#Sarcastic Rook | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

theworldofsisi · 1 month ago

Text

On the Case of Fire and Ice

Droplets of spit made a clinking noise as they leaked from Rook’s mouth and hit the inside of the tarnished iron of one of Lucanis’s older cooking pots. Rook had discreetly taken it when he’d first started feeling nauseous, not wanting to trouble the others when everyone had so much to contend with already. He hadn’t even told Emmrich that he wasn’t feeling well, although he expected it wouldn’t be long before the necromancer came looking for him. Rook now sat on the loveseat in his room, hovering over the pot and willing himself to throw up just so the queasiness would finally abate. He had thought about forcing himself to be sick, but that would be a last-ditch effort, and he wasn’t that desperate yet. Even if he was getting close. After a few more moments of mounting discomfort, Rook gagged forcefully enough to surprise even himself. Nothing came up, but it was enough to set the chain of events in motion. He gagged unproductively a couple of more times before a knock at his door made him jolt upright before gagging yet again.

“Rook, darling? Are you in there?” Emmrich’s voice. Shit.

“Emmrich, don’t come in,” Rook paused to take a much-needed breath. “I’m sick.”

“Don’t be preposterous dearest, that’s all the more reason to come in.” Emmrich said chidingly as he pushed opened the door and situated himself to the right of Rook on the loveseat. The jostling of Emmrich settling onto the loveseat was enough to upset Rook’s already rolling stomach and seemed to have helped the nausea reach its crescendo. He was going to be sick.

Rook bent over closer to the pot as his mouth filled with saliva. He let it drip into the pot as Emmrich rubbed gentle circles into his back. Here it comes.

“Dearest, is there anything I can do to help or alleviate your suffering in some way?”

“Grab my hair.” Rook managed to choke out before he was violently sick. Luckily Emmrich’s reflexes were still impeccable despite his years, and he managed to gather up Rook’s long, grayish-blonde hair into his fist just in time before Rook threw up. He used his other hand to continue rubbing comforting circles into Rook’s back through the fabric of his vest. Rook continued to throw up forcefully and uncontrollably for several minutes before that was replaced with painful dry heaves.

“Sorry, I know this is gross.” Rook apologized in between a particularly violent heave.

“Rook, I have spent most of my life attending to all matters of the deceased. While the state of death might be beautiful as far as the completion of a cycle is concerned, how people arrive at that final plane of existence is often rather gruesome indeed. That is just to say that you being sick is not enough to ‘gross’ me out to any degree. I simply wish that I could make you feel better.” Rook swiped the back of his hand across his mouth.

“That’s comforting at least. I think I’m finished for now, you can let go of my hair.” Rook said before settling his weight into Emmrich’s side. Emmrich adjusted both of their bodies on the couch so that Rook was laying down horizontal on the loveseat with his head in Emmrich’s lap. Emmrich began alternating between massaging Rook’s scalp and running his fingers through the long, sweat-streak strands. He hadn’t noticed until his own body was flush against Rook how warm the younger man was. Rook rolled over on his side just enough to stare up at Emmrich’s worried face.

“Thanks for taking care of me. I just hope I’m not contagious, you getting sick too is the last thing that either of us needs on top of everything else.”

“Don’t trouble yourself dearest, I have been blessed with a rather robust constitution and illness rarely strikes me. I should be perfectly fine. Now, tell me, is there anything that I can do to make you more comfortable?” Rook settled himself back down into Emmrich’s lap, allowing his eyes to fall closed as he finally realized how exhausted he was.

“Just stay with me. Please.” He said, his normally loud and sarcastic tone uncharacteristically weak. Emmrich trailed his gloved right hand across the smooth lines of Rook’s face.

“Of course, darling. I’m right here.” And with that, Rook drifted into unconsciousness.

