Work Text:
Banhammer rolled over onto his side, shivering from the sudden cold of the night. Luckily for him, he knew just the thing to warm himself up. His arm reached out over the bed, stretching out to ensure that he could grab Medkit and steal him away to be in his arms. A shiver rippled down his spine. Fucking hell, it was cold.
His arm sleepily flailed about, trying to find his lover, and yet Banhammer just couldn’t seem to reach him. Despite his exhaustion, he cracked open one pair of eyelids, searching for Medkit’s figure in the dark of their room.
But the other half of the bed was empty. The covers pulled down and bunched up, evidence that an escape was made sometime earlier in the night. Banhammer groaned and rolled onto his back, half-tempted to just close his eyes and drift back into sleep.
Unfortunately, he was worried. Despite how much he bullied himself about it, he really did care about Medkit. He loved him too desperately to ignore his absence. And if that wasn’t enough? Banhammer was still cold. Freezing, actually. And keeping Medkit tucked warmly against his chest seemed like too welcoming of an idea for him to give up on it.
With an aching groan from the bed straining beneath him, Banhammer pulled himself to sit up, immediately shivering once again from the cold. His tired eyes, hazy and unfocused as he rubbed them to try and get them to focus properly. The remnants of his sleep were clearly clingy to his face as he yawned and got to his feet, dragging them down the hallway languidly.
“Doc?” He mumbled, knocking on the door of the bathroom. Just then, he heard shuffling from downstairs and noticed that the light in the kitchen was on. Maybe Medkit was just getting a glass of water, but Banhammer still wanted to investigate.
He carefully made his way down the stairs, using the railing to avoid disaster if his sleepiness made him slip over any of the steps. He turned his head to look into the kitchen. Medkit sat on a stool behind the kitchen island, his fingers stroking through his own hair as he kept his head firmly in his hands while his elbows rested against the island.
“Meds?” He called faintly, letting his presence be known as he stepped into the kitchen. Medkit raised his head and they made eye contact, Medkit was an absolute wreck. His eye was red like he’d been crying, his fingers were faintly shaking and the bags under his eyelids were somehow darker than they usually are. His body was curled into itself like he had been hit by a train.
Medkit didn’t say anything for a moment, just stared at Banhammer as he approached. But the second Banhammer started reaching to take a seat next to him, he defensively spoke up, blurting out his words. “Go back to sleep. I’ll be fine.”
Raising an eyebrow, Banhammer replied, “Yeah, I don’t think so,” taking his seat beside Medkit slowly, as if moving any faster would scare him off like a wild animal. “I’ll go back to bed if you come with me, though.” He grumbled, turning his body to stare down at Medkit’s clearly exhausted figure.
The sarcastic scoff that left Medkit’s throat made something ache in Banhammer’s chest. Medkit’s gaze was so distant, like his mind couldn’t really focus on the current moment. “Stop worrying. Don’t you trust that I can handle this on my own?” He mumbled, resting his head against his hand.
Banhammer chose not to answer, because he wasn’t sure that his answer would be yes. Medkit had learned to deal with nights like these on his own, but his methods weren’t always the most healthy. Besides, Medkit shouldn’t have to deal with this by himself. Not when Banhammer is literally right there and willing to do just about anything to make him feel better so he can shut up, and they can go back to bed.
“Another nightmare?” The demigod gave his own question, standing up and turning around to the cupboards in the kitchen. He silently opened one and pulled down a cup, carefully filling it with water before quietly placing it at Medkit's side.
Medkit clearly didn’t want to answer. Banhammer didn’t care. He wasn’t going back to bed without Medkit by his side. For warmth, he told himself. Not because he wanted to help Medkit feel better and would have felt insanely guilty if he left him alone in this state. For warmth. Just for warmth.
Wordlessly, Medkit eventually nodded his head. The action was subtle enough that Banhammer might have missed it if he wasn’t staring. Banhammer was never very good at comfort. What was he supposed to say? I’m sorry that happened? It’s just a dream, it can’t hurt you? It’ll get better some day? Don’t worry, it’s not real?
None of those responses would have felt natural or right on his lips, nor helpful in the slightest. Medkit wasn’t an idiot, he knew all that shit already. He deserved better words, but Banhammer’s head was a blank dictionary in moments like these. Moments where he was supposed to be vulnerable, comforting, small. He never learnt the vocabulary.
Raising a hand, Banhammer gently touched Medkit’s shoulder, silently hoping the action was grounding and not too out of character. “Do… Do you wanna talk about it?” He asked hesitantly. Maybe his reply wasn’t perfect, but it’s all that Banhammer could muster, especially this late at night.
Medkit shot him a glare, like that was the vile, insensitive question he’d ever been asked. “No. No, I do not.” He huffed, rubbing at his eye with fatigue. “Why would I want to talk about it?” He questioned, and Banhammer supposed he was right. Medkit was never really one to open up about his feelings and fears.
