Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Rain was coming down in droves outside. You sit in the bay, watching the street outside become harder and harder to see through the mist. What a great day to be curled up cozy inside. 

Did you jump when the first loud boom of thunder shook the walls of the house? That was no one’s business besides yours.

And the 4 other objects currently sitting in your living room chuckling and snickering at you. 

So many managed to be here ever since TINFOILHAT had sent a remote update to the dateviators to try and speed up the whole destroying them thing. As a surprise to you and Skylar, reaching a relationship level with a dateable gave them the ability to appear to you at any time, without taking up any charges. Everyone had been caught off guard the first time you’d walked into the kitchen to see Mitchell and Daisuke arguing while Kopi tried to calm the two. Remembering their faces when they realized you could see them made you laugh every time you thought too long about it.

“Yeah, yeah, hardy har,” you snark, rubbing your arms to calm the goosebumps that have appeared. As soon as you do, you feel a small burst of heat from the vent. You shoot Hector a thankful smile, blowing him a kiss. You hear a small giggle as your gaze catches sight of the foyer where you see Office Dorian standing diligently. That’s nothing new, but what catches your attention is the small shiver you see him do. 

An eyebrow rises. Dorian didn’t shiver. He didn’t really do much moving when everything was calm and cozy like this. 

“Dorian? Everything okay over there?” You call. 

His eyes shift over to look at you, giving you a curt nod. “Fine. Just a bit chilly.”

Chilly? Maybe by the window where you were but Hector was doing an excellent job of keeping the house at an optimal temperature. You hop up from your seat and make your way over to him. Is the vent over here blocked? You’re sure Hector would have said something. Dorian works so hard, you don’t want him to be cold while he does it.

But no, the temperature over here is fine. Dorian’s brow rises as you get closer, reaching out to touch his forearm with the back of your hand. You’re too quick to dodge and gasp as you feel the ice coldness of Dorian’s skin.

“You’re freezing!” You look up to him with alarm in your eyes. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”

A slight flush has appeared on his cheeks as he looks uncomfortably to the side. He brings a hand up to rub at the back of his neck. “...Yeah, I’m fine. It’s… not me.”

“You feel like an ice cube! You can’t expect me to believe that.”

You grab his other arm and feel that same cold. It's familiar. Almost like… how the glass of the window felt.

Wait a minute.

Your eyes dart to the front door. You focus but don’t see Front Dorian appear. 

“Are you… he? Outside?” You ask, appalled. You don’t wait for an answer as you rush over to the front door and yank it open. Immediately you're hit with a blast of cold wet air. Standing in front of you, blocking most of it, is Front Dorian. He turns to you and you see his face is wet from the wind blowing the rain under the porch’s cover. The whole front of him looks damp and you see raindrops glistening in his beard.

“What are you doing out here?” You demand. The goosebumps are back with a vengeance and you’ve only been exposed to the cold for a minute.

“Guarding the house,” he gruffs like it should be obvious.

“Not out here you’re not! You’re gonna get sick doing that. Get in here!” You try to pull him inside but he stays firmly planted on the porch.

His eyes soften a bit as you glare up at him. “There’s too many hazards out here and I can’t see the whole front yard from inside.”

You stare at him for a moment before something clicks in your head. You sigh, letting your hands drop from his arm. “Is this about the break in?”

His jaw tightens at the mention of it. You thought he’d gotten past this need to be ever vigilant after the others had started making him relax but here he was again. It seemed a month was not long enough to convince Dorian that things were okay. 

“Dorian, no smart criminal is going to be out there in this rain.”

He shakes his head solemnly. “This is the perfect setting for another… incident. We can’t be too careful.”

You sigh, “I think you can. In fact, I think you’re being reckless. Come inside, please?”

You hold your breath but Dorian only maintains eye contact before turning away to resume his post. You huff but don’t shut the door. You’re not out of ideas just yet after all. You shoot Office Dorian a look but he’s staring at the stairs in front of him, pointedly avoiding your gaze. That was fine, you had other allies.

