Chapter Text
Anyone that's been around Enjin long enough knows that he absolutely HATES being sick
And anyone who knows that knows he normally tries Really hard to make sure no one figures out he's sick. Sometimes he gets away with it other times he doesn't and is forced to rest in the infirmary much to his dismay.
Whenever he does manage to hide his sickness till it's gone it never stays a secret cause the man can't help but gloat about getting away with it, which normally leads to an ear full from anyone in range but he deems it worth it enough.
The thing that normally messes Enjin up is little tells he does when he thinks no one's looking. Letting out small coughs, scratching his throat, going easier on a job. All things people probably wouldn't look twice at, but not Enjin's team, especially Gris.
The guy is starting to get to good at realizing when there's something wrong with him it would be starting to piss Enjin off if it weren't for the fact it made him feel a little warm inside knowing Gris pays close attention to him often enough to know the little things about him, but that's a separate problem.
-
Enjin had been acting a little off today, woke up a little later than usual and for a guy who gets up at the same time EVERY day it's the first thing that sets Gris's alarms off.
The second thing is Enjin not participating as much in the kids conversation this morning.
Everyone was sitting at a table eating their breakfast Zanka and Rudo fighting like the brothers they are while Riyo added fuel to the flame not picking a side and rather agreeing with whoever said the funniest/meanest thing which just made them both try harder to out do each other, and Enjin hadn't said a single thing other letting out small chuckles and dawning his signature smile.
He also to note hadn't gotten himself any breakfast opting for a tall glass of water he had been sipping on
When asking he just laughed and said he wasn't hungry.
There was definitely something wrong with Enjin but Gris couldn't quite tell what yet, whether it be the giver is starting to get sick or is just having a bad headspace day.
It happens to everyone at the cleaners but it's important to know the difference. Fighting trash beast is bad for If someone's getting sick putting too much strain on their already weakening body, while if someones have a bad headspace day beating things up can help get rid of some pent up rage.
Gris would just have to monitor Enjin carefully today while out on their first mission. Either way whatever Enjin is hiding won't be hidden by the end of today that's for sure. The guy is always telling others it's okay to ask for help but never takes that mentality for himself, and everyone but assumily Corvus is yet to know why.
Corvus has had one to many one on one conversations with Enjin to not know anything, plus the guys sweet but very intimidating.
Anyways, Gris just hopes this first Job is easy.
-
Enjin woke up feeling like hell.
His limbs were heavy and his throat felt dryer than a no man's land.
Enjin has known he's been getting sick for a good 2-3 days now and is determined to as normal not let anyone know, he got away with it last time he was sick, it was only a small cold something anyone could continue working with but he counts it as a win and is now Wondering if he can start a streak of not being noticed.
Now Enjin knows he should tell someone, obviously I mean he's gotten enough lectures to understand what he's doing is selfish and reckless but it never seems to deteriorate him.
So he sits up in his bed and reaches for his cigarettes wanting to have a smoke to clear his mind before he gets up. Glancing at the time he notices two things first is that he overslept by ten minutes and second is that while ten minutes isn't a lot it means most if not all of his team would be up by now, also meaning Semiu and Gris would be up the people who know Enjin does NOT sleep in.
Well fuck
There goes the chance of staying unnoticed. One of them is definitely gonna pick something up from this, Enjin wonders if he can play this off.
Only one way to find you.
-
Okay so Enjin may actually be cooked ever since he sat down Gris's eyes have been on him and not in the way Enjin's wants Gris's eyes on him.
The kids seem to pay him no mind being caught up in their own thing. But now Enjin can't even blink without seeing Gris squint his eyes at him.
If the first job they have today is easy he'll be able to come back and shut himself in his room till the next which will help him in avoiding Gris and his suspicious looks.
Hopefully that plan works.
-
You know for that fact that luck is literally never on their side Enjin's plan might actually work, the mission had basically gone exactly to plan, sure a giant trash beast showed up that was not in the report but it wasn't something they couldn't handle, it wasn't some new beast that they hadn't seen before that they had to figure out how to kill it while fighting, just a plane average trash beast.
While the kids were totally dominating, god Enjin was so proud of those kids.
It was also good that they were taking charge because literally as soon he started driving out here he started to feel ten times worse than before, his own driving started making him feel a little nauseous which caused him to drive a little safer which DID NOT help the looks from Gris and now the added confused looks from both Zanka and Riyo.
And the nausea didn't go away after he stepped out of the car either so yeah sue him he's gonna kick back a bit while the kids handle this one.
"You alright Enjin? Thought you'd be in the fight no?"
Gris's voice came from behind him, when did he get there? God Enjin needed to pull himself together.
"Nah they got this, call it extra training and or bonding time" Enjin attempted to keep his voice neutral but the little rasp that came with it didn't help anything.
Before Gris could say anything else the loud sound of the trash beast speaking and coming apart with a bang interrupted him.
Enjin couldn't be more thankful for that even if the loudness of it all was starting to give him a pretty nasty headache. Man this might be one of his worst colds yet.
Riyo, Zanka and Rudo all came back over to them looking pleasantly happy with themselves before all hoping in the car.
"I'm driving, hand me the keys would you"
Gris's tone was light but had full seriousness to it.