“Right.” Banhammer grumbled, hiding his hands back in pockets. “Sorry." He watched in silence as Medkit returned to staring off into the distance, this time with his gaze pointed at the big black void outside the window. Banhammer couldn’t help but worry about him. He could hardly admit it to himself, but his concern was deeply sincere.
The quiet between them lingered for a second, only interrupted when Banhammer moved to sit back down next to Medkit, only for Medkit to snap his head back towards him. “Stop watching me. Just leave me be, Banhammer, I’m fine.” He practically growled, like Banhammer’s presence personally annoyed him to ends beyond the inphinity. His eye was mean, like that of a stray dog backed into a corner in an alleyway.
Banhammer’s mouth opened, like he was going to speak, but he quickly returned it to being shut. What was he meant to say to that? He either risked making Medkit uncomfortable and pissed off, or risked Medkit not getting a wink of sleep all night because he was suffering in his own head.
“Stop starin’ out the window all creepy then!” Banhammer replied. He wasn’t very sure of that answer, but it was too late to stop himself now. “Look at me. Look at me and talk to me for once.” He scoffed, before grabbing Medkit by the shoulders and gripping on to the fabric of Medkit’s shirt like he was going to slip from his fingers.
Looking into his lover’s eye, Banhammer only had one question. He had to force the words out of his throat. They came out heavy and unnatural from his lips, but somberly sincere all the same.
“Are you okay, Doc?”
Medkit met his gaze, really looking at him for the first time that night. And Banhammer wasn’t sure what he looked like, but it seemed to snap Medkit out of whatever trance he was in. Because Medkit soon fluttered his gaze between Banhammer and the table awkwardly, and his sharp eye softened just enough for Banhammer to recognise how scared Medkit really was.
“I’m fine.” Medkit still tried to assure him, but the words were far less convincing now as he buried his face in his hands. “But… I suppose you can stay for a bit longer.” He sighed, glancing back at Banhammer’s face, which seemed to make him look a bit embarrassed.
This was exactly the opportunity Banhammer was waiting for as he pulled his grip away from Medkit’s shoulders. He doubted Medkit was going to keep opening up, but if nothing else, this was a good start.
Sleep pulled at Banhammer’s eyelids, drowsily opening and closing as he struggled to stay awake in the silence. His body ached to be back in bed, but not without Medkit by his side. From what Banhammer could tell, there was at least some hope, because Medkit looked even more exhausted then he did. The only reason Medkit wasn’t falling asleep in his chair was because he was also terrified.
Terrified of something he wouldn’t tell Banhammer about. Something that disturbed him to the point that he couldn’t bear even trying to sleep. Something that seemed to plague his mind like a parasite.
It was probably something still festering from his past. The past that Medkit would sooner become a rip a hole through his skull than talk about. Banhammer had pieced some of it together from the occasional slip-of-the-tongue moment where Medkit would mention something that he didn’t really want to remember, but nowhere near enough to get a decent picture of what really happened to him.
Banhammer turned his head to the side, noticing that Medkit was drinking out of the glass of water he got for him. Banhammer noticed that his partner often forgets to drink water, and becomes significantly more irritable and paranoid when dehydrated. If he’s being honest, Banhammer has been using it to silently communicate whether or not Medkit is mad at him. He’s too petty to drink it when he’s mad with him.
“Aren’t you cold?” Banhammer asked, breaking the silence once more. How has Medkit been sitting there for hours in this weather and he was hardly even phased? Banhammer’s been downstairs for a maximum of 20 minutes and he’s already shivering.
Medkit takes notice of his shivering when he turns around to finally meet Banhammer’s gaze. Something in him flickered with warmth as his lips twitched into something that was almost an amused smile. “It’s really not that cold.” He scoffed.
Banhammer had to wrap his arms around himself to try and hide his shivering. He mumbled something along the lines of “Yeah, yeah, you’re right, It ain’t even that bad…” He adjusted the sleeves on his pajamas, as if that would make it less obvious that he was freezing.
Somehow, that grumbling managed to distract Medkit for just a brief second as he rolled his eye and stifled a grin. “Are you really determined to sit out here until I agree to go back to bed with you?” He questioned genuinely. Banhammer supposed he wasn’t usually so clingy, but maybe it was just the weariness of the night making him all sappy and worried.
And of course Banhammer’s pride would never just simply let him nod and agree. Let it be known that he was doing this because he cared. And he did care, but his tongue just lacked the words to have it be known. Not yet. So, instead he grumbled disagreements under his breath and looked away, hoping that Medkit could understand what he was trying to imply.
Yes, yes, I love you and I want you to be safe and happy. But also I’m not going to say it aloud because my words aren’t going to do either of us any justice.
No words were spoken until Medkit sighed, the sound piercing through the gentle chirping of crickets outside the window. The chair screeched uncomfortably as Medkit scooted backwards and got to his feet, admittedly stumbling a little bit from how utterly drained his entire body was. “I suppose… we should go back to sleep then?”
