets resting on the palm of his hand. Oliver hands him the pills and the water, then leads him to the couch, helping him get comfortable.
"You want me to run you a bath? Sometimes that helps, right?" Oliver asks, sitting down next to him and turning on the TV, flipping through channels until he finds something mindless and soothing.
Josh takes the ibuprofen and swallows them down with a gulp of water, then hands the glass back to Oliver. "Yeah, a bath sounds amazing. Thanks, Ollie." He leans back against the couch, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. "Fuck, I hate this part."
Oliver stands up, placing the glass in the sink and turning towards the bathroom. "I'll get it ready for you. You just relax, okay?"
He fills the tub with hot water, adding some of Josh's favorite bath salts, the ones that smell like the forest after it rains. He tests the water temperature, making sure it's just right, and then turns to leave, almost bumping into Josh, who's standing in the doorway, looking uncertain.
"Hey, you okay?" Oliver asks, reaching out a hand to steady Josh. "You need help getting in?"
Josh nods, stepping closer, his voice dropping to a soft whisper. "Yeah, I think I do. These cramps are kicking my ass." He looks up at Oliver, his eyes searching for reassurance. "I trust you, Ollie. You'll take care of me, right?"
Oliver smiles, a warm, genuine smile that reaches his eyes. "Always, Josh. Always."
He helps Josh undress, his movements gentle and careful, his touch light and respectful. He can feel the tension in Josh's body, the way he's trying to hide his discomfort, and it makes him want to take away all his pain. Once Josh is settled in the tub, Oliver grabs a washcloth and a bar of soap, kneeling beside the tub and starting to wash Josh's back.
"You ever talk to anyone about this? Like, a doctor or something?" Oliver asks, his voice soft as he rinses the cloth and begins to wash Josh's arms.
Josh lets out a soft moan of pleasure as the warm water and the gentle touch of the cloth relax his muscles. "Yeah, I have. They just said it's normal, that my body's just taking its sweet time figuring out this whole period thing. Says it's because of my gender dysphoria, that my body's still trying to figure out what it is."
Oliver nods, understanding passing over his features. "That makes sense, I guess. Your body's been through a lot, huh?"
Josh chuckles softly. "You could say that. But it's worth it, you know? To finally feel like myself, to finally be me."
Oliver smiles, his heart swelling with pride and love for the man in front of him. "You're fucking amazing, Josh. You know that, right? The way you've fought for yourself, for your happiness... It's inspiring."
Josh looks up at him, his eyes shining with unshed tears. "Thanks, Ollie. That means a lot." He takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he relaxes further into the tub. "You know, I never thought I'd find someone who could accept me for me, period and all. But you do, don't you? You accept me, flaws and all."
Oliver leans down, pressing a soft kiss to Josh's forehead. "Always, Josh." He stands up, grabbing a towel and holding it out for Josh as he stands, water sluicing off his body. "Here, let me help you dry off."
Josh steps out of the tub, his body still aching, but his spirit lifted by Oliver's words and actions. He lets Oliver wrap the towel around him, the warm fabric a comfort against his cool skin.
"You know, I think this is the first time I've ever felt comfortable enough with someone to let them see me like this," Josh admits in a voice barely above a whisper.
Oliver looks at him, his eyes searching Josh's face, trying to commit every detail to memory. "I'm honored, Josh. Truly. And I hope you know that you can always be yourself around me. I accept you, period and all."
Josh smiles, a genuine, heartfelt smile that lights up his face. "I know, Ollie. I know." He leans into Oliver, resting his head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. "Thank you, Ollie. For everything."
Oliver wraps his arms around Josh, holding him close, his voice a soft rumble in his chest. "Anytime, Joshie." He leads Josh to the bedroom, helping him get into a clean pair of underwear and a comfortable t-shirt. "You want me to stay with you? Keep you company while you rest?"
Josh nods, climbing into bed and pulling the covers up to his chin. "Please. I just... I just want to be close to you, Ollie. Is that okay?"
Oliver smiles, climbing into bed beside him, pulling Josh into his arms. "More than okay, Josh. More than okay." He holds Josh close, his body molded to Josh's back, his breath warm against Josh's neck. "Get some rest, okay? I'll be right here when you wake up."
Josh sighs contentedly, his eyes fluttering closed as he relaxes into Oliver's embrace. "Love you, Ollie," he murmurs, already drifting off to sleep.
Oliver presses a soft kiss to Josh's shoulder, softly whispering, "Love you, too, Josh."
He holds Josh close, his mind racing with thoughts of the future, of the life he wants to build with this amazing man in his arms. He knows it won't always be easy, that there will be challenges and obstacles to overcome, but he also knows that as long as they have each other, they can face anything. As Josh sleeps, Oliver can't help but think about how far they've come, about the journey that brought them to this point.
He remembers the first time he saw Josh, really saw him, and felt that spark of connection, that pull of recognition. He remembers the way Josh's eyes lit up when he talked about his dreams, his passions, and the way his face fell when he talked about his struggles, his fears. He remembers the way Josh made him feel, the way he challenged him, pushed him, and made him want to be a better man. And he knows, without a doubt, that he wants to spend the rest of his life with this incredible human being. He wants to be there for him, to support him, to love him through the good times and the bad. He wants to build a life with him, a life filled with laughter, love, and happiness.