…

Darkness. Blight. Overtaking everything and everyone that he had ever loved. His friends, his allies. Emmrich. Tendrils of death snaking around the entirety of the figure of the man he had come to care for so deeply. A diseased boil pulsed behind him, as if it shared a direct connection to the beating of Emmrich’s own heart. Emmrich’s mouth was agape, frozen in a soundless scream. He could see in the way his lips were pursed that Emmrich had been preparing to say the nickname that gave him butterflies every time he heard him say it –

“Rook?” Emmrich’s voice asked worriedly, “Dearest you’re having a nightmare. Come now darling, that’s it. Come back to me.” Emmrich gently shook Rook’s shoulder, finally managing to break through the sleep induced haze that had taken hold of his beloved. While the shaking had had the intended effect of waking Rook up, it had also had the much unintended side effect of jostling Rook’s still angry stomach. Unable to move due to being enveloped in Emmrich’s arms and not having enough time to ask to be released, Rook’s stomach violently expelled its contents right there onto the loveseat. And Emmrich’s lap. Shocked, Emmrich released his hold on Rook as Rook rolled off the couch onto the floor below, narrowly missing hitting the sick pot. He looked up in horror at Emmrich from where he was crouching on the ground. Emmrich’s expression was unreadable as he stared down at his own vomit saturated lap.

“Shit Emmrich I—” Emmrich glanced up and held up his gloved hand to silence him.

“Rook darling, it’s quite alright. It was an accident; you had no control over this happening. It came on so suddenly that neither of us had time to prepare. Let me go get changed and cleaned up and I’ll be right back. Do you believe you’ll be okay in here by yourself or do you wish for me to fetch Manfred to tend to you?” Rook closed his eyes for a brief moment in hopes that the absence of sight would quell the ever-mounting turmoil in his stomach. It didn’t. But he wasn’t going to tell Emmrich how bad he still felt, it was clear that the older man was already concerned enough, especially after Rook had upchucked in his lap.

“I’ll be fine, Emmrich. Go get yourself cleaned up. And I’m –” Emmrich again held up his hand to stop his attempts at apologizing.

“As I said Rook, it’s quite alright. Now I’m going to freshen up and I’ll be back in nary a moment.” With that, Emmrich left Rook alone with his embarrassment. Rook sat back down on the side of the loveseat that wasn’t coated with his sick and sighed. That’s going to leave a stain, hopefully we can get it out. Wouldn’t want Solas to send us a cleaning bill. Rook almost laughed at the absurdity of the thought. He might have had he not been so nauseous.Before he had time to ponder the idea further, Emmrich returned true to his word. He’d traded in his manilla-white pants in favor of a pair of black button-down trousers that Rook had never seen him wear before. Damn. He looks good.

“Rook darling you’re staring. Are you quite alright?” Emmrich asked quizzically, one perfect eyebrow raised in curiosity. Rook blushed and lowered his gaze.

“Sorry, just admiring the artwork in front of me.” Rook said, somewhat surprised at how easily the line had slipped out.

“The artwork?” Emmrich paused for a moment processing Rook’s words. Now it was his turn to blush as he realized what Rook was implying. “oh, you and your wonderfully timed compliments. Even when ill, you know just the right things to say to flatter me.”

“It isn’t just flattery. I mean it.” Rook said earnestly, looking up at Emmrich from underneath his long lashes. Emmrich’s face softened.

“I know darling. It’s just been quite some time since I was last wooed, and I suppose I’m simply not used to the sensations that it brings. That’s a conversation for another time however, when you’re feeling more yourself. For now, I’m afraid that the loveseat is going to require some urgent care, but I can’t bear the thought of being away from you while you’re unwell long enough to contend with it. I made a pallet in my room for us to rest on that we don’t have to worry if you get sick on. Would you like me to carry you, or can you walk?” Rook stood up and took a few shaky steps before his knees buckled. He would have fallen had Emmrich not been standing close enough to grab hold of him. Emmrich hoisted him into his arms bridal-style and Rook was surprised not for the first time about how much strength the older man still possessed.

“I suppose that answers my question.” Emmrich said wryly. He carried Rook next door to his own room and situated him onto the pallet of blankets and pillows that he had made on the bottom floor. Rook settled into the comfortable pile with a soft whisper of “Thanks Emmrich.” Before sleep claimed him once again.

