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Everything hurt and Vox still had no idea why. He heard Valentino and Velvette arguing in the other room. Through unfocused eyes, he tries to read the diagnostics report on the screen.
What was wrong with him? He couldn’t tell. The words were there. They made sense. At least, he was certain they did. But Vox couldn’t parse it out. The rest of his injuries were so minor. He would have walked it off any day of the week.
But apparently it wasn’t any day of the week, because he wasn’t walking it off.
Vox’s heart pounded against his rib cage. It was nauseating. Gripping at the blankets, Vox found he was fidgety in a way he didn’t recognize. And he had long since accepted he could be fidgety too. Not like this. Every joint needed to shift to fight against the aching. Except it did nothing. He squirmed on his bed, trying to read the report once more.
At least his assailant had been fried. Vox had won that encounter. Even if everything was… ugh.
The door opened and Vox did everything in his power to stop worming around like a child.
“Good news!” Val swept into the room. He wasn’t wearing his wings as an overcoat. They draped behind him and looked very comfortable.
Of course they were comfortable, but why did Vox’s skin feel like it was crawling because he wasn’t touching them? “Good… news?”
“Yes! You’ll be fine.”
Val climbed on top of him and suddenly Vox no longer felt like he was on the edge of a panic attack. His arms wrapped around Val immediately.
“What the fuck?”
Val chuckled and nuzzled Vox’s shoulder. “You know the pollen that makes everyone want to have sex? Consider this… a milder version of that.”
Not that Vox would be averse to having sex with Val (not that he ever was averse), but Vox was too busy trying to understand what Val meant. “What?”
“Velvette is calling it cuddle pollen.”
This was humiliating, but Vox couldn’t do anything more but splutter. Val kissed his way up Vox’s neck.
“Don’t worry. Getting it in your injuries just means we might be in this room for a few days.”
Vox’s response was audio feedback.
Val stroked his sides with his lower hands while he tweaked Vox’s antennae with his primary two hands. By the time Vox had pulled himself together, he was feeling too nice to be actually upset. Val being sweet while giving Vox his full attention.
His wings stretched out and blanketed both of them. Vox clung to him, closing his eyes as Val kissed his neck and face as if he was the one who needed more touch.
“It can’t actually last days,” Vox replied.
“I hope it does, amorcito.”
Val didn’t care too much if Vox missed work. He should, but Vox wasn’t in the mood to get into it. He pulled Val’s face up to his and kissed him. Val pressed his long tongue up against Vox’s. Vox dug his fingers into Val’s cheeks.
Pulling back for a second, Val started with, “Want to–”
“Only this,” Vox replied, kissing him more. For some reason this was all Vox wanted. For once. Even with Val’s pheromone-laden saliva. It didn’t change that all Vox wanted was to be as close to him as possible.
The kissing was an excellent bonus.
“You’re nice and pliable, aren’t you?” Val murmured.
“You’re nice and pliable.” It sounded childish, but Vox felt like he was right. After all, they were doing what Vox wanted to do instead of what Val was about to suggest.
Before either could continue the conversation, they were kissing again. All the pain was gone, leaving him with the soreness of his previous injuries and nothing more. Like he could do anything at all, but simply had chosen to stay in bed and make out with Valentino. Cuddle with him after their kisses stopped being as desperate. When Vox was just nuzzling his screen against Val’s fur.
“It doesn’t matter how long it takes.” Val smiled. For once he looked peaceful. “I’ll stay with you the entire time.”
“No. You’ll go to work.”
“Voxy, you’ll lose it if someone isn’t with you. Would you rather I call someone else up to sleep with you?”
Vox shut his eyes. Val might have meant it platonically, but when he said it Vox could only think about it in… Val’s terms. “You’ll do no such thing.”
Shifting to Vox’s side, Val pulled him closer with both his arms and his wings. “Then you’ve got me.”
If Val had something truly important going on, he would actually take care of it. Vox sighed. Staying in bed with Val for another couple days? Not dealing with anyone else?
Actually, he liked the idea a great deal. “Fine.”
“I knew you’d see it my way.”
Whose way was it? Vox changed the screen in his room to stop showing him diagnostics and put on a film. Val tugged him on top of him, sitting up more properly to watch.
“Ooo! I’ve been meaning to rewatch How I Killed My Dad! It’s so nostalgic!”
“Sounds about right.” Vox leaned his head back against Val’s shoulder.
Maybe he’d needed some time off or maybe the stupidly titled cuddle pollen made Vox not care about the work he would miss. This was comfortable.
They watched television. Val caressed his side the entire time.