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Martyn wasn't sure when he started feeling off. He didn't question it though. He just kept going, kept going to militia meetings and ignoring the stares he got from the other four.
At night he kept getting hot and cold flushes, he didn't understand it. He'd never really needed to understand it himself.
He didn't question when he couldn't keep food down often. Didn't question why he couldn't sleep. Just chopped it up to anxiety, fear of the unknown, worry about the vampires. Until he couldn't anymore.
He was sitting at the table for the current militia meeting. Ren had just started talking, he couldn't properly understand the words this time, like they just kept…. going fuzzy. He tried to focus a bit more but he was starting to feel cold, way too cold for it to be normal.
Then he felt a hand on his forehead and he jolted away from it, well… he tried to at least, he didn't get far. Talking…. Someone was talking. He opened his eyes, when had he closed them?
Abolish was crouched in front of him, his lips were moving, he was talking. Oh…. He should probably try to listen then…. Even if he was starting to feel so tired.
“Martyn” He finally zoned into the words being said “Why didn't you say that you were sick? Legundo could've done something about it earlier” Abolish sounded….. worried? Why would he be worried?
“Sick?” Martyn asked, not particularly noticing how his words were slightly slurred. “I'm not sick. Just…. Tired because of all the stress with the vampires.”
“Martyn, you're burning up” Abolish cut the blonde off, his voice still leveled with that deadpanned tone, but it still held that hint of worry. Why was Abolish worried?
He must've zoned out again, because the next thing he knew, he was at the base of the ladder, Abolish already partway up and Sausage waiting to follow up after him. Meeting must've been over then-
He climbed up after Abolish, trying not to watch the butler, who claimed to not be a butler, climb out ahead of him. His arms felt weak… too weak, he wouldn't be able to fight in this condition.
Abolish grabbed his hand when he got to the top, gently pulling him out of the way and holding him for a moment when he stumbled. Since when had the man cared so much?
He kept zoning out. He didn't know why. He didn't even remember walking to his house. Let alone getting into bed or tucked in. But then Abolish came over with some soup. It looked like the ones Legundo gave them all. Including the green chunks in it.
“I said I'm not sick Abolish” Martyn mumbled, the words slurred together slightly and didn't have any fight left in them.
“Mhm, you say that, but your actions and temperature say the complete opposite” the ‘butler’ hummed while placing the bowl on the bedside before helping Martyn sit up a bit. “You could barely walk here without support.”
Martyn wanted to say something to refute the others words, but couldn't. He couldn't even remember walking from the tavern. Then a spoon was in front of his face.
“Eat.” Abolish was holding the spoon, now sitting on the edge of the bed. “I'll get the doctor to come have a look at you properly tomorrow, but right now you need to eat and sleep.”
Martyn turned his head away slightly, “Not hungry.” His voice was quiet. He was lying. He was hungry, he felt his stomach clench slightly but he knew that it would likely all come back up again eventually. Like it had most of the time the last couple days.
He heard Abolish sigh and a hand on his chin, turning his head to face the man. “I don't care. You're not going to be a spoiled rich boy right now. You are sick, and you're going to eat. Even if I have to force feed you.” Martyn had never heard that tone before. But it definitely scared him a bit, even if the hand holding him was so gentle…. So he complied and opened his mouth.
Abolish nodded approvingly and continued to feed Martyn in silence, until half the bowl of soup was gone. “Thank you for cooperating, Martyn.” He hummed while standing up so he could take the bowl out.
Martyn didn't think as he grabbed Abolish's hand. When he did, he immediately let go and looked away “It- It's fine….. I didn't feel like learning how you would force feed me soup-” he huffed with a slight shiver.
Abolish furrowed his brows slightly and placed the back of his hand against Martyn's forehead again. “Still too warm,” he mumbled, thankfully not mentioning Martyn grabbing his hand. “I'll come back with a damp rag. See if that'll help at least a little bit.” Martyn nodded and just closed his eyes.
He must’ve fallen asleep at some point after Abolish had left the room because when he woke up, the sun was shining through his window and he could hear Abolish talking to Legundo in his kitchen. He had also been laid down properly at some point too. He still felt horrible, but at least he hadn’t emptied the contents of his stomach so that was a plus.
He tried to smile when Abolish walked back into the room, but it mustn't have worked if the look Abolish gave him in return was any indication.
“You know….” Martyn started before coughing slightly, huh… guess he was sick- “This isn’t helping you beat the butler allegations”
Abolish rolled his eyes and shook his head, “Most people would take care of someone who is ill if there isn’t a specific person to do so, Martyn” he took the rag off Martyn's forehead, wetting it again before placing it back. “I would ask how you’re feeling but you still look like death.” He added with a hum.
Martyn hummed in response, maybe the heat in his cheeks was from him being sick. It didn’t come from the butterflies in his stomach, he was just really thankful that Abolish was willingly looking after him. That’s all that it was. Absolutely all it was. He grabbed Abolish’s hand before he left again. This time he didn’t let go.
“Stay…. Please.” Martyn whispered while closing his eyes. Already feeling tired again, even though he’d just woken up. “Just- Just for a little longer”
He didn’t see Abolish’s slight smile at the request. “I suppose I can stay for a little bit longer.” He murmured while Martyn fell back asleep. “I can stay for as long as you want me to.” He lifted Martyn’s hand to his lips, kissing his knuckles gently.
“Even if you don’t reciprocate any feelings”