…

Blight boils pulsated and called to him, their song like the call of a friend who had been away for quite some time. Only, they had changed. Or maybe he was the one who had changed. The song echoed all around him, consuming his thoughts and making his head pound at a tempo that could only be described as detrimental. He glanced out at the battlefield, the corpses of countless darkspawn scattered all around him. Blood, guts, and the foul stench of death permeated the air around him as he wrenched his sword out of the chest of a Hurlock who he had felled to his right. He wiped his hand across his face, desperate to remove even a little of the sticky blood that had clung to his face and made his skin crawl. Undoubtedly some of it was his own. It seemed like he was alone on the battlefield save for the corpses of the blighted beasts who were his sworn duty as a Warden to slay. That was until a flicker of movement somewhere to his left caught his eye. He approached the source of the movement carefully, each one of his senses heightened and on high alert. He realized too late the danger he was in when he saw the terrifyingly familiar visage of Ghilan’nain. Worse still, she had her long, serpentine arm right through the center of Emmrich’s chest. He gasped in abject terror as Ghilan’nain turned to face him, still with her arm puppeting Emmrich’s corpse.

“Rook, so nice of you to join me. After your merciless slaying of so many of the creations that I hold dearest to me, I decided that it was only fitting to return the favor and take something from you. Now, lets see what your dearest necromancer has to say now that the consequences of your actions have directly led to his death.” Ghilan’nain waved her free hand over Emmrich and the dead man’s eyes flickered open. He peered down at his partner through those now glossy and dead hazel eyes and smiled, a disturbing and warped version of his normally joyous expression.

“Rook, this is your fault. You didn’t stop the Gods in time. You won’t stop them. You can’t stop them. All your attempts will end in failure. And you’ll drag everyone around you down with you when you fall.” Ghilan’nain smiled, although it was more akin to a grimace with the way her mouth twisted to form the expression.

“See Rook? Even your own beloved doesn’t believe in your plight. Stop fighting. Join me. I’ll even consider bringing your necromancer lover back to the realm of the living. Keep fighting and I’ll turn him into one of my pets and you’ll be the one who has to still his heart.”

Rook awoke with a sharp gasp that made his already sore and parched throat feel like it was splitting open. The nausea had intensified to an all-time high and his body felt like it was on fire. He glanced around Emmrich’s room desperately as his stomach revolted, knowing that he was going to be sick and not wanting a repeat of the earlier occurrence. With no suitable vessels in sight, Rook clambered his way up the winding staircase to the balcony level of Emmrich’s room and rushed to the landing. He was barely able to hang his head over the awning before he vomited violently over the edge. Rook clung onto the banister in a desperate bid to keep himself upright as his knees again threatened to buckle underneath his weight. Dark spots began appearing in his line of sight as he heard the door to Emmrich’s room open, and the sound of frenzied footsteps rush up the stairs. Emmrich’s comforting presence came up behind him and Rook turned to face him, the motion of turning around causing his vision to go completely black for a split second. He was going down. He heard Emmrich gasp as the world went completely dark around him.

…

“Rook, wake up darling. Come back to me.” Emmrich begged as he fully supported Rook’s weight. The younger man had pitched forward at an alarming rate, fully unconscious before even hitting Emmrich’s waiting arms. Rook didn’t respond to his desperate pleas, his face slack and almost peaceful. Emmrich hovered his hand over Rook’s mouth and nose to make sure that he was still breathing. Warm air tickled against his hand telling him for certain that the young man had not joined the ranks of the undead. Not under my watch. Emmrich hoisted Rook into his arms again and carried him downstairs, grunting only slightly as he lowered the elf back down onto the pallet. Just the act of carrying the younger man had made Emmrich uncomfortably sweaty, and not from exertion. The sheer heat of Rook’s body temperature had warmed his own body up from the outside in. I simply must find a way to cool him down. What to do, what to do?

Emmrich briefly pondered how best to help Rook before settling on the tried-and-true method of cold water and rags. Emmrich searched around the room for his skeletal companion and his eyes finally landed on Manfred, who appeared to be reading a book. Only, the book was upside down. My dearest Manfred. Not the brightest soul, but oh so full of potential.

