Work Text:
When Hector woke up that morning, he was expecting to launch out of bed and get straight to work, being the early riser he was. Maybe play a quick game to get the brain pumping before hitting the coding.
He wasn't expecting to be shaken awake by a rather concerned blurry looking pair of Rob and Ed, who were both tentatively staring at him.
"I'm not about to get sacrificed, am I?" He jokes, narrowing his eyes. Without his glasses, he could only see the shapes of his friends, the colours being a dead giveaway.
"Hector, it's almost 8 AM," Ed explains, the rat slipping Hector's glasses onto the sheep so he can see.
"I overslept?" Hector groans, trying to sit himself up on the bed, and that's when he notices something feels off.
He was expecting that heat from being under the covers all night to vanish, but instead it grows stronger. Raising a hoof to his forehead, he finds it covered in sweat, which is definitely not normal.
"Yeah, I think you're sick," Robert sighs, rubbing Hector's arm soothingly. "You've got a temperature."
Hector blinks. Him, sick? He can't even remember the last time he was ill. Sure the lack of vitamin D might have been a problem in the past, being the introverted gamer he was and all, but he'd been going out way more since the Cor visit.
"But I have to work," He explains, attempting to stand up, ignoring the dizzying feeling in his head.
"Not when you're sick," Rob chides.
"We don't want you to hurt yourself, Hector," Ed pleads, while holding up a glass of water and a painkiller. "Drink this first, please."
Hector takes the glass, staring at it for a moment before shrugging. No harm, no foul, so he downs the water and the pill, relishing in the hydration for a moment.
"Now can I work?" He asks, folding his arms. "I'm not a child, I can handle being sick."
"If you promise to stay hydrated," Ed replies back, gesturing down the hall to the kitchen. "I have errands to run so I can't check up on you today."
"And while I'd love to stay and make sure you're okay, I have a college lecture at 10," Rob sighs, ruffling Hector's wool affectionately. "But since I love you, I'm calling Gus to see if he can watch you while we're out."
"Isn't that a bit much? Adults get sick all the time and still work through it, right?" Hector asks, pleasantly enjoying the sweet sensation upon hearing the ferret say I love you.
"And in an ideal world, they shouldn't have to," Rob shrugs.
"Gus' got nothing to do today anyway," Ed mutters quietly. "We text… a lot."
"He'll be here in an hour. I know you can handle yourself Hector, you're a strong guy, but Gus just wants to help… and maybe raid our fridge…" Rob explains with a chuckle.
"...Fine," The sheep pouts, already starting to feel better from the effects of the painkiller. "I'll try and get some work done while I still can then."
"Good," Robert smiles, leaning down to give the sheep a quick kiss on the cheek, though Hector's face is already flushed from the fever, so the redness stays the same.
The ferret leaves soon after, needing to catch a bus to college, while Ed heads out to finish some of his errands, promising to be back once he's free, leaving Hector alone in the apartment.
It's a spacious place, thanks to Hector's parents wanting him to have a good shot at living independently. Three bedrooms, one for Hector, one for Ed and a spare for guests. A nice bathroom with a decent sized shower, a large living room that combines with the kitchen, separated by one of those island countertops. And of course, an office for the pair to work their indie game magic.
Hector had always wanted to make a game, while Ed had always wanted to design characters. So it was only natural for their passions to come together in the form of an Indie game, with Ed working on the assets and scenarios, while Hector worked on the coding and gameplay.
Still, as he tried to work, knowing the painkiller would soon wear off, the sheep had decided, after brief deliberation, that his jeans and shirt were just… not being worn today.
He felt uncomfortably hot and his wool wasn't helping with the insulation.
So when the doorbell went off, he didn't even bother to wear any clothes, in nothing but his underwear and glasses. Not that he minded, opening the door to reveal Gus, the red head from Cor.
If the otter was surprised about Hector receiving him practically naked, he didn't show it, the red head stepping into the apartment with a grin and a gesture to a plastic bag he was carrying.
"Mornin' Hector," He says cheerfully, making his way to the kitchen with the plastic bag in hand. "You feelin' okay?"
"Never better," The sheep dryly remarks, eyeing the bag. "Having to take painkillers every four hours. I feel like I've been hit by every status effect ever."
"So you're not in the mood for ice cream then?" Gus asks with a smile as he produces some vanilla caramel ice cream from the bag.
"I am always in the mood for ice cream, Gus."
"Good, cuz I didn't wanna eat it on my own," The otter says, pulling out some spoons. "I also brought some good chocolate. Only the best for my friends."
"How do you know it's good chocolate?" Hector asks cautiously.
"Because it, like the ice cream, is dairy free so y'can eat it," The otter states proudly.
At that, Hector claps his hands together, breathing a sigh of relief. "Gus, it's official, I love you now."
"Now don't go makin' Rob jealous," Gus winks, handing Hector a spoon. "An almost naked sheep givin' me compliments, makes me blush."
"I could make you blush in other ways," Hector jokingly snickers.
"I'd pay to see that," The otter laughs, resting a paw under his chin as he watches for the sheep's reaction.
"...I'm too sick to be embarrassed at this point…"
"I figured from the lack of clothes," Gus smirks, before making his way to the sofa. "But I can't judge, I'd do the same at home, heh."
