Chapter Text
Jack feels like he has been asleep for ages. He squints at his alarm clock through the darkness of his room. It says it is 9:30 am.
His whole body feels like he has been run over by a two-tonne truck over and over again. His muscles are tense and he can swear he can feel his muscles knot up when he tries to move. Nonetheless, he attempts getting out of bed. If he has to spend these 48 hours in bed in a dark room he’s going to go crazy.
Slowly, he rearranges his limbs and sets his feet on the ground next to his bed. He aches all over but he’s a little proud of himself when he reaches the door of his bedroom. He opens the bedroom door carefully and immediately he’s overwhelmed by a cloud of the most intense scents.
He can’t really differentiate between them other than that smells amazing!
There’s some clanking in his kitchen and he thinks he can hear someone singing under his breath.
Jack crosses the open floor plan of his apartment and when he passes his refrigerator he can see Bitty crouching down in front of Jack’s oven, pulling out a delicious looking pie. Jack thinks it must be pie but with Bitty he can never be sure. He loves his creations. They’re classic, yet at the same time inventive and almost everything he sells at his bakery has its own twist that makes it even more special and delicious.
“How are you feeling, Jack?”
“Good.”
Bitty’s head shoots up and his light brown eyes pierce Jack soul.
“No, I’m not well, not really anyway. I’ve got the worst headache of my life, I can’t barely move because my muscles are so incredibly sore.”
Bitty’s eyes got bigger with every word Jack says. “You should sit down, sweetheart.” Jack tries to insist that he’s feeling well enough to be standing in the kitchen with Bitty, but he’s having none of it.
Eric is baking in Jack’s kitchen. He’s never been truly in love before (Jack doesn’t count, not yet anyway, right?) but now he thinks he is. It has shiny marble countertops, all the appliances are top-notch and they look like they are brand new.
The only downside to it is that there’s practically no food in there. Nothing he could use to bake anyway. Jack’s fridge is packed with healthy looking fruit and vegetables but the only items Eric finds in Jack’s pantry are two jars of protein powders.
So, if Eric wants to be staying here for a few days he’ll need a change of clothes as well as some baking supplies. It’s only logical to make the short trip down to his apartment and grab everything he needs.
Before he leaves, though, he makes sure Jack will be alright in his absence. He knows that he won’t be gone for too long, but he can’t help but worry that Jack will wake up and try to get up while he’s not there to make sure he’s okay.
Eric carefully places a tall glass of water onto Jack’s nightstand. He moves as quietly as possible as not to disturb Jack. Eric knows that he’s exhausted from the game and needs his rest. He also knows that he has to wake him up every hour to check on him. He doesn’t want to, not necessarily, because it means that Jack will hurt, but Doctor’s orders always come first.
He doesn’t shut the door to Jack’s room, just as a precaution and he knows that he will feel better if he can hear Jack waking up.
Eric packs up his things in speed time. The worry that something will happen to Jack while he’s not there overtakes his own exhaustion and he’s back at Jack’s place after a little more than thirty minutes.
He checks on Jack religiously, always making sure there’s water and pain medication (in the correct dose of course) near Jack.
Jack drifts in and out of sleep. He’s exhausted, but his sleep is restless. He can’t toss and turn like he normally would because his head hurts every time he just thinks of moving a muscle.
The time passes and Jack has no idea how much time exactly has passed because Bitty has moved his alarm clock to the living room where the red light of the digits won’t hurt Jack’s eyes.
Eric is in the kitchen making dinner. Jack is there, too, sitting on one of the dining chairs watching Eric work. Eric likes Having Jack near him, his presence is incredibly calming. He's so good at making Eric feel at home.
Jack clears his throat right after Eric has put a lid on the pan, to let the food simmer for a bit.
"What about the fact," Jack makes honest to God air quotes around the word fact, Eric simply can't deal with this man, he's so god damn adorable, "that I'm a Savant just like you? That I'm apparently your soulfinder?"
"That is still true, Jack. But even if you'll never want to acknowledge that, I will learn to live with that."
"You will?" Jack looks puzzled, "But know would be the perfect opportunity for you."
"What? Why?" Eric goes around the kitchen Isle until he's standing right in front of Jack. Is he really...
"You could complete the soul bond, you know?"
Is Jack really saying what Eric thinks he's saying? That can't be possible!
"While you have a concussion? Where you can't get away from me? While you're hurt and vulnerable?"
Jack says nothing in return and Eric's stomach churns. It's the moment he has feared his entire life. It's like all his worst nightmares are coming true all at once.