“Manfred? Would you be a dear and watch Rook for me while I journey to the kitchen for supplies? I shan’t be gone a moment. Please fetch me if his current condition deteriorates further.”

“Watch Rook!” Manfred said excitedly, dropping the book he’d been holding forcefully enough to make Emmrich flinch. He’d have to advise Manfred on the proper etiquette of caring for books once Rook was well. With a final glance at the sleeping visage of his beloved, Emmrich dashed down the stairs and rapidly through the courtyard until he reached the kitchen.

He pushed open the doors and immediately began his hunt for rags and one of the metal pitchers of water that Lucanis prepared each time he went into the market. Once he found what he was looking for he was about to turn around when a voice from behind him made him jolt in momentary terror.

“Emmrich, is everything alright?” Lucanis. As if summoned like a spirit, or maybe a demon, the Crow had appeared behind him like an apparition in the night. The jolt through his body had made Emmrich release his grip on the metal pitcher, but he was surprised to see the pitcher safely in Lucanis’s arms when he looked up at the assassin. Those Crow reflexes can be as terrifying as they are useful.

“My dear Lucanis, you almost sent me to an early grave.” Emmrich said, taking deep, calming breaths to slow the pounding of his heart. Lucanis smiled apologetically as he held out the metal pitcher to Emmrich.

“We can’t have that, Rook would kil me.” Emmrich’s brow furrowed in worry at the mention of Rook as he gingerly took the pitcher back from Lucanis. Lucanis noticed the change in his friend’s expression instantly thanks to his years of expertise at detecting even the subtlest shifts in a contract’s body language.

“Emmrich, what’s wrong? What are the water and rags for?” Emmrich sighed as his mind wandered back Rook’s current state.

“Rook’s deathly ill. Can’t keep anything down and has a horrid fever to match. I’ve been attempting to care for him on my own, but his condition has deteriorated faster than I could have anticipated. I fear that if I don’t somehow bring his fever down, it might be the end of him.”

“Mierda. We really can’t have that. Especially not with the threat of the Gods and the blight hanging over us. I guess that does explain where one of my pots mysteriously disappeared to.” Lucanis said wryly. Emmrich’s face paled and he tried to stammer out a response.

“Rook must have –”

“It’s okay, Emmrich. He picked the one that was on its way out the door in the first place. I was about to toss it or take it to Antoine and see if the Gray Wardens might be able to refurbish or use it for crafting. I’ll replace it when I next go to the market. While I’m out would you like me to see if I can find some medicine for Rook?”

“Don’t trouble yourself, I rather think that this is simply an illness of opportunity what with Rook never taking the time to slow down and rest. While I do understand that our current plight is treacherous indeed, I must admit that I saw this coming. But that just goes to say that with proper rest, I believe that he’ll be back to his normal self in no time.”

“Let me at least see if I have the ingredients I need to make Viago’s famous hangover tea to help soothe his stomach. Tastes like shit, but most of the Crows swear by it. We have full pitchers of it waiting after a big celebration.” Lucanis turned away and began shuffling around the kitchen as Emmrich’s face brightened, if only slightly before dimming again.

“That would be wonderful and most helpful if he could keep it down.” Emmrich said wistfully.

“It’s meant to be sipped slowly, a little bit at a time.”

“You know as well as I do that Rook doesn’t know how to take anything slow. Always rushing headfirst into everything.” Emmrich couldn’t help but allow his mind to wander to the whirlwind that their short relationship had already been, as quickly as it had come on and became rather serious. It frightened him greatly at times how much the younger man meant to him already. Harding had picked up on some of his reservations about his and Rook’s relationship and that had done nothing to help the situation. Lucanis paused his ingredient hunt and raised an eyebrow at Emmrich.

“You aren’t just talking about him and tea, are you?” He questioned, already knowing the answer.

“No, I’m not. But as is the case with most things today, that’s a conversation for another time.” Lucanis stands beside him again and gives his shoulder a gentle squeeze.

“I’ll brew the tea and bring it up when it’s finished. Are you going to be in his room or yours?”

“Mine,” Emmrich said carefully before clarifying. “although I suppose it has also become his in a way.” Lucanis gave him a knowing smile.

