Work Text:
Gricko leaned dangerously over the pot of soup he had over the fire.
He was doing his best not to focus too hard on the tent behind him, in which Frost was lying with a nasty cold.
Hootsie was worried sick and cuddled at his feet, trying to comfort the tabaxi. It was a fight to get Frost to lay down and rest, so he told Hootsie not to move under any circumstances. He knew that Frost wouldn’t have the heart to move her, so he was stuck in bed.
Frost hadn’t been able to keep anything down for about a day, so Gricko was brewing up the most bland and non-upsetting meal he could. His body would need food if he was going to get better.
He poured a small bowl of the broth along with a tiny portion of bread and opened the tent flap.
Frost had managed to slip one foot from under Hootsie’s side and was trying to get up and out of bed.
“Morning Frost! Lie your tail back in bed, mister.”
“Gricko, I’m fi-”
He was cut off by his own lungs as he began coughing into his elbow.
Gricko sighed and set the soup on the tiny bedside table and traded it for the cup of warm tea he had sat there earlier. He held the cup up to Frost’s lips and had him drink it slowly to soothe his throat. When his coughing died down, Gricko tucked him back under the blanket and had Hootsie sit farther up on the tabaxi.
“Ya won’t get better if ya can’t let yourself rest.”
Frost looked away from him with a familiar look of stubbornness.
“I mean it. Next time ya try to get out of bed, I’m tying ya down.”
The tabaxi sighed and leaned against the headboard, only a half-win.
You wouldn't see it if you looked at his face, but Gricko was just a hair away from hysterics.
He couldn’t stand it when the people he loved were hurting. The cold had come up suddenly and for Frost of all people. Gricko knew how dangerous these things could be, no matter how small they may seem at first.
Frost’s paw rested on top of his drumming fingers, and he realized that he had been staring off for a bit. Their hands intertwined and Gricko held them close to his heart.
“I’ll be okay, Gricko.”
He didn’t know that. No one knew that. He didn’t say anything, just held the back of Frost’s hand to his temple.
Hootise cooed where she was sitting and nudged Frost’s leg with her head, Frost brought his other hand down to rest on her flank.
“I love ya.”
Gricko says, after a long moment of silence. You never know when you’ll say it last.
“I love you too.”