Work Text:
Ruskin, the secretary of Charles Augustus Milverton, let out a sneeze. It was a loud one and his entire body got shaken into it. Ruskin painfully sighed and reached for a tissue. He felt like the sneeze just tore his lungs out. But before he could blow his nose, he felt the urge to cough. This urge became stronger as he started it, now it seemed like he couldn't even finish it. When the cough finally stopped, he sneezed again. Ruskin miserably looked at the tissue in his hand. He accidentally tore it apart in his struggle. He took out another one from his suit pocket and he was relieved that he was finally able to blow his nose. He felt so pathetic and weak every time he caught the cold. He loathed being sick. He couldn't give the best in the service of Mr. Milverton even if he was determined to work and not take a day off to rest.
His responsibilities towards his employer were more important than his own health.
"You really caught that cold, fella."
Ruskin turned his head over to the words. It was Harry, one of Mr. Milverton's bodyguards who watched him from the door. Ruskin shook his head and tried to seem confident.
"Not that much." He noted and sniffed before he sneezed again. "I can do my duties just fine. I don't like to simulate just to get a day off like you."
Harry let out a chuckle. He didn't pay attention to the hint of the remark which was directed at him.
"Well, you are indeed not simulating." He said and tilted his head. "So you can take a day off. Why don’t you ask for one? The boss likes you the most out of all the people who works for him. He would surely give you one, he would even encourage you to rest."
Ruskin, while he blushed that Harry's words can be true and Mr. Milverton would be really fond of him, opposed the idea immediately.
"It's me who doesn't want to take a day off." He stated. "I want to continue serving Mr. Milverton. I don't want to pose a problem for him just because I was careless and fell ill. But just like I told this to you already..." he stopped to cough. "I can perfectly fulfill my tasks even that way too."
"Are you not concerned that you will infect the boss?" Harry brought it up. "I know how much you love him. It's basically written on your face."
Ruskin turned even redder for the comment. He had no idea that the feelings he had for his employer were that easy to read. He also needed to admit that Harry was right. Infecting Mr. Milverton was an aspect he didn't think of before, but he was still sure that he can be careful enough to not let Mr. Milverton fall ill as well.
"I will keep a distance from him then." He told Harry. "He will not get sick, I will make sure of it."
"So you will talk to him from the other side of the room?" From Harry's voice, it was clear that he found this amusing to even imagine. "That would be disrespectful, don't you think?"
Ruskin clenched his fists from the frustration. He wanted to answer something fitting, but Harry continued.
"And what happens if you sneeze or cough?" He asked with a smile. "It will be instantly clear for the boss that you lied to him about your state."
Ruskin gulped. He was aware that Harry was right once again and this annoyed him.
"What do you want to get out of this?" He grunted. "Just let me do what I want."
"That wouldn't be funny." Harry replied and a mischievous grin appeared at the corner or his mouth. "Well, if you don't want to tell it to the boss, I will tell it instead of you then. For both of your sake." He winked and a second later, he was out of the room.
Ruskin turned pale. He knew that he couldn't let Harry go to Mr. Milverton and tell him his secret he decided to keep.
"Wait!" He shouted and rushed after Harry who started running in the corridor to get to the study faster. Ruskin felt the need to cough, to sneeze, to blow his nose and he could barely even breathe, but he didn't slow down. He was able to catch him at the last second, but Harry's hand was already on the door knob. They both fell into Mr. Milverton's study like a pair of fighting children.
"Harry. Ruskin. What are you two doing?" Mr. Milverdon's voice was surprised when he saw his two subordinates lying on the floor, on top of each other. As Ruskin was trying to catch his breath, suffocating from his illness, it was Harry could speak first. He quickly spilled it out before Ruskin had the chance to talk.
"Ruskin caught the cold, but he wants to keep this away from you, boss!"
Mr. Milverton turned to Ruskin who was still coughing. His face was red and the tears flowed down on his cheeks. He was aware that he looked horrible, so Mr. Milverton had no doubt that what Harry said was true.
"Harry, bring him some water fast." He ordered Harry who was smiling from the sense of victory when he left the room. "Ruskin, you should never lie to me, especially about something like this." Mr. Milverton continued in a serious voice when they were on their own.
Ruskin looked at Mr. Milverton with a miserable expression while he cleaned himself down.
"I am sorry, sir." He said. "But I know that you would order me to take a day off and I don't want that."
"Why not?"
"Because I want to be useful to you, sir." Ruskin answered with a begging tone. "I can't be useful if I rest - so please, let me work."
Ruskin felt that his employer watched him and heard as the man let out a sigh.
"You can't work in this state." He told Ruskin in a voice that he knew that he just lost the fight. "You need to heal at first. You will go to your room and rest for this day. This is an order."
Ruskin obediently lowered his head. He knew that he could never say no to Mr. Milverton.
"Yes, sir." He whispered with sorrow.
"The water, boss." Harry opened the door and stepped in. While he handed it over to Ruskin to drink, Mr. Milverton spoke to him.
"You will escort Ruskin to his bedroom and call the doctor. I will come when he arrived."
"Your wish is granted, boss." Harry giggled while Ruskin watched him with a furious gaze. He wished to kill the bodyguard - or at least, pay this back to him... as soon as he healed.
"I will check up on you, Ruskin." He heard Mr. Milverton's words before he left his study. This promise made him feel a little bit better.