Chapter Text
I sleep solid through the night and when I wake I feel stiff and sore. Also weak. I flop onto my side, gazing over at Xaden asleep next to me.
Garrick is awake, he sits down next to me and moves a hand slowly on my back.
“Morning,” he whispers. “Feel okay?” I nod.
A knock at the door startles us both, and he jumps up and strides to the door, glancing back at Xaden. Xaden’s eyes fly open and he sits up. Ah, fuck, whoever is knocking better be worth it…
It’s Dain fucking Aetos. The fucker woke up Xaden! Gods he’s infuriating! I want to strangle him.
“Aetos, what the fuck are you doing here?” Garrick greets.
“Uh, hi. I’m just checking in to see how Bodhi is doing.”
“What the fuck for?” Garrick says, annoyed.
“He’s in my wing. Same as I’d do for anybody.”
My fucking wingleader is checking to see how I’m feeling? Damn it all, how is he an actual good person.
“Ohh-kayyy, he’s doing alright. Still in bed.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Aetos asks.
Xaden and I both roll eyes at each other.
“He’ll miss class for another few days,” Xaden calls out.
“Sure. Not like it really matters, he’s the top of the class already and especially here. He can miss as much class as he wants.”
Hmm.
“And Cianna is taking over Flame Section duties for now.”
“Well, thanks so much for stopping by…” Garrick says with a hint of sarcasm.
“Tell him I’m sorry,” I say weakly.
“What?” Garrick turns to me.
I sigh and close my eyes. “Tell him. I’m sorry.”
“What the fuck for?”
“He knows.”
“Bodhi says… he’s sorry.” Garrick says to Aetos.
“Oh. It’s okay.” It’s not okay, fuck you and your fucking niceness.
“Okay. See ya, Aetos.” Garrick swings the door shut in his face. He rounds on me. “The fuck are you apologizing to that fucker for?”
I groan. “I freaked out on him because he touched me-”
“He fucking what?!” Xaden says, and my eyes snap open. He and Garrick are staring at me.
“I’ll fucking cut his dick off,” Garrick says, actually moving to grab his sword from the wall.
“What? No!” I nearly gag as I realize what they’re imagining I mean by he touched me. “No! He touched my arm, damnit you guys!”
“He touched your arm,” Xaden says flatly, “And you’re apologizing?”
I groan in exasperation at this stupid conversation. “He noticed I was sick, and he asked if I was okay, and he touched my fucking arm and I freaked the fuck out. I thought I had given up the movement. But then I realized he already fucking knew since he’s fucking here. Hence why I just apologized.”
“Oh.”
I roll to my stomach and bury my face in my arms. “I fucking hate him, and he’s fucking nice to me, I’m a terrible fucking person.”
“You’re not,” Xaden soothes, moving a hand on my back. “You’re the best of us. Now, enough about Aetos, do you feel like you could eat something?”
I’m so hungry I’m trembling, but I’m also afraid of not being able to keep it down.
“Maybe…” I mumble, and then there’s another knock on the door. Garrick opens it and Brennan comes in carrying a tray of food.
Brennan sets the tray on a table and comes over to me.
“Hey, Bodhi. How are you feeling?” I don’t answer or look up. He sighs. “Listen, I’m sorry I lost my temper at you when it wasn’t your fault. Xaden was right, it was my fault more than anyone’s. I just felt so fucking panicked when I came back and you were nowhere to be found, and I knew how sick you were and if something happened to you…” he trails off, his hand resting tentatively on my back.
“The Assembly would fucking roast you for not protecting the second heir,” Xaden says bitterly.
“No,” Brennan says firmly. “Damnit, that’s not it. It’s… I fucking care about you guys, okay? I didn’t have any friends or family around for ages and I kind of, well… fuck, I kind of got attached to you. That’s why I was so furious with myself for letting anything happen to you, Bodhi.”
I sigh and roll to my back to look at him.
“It’s okay, Brennan. I care about you too.” He sighs and looks down. Xaden says nothing, but I know him. “So do Xaden and Garrick,” I say for them, and they grumble their agreement.
Brennan puts a hand on my forehead.
“You don’t feel like you’re burning alive anymore, at least. Have you had anything to eat or drink?”
“He drank a few cups of water yesterday over a few hours time, but it made him really nauseous,” Xaden speaks for me.
