Work Text:
1849234...
The soft glow of his trust value lit up the dim room once more. Nice stared, expectant of some changes, but the string of numbers on his hand disappeared without anything happening. On slow days like these, it tended not to change as much. With a neutral expression, he triggered it again without a word.
1849233.
A slight tension left his chest in the form of an exhale. Nice's eyes lowered, a form of restlessness making itself known in his chest, and he lowered his wrist. His head felt extraordinarily heavy, but he knew it wouldn't show. Nothing ever would. Some days he had had the urge to tear open his wrist, but what use would that be? Any wound inflicted on him would just heal over perfectly.
The bright numbers lit up his vision once more, and Nice heaved out a haggard sigh. Why was it that he became a hero again?
Was there truly meaning if he was simply a cog in Mr Shand's pursuit in revenge? Was he not enough to be considered and treated as a person? He wondered what he did wrong to be treated this way.
A soft ruffling sound caught his attention.
"You're awake." Nice muttered.
The man- Lin Ling, Nice heard him squeak out his name when demanded by Miss J- had clutched onto him with a death grip when he first walked off the building. That was about the only reason he was still here with this horrible headache that kept gnawing somewhere within him, like a physical parasite was worming inside his skull. In a sense, he should hate him. But he remembered clearly how Lin Ling refused to let go even with Nice's body weight straining at his arms, and had even began skidding off the roof due to his waning strength. The moment he saw that, Nice had forgotten his despair and immediately activated his flying ability to bring him back to safety.
Miss J seemed to notice the complicated look in his eye and demanded the civilian to be dragged back alongside Nice for the time being. Things happened, and Lin Ling became the person temporarily looking after him, who would report to her if anything went awry. Nice was given time to rest and do nothing in the meantime.
What a strange person. He reminded Nice acutely of himself in the past, someone innocent who believed heroes were all for protecting others. Even his questions about Nice's hero self and his relationship with Moon came from a pure standpoint that believed nothing was staged.
A soft cough came from Lin Ling. He hurriedly went to get some water, gulping a generous amount down. Even his movements seemed slower than usual, like he couldn't properly execute them.
"You're sick?"
"Think so. I have a headache and a cough, you shouldn't get near me." Lin Ling replied.
"..." Nice had rarely been asked to do something for the sake of his own benefit for these last few months. That in itself made him want to press close to Lin Ling just to see his reaction. Would he have any? Perhaps he would shove him away out of concern.
"You don't have to worry. I'm immune to illnesses because of my side effect," Nice floated closer, "Do you also have a fever?" He pressed the back of his hand against Lin Ling's head, gauging his temperature, but nothing appeared off. "I'll get you some medicine."
"Thanks..." Lin Ling croaked. He cleared his throat uncomfortably and drank some more water.
To minimise the noise of walking, Nice used his powers to float around the whole time, and handed him some painkillers and cough syrup with a clear glass of warm water. After Lin Ling took both, Nice then switched off the lights and drew the curtains in the hero tower.
"What's with this?" Lin Ling asked.
"You might have had too much screentime. Resting in the dark could be good."
There was a performative edge to his voice which was missing. Nice would consciously make himself sound cheery and airy whenever he was around Mr Shand, but that kind of tone would drop the moment he was angry, worried or confused. He stopped speaking in that register and used a more casual tone around Lin Ling after a while of knowing him.
Nice pressed a cold compress on both Lin Ling's head and the back of his neck. The relief on his face wasn't immediate, but it was there. The cold appeared to dull the edges of the pressure on his head, and Lin Ling's shoulders eased gradually like an invisible knot had been loosened.
"I'd almost forgotten. I haven't texted Miss J today," Lin Ling suddenly murmured. "Could you get me my phone? It's somewhere on the counter."
Miss J. Right. He had to give her updates about Nice.
Nice fetched his phone for him. He realised, with a start, that his obsession over numbers disappeared when he was taking care of him. When he was with Lin Ling, he would often forget about everything else. Perhaps it was because Lin Ling never really cared about his trust value but rather him as a person.