“Guys,” you whisper as you hurry back to the living room. Four sets of eyes peer up at you from the coffee table. You’d all been in the middle of some board games with Telly running quietly in the background. Luckily, everyone in the house is well acquainted with Dorian’s strong will. Tyrell, Mateo, Parker, and Dasha look up as you return. “Dorian’s just standing out there in the rain. Help me bring him in?”

Immediately, Tyrell nods, passion for warm dry softness apparent as he jumps up to his feet. Dasha stands, cracking her knuckles, which makes you rethink this for just a moment. You shake the worry out of your head though. Dasha is a gentle soul. It wasn’t like she was going to hurt Dorian. Parker flashes you with a thumbs up while Mateo just looks nervous. 

“Mateo and Tyrell, you guys get a nice comfy spot ready over here with some towels and blankets. Parker, go ask Dante to get a fire started. Dasha, let’s go bring this stubborn fool inside.”

“Yes, let’s,” she says, following after you.

This time when you open the door, Dorian ignores you. That was fine. With Dasha here, you didn’t need him to pay attention to you.

“Alright stubborn door man, that is enough outside time for you,” Dasha says, grabbing Dorian by his upper arms and swinging him inside. He lets out a startled ‘oof’ as he tries to regain his footing while jerking out of Dasha’s hold but she’s already pushing him into the living room.

“This is completely-”

“-necessary,” you finish for him.

Dasha nods as she marches him to the side of the couch by the fireplace that the trio had gotten set up with blankets. Dante has the fire going already, surprising you at how fast he worked. You hear Parker come down the stairs. He rounds the corner, arms full of fluffy towels with Tyrell right behind him.

“I thought we were past this,” you scold, taking a towel.

Dorian tries to resist for a moment before he decides he’s caught. With Dasha here, he’s not going anywhere. He scoffs as he relents and sits in the blanket nest Mateo had conjured.

“Catching colds instead of burglars,” Tyrell murmurs.

Dorian shoots him a glare, opening his mouth to say something but you take his hat off and start drying his hair and face off. You, Dasha, and Tyrell stick around to make sure Dorian doesn’t go anywhere while the others reset the game you were all in the middle of. You don’t regret your methods of getting him inside, especially now that you can feel him shivering.

“See, isn’t this much better?” You ask, moving the towel to sit on Dorian’s head. He meets you with the most unamused look you’ve ever seen.

“A little rain won’t kill me. This was completely unnecessary and frankly an impediment to household security. If we had a court system, you would all be fined.”

“That’s nice Dorian, now take off your wet shoes and socks. You’re still shivering.”

“What!”

“You’re next to the fire, you’re all warm and not soaked, but you’re still shivering. Isn’t that concerning at all to you?” You ask incredulously. It’s calmed somewhat but Dorian’s skin is still icy.

“The only concerning thing to me is the unguarded front door.”

“Office Dorian is still over there and he’s got Bathroom Dorian to help him out if anything happens.”

Dorian sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. When he looks at you again, his eyes are tired. It makes you frown. You hope this anxiety Dorian has about the security of the house fades soon. He’s running himself ragged.

“They aren’t the front door. I am. This is my job.”

“They’re also you. You don’t think they can handle it? Truthfully?”

A huff was the only response you got. Dorian’s interest in honesty was serving you well. It would serve himself too if he’d just relax and get warm. There was a slight flush that had appeared across Dorian’s cheeks that was starting to concern you. A thought occurred to you and you looked over to Tyrell. “Can you guys get sick?”

“Hmm?” he looked up from where he’d been gathering the damp towels. “Well, sure we can. It doesn’t happen often but it's possible.”

While the two of you talked, Dorian tried to stand. Dasha was quick to clap a hand on his shoulder and push him back down. “No no, you will stay right here. Kick back feet and relax.”

You crouch down, nodding along to Dasha’s words. “Let’s get these shoes off since you won’t do it.”

Dorian’s brow furrowed but he seemed ready to call it quits as he let out a breath. His shoulders sagged and he waved your hands away. “Fine, fine, but I’ll do this.”