“Right, then,” Brennan says, walking back to the tray of food. “Let’s continue with liquids, but something with calories. You honestly look like you’re starved.” He brings me a cup of juice.
Xaden helps me sit up. I take a sip with their help and I do immediately feel nauseous, though not so much that I’m in danger of throwing up.
I wait in anticipatory dread for a while after finishing the juice, but then the sugar kicks in and I finally stop shaking and start to feel more stable.
“Feeling okay?” Brennan asks as I sit back and sigh. I nod. “Good, you already look better. Can you eat some toast?”
“Okay.”
"Xaden and Garrick, help yourselves,” Brennan says to them as he brings me a plate with toast and another cup of juice.
I take a long nap after breakfast and when I wake up I feel pretty damn good compared to how I’ve been.
“Can I get out of bed?” I ask Xaden and Garrick. “Take a walk?”
Xaden comes around to my side. “Depends. Can you stand?” I reach for his hand and slowly bring my feet around. He helps me up and I grip his forearms, willing my legs to hold steady. I keep my balance, and I look hopefully at Xaden.
He raises an eyebrow at me. “I don’t know if it’s a good idea.”
“Please? You can hold my hand or whatever. I want to stretch.” He doesn’t want to argue with me, I see in his eyes he’ll do anything for me.
“Fine. But we’re not going far, and you need to stop if you’re not feeling well.”
I slide my feet into my slippers, Garrick and Xaden each take an arm, and we slowly start down the hallway.
I’m feeling okay and happy to be moving. Every step is much more tiring than it should be.
“Bodhi?!” I hear Violet’s exclamation and look up just before Ridoc flings his arms around me. It takes me by surprise, and I sway, but he’s got his arms wrapped under mine now and he’s hugging me close, holding me up.
“Woah, space, Gamlyn. He’s still figuring it out,” Garrick says from beside us.
“Sorry,” Ridoc says hurriedly, pulling back to look at me, an apologetic smile on his face. “Hey, Bodhi.” He keeps his hands on my waist to steady me. I stare into his kind encouraging eyes and slowly return his smile.
“Hi, Ridoc,” I say softly. Xaden and Garrick take repossession of my arms and Ridoc backs up slowly.
“What’s up?” Ridoc asks, looking at Xaden and Garrick for the first time. “Going somewhere?”
“Just walking,” Xaden says.
“Can we join you?” Violet asks. “You look good, Bodhi,” she grins at me.
I nod. “Yes, please.” We continue our slow walk to the end of the hallway, where there’s a door leading to the balcony overlooking the gardens.
“Bodhi…” Xaden hesitates.
“Please, Xay, just for a minute.” He can’t say no. He pushes open the door and a cool blast of air greets us, refreshing at first and then chilling. I shiver in my lightweight tee as I sit down on the bench.
Ridoc quickly takes his jacket off and wraps it around me. I blink in surprise as he slides my arms into it and sits down next to me. My heart rate jumps as I notice his tight shirt around his toned arms and tanned skin.
“Bodhi and I used to climb down this way to sneak out,” Xaden says to all of us, his hand on the banister, leaning over to look at the columns we shimmied down as teenagers.
“Sneak out to do what?” Violet asks with a smile.
“Make mischief,” Garrick answers immediately.
“Explore the woods, go to parties, or just to sleep outside,” Xaden elaborates.
I shiver, and Ridoc puts his arm around me, meeting my eyes with a reassuring smile.
“Bodhi, sorry, that’s enough or you’ll get worse,” Xaden says with regret in his voice. He knows I’m enjoying this.
I nod slowly, letting Ridoc and Xaden pull me to my feet and guide me back inside. I feel dazed as they walk me back down the hall, back to my bedroom, my feet moving slowly, clumsily. I fall into bed and curl up, exhausted from a few minutes of walking.
The next day I make it down to breakfast with Xaden’s help. I sit down beside Ridoc.
“And so that’s how I found out that gryphons do in fact lay eggs,” Ridoc is saying, and he slides his arm around me casually while not pausing his chatter. “And that daddy gryphons are the ones to guard them. Hi, Bodhi.” He grins at me.
“Bodhi, so good to see you,” Rhiannon says with a big smile. “But, Ridoc, I don’t believe a word you just said.” The others all laugh and agree.
