Work Text:
The Crash Out
“Hey,” Shane softly said on the phone as soon as Ilya picked up his call. Well, more of like as soon as Ilya continuously coughed on the phone when he answered it. “Still sick, baby?” he cooed.
“Da,” Ilya replied miserably.
“I’m on my way home, dorogoy (sweetheart). I’m already in the car. I’ll see you. I’ll take care of you.”
“Oke, husband,” Ilya managed to say in between incessant coughing.
Shane sighed as he ended the call with his husband. He had already removed his jacket and unbuttoned his silk shirt. He was itching to remove all his clothes.
The night had been lovely. Shane went with his best friend, Rose, at the premier of her movie. It was a huge success with many praising Rose for her performance at the film adaptation of Wuthering Heights. It was her first film without being kidnapped.
The night was close to perfection if only his husband was not at home, sick and miserable. Ilya was supposed to go to the premiere, too, but alas, he got sick early in the morning. Shane was looking forward to their matching brown evening suits. Ilya was supposed to wear one without any shirt inside and Shane was looking forward to drooling at his gorgeous husband. Shane almost didn’t go - Ilya caught a flu and he was very weak. Shane wanted to take care of his husband who turns into a manchild whenever he is sick. Ilya encouraged him to go in support of THEIR best friend, Rose.
It was close to 3am when the chauffeured limousine which Rose ordered for him, pulled on their driveway. Shane was exhausted but was still looking forward to attending to his sick husband. Said husband was texting him while he was getting ready for the premier in his hotel room and during the red carpet alternating between lusting after Shane in his solo pictures and getting jealous in his photos with Rose while Shane was vacillating from amusement to irritation. While the film was showing, Ilya stopped texting when Shane told him he wouldn’t be able to reply. As soon as the movie lights turned on, he fired a quick message to his husband to check on him. Ilya’s replies had been slower and were just very short. Shane knew that Ilya’s fever must have reached its peak. Rose sent him off home when she noticed Shane was anxiously checking his phone.
“Ilya, I’m home,” Shane called out as he removed his shoes in their doorway. He didn’t expect any reply so he proceeded to his room. “Ilya, sweetheart?” he said softly as he opened their bedroom door.
“Shane?” Ilya replied hoarsely with a cough.
“I’m here now, baby. I will take care of you now,” Shane said. He felt so guilty for leaving his husband sick at home.
“Lights on please, I want to see my handsome husband.” Shane smiled softly as he turned on the bedside lamp.
“Hi,” Shane said. He noticed Ilya looking flushed so he placed his hand on his husband’s forehead. “Ilya, you are burning hot!”
“Da, I know I am hot,” Ilya replied teasingly while coughing.
“Did you take your medicines?” Shane picked up the bottle of pills on the bedside table. He only placed three tablets there before he left. The same amount of tablets still remained in the bottle.
“Nyet. I forgot. I just want to sleep, husband.”
“Okay, okay.” Shane got up to remove his silk shirt when Ilya stopped him.
“No!” Cough. “I want to see,” cough, “my handsome,” cough, “husband,” cough.
“Ilya,” Shane said.
“Please, baby,” Ilya tried to pout but ended up coughing again.
“Okay, I will still wear it. Let me take your temperature, give you a sponge bath, drink tea and take some broth please so you can drink your medicine.”
“I like it when you are bossy, Hollander- Rozanov.”
“I like it when you beg, Hollander- Rozanov,” Shane replied laughing but Ilya just ended up coughing again. That spurred Shane to action. He took his husband’s temperature, 38.8C (101.84F)! He filled a basin with lukewarm water and dropped a hand towel there so he could wipe down his husband’s burning body. He grabbed a dry towel to pat Ilya dry. He made Ilya drink ginger tea with honey and turmeric while he wiped his body down.
