Chapter Text
Clover knocked again promptly at 0615, well after James should be awake, but there was no answer at the door or to Clover’s series of texted inquiries.
Steeling himself for the worst, Clover punched in the code he pulled from the Atlas system days ago and entered the quiet apartment. All the lights were still off, just as he left them last night; the bedroom door was still cracked, just as he left it last night; and James was still passed out, just as he left him last night.
Clover approached the bed, grazing two fingers over James’s pulse. James barely stirred. The drugs must have hit him harder than Clover anticipated. He made a note to dial down the dosage next time.
“James?” Clover brushed the hair from James’s face. James sighed, leaning into the touch so readily that something hot and greedy unfurled in Clover’s gut.
He recalled the multiple cups of coffee and James’s admission of not sleeping and made a decision. He stroked James’s cheek and stood, pulling the bedroom door shut behind him just in case the call woke James.
“Clover?” Winter sounded concerned, just like the last time Clover was forced to call her. “Is he alright?”
“You know how he gets.” Clover said. Winter made a sympathetic noise. She was a good friend, to him and to James.
“How bad this time?”
“Two days. Not the worst we’ve seen.”
“I’ll clear the day.”
“Thanks. You’re the best.”
“Just make sure he actually sleeps, hmm?” Winter chided gently. Clover chuckled quietly.
“You know I’ll take care of him.” Clover promised.
He tucked his scroll back into his pocket and went to check on James again. He was still asleep, still in the same spot, looking blessedly relaxed for a change. Clover sat on the edge of the bed and combed his fingers into James’s hair, relishing the sweet, soft, contented noise he made. Clover did it again, trailing his fingers behind James’s ear, down his neck, studying the way James turned into the caress, documenting the shiver that rippled down his spine. Clover liked him like this, finally relaxed and at ease. James deserved more down time than he got. If nothing else, Clover could make sure he was as relaxed as possible.
He let his hand wander further, splayed it flat across the span between James’s shoulders, pressed his palm down James’s spine to the waist of his pants and eased his fingers under the soft cotton to grip a handful of James’s ass. James tensed now, the sighs turning to a confused wordless plea that made Clover’s heart clench. He bent close, nosing at James’s ear to whisper soothingly.
“Shhh. I’ve got you.”
James finally opened his eyes, blinking blearily up at him. Clover withdrew and James made a positively heartbreaking sound, closing his eyes again and making an effort to turn over. Clover put a hand on his back, stilling him.
“Stay.” He said gently, waiting until James calmed again before moving. To Clover’s immense relief, James stayed still, gasping quietly when Clover stripped him, his hands twisting in the sheets when Clover worked two slick fingers into him, still too under to do much but whimper and let Clover take care of him, his gasps muffled in the pillows as Clover slowly worked him open.
He came once before Clover even had the chance to fuck him, clenching around his fingers with a delicious groan and collapsing even further onto the bed, practically melting, and Clover could hardly resist now, not when James was so utterly pliant, when he was being so good.
James came again on his cock, Clover working him slowly to the edge until he nearly sobbed. He cleaned James carefully and left out tea and more pills, some food for when he woke, and a message letting him know that the office would run itself for the rest of the day. James stirred when Clover placed a kiss to his hair, sighing out another wordless questioning noise, settling again when Clover told him to, and wasn’t that satisfying, James finally listening for once?
As much as he wanted to stay, there were things that required his attention outside of James’s apartment, and now that the most important item on his agenda had been taken care of (for the moment), Clover knew he needed to attend to the rest. He allowed himself one last look at James, thankfully asleep again, and set an alarm to remind him to come check in on James later.