Work Text:
"Ruskin, are you sure that it is necessary?" The King of Media, Charles Augustus Milverton asked in a seemingly annoyed voice - but his secretary, Ruskin knew that it was actually hiding nervousness. "My health is completely fine. It is just a waste of time to call the doctor here again. He was here last month."
He tried to sound confident, but he couldn't convince Ruskin who could still hear a hint of weakness from his employer's way of talking. Mr. Milverton was the master of deceit and manipulation but his tricks didn't work on Ruskin. He was the only person like that and if Mr. Milverton's health was on the line, even his usual power of authority was worthless. Ruskin loved his employer too much to obey if he thought that a medical check was necessary. He was aware that he could not live without Mr. Milverton, so he made sure to keep him on his side for as long as he could.
Possibly for the rest of his life.
"He was here last month because you were sick." Ruskin said in a gentle voice and put his hand down onto Mr. Milverton's arm.
"But I am not sick anymore." Mr. Milverton opposed immediately. "Which means that there is no need for him to come here and bother me uselessly!"
Now he sounded angry. Ruskin could read him well to know that he was rather scared than angry. This was another type of war when he started to avoid the doctor's visit. Mr. Milverton was terrified of doctors ever since he knew him. He had no idea what caused this behaviour, he suspected that Mr. Milverton had a bad experience with them once perhaps during his childhood and he was never able to get over his fear. Ruskin didn't laugh at him, this was not why he was here. It actually hurt him that he needed to make Mr. Milverton go through what he was afraid of, but he had no choice.
"Yes, you fortunately seemed to have been recovered, but it would be better if the doctor would check on you again once more." He explained it in a soft tone and added. "The illness you have been through was not a simple cold. It was something serious and if I didn't notice the symptoms in time, it might have had even more severe consequences. You know that I don't insist on calling him to cause you harm. I just want the best for you, sir."
He heard that Mr. Milverton let out a sigh.
"You worry too much, Ruskin." He noted and rolled his eyes. "I have no idea why you do more than what is in your job description. Taking care of my health is not part of it."
"It was not you who sat on my bedside that night and not being sure if I will even live through the night." Ruskin looked into his employer's eyes deeply while his heart shrank from just recalling the memory. He remembered what it felt like thinking that his beloved Mr. Milverton will die. He wished the world would end if it happened. He wished his heartbeat would also stop. He didn't want to continue his existence if that pair of golden eyes wouldn't shine at him. "It was not you who thought that you would lose me." He repeated and clenched his fist. He saw that his employer watched him for a long moment, then he slowly shook his head.
"No, it was truly not me." He said and a smile appeared on his face. "But if it would be your case, I also wouldn't need to pull emotional manipulation on you to convince you to undergo the medical experiment. I would just need to order you to do it."
He gently patted Ruskin's cheek who began to blush from the touch. Not only from it, but realizing that his assumption was right. Mr. Milverton would have been similarly devastated if he would be the one seriously sick. The thought made his heart beat faster.
"You are right, sir." He smiled back at his employer. "At least half of it. It is not emotional manipulation when I hint that I love you."
Mr. Milverton stared at him for a long second, his hand was still on Ruskin's face. Then he let out a chuckle and Ruskin spotted that the light of stubbornness began to fade away from his gaze.
"If you want to call that doctor here so much, then do it." He gave in to Ruskin's greatest relief and added. "But you need to promise me that you will be next to me for the whole time. After all, it's you who want this so much."
"Of course, sir. I will be on your side for the whole time.” Ruskin swore with devotion. He didn't even imagine it in any other way.