Chapter Text
Clover thought they were done with this by now.
He was more disappointed than anything. He really believed the last lesson would have stuck for longer, made James more aware of the need to take care of himself – yet Clover knew for a fact that James had left his office well past close of business, and Clover had been shocked to find the dried remains of at least three cups of coffee tucked away in the office’s private bathroom, as if James thought Clover would neglect to look there. If James was being this careless, he was more overtired than Clover realized. Again.
Clover kicked himself for being so thoughtless. He should have been paying closer attention. How many days had James needed his help and Clover ignored the signs? Two? Three? More than a week?
He arrived at James’s apartment door and knocked briskly, listening closely for any sounds from inside. Ideally, James would be asleep, but knowing him (and after that much coffee), James would be wide awake, neglecting himself and getting through just one more report in his home office.
As head of the Ace Ops, Clover had access to Atlas’s security codes, including those of individual staff apartments. With James’s continued refusal to look after himself, Clover really had been left with no other options. When there was no response to his knocking, Clover took out his scroll and shot off a message.
James, answer your door or I’m using my code.
Frantic footsteps raced to the door and it flew open to reveal a haggard James. He leaned in the doorway, one arm thrown across it to hold himself up. He looked exhausted. Clover stepped forward. James flinched.
That settled it. James was jumping at shadows again, too tired and too gone to know what he needed.
Clover took another step forward. James didn’t move, he barely breathed, every line of his broad frame tense. Clover put out a hand, gently grabbing James around the wrist and prying his hand from the door frame. James swallowed dryly, eyes darting from Clover’s face to his grip on James’s wrist, and Clover watched a familiar, ancient panic swim across James’s expression. It was more pronounced when he was overworked.
Clover used his hold to guide James back into the apartment, easing the door closed behind him.
“You left work late.” Clover said, trying to keep the accusation out of his voice. He wasn’t angry, and he didn’t want James to feel guilty. He just wanted him to take care of himself. Atlas needed him.
James twisted his arm out of Clover’s grasp, dropping it to his side, wiping his wrist absently on the fabric of his sleep pants like he was trying to remove the memory of touch. Oh, this was so much worse than Clover had realized, so much worse.
“James.”
James’s eyes jumped to Clover’s, then skittered away. It was obvious Clover would not get an honest answer about anything out of him tonight, not when he was like this.
“When was the last time you slept?” Clover asked anyway, not expecting the truth. To his pleased surprise, James replied without hesitation.
“Two days ago.”
“Was that what all the coffee was about?”
Now James faltered, still looking just shy of meeting Clover’s eye.
“James. I asked you a question.”
James took a deep breath.
“Yes.” There was a pause. “Sir.”
Clover strode into the kitchen and filled a glass, digging into a pocket for a small, sealed bag full of tiny white pills. He tapped out two of them and held them out to James with the water. James reached out with shaking hands to accept them, only hesitating for a moment before downing the pills and the water.
“Good.” Clover said with a nod. James relaxed slightly, letting Clover have the glass back when he held out his hand for it.
“Now, I’ll be back in the morning to make sure you’ve eaten.”
James nodded, finally taking a deep, shuddering breath. Clover gestured towards the bedroom and waited for James to take the hint. He finally did, slowly turning his back to Clover and thankfully not bothering to close the bedroom door. Clover would have just had to open it again to check and make sure James had gotten into bed.
“Goodnight, James.”
“Goodnight… sir.”