You lean back, beaming. “Feel free.”

You all spend the next 20 minutes talking, setting up the next game, and waiting for Front Dorian to stop shivering. He doesn’t though. He swears only his outer layers had gotten wet, which is confirmed when he shows you the part of his button up that was hidden under the jacket. It’s dry and even Dorian’s hair has dried but he’s still chilled. Though now he’s shivering like Office Dorian was; very little but that tenseness in his body continued to linger.

“I don’t get it. Why are you still so cold?” You ask, putting a hand to his forearm again. Dorian had shifted to sit with his legs crossed. The warmth of the fire had finally gotten to him, making him lean forward with his face propped on his fist. You tactfully choose not to mention the heavy blinking he’s doing. You’ll bet he did make himself sick, especially since that flush has stubbornly stayed put.

He could only offer a shrug, brain working a bit slower now. “‘S possible… that…” he yawned, then shut his eyes, breathing softly for a moment.

You hated to wake him but you weren’t sure if this was serious. Dasha and Tyrell were giving him worried looks too. You knew this wasn’t just you being confused and it seemed like only Dorian had the answer. 

Gently, you shake his shoulder. His eyes snap open but almost immediately go back to their half-lidded state. “What’s possible?” you ask quickly.

He only looks at you before his eyes shut again. He starts to lean heavier on his fist, tilting dangerously to the side. Before you can call out a warning, Dasha is behind him, slowly guiding him down to lay in the blankets. 

Wow, you didn’t think Dorian was that exhausted. The rain must really take it out of him.

What was wrong though? That was still a problem. You look down at him and touch his forehead and cheek with the back of your hand. It’s only a little warm though. You could write it off as being so close to the fire. You’re about to try waking him up anyway when he shivers again.

“Do the Dorians share feelings across all their forms?” You ask, looking around at the faces who would know better than you.

A look crosses Mateo’s face as he nods, “Y-Yeah, actually. But, who’s still wet?”

The answer pops into your mind immediately. You stand and rush to the back door, Dasha and Tyrell following. Understanding dawns on them as you jerk the door open. Instead of the sight of Dorian’s back greeting you, your eyes travel down to see Back Dorian sitting on the ground, curled up with his head leaning on his knee as the rain soaks him to the bone.

Chapter Text

The droplets of rain felt like tiny pebbles being hurled at him by now. Back Dorian closed his eyes with a quiet groan. His hair was plastered to his forehead and had been for a while now. His clothes clung to his frame and his grip on his wrist was tighter than ever in an effort to keep what little remained of his body heat to himself.

If one could envy themselves, Back Dorian envied Front Dorian very much right now. The brim of his hat was probably doing an excellent job of keeping the rain drops out of his eyes. Not to mention the front porch. Back Dorian would kill for some kind of overhang. 

He felt himself slouching and snapped his eyes back open, standing up straight again. Front Dorian insisted they keep watch outside and Back Dorian agreed this was the most optimal way to keep an eye on any incoming dangers. So, he did what he thought was best. 

Did it matter that they had never stayed outside during the rain to guard the house? No. The only thing that mattered was security. Front Dorian being bashed in had shaken all of them and it always felt like some small bit of anxiety from the event stuck to them like glue, Front Dorian most of all. It affected all of them. Made them all on edge and jumpy, not that they let it show. Back Dorian probably had it the easiest with keeping that anxiety to himself. He’d always done his best to keep his face towards the backyard and conversation short. If he said a little less with a bit more bite…? Well, no one was any wiser to the reasons behind it.

Now though, this constant vigilance was eating away at him. It was strange to be so tired. Maybe that extra hint of paranoia was more draining than any of them had thought.

He jolted and cursed as a raindrop nailed him in the eye, snapping him from his thoughts. His whole body shivered as he pulled his arms away from his body to wipe his eyes clear. There went the last of his body heat.

“Bloody rain,” he mumbled to himself. He crossed his arms again but the chill of his wet shirt pressing against him made him hiss. 

Too cold. Too wet. Too tired. This was miserable.