"What dude nah everyone will fall asleep if you drive back"
Gris just raised his eyebrow hand still out waiting to be handed the keys
"Fine fine whatever"
Enjin hoped that if he didn't argue with him he would be able to book it to his room as soon as they got back to base.
Once in the car Zanka raised an eyebrow at the fact that Gris was driving but didn't say anything.
Riyo was already asleep in the back and Rudo was busy staring out the window thinking God knows what.
Gris started the car and to no one's surprise everyone was already getting tired.
Zanka was now officially asleep and Rudo was close to nodding off, always the strongest when it came to Gris's driving.
Enjin was also awake but that was because he didn't think the nausea plus the headache that had only gotten worse would let him.
But unfortunately Gris's driving did make him let his guard down enough to let out the smallest of coughs
Fuck
Enjin slowly looked over to the driver's seat seeing Gris fully side eyeing him with an unreadable expression.
Mannn he was so dead.
Once back at cleaners HQ everyone got out of the car and started making their was inside Enjin trying to speed walk his way in but Gris was right on his tail walking with what can only be described as determination.
Once inside Enjin tried to make a b-line straight for his room but felt a large hand on his shoulder.
God damn Gris's hands are big they could probably rap fully around his- no! Can't be thinking about that right now.
"Enjin."
That made everyone, including Enjin, stop moving.
The kids looked over confused before Zanka spoke up
"Ohh ok that makes sense" he said sighing looking unimpressed
Riyo seemed to catch the vibe Zanka was laying down and laughed and smiled unapologetically at Enjin for excusing herself to go inform Eishia taking a very confused Rudo with her.
"Guys I'm finee, your all ready way to much into this"
"Then I'm sure you won't mind going to see Eishia to check your temperature then" Gris said, placing his other hand on Enjin's forehead.
Enjin leaned into it for a second before remembering he should not be doing that and trying to pull himself away from the stronger man, damn it felt nice on his aching head though.
"Jesus I can tell you're burning up just feeling you, how long have you known you're sick?"
Enjin decided saying nothing was the best thing to do in this moment
Doing so however did not please Gris who started pulling him down the hallway to the infirmary.
"Really I'm finnee"
Gris just keeped pulling further
Zanka called out to them at the end of the hallway
"I'll go grab some of his stuff from his room!"
"Thanks Zanka!" Gris called back completely ignoring a pouting Enjin
"Fine ignore me then" Enjin continued grumbling while they walked their way to Eishia.
Once inside the medical room the first thing Enjin spots is Riyo and Rudo sitting on one of the beds besides the closest one to the door leaving that one for an awaiting Enjin
Next to them stands a very nervous looking Eishia.
"There you are, Riyo told me you're sick, please don't tell me you let it get too bad!" Eishia spoke fast, moving towards Enjin to examine him.
Enjin stepped back a little to feel the pressure of Gris's very strong big hands- anyway on his back stopping him from going any further.
Enjin put a hand out in front of him, stopping the worried girl from also coming closer.
"Don't worry girl I'm fine you know me-" mid way through I loud cough cuts Enjin making him double over a bit the hand on his back now making soothing strokes to comfort him. Enjin hated how much it worked.
Knowing he probably wasn't going to get out of this he lets himself get ushered to the bed in front of him and sits down on it.
"Here drink this" Zanka comes back in holding a few of Enjin's things; pajamas, toothbrush, some books Enjin's definitely not gonna read he's also holding out a cup of water to Enjin who takes it without a word and chugs the whole thing back.
"C-careful!" Eishia moves to the side of the bed and pulls out a thermometer and waits for Enjin to finish the water.
He puts the cup down onto the side table next to him and looks up, eyes meeting hers and then looks down to the thermometer. Enjin sighs and holds out his hand motioning her to let him do it himself.
She hesitantly agrees and hands it over.
Gris puts his hand over his face "do you have to be such a pain?" His voice is light but Enjin gets the message.
Enjin sticks his tongue out at him before putting the thermometer in his mouth under his tongue and waits for it to flash.
Once done he takes it out of his mouth and hands it to Eishia.
"It's pretty high.. What symptoms are you having or have had recently?"
Enjin groaned he hated this. Honestly it was such a waste of time he would be able to get over this cold on his own in his room without bothering anyone but now there's five people here that have to put up with his grown adult ass getting a medical check.
"Idk? headache, nausea, swore throat typical cold stuff"
Eishia goes over to a counter and grabs some pills and refills the glass of water Enjin had
"Here this is for the headache and this one should help a little with the cold, it seems like it's probably a common cold but I want to monitor you for at least a night because of how high your temperature was"
Enjin sighed "of course you do."
Eishia looked away apologetically "sorry.."
Gris punched Enjin's arm looking at him.
"No your just doing your job my bad"
Eishia smiled softly at him then at Gris before moving away to go grab some other things.
"Alright you kids get out of here I need to talk to Enjin"
Gris started moving Zanka, Riyo and Rudo out of the room who all had complaints of their own but Gris didn't listen and continued pushing them out.
When Gris turned back around he saw Enjin lying on his side facing away from him pretending to be asleep.
"I know your awake"
..
Gris sighed, "We're gonna talk about this later."
With that he left to go probably talk to Eishia about something.
Enjin hated being sick