Work Text:
"Ruskin... Can you make me tea, please?"
The young man who was restlessly fixating on him until now, nodded. His expressionless face didn't change, but the man who was sitting at the desk could see that a spark shone up in his wide, brown gaze.
"Of course, Mr. Milverton." Ruskin answered and after giving him a respectful bow, he walked out of the study and closed it behind himself.
Charles Augustus Milverton only allowed himself to clear his throat after his secretary disappeared from the scene. He woke up with his throat aching and even though he had no other symptoms which suggested that he caught the cold, Ruskin convinced him that unlike how he originally planned, they would not go to the company today but work from home. Of course, Ruskin was a subordinate and Milverton was the higher-up, so technically, he didn't need to give in to his secretary's wish. But those who thought that, didn't know anything about Ruskin. The young, seemingly shy assistant with his innocent face who was Milverton's closest employee had a very strong will and incredible stubbornness when it came to Milverton's health. So for any sign of weakness, he immediately rang the alarm and switched to overprotective mode. Milverton could feel lucky that Ruskin even let him work - but he was sure that as soon as Ruskin sees him tired or even just a little bit uncomfortable in his current state, he would mercilessly send him to his bed.
No one, not even his bodyguards could imagine that the fearful King of Media, who bore unspeakable power and who was evil and cruel to the core, could be ordered around like that by his right-hand man. Until it stayed secret, Milverton was fine with it. He was aware that he didn't pay attention to the borders of his body system, how much he could work and before Ruskin, he sometimes passed out from the exhaustion. Ever since the young man was on his side, this didn't happen. Illnesses couldn't stay hidden under Ruskin's piercing gaze and Milverton was usually healthier than ever.
Except for now.
"The tea, sir." Ruskin said as he entered the study again. There was a tray in his hands which he put down on Milverton's desk. There was a tea kettle, a cup and a glass of yellow mass on it. Honey, Milverton recognized it in a few seconds. He couldn't recall which was the last time he ate honey.
"Honey? What for?" He glanced at his secretary curiously. "I rarely put it into tea."
"But now, you should." Ruskin told his employer. "Honey is good for the aching throat. It will ease your pain and make you heal sooner. Besides..." a faint smile appeared at the corner of the young man's mouth. He barely smiled so now that he did, Milverton paid attention to it. "I know that you have a sweet tooth, sir. I wanted to show you that it is not bad to work from home."
Milverton smirked. He should have known that Ruskin had some hidden intentions behind giving him honey.
"Thank you." He said and waited while his secretary served the tea out for him and flavoured it with some honey. Milverton picked up the cup and drank from it. As the tea slid down on his throat, sweet and soft, he felt that the pain indeed eased.
And Ruskin's other statement was not wrong either.
"You are right - in both." He noted gently and in the company of the tea, he continued the work.