It shouldn’t affect him so much though. He’d been doing this for a long time. A little rain shouldn’t reduce him to such a whiner.

He looked out across the dark yard and found it was much harder to focus on anything beyond the concrete pad he was standing on. When he leaned back against the doorframe, he hardly noticed as he rubbed his eyes again to clear the blurriness. The raindrop must still be fucking with him.

As soon as part of his weight was being held by something other than his own tired legs, his knees began to tremble. He huffed then immediately regretted it as water clinging to his mustache went up his nose. A coughing fit, that felt like it pulled at his whole chest, was forced out of him. His throat was sore by the time it subsided, leaving him a bit breathless. Taking in air and swallowing made his throat sting now.

His knees wouldn’t lock to keep him upright. He cast a tired gaze to the backyard and decided to sit down and rest for just a moment. Slowly, he sunk down to sit on the wet ground though he was so soaked he didn’t notice other than the additional chill. The skin on his face ached with each drop of rain that hit it. He wasn’t even thinking as he pulled his knees up and pressed his forehead to them, wrapping his arms around his legs to keep them up. 

“Just a moment,” he murmured to himself, trying not to imagine what the other Dorians would think if they saw him taking a break on the job. “...Jus’ a moment… then I’ll…” 

He didn’t finish the thought as his tired eyes fluttered close.

It wasn’t long before the back door jerked open and light from inside flooded the backyard. That wasn’t what woke Back Dorian though, the shrill cry that followed was.

“What are you doing out here?” You shrieked.

Back Dorian jerked upright though the movement was stiff and uncoordinated. He grunted, trying to wake up and figure out what was going on. He scrambled to get up but the cold had seeped into his joints, locking them up and making him sit back down with a hiss.

“Step aside,” Dasha said, rushing out. She hooked one of his arms around her shoulders and hauled him up to his feet. He tried to grumble something but his lips were too cold to form words. In fact, he was too weak to pull away from Dasha as she guided him further into the house. Water dripped on the floor in his wake as he followed with shaking footsteps.

Tyrell ran ahead, getting another round of towels ready as you shut the back door and quickly trailed after the two. This was the first time you’d seen the front of Back Dorian. He looked like the others in the house but his shirt was black like Front Dorian’s. That was pretty much what you expected. What wasn’t was the paleness of his skin and the bright flush on his face. His eyes too; they looked around but not like they were really seeing anything.

Dasha held him up as Mateo and Parker scrambled to make another blanket nest to set him down in. Tyrell came back as Dasha began to ease Back Dorian down. He would have just collapsed, seemingly having given up on using his legs.

You crouch down in front of him so you can see his face. In the warmth of the house, his entire body shakes violently. He doesn’t say a word as you accept the towel Tyrell offers you and begin to pat his hair and face dry. He takes up the spot next to Back Dorian, offering him a solid and warm surface to lean on.

“Dorian? Are you awake?” You ask softly. Despite his massive size, like this he looks far too akin to a wet kitten left out in the rain.

His eyes lazily move to your face. He blinks and you wonder if he’s fallen asleep but he slowly opens them a crack. A questioning hum is the only reply he offers you.

“We should get him out of some of these wet layers,” Mateo says. 

You nod, helping Dasha keep Dorian up as you and Mateo remove his sopping wet jacket. It’s tossed down with a wet splat. Mateo takes off his shoes and socks too, placing them into the growing pile of Dorian’s clothes.

Speaking of, Front Dorian stirs with all the activity. Slowly, he sits up with a groan of his own, holding a hand to his forehead at a headache that has begun to build there. You look over as he manages to straighten up. His eyes immediately go to the jacketless form all of you are patting dry.

“What… What happened?” He asks groggily. Of course, he knows which Dorian this is and the possibilities are coming to him already.

Irritation runs through you now. “Back Dorian’s been standing in the rain this whole time. Did you know?”

A bit of guilt seems to cross his face as he takes in the shivering form of Back Dorian. “I… didn’t expect to be so,” he pauses, trying to find the words. “So tired. The thought didn’t occur to me until I was dry but still cold.”