Staying beside him made the headache a little more bearable. He watched Lin Ling type a few words before shutting his eyes, intrigued by the effect of the man on him.
"How are you feeling?" Nice asked when Lin Ling woke up in a few hours.
"..." Lin Ling looked paler. He grappled for some water, gulping it with some effort.
"Sore throat?" Nice asked, "You're burning up too."
Lin Ling nodded slowly. He opened his mouth to speak, but ended up with a slight coughing fit. Lin Ling angled himself away despite knowing Nice wouldn't be affected by the virus, and looked positively awful as he swallowed his next mouthful of saliva with slight reluctance. He didn't look well in the slightest, but still smiled briefly at Nice as he handed him a pack of lozenges and fever meds. Popping the lozenges in his mouth, Lin Ling rolled it on his tongue to soothe the ache.
He then got up, and Nice was broken out of his immersion of staring. "What is it?" He followed intently.
"This..." He begun, and winced at the sound of his voice. Lin Ling pointed at the medicine label which stated he needed to eat something before ingesting it.
Nice was eager to prove himself. "I'll help. Just lay back down."
He might be addicted to seeing Lin Ling's grateful expression. Mr Shand was never satisfied with his work, no matter if he managed to break into the top 15. In comparison, Lin Ling was easily content, and made such soft expressions at him.
Nice needed more of it, more knowledge that he was needed. That it was okay to live as who he was.
He needed more of him.
A few days passed with Nice playing nurse for Lin Ling, and by the fourth day, he seemed to be recovering. He could speak better, and was less tired. Nice was happy for this development, but also a little disappointed he wouldn't get to watch him without an excuse anymore.
He looked so pretty when asleep, and so calm and peaceful too. Nice often took advantage of his deep sleep to gently stroke his hair with his fingers, and had leaned in to give him soft kisses on that bed of warm brown hair when he felt like it.
"Your fever seems to have gone away." Nice observed, touching his forehead.
"All thanks to you," Lin Ling responded politely. "I'll probably go out and get some groceries. We haven't been eating much outside of takeout these past few days."
"I'll come too." Nice floated beside him.
Lin Ling made a surprised noise as he got close. "I was thinking this was more of like a solo thing... since you'll be recognised if you go out."
Nice disabled his floating to get back down to the floor. "That makes sense. I can disguise myself."
"No need, I'll be back in a jiffy. You'll be fine for a few minutes alone?"
Lin Ling... didn't need him?
Nice tried not to let it show on his face, but he was distraught. If Lin Ling didn't need him, and Nice couldn't be of use to him anymore, would he still want to stick around?
Of course, Miss J wouldn't easily let him leave for the time being, but what about the future? Lin Ling had something outside of Nice. Yet Nice had nobody else, and he was starting to be confronted by this reality once more. Even Wreck was drifting apart from him these few days. If Lin Ling didn't need him anymore, what use would Nice be for anyone?
Out of habit, his fingers itched to his arm, and he nudged at his wrist in unease. He gained a few believers in those few days he was taking care of Lin Ling. Mr Shand would be happy with such progress, wouldn't he?
... No, of course not. It was such a trivial achievement. He should be ashamed he even thought of it as something worthy of bringing up. But there had to be something he was good for. He just needed to find it. Something which could convince them he was needed here...
"Nice?" Lin Ling noticed his expression. "I don't have to go if you're uncomfortable."
Oh.
"I'll get Miss J to send some groceries and cleaners our way then."
"Mm." Nice hummed, feeling a lot better.
Texting Miss J, Lin Ling decisively gave up on going out and returned to the couch. Nice only calmed down when all seemed to return to normal, and floated closer to sit near Lin Ling.
He had originally thought about mixing in some sort of sedative into his breakfast to ensure Lin Ling could stay longer around him, but it seemed like that option wasn't necessary after all.