Banhammer turned back and nodded, accidentally letting out the sigh of relief that he meant to suppress. He was worried he was going to be sitting there, freezing to death, for the whole night. Leaving his own seat, he walked with Medkit back towards their bedroom. Medkit probably would have been more annoyed if he wasn’t so clearly exhausted.
Honestly, he had half a mind to scoop Medkit up into his arms and just carry him the whole way there. It would certainly be a lot faster, Medkit was tired that he was practically dragging his feet with every step he took, and the look on his face would be priceless. But he couldn’t imagine Medkit being equally as enthusiastic about that idea, so he just slowly walked alongside him.
Once they were back in the bedroom, Banhammer wrapped his arms around Medkit and pulled him down into the bed with him. The mattress creaked under their sudden weight. “Don’t start complainin’,” Banhammer grumbled, “I’m tired. I wanna go to sleep.”
Medkit muttered something under his breath, but, strangely enough, didn't try to escape the grasp. In fact, despite the blankly tired expression plastered on his face, Medkit seemed almost… content with the situation, letting his eyelid flutter closed. He was probably just too tired to argue, and Banhammer couldn’t blame him.
Medkit tucked his head forward against the demigod’s chest, slowly moving his hands to lazily return the embrace. Banhammer pulled Medkit as close as he possibly could, their limbs entangled like they were penguins huddling for warmth in the sub-zero snow. Then he slowly reached for the blankets to pull them up and over their bodies, holding them together in this soft moment of unusual vulnerability.
As gently as he possibly could, Banhammer raised a hand to stroke down Medkit’s back, silently trying to soothe him to go back to sleep. Banhammer’s eyes were still open. For some reason, his mind was telling him he didn’t want to go to sleep until he was sure that Medkit had drifted off first.
Banhammer was well aware of Medkit’s nightmares, and the effect they could have on him. He didn’t want to fall asleep until he was sure Medkit had, because he didn’t want Medkit running away from bed again the second he closed his four eyes. Why couldn’t this stupid mortal just understand that he needed to sleep. Rest wasn’t optional, especially not with Banhammer around.
Under the soft touch on his back, Medkit squirmed, adjusting himself as he sighed. Banhammer felt how his partner’s fingertips clung to the fabric of his pajamas, like he was holding on for dear life, before slowly loosening until those flawless hands rested limply across the demigod’s back.
Sighing, Banhammer fought back his urge to poke fun at how unusually clingy Medkit was being. For as much joy as it would have brought him, the last thing he wanted was to push Medkit away again. He wasn’t sure if he would have the energy to stay awake long enough to fix it if he did. But when Medkit huffed against his chest, he was practically gnawing on his tongue to stay quiet.
What was worse was that Banhammer was finding Medkit’s random clingyness cute. He’s sure that Medkit would have his head on a stake if he ever voiced that one. But he couldn’t help it, not when Medkit was pressing his face just below Banhammer’s collar bone and twisting under the blankets to stay close to him.
Everything started to become much warmer now that Medkit was back in bed with him, their body heat warming each other in a way that made a shiver run down Banhammer’s spine. Was that why Medkit was cuddling against him like this? Was he lying about how much the cold was bothering him? He held back a scoff at the idea, curling around his partner just a little bit more.
But then the demigod took notice of how Medkit’s trembling had completely stopped, like he was no longer afraid of whatever was haunting him in his nightmare. That was good, Banhammer couldn’t help but think, because Medkit didn’t have anything to fear when Banhammer was right there beside him. He’d protect him, help him, cherish him, whatever Medkit needed. Not that he’d admit that out loud, of course, that was far too sappy. He just sort of decided to trust that Medkit understood that, because those words were probably going with him to the grave.
He really hoped that Medkit recognised how head-over-heels he was, because he didn’t really have the strength to say it. He was smitten. Completely smitten with a grumpy mortal who spends more time complaining about him than he does complimenting him.
This might have bothered Banhammer if Medkit’s witty grumbles weren't so endearing. It might have been an issue, if Banhammer wasn’t able to tell when he was being genuine or not. But after all the time they’ve spent together, Banhammer’s learnt to read the stoic inphernal like a book. It had become shockingly easy, especially considering how many have labeled Medkit as completely indecipherable.
A finger gently traced invisible patterns across Medkit’s waist as Banhammer struggled to keep his eyes open. What a shame, that this moment had to be so ephemeral, but the exhaustion that allowed it to take place was starting to claw at his eyelids, wanting to claim its reward.
But, really, they should be sleeping anyway. It’s too late at night for either of them to attempt to have a coherent conversation.
“Goodnight, Ban.” Medkit suddenly interrupted the silence, his words were mumbled and slurred with fatigue, but somehow Banhammer still understood. Unable to stop himself, he leaned down to press a faint kiss to one of Medkit’s horns.
“Sleep well, Doc.” He replied with a soft smile, holding his partner tight against his chest, watching patiently as Medkit vanished into the peaceful sea of unconsciousness. His lip was pulled up into a feint, gentle smile as all four of his eyelids slowly fluttered closed.
The last thing he remembered thinking before drifting off for the night was the name of his dear lover, who's held reverently against his frame.