“Why was he even out there?”

“Keep… watch…” Back Dorian mumbles ever so quietly.

You look at him in surprise before shooting Front Dorian a glare. “Did you tell him to do that?”

The guilt grows on Front Dorian’s face. He reaches a hand out, placing it on Back Dorian’s forehead. He tries to shy away from the touch, brow creasing as a full body shiver racks his frame. It makes Front Dorian pull away like he was burned. His icy hands had felt like they were being burned by the hot skin he’d touched. 

He swallowed, finally speaking after a moment. “I just needed to keep everyone safe. We’re the only doors leading outside. The only thing I could think was that we were the greatest weak points. We need to be ready… for anything.”

“Well, he’s not ready for anything now,” you snap back. Your gaze softens though as you put a hand on Front Dorian’s shoulder. “I know what happened is still bothering you but you can’t put yourself in harm’s way like this. All of you are weak and shaky now that Back Dorian’s got a full blown cold. Don’t you see that?”

He nodded. He did see. Even still, with both of them in here, he was restless. The pitiful display Back Dorian made on the floor helped to push it back though. His paranoia had made them all weaker. He should have told Back Dorian to go inside. As the front door, he was usually the one calling the shots. The others trusted him to know what was going on. They didn’t question him even when he gave a stupid order like ‘stand in the rain’. He thought he trusted himself too but faced with the effects of his choice, he was having second thoughts about that.

It hadn’t been that long ago he, well Bathroom Dorian, had told you his mental faculties were perfect. Maybe that wasn’t so true anymore.

“I’m sorry,” he sighed. “I… I won’t let this happen again.”

“I hope that’s true for your sake.”

For a moment, there was only the crackling of the fire before Dasha cleared her throat. “Maybe we should lay him down?”

Immediately, Front Dorian stood up to help. Now that the source of the cold was inside and warming up, his shivers were almost completely gone. The headache remained but it was small enough to be pushed aside. He was dizzy for only a moment when he stood but confirmed he was fine to help when you and Dasha tried to protest. 

Him and Dasha picked Back Dorian up and laid him down on the couch. You let Front Dorian handle taking his shirt and pants off so he could be completely dry. Mateo wraps him in blankets as soon as he’s bare and Tyrell takes all the laundry to Washford and Drysdale. Back Dorian will certainly want his clothes back when he wakes up.

Really though, none of you know when that will be.

“Should we get Farya?” You ask.

“That’s probably a good idea,” Mateo says, standing to go do just that.

Back Dorian isn’t shivering as hard now but with each breath, he gives a sharp cough that makes him wince. They had laid him on his back but he’d almost immediately shifted to curl up on his side, face pressed into the back of the couch. 

It broke everyone’s heart to see Dorian so uncomfortable. 

Front Dorian took a seat behind Back Dorian’s knees, seemingly keeping guard of him. If he couldn’t watch the perimeter, he could make sure Back Dorian was cared for. After all, he was still getting phantom aches from Back Dorian. There was a bit of tightness in his chest which he guessed was causing the full blown, painful sounding cough in Back Dorian. His muscles were all ever so slightly achy as well. If they weren’t, he would’ve chosen to stand over the couch rather than sit. As it was, he was still fatigued too. 

Hours later when Farya had seen to both Dorians and had given Back Dorian some medicine, the others had all settled down for a sleepover in the living room. Front Dorian had tried to insist they go to their beds but was met with a resounding no.

Back Dorian stirred, groaning and trying to sit up. The blankets and Front Dorian’s hand kept him pressed down though. “Where…?” he mumbled quietly, blinking slowly to try and make out where he was.

“The living room,” Front Dorian said softly. “You’re sick. Sleep. I’m keeping watch.”

Back Dorian seemed to accept the answer, relaxing back into the blankets and cushions. “...Wake me up… if…” His words trailed off but Front Dorian knew what he’d been going to say.

He sighed and leaned back against Back Dorian’s knees, feeling more tired than ever. “I’m sorry. I’ll do better next time. Just rest now.”