“Can I get you some food?” Imogen asks from across the table. I shake my head and look around… Garrick is coming over with two plates of food. He sits down next to Imogen and pushes a plate toward me. Garrick and Imogen start flirting and Maren and Bragen are trying to correct the false information Ridoc was spreading, and I tune all of them out as Ridoc shifts closer to me.
“I’m so glad to see you,” he says softly, moving his hand to my back, his palm pressing flat against me in support and warmth.
I smile weakly at him, feeling a little shaky and glad for his supportive touch. He watches my hand trembling as I pick up my fork and start to eat my fruit.
“You coming to Battle Brief today?” Ridoc asks.
“I was going to see how I feel after breakfast,” I mumble. Xaden sits down beside me. Ridoc goes back to his conversation with his squad, keeping his hand on my back even while arguing animatedly with Sawyer.
I finish my breakfast and my hands stop shaking. Xaden watches me, assessing. “What do you think, Bodhi?” he asks.
“I feel okay,” I respond. “I could go to class.”
Garrick and Xaden share a look.
“Gamlyn, you get Bodhi to class and then back to bed,” Xaden orders.
“Yes, sir,” Ridoc gives him a salute.
“Bodhi, take it easy, okay?” Xaden says softly to me, a hand on my back. “Don’t push it.” I nod.
Xaden and Garrick reluctantly bid me goodbye as they leave for patrol for the day. I watch as they stop and talk with Aetos at his table, gesturing toward me as Dain nods in agreement.
Imogen takes my plate and Ridoc’s, and Ridoc stands and offers me his hand. I take it and he pulls me up, letting me test my weight. I start walking slowly.
“So,” Ridoc says as we trail behind the rest of his squad. I keep my gaze on the floor, watching my feet.
“Hmm?”
“Well. Um.” I glance up at him, suddenly anxious. He’s never at a loss for words. What the fuck?
He sees my concern and exhales with a little laugh. “It’s just, I don’t know how much you remember from when you were sick.”
I think I remember enough.
“Well,” he says as we continue down the hall. “I really fucking enjoyed snuggling you while you slept.”
I feel my face flush and warmth pools in my stomach at the memory.
“And,” he says, grinning at my reaction. “I’d love to do that again sometime. If you want.” We come to a stop and I look into his warm brown eyes, sparkling with excitement.
I nod slowly, “Okay,” I smile, feeling all warm and tingly.
His grin widens and he takes my hand and gives it a little squeeze. Regrettably, we’ve arrived at Battle Brief and he lets go of my hand. He does walk me to my seat, though I make it down the stairs without needing help. I sit down next to Imogen and Quinn.
Imogen nudges my shoulder with hers. “He’s into you,” she says quietly, grinning mischievously. I’m a little dazed, I just give her a weak half-smile.
Brennan watches me more than usual while he leads the class. I often participate, but today I don’t. I’m tired, my eyes keep blinking heavily.
I do something I never do in class: I rest my head against my hand and doze off.
I snap out of shallow sleep as the noise in the room grows and the other cadets start to leave. I don’t stand up, I just sit in my seat and gaze blankly toward the front of the room.
“Bodhi?” Brennan crouches next to my seat, hand on my shoulder, and I shake myself and look at him. “Doing okay?”
I nod slowly as Ridoc comes up behind him. “Just tired,” I mumble. Brennan nods and looks back at Ridoc.
“I’ll get him back to his room,” Ridoc says.
“Good,” Brennan says. “Bodhi, take it slow. Don’t push it.” I nod again.
Brennan pulls me up and they both support me to stand. Ridoc wraps his arm around my waist and Brennan takes my arm and they help me up the steps.
Ridoc keeps his arm around me as he walks me slowly to my room.
“Can you come back after class?” I ask as I lie down. I look up at him, and his eyes sparkle. He twists his fingers gently into my hair. I close my eyes and moan quietly in appreciation.
“Fuck that, I’m skipping. There’s no way I’m missing this.” I blink up at him. I should make him go to class, but I can’t will myself to do it. I want him here.
I scoot myself into the middle of the bed and reach for Ridoc.
His face splits into the most adorable grin and he slides into bed next to me. He wraps his arms around my back and pulls me close to him, tucking my head against his chest and resting his head on top of mine. He slowly moves his fingers in my hair.
I melt into his warmth and softness. I feel overwhelmingly content and sleepy. Ridoc hums softly as I slide into sleep, safe and loved.
end