"It's not like I'm uncomfortable about my body anymore," Hector replies, flopping down onto the sofa with a thud. "You all made me feel more comfortable about that. I'm not even embarrassed about my dyed chest wool!"
"Adds to your whole cute vibe," Gus replies, relaxing on the other side of the sofa, the plastic bag on the coffee table. "Just glad y'warmed up to me."
Hector smiles, before grabbing a bar of chocolate from Gus' bag of wonders. "I can put the TV on if you want?"
"Sure thing. Here to check on you though," The otter reminds, already sunken into the sofa cushions.
The next hour or two pass without incident, the pair munching on snacks while talking about their lives as some tv show drones on in the background.
It was nice getting to catch up with Gus, and being able to talk to him without Rob and Ed around was honestly a welcome change for the sheep. The otter was helping Faust and his Dad out at the auto-repair until he could find a more stable job.
"You'd make a great barista," Hector explains, downing another painkiller like he was instructed to.
"How come?" The otter asks, leaning back as he lets Hector rest his hooves against his lap.
"You're good at conversations," The sheep replies, before gesturing to their snacks. "And you're good at prepping for people."
"Cuz I worked in a chocolate store all my life," Gus chuckles. "Retail ain't the most fancy job."
"But you're very good at it. And if you were a barista, we'd all have somewhere to go for coffee."
"Y'just want free drinks, Hector," The otter laughes, tongue poked out at the sheep in protest. "If y'wanted someone to make you coffee, all y'had to was ask."
"The pain of dating a ferret who won't drink coffee…" Hector groans. "I'm officially dating you now for the free morning coffee."
Gus lets out a chuckle and the shake of a head, his paws now massaging Hector's feet. "You're one of a kind, Hector."
Maybe it was just the fever talking, but Hector could have sworn he caught something, wistful, in Gus' voice. If only he had Robert's ability to read emotions.
—
"Hey Hector, I'm back," Robert calls out, opening their apartment door and dropping the keys off on the side. "Hector?"
"In the living room, Rob," He hears a familiar voice call out.
Turning the corner, the ferret almost feels his heart swell at the adorable sight before him.
The sofa cushions are strewn across the floor, with a single one remaining in the lap of Gus, the otter giving Rob a happy wave. Though having to be careful because, resting on the pillow in Gus' lap is the sleeping form of Hector. The sheep is practically curled up against the otter, one of his arms hanging off the sofa, a game controller in his grip.
"...I'm taking a picture."
One snap later and Rob sits himself down on the other side of the sofa, letting Hector's feet rest on his lap.
"Chocolate?" Gus offers, pointing at some unopened bars on the table.
"Now you're speaking my language, Gus," Robert chuckles, grabbing, opening and biting into a bar as he rests his head against the couch. "That lecture was the worst…"
"Can't imagine sitting there for two hours," Gus replies, lazily ruffling Hector's hair. "Things went well here."
"I can tell," Rob smiles, looking down at his sleeping boyfriend. "I'm glad he's taking time to rest. I think he got a bit too eager on their project and overdid things."
"Eager to prove to his folks," Gus adds.
Robert nods, his smile turning somber. "I know they're on better terms than they were a few months back. But I know he wants to be independent and not have to rely on them."
"As long as he remembers to enjoy the journey," Gus responds. "He's still maturin' but he doesn't have to rush it."
"Yeah. I'm proud of him, I guess," Rob replies, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Thanks for watching him today."
"No prob, Rob," The otter grins. "Always happy to help out a friend, especially when they're cute."
"Were you always this…"
"Playful?"
"...Slutty," They both hear, looking down at Gus' lap to see Hector blinking his eyes open. "You're looking for slutty, Rob."
"I just know how to have a good time," Gus smirks, the otter stretching as Hector pushes himself up into a sitting position on the sofa.
"You two are loud," Hector whines, folding his arms as he sits back.
"You feeling okay?" Rob asks, leaning over to his partner, placing his paw against his forehead. "Still hot, but not as bad as this morning."
"I bet that's because of the ice cream," Gus grins, pointing to the half eaten tub of ice cream on the table.
"And resting," Rob adds. "You looked very cute sleeping on Gus' lap."
Hector's eyes narrow, the sheep attempting to reach for Robert's phone. "You did not take a picture, did you?"
Robert leans back, keeping his phone just out of reach. "It'll be my new wallpaper."
"I'm not sucking your dick anymore."
Gus practically chokes on the water he's sipping when he hears that, bursting into laughter, much to the amusement of the other two. "M'sorry, just wasn't expecting to hear that."
"I'll take that sacrifice," Rob announces, pressing a button on his phone.
Moments later, Gus and Hector's phones buzz, and Hector can't help the groan when he sees the picture sent to the Cor group chat.
"Mike will never let me live this down," He moans, burying his head into a pillow.
"I see this as a win," Gus laughs. "Proof that Hector likes me. You've got competition Rob."
The ferret rolls his eyes, the hilarity of the situation winding down. But it was good to see how far those two had come in such a short time. From being afraid to interact to such close friends, maybe opposites do attract.
A buzz from their phones had Hector check the group chat. A message from Mike…
'Having a threesome without me, smh'
"I hate all of you…!"