Chapter Text
“Excuse me, Chance?” A nurse walked over to Chance. Chance nodded his head.
“Yes, that's me!” After months of trying to get Itrapped to go to a doctor’s appointment, he's finally done it. He might've had to pull some strings to get him to say yes, but it would be worth it! It's important for his health.
Of course, he came with him too; something is up between doctors and him, so he wouldn't leave him alone!
“I was informed that Isa had asked me to tell you his weight instead of him.” The nurse looked down at her clipboard. When she first heard it, she was concerned something wrong might've been present in the relationship. Chance called ahead of time to talk to the nurses about Itrapped and what to and not to tell him about. That sort of thing has been used as control against abuse victims, but now she sees this paper and hears the full story. She gets it now.
Chance nodded, telling her to go on. “Well, there's one major issue here. His BMI is a 14.6.”
Chance just kept a smile, playing with his hands and going side to side. “Is that good?”
“... quite the opposite, the average weight for someone 6’7,” which is what Itrapped was without his heels on, “is about 200 pounds.” She looked back at chance, who didn't seem to pick up what she's saying. “He is 130.2.”
“Oh.” His smile quickly dropped, as did all his movements. That was low, way lower than what she said. He knew Itrapped had issues eating, he did know that before they even started dating. He didn't think it was that bad; he thought he was actually making it better. He's been getting Itrapped to eat more, almost eating something daily!
The nurse studied Chance's expression. He looked quite thin himself. “Well, because of this, I think it's a good idea to consider having him stay in a hospital for a while. Inpatient. I can give recommendations for ones that specialize with disordered eating.”
Yet Chance shook his head. That wouldn't work. Itrapped doesn't even want to be here, let alone a hospital. “But he doesn't have to, right?” Chance isn't sure what he could do without Itrapped either. He's always with him!
“Not yet. If it gets any lower then yes, we’ll be stepping in.” By that she means forced hospitalization, for when a person is considered a danger to themselves. With how this is looking, it is possible to do it at the very second.
Chance can't let that happen; he will never come back. He’ll lose his trust. “No, no, I can do this. I can help him.”
She raised an eyebrow, it’s not that she didn’t believe Chance. It’s just the fact she doesn’t believe someone can help another gain so much weight in such a short time period without extended care. “.. I shouldn’t be allowing this, but I can make an appointment in two months. If he comes back and isn't weighing anything more than.. I have no other choice.”
“Got it! Two months!” Chance quickly agreed, before— realizing what he agreed to. That’s gonna be difficult. Really difficult, but he can't tell Itrapped, not yet. Otherwise, he’ll freak out and not come back for the weigh-in at all.
Yet, there is something he can try. Now and again, he becomes ‘baby-brained’ as chance has dubbed it. He’s used this against Isaac before to get permission to go to his friends house, but he’s also used it once to get him to eat. In fact, he used it to get Itrapped to agree to come to a doctors appointment at all.
It’s a long shot, but maybe he can encourage it to happen. Get him eating normally.
The nurse continued speaking. “He’s done with his check-up, the doctor is handing him his papers, and then he’ll be out.”
“Perfect- ah, thank you.” Chance nodded to her. Mostly trying to hide how nervous he felt. If she caught on, maybe he wouldn’t even get given the chance to help Isa. Either way, she just gave a nod back before going away.
At least he’ll have a few minutes to prepare.
• ♡ • ♥ • ♡ •
The car ride home was mostly silent. Itrapped was just trying to hold himself together, while chance was still stressing themself out. They know doctors are hard for Isa, maybe, maybe he’ll start with that. A stressful day, to baby-brain.
He stretched his hand out, resting it on Itrapped’s thigh. “You did very well today, baby.” They were careful with their tone, wanting to reward him but not talk down to him. ‘Baby’ as a pet name has always managed to give him a positive reaction, hence why he used it.