“That’s what happens when you fall in love with someone,” Emmrich started to argue but he saw the look in Lucanis’s eyes and knew that the younger man was speaking from the experience of having fallen wings over talons in love with Neve. Denying his true feelings for Rook to Lucanis would be pointless, even if he continued denying them to Rook and even himself. Lucanis gave his shoulder another squeeze, bringing him out of his momentary reverie. “go be with him. I’ll brew the tea and talk to Neve.”

“Neve?” Emmrich questioned curiously, not quite sure what the detective mage had to do with brewing tea. Lucanis grinned. Or as much of a grin as Lucanis could give.

“You’ll see. Now go. Be with your amore.” Emmrich nodded his thanks and rushed back to his room expecting to find Rook still fast asleep on the pallet when he pushed open the door. Instead, he was shocked to find a nearly naked but very much awake Rook lying on his back on the pallet. Rook had stripped his pants and vest off and now wore nothing but his undergarments. Emmrich averted his gaze out of respect but couldn’t help but blush at the sight of the beautiful young man laid out scandalously before him. Before he could admonish himself at the inappropriateness of a thought like that at a time like this, his eyes were drawn to Manfred, who stood beside Rook, wearing Rook’s discarded clothes, his own apprentice coat strewn over the railing of the staircase. Manfred stared at him, the expression on his skeletal face could only be described as…. proud?

“I Rook!” He chanted gleefully, pointing at himself with a bony finger.

“No Manfred it’s ‘I’m Rook’ but in this case proper enunciation isn’t important because you are not Rook you are Manfred, and you need to remove Rook’s clothing at once.” Emmrich admonished though his correction completely lacked its usual bite.

“Rook, Rook, Rook!” Manfred chanted as he began running around the room, still refusing to part with Rook’s clothing.

“Well, I am Rook, and it’s not as great as he might think right now. He can take over being me if he wants as long as it also transfers over the vomiting and fever. Probably not possible considering he doesn’t have a stomach or skin, but he can keep the clothes. They look better on him anyway.” Manfred paused his excited running and turned to Rook as he held his bony arms above his head in apparent celebration.

“Hooray!”

“No Manfred not hooray.” Emmrich interjected, his voice and expression full of worry. “Rook dearest, you’re feverish not approaching death. I simply cannot stand idly by while you bequeath your earthly possessions. And I must say –” Emmrich paused for a moment as a most inappropriate thought crossed through his mind and a blush colored his tanned face. Rook laughed out loud for what must have been the first time that day.

“First of all, Emmrich I was joking about the clothes, and second, what were you about to say before you stopped yourself?” Rook asked, his dark eyebrows raised suggestively.

“It was entirely inappropriate to the current circumstances.” Emmrich doesn’t meet his gaze.

“But I like inappropriate. In fact, I thrive on inappropriate. I think my default state of being is inappropriate.” Rook clarified with a chuckle, eyebrows still raised and that seemingly ever-present smirk reappearing on his face for the first time that day. Maker’s breath that smirk.

“I know you like it.” Emmrich admonished as he finally met Rook’s icy-blue gaze.

“Then tell me what you wished you could say. Please, it’ll make me feel better.” Rook begged.

“I—Fine,” Emmrich caved in, averting his gaze once again. “I wanted to say that you look rather fetching in the outfit that Manfred has also grown rather fond of, but if I might be so bold to say that you look even better out of it. But I felt that to be too forward considering that we haven’t even been inti—” Rook’s unexpected eruption into a fit of giggles mercifully stopped Emmrich from having to finish that sentence. He bowed his head and finally sat down the nearly forgotten water jug that had grown rather heavy in the cradle of his arm. Rook noticed the shift in Emmrich’s demeanor, and the giggles instantly ceased.

“Emmrich I’m sorry for laughing, that was just so unexpected coming from you. Unexpected but appreciated. Thanks for the compliment. You know you always look dashing to me, especially in those new pants of yours.” Rook wiggled his eyebrows at Emmrich so hard that Emmrich himself couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yes well, I guess that try as we might to act to the contrary, at our core we are all animalistic beings,” Emmrich stared directly into Rook’s blue eyes as he continued. “some far more than others. Regardless, it’s quite comforting to see that you seem to have regained some of your strength after your forced repose.”

