Reading Kindess in the Tides
For @shae-c-art, who had so many good requests that I had trouble choosing. This is based on the prompt: Sick/Injured with caretaking, and no explicit sex. By @nyagosstar
Summary: Bull’s been visiting Krem in the hospital every day, honestly looking forward to the time when he’s released. Only now, Krem’s got a new roommate, a quiet man who never has any visitors and doesn’t have anywhere to go.
Modern AU, no magic
References to violence and injury, but nothing on screen
Teen audiences and up rating
The scent of industrial cleaner over sickness and people trying too hard to live hits Bull hard as the automatic doors whoosh open. Maybe for most people, the smell wouldn’t be so bad until they were farther into the hospital, but he’s got a good nose, or maybe a bad one, considering all of the gross things he gets to smell. Either way, there’s no mistaking the scent. The Qun and he parted ways a while ago, but there are things he still misses. The way they treated the sick and failing, keeping them comfortable and calm instead of in a too-cold box-like prison.
He shakes off the thoughts and heads for Krem’s room on the third floor. He’s been visiting every day for a week, so some of the staff recognize him, don’t ask him where he’s going or if he needs help, the way they do when they’re not sure if he’s going to cause trouble.
Krem’s awake, propped up a little in bed and watching the television on the far wall. He smiles. “Hey, Chief.”
Bull drops a stack of magazines on the bedside table and sinks into the chair at his side. He looks good, today. Less pale, cheerful smile. Wouldn’t believe looking at him that just five days ago no one knew if he was going to make it another day. That’s the kind of thing that happens when someone ignores abdominal pain until an appendix bursts in the middle of the night. He’d give Krem more shit about it, but honestly, it’s the most scared he’s ever been, hearing Krem’s slurred, panicked voice in the middle of the night, calling him instead of an emergency number. “What’s on the schedule today?”
Krem points with the remote. “Judge shows.”