In response, Itrapped stayed silent for a while, eyes focused on the road. Past the cold exterior, it was obvious he wasn’t really present. Just autopiloting home.
Chance can fix that for him. “Very brave of you. When we get home I think you deserve to rest.”
It was difficult getting any sort of response out of the other. Chance thought he was just not going to get anything… until Itrapped put his hand over top of Chance’s. “Ok.”
About the rest of the car ride home was quiet again, a silence more comfortable than before.
Home wasn’t any more exciting. Itrapped was still quiet as he walked in, Chance standing right next to him.
His hand latched onto the other’s fingers, tracing their way into the other's empty spaces. “Say, baby, that was a lot of work, wasn’t it?” He was trying to find the right tone, enough to baby him but not talk down to him.
“Mmm.” Itrapped didn’t give much of a reply… but the fact he still made a sound of acknowledgement means Chance is on the right track! So, he led Itrapped upstairs, to the others’ room.
Over time, Chance has learned a few things from Isa.
- Itrapped’s favorite pet name is baby.
- Itrapped has a safe place in his room.
- Itrapped doesn’t like outside clothes on his bed.
So for his evil master plan, he let go of Itrapped’s hand and headed for the closet. If he beats him then—
“What are you up to?”
A deep voice cut through Chance’s thoughts.
Itrapped stood right next to him, yet Chance didn’t show any sign of being phased. “… big day!” He pulled out something comfortable. “I think you need to relax.” He held the clothes out to the other. “Y’know.. kinda like a thank you for doing this for me.”
Itrapped stared down at him, his face lacking much of an emotion. Sometimes it’s hard to know what he could be thinking. “Thanks.” But finally, he grabbed hold of the clothes.
“Mhm!” He perked up. “Need any help- assistance in dressing up?”
That’s number 4. Itrapped hates the word help.
“Why would I?” Despite the monotone voice, an eyebrow was raised.
“Right, right!” He turned back to Itrapped’s closet, picking out something for himself. Over time, the clothes from Chance’s room have managed to merge into this room. He didn’t mind it. As Itrapped was also turned away- Chance sent a little message to their chef.
Safe place, resting. All Chance has to do is activate the little mode.
Now that they were both dressed, he could turn his attention to that. “Mmm, wanna lie down with me, baby?” Those words could be taken a few ways, so chance was careful and sure to use the right tone of voice. One that’s light, soft, and glides like butter. Like if you’re talking to a pet, or just woke up in the morning.
“Mm. I guess.” The effect hasn’t seemed to work just yet. Itrapped went ahead of chance, getting into his side of the bed.
Since chance first came here, Itrapped always had slept on one side. Once he started living with him, he took the other.
He slid into bed, scooting closer to the other. Once close enough, he wrapped his arms around him, and in turn Itrapped only jumped into a more stiff position. It didn’t deter Chance, though; it had always happened since before they even dated.
Still, Chance kept his hold very gently, moving to the other side of Itrapped to grab ahold of the remote.
Typically, Itrapped likes horror… seems it's all he ever watches, but that isn’t suitable for this. Little, he needs little Itrapped. “Hmm, let’s see this.” A nice Disney princess movie, outside of it being made for children, Chance also likes to watch them! “There there.” Now Moana is playing, making Chance throw off the remote.
Typically, Chance ends up lying on Itrapped in some way, but this time, he pulled Itrapped to lean onto him first. Settling the other’s head onto his chest.
“… what are you doing?” Compared to before, his voice is lighter now.
“Shh.. don’t worry about it, Isa.” Chance instead just twirled a finger through Itrapped’s hair. “You’ve been a good boy for me.” That could be taken wrong, Chance quickly covered it up. “So now it’s my turn to be the big one.”
To Itrapped, that made no sense. But he loosened up, snuggling up closer against him. “Ok.” He doesn’t have to do anything; it’s nice sometimes.
“Mhm.” He copied the little sound Itrapped likes to make. “How does a snack sound?”