“Yeah,” Rook said, a somber tone replacing his mirthful one. “thanks for not letting me faceplant the floor. I was not feeling well. I mean, I guess I’m still not, hence why I took off most of my clothes, but I do feel better than I did. Whatcha got there by the way?” He asked, gesturing vaguely to the water jug on the floor and the rags in Emmrich’s hands. Emmrich grabbed his supplies and sat them down closer to Rook before reaching out to place his ungloved left hand on Rook’s forehead, which was still concerningly warm and slick with sweat.

“It’s water and rags to hopefully quell your fever,” he said as he removed his hand from Rook’s burning forehead. “although at this rate I fear that it won’t be nearly enough.”

“It won’t, but I will be.” Neve’s voice said as she pushed open the door to Emmrich’s room, followed closely behind by Lucanis who was holding a mug of tea. Rook’s face flushed in embarrassment at having been metaphorically caught with his pants around his ankles and he made a weak attempt to cover himself up with a loose piece of the blanket underneath him before Neve’s laugh stopped him in his tracks.

“Don’t bother, it isn’t as if we didn’t see everything the last time we all got drunk and played strip Wicked Grace. Well, almost everything. Luckily you had the pride to call before you did us all the indignity of removing your undergarments.”

“Not my finest moment,” Rook said with a grimace. “Not my best game of Wicked Grace either come to think of it. Must have been the booze.” Neve and Lucanis laughed.

“Sure, we all have our off days. And I never thought I’d say it but you already being half-naked actually makes this a lot easier. I need as much of your skin available to me as possible if I’m to cool it down effectively.” Rook stared at her in confusion.

“What, are you going to cool me down with your ice magic?”

“Yes actually. Or would you rather remain on fire? I could get Taash to help with that.” she asks sardonically.

“No ma’am.” Rook acquiesced as he laid down fully on his back.

“Good. So, you’re consenting that you’re okay with being touched?” She waited for Rook’s nod of approval before glancing at Lucanis and Emmrich. “And you two are consenting that you’re both okay with me touching Rook?” She waited until both men also nodded their consent before her ice magic began glowing in her hands. She placed her ice-kissed hands on Rook’s burning forehead and was shocked and very concerned at how quickly the heat radiating from Rook’s skin began to cool down her own hands. She had to increase the level of mana she expended to make her magic come out cold enough that it made Rook shudder in discomfort. He tensed his muscles to keep himself still and Emmrich knelt down beside him and took his hand.

“Damn Rook, you are hot.” She said as she moved one of her hands down to Rook’s flushed chest.

“Thanks, I try.” Rook smirked, some of his usual sarcasm seeming to have returned. The smirk disappeared from his face as Neve once again increased the coldness of her hands. Rook trembled under her touch and her normally sarcastic and crass demeanor softened as she glanced down at her sick friend.

“In this case you might have overachieved just a touch. Tell me if it gets too unbearable or starts to hurt.” she said gently. Rook nodded as he closed his eyes. Emmrich sighs from his position on the pallet beside Rook.

“I suppose I could have used ice magic to cool him down myself if the thought had occurred to me sooner. Although I must admit that ice magic was what I struggled most with as a student.”

“It’s okay, we all have our strengths. Your specialty happens to lie with necromancy, and mine just so happens to be ice,” She smirked as she caught Emmrich’s gaze out of the corner of her eye. “Plus, let’s face it. If you got your hands on Rook like this, you’d do a lot more than cool him down.” Emmrich’s face flushed so hard that it looks like he’d been slapped. Rook broke out into a laugh that almost upset his still queasy stomach as he traced gentle circles into Emmrich’s hand which gripped his own hand for dear life. Emmrich coughed to clear his throat before replying. When he spoke, he made it clear by the way that he doesn’t break eye contact with his beloved that while he was replying to Neve, his words were meant for Rook.

“I assure you that I am a perfect gentleman, and whatever happens or does not happen between Rook and myself will be completely up to his discretion.”

