Work Text:
Ruskin, the secretary of Charles Augustus Milverton let out a sneeze. It was strong, almost the entire bed shook into it. Ruskin caught a cold in the recent days and he was ordered to stay in the bed and rest. It annoyed him. He couldn't keep an eye on what his eccentric employer was doing during the day. Mr. Milverton had strange and crazy evil ideas sometimes which could easily get him in trouble if he started to act on his own. Ruskin thought it to be his duty to take care of the other man. Mr. Milverton's decisions were sometimes uncomprehendable, but he was still the one Ruskin, even if he didn't want it at first, ended up falling for. He loved Mr. Milverton with all his heart even if his sarcastic nature sometimes didn't let him show this.
Ruskin was currently not on his own. Mr. Milverton was sitting on his bedside and he watched him with a worried look in his snake-like yellow eyes.
"How do you feel, Ruskin?" Mr. Milverton asked cautiously.
Ruskin sneezed again and only answered after this.
"I am fine, sir. I told you that it is just a cold." He reassured his employer. But Mr. Milverton still stared at him, thinking. Ruskin had no idea what was in his mind, but he was sure that he would learn it soon. Mr. Milverton couldn't stay silent for too long. He always felt the need to talk if Ruskin was there with him.
"I think we should still call the doctor." Mr. Milverton noted. Ruskin rolled his eyes.
"The doctor was here yesterday. He was the one who told me that it was just a cold." He pointed out to remind his employer. "You don't need to worry about me, sir. I am not even acting dramatic..."
Unlike you tend to do, he almost said it out loud. But he didn't finish the sentence in the end. It was true that Mr. Milverton was dramatic, but Ruskin was not annoyed by him as much as he kept commenting about it when his employer was sick. He liked to take care of Mr. Milverton.
It seemed that this was the same for his employer as well when they switched places.
"But your sneeze was quite loud." Mr. Milverton brought it up like he wanted to prove that he still had the right to worry.
"Yes, sir - and this is the sign that my lungs are still strong and have not been affected by the virus too much." Ruskin stated and tried to look into his employer's eyes with a firm gaze. "There is no need for further medical visits, making me rest will be enough."
"If you say so, Ruskin." Mr. Milverton tilted his head, but Ruskin could see that he was still not convinced.
For a few minutes, they didn't talk. Ruskin didn't know why Mr. Milverton was still on his bedside. Doesn't he have work to do? Or did he think that Ruskin would sneak out and he wanted to supervise him? Ruskin wanted to tell him that this was not the case and he didn't need to remain there. He looked at his employer and spoke again.
"You don't need to keep watching over me, sir. I will be alright."
A smile appeared at the corner of Mr. Milverton's mouth. It was not confident, rather embarrassed. Ruskin thought that this would be the moment when he would finally excuse himself and leave the room, but this didn't happen. Instead, Mr. Milverton kept sitting on the bed, smiling.
"I think I will stay. I didn't plan anything for today which can't be skipped. We will continue working together after you heal."
To that, Ruskin's mouth formed a smile as well. Mr. Milverton tried to make it seem like he just doesn't want to work without assistance, but Ruskin knew that this was not the truth. He stayed on his side, because he was still worried. Because he cared for Ruskin like Ruskin cared for him.
"Fine, sir." He answered gently and he thought with relief that at least, Mr. Milverton will not act on his own and have no time to bring a catastrophe onto his head.