"Jack." Jack's looking intently at his fingertips. "Jack, honey, please? Please look at me?" he pleads.
Jack lifts his head slowly, anticipating the worst to come raining down on him.
"Jack," Eric cradles Jack's face in his hands. "I would never ever do anything to hurt you. And I won't ever do something without your consent. Never, Jack. If you never want to bond with me, that's completely fine. This is about the both of us, you and me. It's not just about me. This is about you. You're the most important thing in my life, Jack. No matter how you'll decide. I am here for you, no matter what."
Eric can see the tears shimmering in Jack's bight blue eyes even though there seem a nuance darker now.
"Oh, honey." Eric doesn't know what to do. He desperately wants to comfort Jack, but he doesn't know if it's his place. He could make everything worse with the fragile state Jack is in.
He's still thinking about what to do when he feels Jack's arms sneaking around his waist and pulling him closer. Closer and closer until their pressed together. Jack lays his head against Eric's chest.
Eric can't help but run his hands through the dark tousled strands of Jack's hair.
"I'll never do anything you don't want, you know that, right?" Eric could swear he feels Jack nod, but then the feeling is gone and he thinks he might just have imagined it.
"We can do whatever we want. We don't ever have to bond if we don't want to. We can make our own history. No pressure." Eric has no idea if he's being reassuring or not, but he hopes that he can calm Jack down to some extent.
He can't stand to see Jack sad and upset. Plus, being upset won't help Jack if he wants to get better soon.
Eric's heart breaks as Jack sobs into his t-shirt. He feels small and helpless because there's nothing he can do to make feel better. So he just holds him and rubs Jack's back.
They've been like this for a long time when Jack's tears finally subside and he feels strong enough to speak again.
Bitty has been whispering the sweetest things in his ear, constantly reassuring him.
"You'll stay?"
"As long as you want me to, Jack."
Jack nods, and the relief expands in his chest and finally he feels like he's able to breathe again. He looks up and into Bitty's brown eyes that are shimmering with tears.
"I want you to stay," Jack says, his voice sure. He goes to hug Bitty again and he gently slings his arms around Jack’s upper body.
“I will.” Bitty’s voice is so soft. Jack breathes in deeply and relaxes into Bitty’s embrace.
Dinner is completely forgotten until the shrill ringing of the alarm splits Jack's head.
Bitty pets Jack’s hair gently. “Honey, I need to go check on the food, okay? I’ll be right back, yes?”
Jack nods slowly. “Yeah, that’d be good. We don’t want to burn down my apartment, eh?” He tries to joke. It’s probably lame anyway.
Bitty’s bright laugh is the best thing Jack has ever heard. He smiles at Bitty, but when he remembers that the food is ready he pushes him away because it looks like Bitty won’t let go until Jack is ready to let him go.
“Our food will burn.” Jack states.
“Oh, yes, yes of course.” Eric rushes back into the kitchen and takes the pot off the heat and then proceeds to pull something out of the oven that smells like heaven. But that’s just Jack’s humble opinion.
He can’t help himself and he promptly points it out. The beautiful pink flush that rises on Bitty’s cheeks is absolutely worth it.
Eric is over the moon, Jack wants him to stay. He never thought that Jack would open up to him in a million years, so he savours the moment that Jack does.
However, he does try not to let it get to his head. Jack’s sick and he needs his help. Eric goes back to doing what he knows. He reluctantly lets Jack go and then he sprints to the oven where dinner has been cooking for a little bit too long.
It must be his lucky day because his stir fry turns out to be perfect. He goes to serve Jack and himself. Eric watches Jack dig in and a warm happy feeling settles in Eric’s gut.
He will have to drive Jack to his check-up appointment tomorrow and he’s got his fingers crossed that everything will be alright.
He has barely eaten anything when Jack finishes his plate. Eric throws him a sunny smile as he asks if Jack wants a second helping. Jack nods enthusiastically but then winces because of the sudden movement.
Eric rushes over to him to make sure he’s okay and he can barely hear Jack’s answer over the worry that clouds his head.
“Bitty. Bits. Eric.” There’s concern laced into Jack’s voice and Eric looks up at him.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
“I’m okay, really. I just moved wrong. It’s alright – I’m alright.”
“You are really feeling okay?”
“Yes,” Jack states surely and he sounds a little bit sheepish. “Really.” He mimics Eric.
Eric knows a chirp when he hears one. He doesn’t have the energy to chirp back, so he just smiles and hopes that this is forever. It certainly feels like it.