“Rose sent me videos while you were in your hotel,” Ilya said as he grabbed his phone. “I liked the one where they told you to think of me and you give them your sweetest smile, moy lyubov.” Ilya looked at him fondly as he played the video and Shane visibly flinched at the noise. Ilya turned it off immediately. “You good, sweetheart?”
“Yea, yea. I just missed you so much,” Shane started kissing Ilya’s knuckles when he finished administering the sponge bath and felt his exhaustion envelope him.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. You are home now, safe with me,” Ilya cleared his throat as he finished his tea. Shane nodded and rushed to their kitchen to reheat the soup he had prepared earlier before he left for the premier. Shane spoon fed Ilya the soup and when he had finished it, the medicine was given.
“Rest now, you should feel a little bit better in a few hours. I’ll take a shower.” Ilya quickly dozed off as soon as he heard the shower running. He woke up when he felt Shane still fussing over him.
“Shane, why are you wearing all those?” Ilya pointed out Shane’s blue hoodie, sweatpants and white socks. He wears those when he needs to recharge after being overwhelmed. “I will be your weighted blanket tonight.”
“No, Ilya, you are sick. I want you to rest first before anything else, ok?” Shane said. He was starting to crash, his voice was getting softer and he was losing his focus. “I have to -,” Shane started but didn’t finish as he walked out of the room.
“Moy kotyonok,” Ilya called out but sleep hit him like a truck.
Ilya woke up feeling much better. He didn’t feel so hot anymore (but he is still very hot, thank you very much) and he didn’t wake up coughing. He didn’t know how long he was asleep. He turned over to Shane’s side and found it empty. He stood up gingerly and he didn’t move right away when the floor started to sway. He took deep steady breaths to stop the floor from moving. He needed to find his Shane.
Ilya walked towards their darkened living room and sure enough, he saw Shane’s outline on their sofa. He was sitting ramrod straight, his hands on his lap and his hood pulled on his head. Ilya was sure he wasn’t asleep but just staring off into space. He slowly sat on the couch a few inches apart from Shane.
“Shane,” Ilya started softly. His husband didn’t move. He tried again a little bit louder this time, still no movement. “Shane!” Ilya said louder. He saw Shane’s body jerk and he knew that his husband’s eyes were blinking fast to focus.
“Ilya?” Shane said as he turned to Ilya. “What are you doing here? You should be resting!”
“Sweetheart, I feel better now. I didn’t wake up coughing and I don’t feel so hot anymore.”
“But you could have a relapse!” Shane exclaimed.
“Sweetheart, love of my life, we both need each other now. Let me help you recharge, and I always sleep better when you are in my arms,” Ilya pleaded passionately, showing off his sad kitten look which he surely learned from the best.
“Okay,” Shane finally agreed.
“Oke, where do you want to rest? Here or in our room?”
“Our bedroom,” Shane replied quickly. They got up, both unsteady on their feet so they held each other’s hands tightly to help support each other. When they reached their room, Ilya turned to his husband.
“Up,” he instructed as he held the hem of Shane's hoodie. His husband lifted his arms and Ilya undressed him. Then he held on the garter of Shane’s sweatpants and dragged them as he got on his knees. He tapped Shane’s foot to lift it so he could pull off his sweatpants. “Would you like your socks to stay?” Ilya asked, looking up to his husband while still on his knees.
“Off,” Shane replied so Ilya removed them and he did the same with the other foot. He got up and folded Shane’s clothes neatly on their bedroom chair. He took Shane’s hand again and led him to the side of his bed. He pulled the comforter back and urged Shane to get on the bed. As soon as Shane was lying down, Ilya turned off the lamp from their bedside and settled himself in between Shane’s thighs and lay on top of his husband. Both were stripped down to their boxers only and were skin to skin. Shane wrapped his arm around Ilya and inhaled his scent. Ilya’s scent was a little bit different because he was sick, but Shane loved it just the same. Ilya rested his face on Shane’s neck and they both started to relax, felt at peace, and started healing.