“Hey, what the two of you do or don’t do is none of my business. I was just making a joke. I apologize if it wasn’t to your taste.” Neve said earnestly. Emmrich smiled and gave her a small nod.

“I know that and it’s quite alright, Neve. I do honestly thank you for helping Rook however,” He glanced down at the younger man, who to his surprise, had closed his eyes and was now breathing shallowly. His face looked more peaceful than any of the companions had ever seen, including Emmrich. “He seems to have fallen asleep.” Emmrich whispered as he gently coaxed his hand out of Rook’s and sat back on his heels, the hunched over position having taken its toll on his back. He hadn’t realized how achy he was feeling. He ran a hand through his normally perfectly coifed hair and was surprised to find it damp with sweat. Hmmm that can’t be good.

“That’s alright, I think I’ve done all that I can safely do for him anyway. I’m exhausted now and pushing him too far into the direction of being cold would be just as detrimental to his health. It’s up to his body now to fight off whatever is making him sick. Plus—” Neve paused as she laid her still warm arm across Emmrich’s forehead, which had never returned to its normal pallor after having turned red during his earlier embarrassment. “I think I’m going to need to save some mana for you soon enough.” Emmrich’s brows furrowed as he settled down on the pallet beside Rook.

“I assure you that I’m quite alright.” The sudden exhaustion he was feeling could not be a good sign, but he wasn’t going to tell Neve that. Lucanis, who had been silent up until this point, knelt and placed the mug of tea down on the ground beside the pallet.

“Tea’s cold now but have him drink it if he’s still feeling nauseous when he wakes up. It should take care of it. And you drink it if you need it as well. I can always make more.” Emmrich’s eyes flutter opened as he gazed up at Lucanis. He hadn’t even realized that he’d closed them.

“I don’t know why everyone is expecting me to fall victim to whatever this sickness that has plagued Rook is, but I assure you that I am quite resistant to illness.” Emmrich insisted, although the oh so slight roll of his stomach suggested otherwise. Maker’s breath.

“Sure you are Emm. Now Lucanis and I are going to head out and let the two of you rest. Please, don’t hesitate to send Manfred to fetch us if either of you need anything.” Neve said gently as her and Lucanis began walking towards the door. She didn’t expect a response as it seemed that Emmrich had already fallen asleep, but his sleepy voice stopped her just before she stepped through the threshold.

“Thank you both, truly.” Neve smiled as she closed the door to the sickroom.

…

“Emmrich, you’re sick. Please just drink the tea.” Rook begged as he knelt down on the pallet beside Emmrich, who was cradling his stomach. Emmrich stared up at him with glazy hazel eyes that still made his knees go weak even though they were currently red, and half closed.

“I simply don’t think I can stomach it, darling. It tastes absolutely vile. In fact, I think I would much rather drink embalming fluid than whatever poisonous concoction that Viago has whisked up and passed off as a healing tonic.” Emmrich said, literally turning his nose up at the mere sight of the mug of tea cradled in Rook’s hand.

“I mean it’s Viago’s recipe, but Lucanis made it so there’s that.”

“Well that simply means that it’s Lucanis who is trying to kill me. I should have stayed and watched him brew this monstrosity so that I knew everything he put in it.”

“Yeah, but you were just fine with me drinking it?” Rook questioned, his tone full of mock hurt. “I thought you cared for me.”

“I do darling, I did think it would help you. Truthfully if I could will myself to get past the taste it likely would quell the worst of my own nausea, but I don’t think I’m quite desperate enough to risk it making me ill again. I’d rather just lie here and rest with you to keep me company.” Rook sighed softly as sat down the tea on a nearby table and settled down onto the pallet beside Emmrich, whose body was radiating heat through the layers of his clothing. Rook began running his fingers through the strands of Emmrich’s coifed hair, much like the older man had done for him only hours earlier. Emmrich seemed to melt into his touch, his body losing some of its tenseness as Rook massaged his scalp. He’d only been lying beside Emmrich for a few moments by this point but was already uncomfortably warm due to the residual heat emanating from Emmrich’s body.

