#So we've just been sniffly and miserable

[rhaenys-queenofkhyrulzz]

MENTHOL CRYSTALS

fucking lifesaver

[faofinn]

21. "But if you stay, you'll get sick too"

Part 1 | Part 2

As much as Fao hated to admit it, his mum had been right. He’d woken up the morning after his game feeling shit, and he’d definitely not drunk enough to be hungover. His throat was like he’d swallowed glass, he was sniffly, and he had a proper dry cough. He felt awful. They’d stayed in his flat that night, to go home that morning, and though he felt guilty he definitely wanted to be home with his family rather than by himself. Even though Sheila fussed, he liked it when it meant he got food and endless cups of tea. 

Once they’d got home, he’d flopped onto his bed, feeling utterly miserable to say the least. The cat had joined him, which was nice, the tabby curled up next to him, purring away. He hated it, feeling guilty for bringing it home, but also for ruining their time together. They were supposed to do stuff, spend time as a family whilst he was home for the weekend, and now he’d ruined it by getting ill.

While everyone had their own things to do, they'd planned going out in the early afternoon. Sheila had seen the state of Fao, and knew he was coming down with a cold. As much as she knew it was just an old wives tale, she couldn't help but wish he'd listened and worn his coat.

She made them both a cup of tea, grabbed a load of snacks, and dropped the bombshell on Fred that he was alone with Finn for the rest of the day. Neither of them minded, and she was slightly concerned at the excitement and mischief on both their faces, but Fred was an adult. And Finn knew how to call them when things went wrong. She bundled them out of the house, the peace and quiet immediately so much better, and headed to Fao's room. 

"Fao? Sweetheart?"

He lifted his head. “Mm?”

"Can I come in?"

“Yeah.” He murmured. “But not to say ‘I told you so’.”

She grinned at him. "I don't need to. You've already said it."

“Was getting ill before.” He pointed out. “At least Pollo is giving me sympathy.”

"Hey, I've brought you tea and snacks, I'm being nice." She protested. "Shove over, let me on the bed."

“You should’ve led with that.” He said, gathering the cat up in his arms to shift over and give her room. 

"Ah, but that would have been too nice." She teased, settling next to him. "Have you had any paracetamol?"

“Had some earlier.” He murmured. 

"Not time for any yet?"

“No, not yet.”

"Alright. Want to put a film on?"

“Mm, dunno.”

"Are you going back to sleep?" She asked gently, reaching to stroke through his hair.

He sniffed. “Snacks?”

"Got plenty."

“Like what?”

"I've got crackers, crisps, chocolate - don't tell Fred, I got his good stuff, and the fruit salad he made for us yesterday."

“Mm, chocolate.” Fred always had the best stuff, and he was rubbish at hiding it. 

She passed him the bar. "And we've got the place to ourselves. Fred's taken Finn out."

“Oh? Thought it was quiet.”

"Thought you might appreciate a bit of peace."

“You should’ve gone too. I’ll get you sick.”

"I couldn't have left you all alone."

“I live alone, mum.”

"Not when you're here."

“Still. I’d be okay.”

"Are you trying to politely kick meout?"

“I don’t want you to get sick too.”

"I don't mind."

“You won’t be able to go to work.”

"We'll just stay in together."

“Mm, still.”

"I'm not going to leave just because of a few gems. You'll have already given it to Finn, no doubt. I might as well get it over with now."

“I tried to be careful around Finn.” Fao said. “But he wriggled his way into my bed anyway.”

"You could lock the door, tie him up, and you'd still end up with a Finn in your bed."

“Exactly.”

"I know you're careful with Finn." She murmured softly.

“As careful as I can be. He really enjoyed last night.” He murmured, his voice croaky. 

"I know." She smiled fondly. "He's not shut up about it all morning."

Fao smiled. “Of course.”

"He wants to go out properly with you next time."

“Not so sure about that one.” 

"Me neither. Said maybe when he was older."

“Yeah, maybe.” He sighed, eating a square of chocolate. 

"Though I couldn't imagine it would be a good idea."

“He’s clumsy enough without alcohol.”

"That's very true."

After a moment, Fao shifted to cuddle up to her, his arm over her waist. He was feeling miserable, and she always made it better. 

She smiled, waiting for him to settle. She reached to rub his back, drawing soothing shapes across his top. "Better?"

“Yeah, better.”

She pressed a kiss to his hair. "You gonna go to sleep?"

“Can’t sleep.”

"That's okay."

“I’m sorry if I get you ill.”

"It's part of life."

“Still.”

"I know."

It was nice, the way she traced shapes on his back. He’d finished the chocolate, and it had made him feel a little less miserable, at least. He sniffed again, his throat still sore, and let himself relax into her. Despite saying he couldn’t sleep, he soon found himself drifting, unable to stop it. 

[it-may-be-dull-but-im-determined]

One of my oldest irl friends just sent me an ao3 link for a Janeway fic on whats app and my brain just shorted out for a moment because THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE and as far as I know she had stopped reading fic even before LJ existed, let alone ao3?

But y'know, way back before any of that, when we were tiny baby ST Voyager addicts bonding over our love of faintly terrible (okay I still love it so I'm allowed to say that) sci-fi shows while we were miserable at school in the mid-90s, this absolute gem of a human being was the only one who had the internet at home. And she started telling us about these stories she'd found online...

Being a seriously good friend, she then used to sit up all night after her parents had gone to bed, hunting down fic (it was WAY more difficult then) and secretly printing out page after page of it to bring into school for the rest of us internet-deprived shippy junkies to devour. We still can't work out to this day where her parents thought all the printer supplies were going, because let me tell you, we were voracious for that Janeway/Chakotay ship fix back then?

And I mean it's been twenty five years and we are Really Very Old now (and I have approximately 87 ao3 tabs open on my phone browser at all times which is totally her fault really) and she rewatches Voyager way more that I ever did, and she makes her kids watch it but I'm getting sniffly because I don't think we've ever had a conversation about fic as actual adults that wasn't just nostalgia? And she just sent me a link, entirely apropos of nothing, with a voice message about how she's still confused why that ship never became canon, because some things, obviously, never change.