Chapter Text
Bernard hears the weak knock on his door, and it’s late. Tim hasn’t answered his texts or calls in days, and he’s been so goddamn worried.
But as he opens the door, the love of his life is revealed.
“Hello?! Tim? What-“
Stepping forward and collapsing into Bernard’s slightly opened arms, Tim can finally rest.
Bernard stands in the doorway in shock, with Tim clinging to him, half-way sagging to the floor.
“Ok, ok, um..let me figure this out.” Bernard closes his partially opened mouth, doing his best to drag Tim forward and into his place.
“What did you do?” Bern hisses worriedly as he struggles to get Tim to the couch. After a few heaves, he makes it there-placing a silent Tim on the couch and looking down to him with concern.
“You’ve got so much explaining to do…” Bernard places his hands over his head, making one slow rotation in the living room before returning to Tim’s side.
“I don’t even…how did you even walk all the way over here? What did you even do?”
Tim coughs a few times suddenly, just able to get out the words. “Bern?”
“Yeah? I’m right here, ok?” Bernard stoops down to the couch, resting a hand over Tim’s scratched one.
“You’re so..cute when you’re worried.” He groans, failing to try and shift himself up on the couch’s dark cushions.
“Ok,” Bern furrows his eyebrows in indignation. “That’s not cool. You can’t just show up and fall out and then act all flirty with me or something. You’ve been missing for days, where have you been?”
“It’s kinda..a long story.” Tim covers his eyes with one hand, smearing small spatters of blood across bruises.
“Well, I hope you actually tell me. I was worried about you.” Bernard tries to focus on one thing at a time. Nothing looks broken to him, so that’s..something. Certainly better than nothing at all.
“I really don’t like when you hide things like that.”
Now Tim is a little more aware, due to the fact that Bern is upset.
“I’m sorry. I promise, I really wasn’t trying to hide anything-“ He’s interrupted by a cough, prompting Bernard to rub over his back for comfort.
“I- it’s ok. It’s fine, just tell me later.” Bern reaches up to Tim’s neck, kissing his forehead quickly and then pressing his own head to him with love before drawing back.
“Do you feel like anything is broken? I’m gonna go get you some ice and then I can-“ Bernard tries to dart away, only to be caught by Tim’s bloody hand.
“Just stay with me for a minute.”
“Ok…” Bern wedges him slowly on the edge of the couch, waiting in anticipation for Tim to let him go. He doesn’t want to leave, but these bruises do look pretty bad..