“Emmrich, are you sure that you don’t want to take some of your clothes off? I think it’ll help you feel a little better. Maybe It’s because I’m too comfortable being naked around you, and apparently others when I’m drunk enough so I might not be the best judge, but you deserve to be comfortable.” Emmrich’s head shook underneath Rook’s hand.

“I’m quite alright as I am dearest. If it gets to be too much, I’ll have Manfred fetch Neve. Hopefully she managed to rest after helping break your fever.” Emmrich rolled over to face him and stared up at him through hooded eyes. “Enough about me, Rook. How are you? You were in far worse shape than I mere hours ago.” Rook laughed softly as he thought back on the previous day’s events. What he remembered of them, anyway.

“To be honest, a lot of it is still a blur, and I can see why they call it a fever dream when you’re sick. I do know that, not to be cheesy, Neve’s ice worked like magic and once my fever was broken, a lot of the nausea disappeared with it. Being sick to your stomach and being hot don’t go together.” Emmrich’s jaw tightened, and he closed his eyes against a particularly gruesome wave of nausea.

“I can imagine all too well.” Rook gave him a small, sympathetic smile.

“And I managed to not throw up when you were throwing up, which I take as a good sign.”

“Indeed. Unfortunately, I fear that it’s a skill you’re going to have to utilize again soon enough.” Emmrich admitted through gritted teeth. Rook sat up like he’d been struck by one of Bellara’s lightening attacks.

“You feel like you’re going to be sick again?” He questioned as Emmrich sat up too. The older man didn’t answer, and Rook knew that meant that he couldn’t. Rook scrambled to find the pot that had now found new purpose as the communal sick pot and thrust it under his partner’s face just in time for Emmrich to be violently sick. Emmrich took the pot from him as he continued to heave into it, the sounds making Rook grimace as he rubbed Emmrich’s back. This is exactly what I was worried would happen. “I guess your robust constitution didn’t come through for you this time.” Emmrich’s only response was another violent splash of vomit into the pot. After a few moments of constant vomiting, his heaves became dry and ragged as he took deep breaths in an attempt to regain his composure.

“I’m sorry you had to see me this way, darling.” He said as soon as he was able, giving Rook an apologetic smile. Rook shook his head gently as he took the pot from Emmrich and moved it far enough away from them that it wouldn’t be knocked over, but close enough that Emmrich could still get to it if he needed to.

“No apologizing. What was it that you said to me earlier? That you knew I couldn’t control it, or I would have? You took care of me, Emmrich, and it got you sick. I’m here as long as you need me. And hey, at least you haven’t thrown up on me. I can’t say the same.” Rook laughed before flushing in embarrassment at the memory. Unluckily for him that was one moment that hadn’t been lost in his feverish reverie. “I’m not sure if that or that one game of strip Wicked Grace with Neve, Lucanis, and Davrin was worse.”

“One game? There were others?” Emmrich asked curiously.

“Yeah, I get competitive when I’m drunk. Not my best attribute, especially when going up against Lucanis. The man’s got the best poker face that I’ve ever seen. It’s just his normal expression, but somehow more stoic.”

“Duly noted.” Rook bumped his shoulder into Emmrich’s lightly.

“You should join us next time we play.” Rook said, wiggling his eyebrows. Emmrich rolled his eyes.

“I’m alright darling as far as partaking in the game myself, but I might be interested in watching.” Rook laughed and took Emmrich’s hand in his own.

“Get me drunk enough and I’ll give you a show.” Both men settled back down onto the pallet facing each other and Rook smirked. “Not to be too forward, but I would like to see what you have going on underneath that button down shirt.” Emmrich’s eyes fluttered open as he blushed.

“I’m sure you will later dearest, but right now, the only thing I wish to do is sleep until this plague relinquishes me.” Rook’s expression softened as he began petting Emmrich’s hair again.

“Get some rest love, I’ll be here when you wake up.” And with that, both men drifted off into a restful sleep.

#dragon age #dragon age veilguard #emmrich volkarin #emmrich x rook #Emmrich x male Rook #sickfic #Hurt/comfort #Caretaker Emmrich #tw emetophobia #romance #fluff #Sarcastic Rook #Elf Rook

7 notes · View notes