A is for -- Arcade Gannon
Here it is!! The first prompt of the 2k event 😁 And this one was like... perfect? Again, everything was randomized, but this one was just on 'easy mode' for me, I guess, but I'm not complaining! Arcade really is always such a treat <3
I'll be starting a masterlist for the event here, so it's easily accessible for everyone, as well 😊 I hope you all enjoy!
--
Pair: Arcade x M!Six
Dialogue Prompt: “You’re not okay. You’re shaking.”
Word: Aid
Rating: SFW
Category: Fluff
Word Count: 1.2K
Arcade shook his head, eyes closed as they peered into the bright blackness behind his eyelids, arms folded over his chest as he faced out towards the sound of the moving river.
On the nights especially, he’d noticed, he could hear it rushing, albeit slowly, subtly, but still… His ears trained on the sound, waiting, rather impatiently, for the telltale clattering of the barge returning from the Fort.
It had happened a few times, since his banishment to this dusty patch in favor of Six “going in alone,” that the barge had returned with a measly few numbers of legion pigeon-heads. But no Six.
Still. Three days later, and no Six.
Days…
Days, he’s had me sitting here. Camping here. Camping... I don’t even really know where.
Ipse mihi mors erit.
Why does this always happen?
Boy, do I know how to pick em, huh?
But really. You’d think I’d learn my lesson, sometime. I’m an intelligent man. A doctor, and yet, I can’t cure my own damned love-sickness.
Bleh.
Arcade took a deep breath, trying and failing to expel his worries to the hot wind as it swept by the cliffside. It was no use though.
How couldn’t he take me along? Why?
Not only am I his damned partner, but a doctor. Which, okay, who could make any use of a health professional in a potentially dangerous situation?
And I’m… well, sometimes I’m a decent shot–
No guns at the Fort.
Okay, well, I’ve gotten out of my fair share of tussles. This one could work out too. Maybe.
But dammit, he didn't know. Couldn’t know, from all the way out here.
Six, please…
Arcade stopped himself from hoping, thinking that would only damn the courier further.
Instead, he released another sigh, and let his arms fall down to his sides.
Then, his ears pricked, a movement sounded behind him, and Arcade’s head was turning, eyes wide and hardly prepared for a conflict, but raising his fists in defense anyhow.
“Arcade, thank goodness.”
The doctor hardly had time to blink, as Six collapsed forward and into him, arms wrapping so tightly around his body, he was afraid he might suffocate.
“I was worried you’d have left…” Six whispered as Arcade slowly unclenched his prepared fists and returned the hug with an uncharacteristic vigor.
“Yes, well, you certainly kept me waiting long enough to think about it. Multiple times.” He tried to keep his voice from quivering with relief as he spoke, “In fact, I’ll have you know…”
Arcade’s thoughts interrupted his intended quip, at the feel of his partner in his arms. The way he’d changed.
Six was slighter now, malnourished, he was twitchier, and though his partner’s arms were strongly secured around him, it was a sort of tightness that shouted desperation in its most base form. Without even seeing his face, Arcade felt a sort of fear– no, dread– pouring through Six’s embrace that he’d only ever seen with patients so near to death that there was no saving them.
“Six.” Arcade whispered softly as his hands began to tentatively smooth over the rigid planes of his partner’s body. “Why don’t you, ah, let me examine you.”
He began to pull away, but Six’s grip was like wrought iron.
“What?” He whispered, his voice feral. As though letting go would truly mean his end.
Arcade gulped, his jaw clenched tight.
“There… just seems like there’s something wrong, amor. Well, more than usual, anyway.” Arcade added, trying to keep his tone lighter, despite the circumstances calling for a more somber timbre.
“I’m fine, Arcade.” Six ignored his play at levity, still retaining an intensity that put Arcade on edge– over the edge, even.
“Please.” Six’s voice broke briefly as he continued his plea, “Just let me–”
“You’re not fine, Six. You’re shaking.” This time, the doctor pulled away more gruffly, catching his partner’s eye before he had a chance to protest. “You look half-starved, you’re twitching like a jet addict, holding me like you’ll fall apart if I even think about letting go…”
Six still didn’t look like he’d yield, his hands still clenching painfully to Arcade’s forearms as he tried in vain to pull back and away.
“It’ll make me feel better, if nothing else.” He tried one more time, “Let me take care of you, Six. For once.”
“You take care of me.” Six whispered defensively, avoiding his partner’s eyes, despite Arcade's efforts.
“Yeah, only when you complain loud enough.” Arcade threw him a half smile as he slowly slid his arms out of Six’s death-hold. Their hands clasped together when they met, and the doctor gently pulled his companion to the stump nearest to his measly camp’s center.
He hadn’t wanted to risk making a fire all these nights, but there was a hint of a place for one dug out in the earth near to his tent. The stump beside the would-be fire pit had been his seat for the few days he spent here, looking out towards the river, desperately wondering when his partner’s barge would appear.
And yet, it never had...
“This time you’ll get it on the house.” Arcade told him, humor thrust into the words to try and keep the atmosphere light.
But there's certainly loads more he's not telling me.
The doctor could hardly breathe as Six finally, reluctantly, sat onto the stump.
With time, maybe. Oh, sed ita me sollicitat.
Arcade's hands shook as he began the examination, running his fingers over Six’s shoulders, his back, his sides, his chest.
“Tell me if you feel any pain.”
Six only stared ahead, his body jerking in small tremors, the shadows under his eyes emphasizing the hazy gloss to them, but through it all, he managed to nod in understanding.
Arcade swallowed hard, his panic rising as he found little physically wrong with the courier; yet, undoubtedly, there was something out of order.
He’d never seen his partner so passive before, so quiet, so stern. With furrowed blond brows, Arcade grabbed his stethoscope out from his tent and began to check his breathing and heartbeat.
There… There was a problem.
Six’s heartbeat was off the charts, his breathing more rapid than any seated person’s should be.
“Hoc non potest esse… Six, what happened?” Arcade whispered as he knelt before his partner, bright green eyes meeting fogged windows as the doctor caught his gaze.
The courier shook his head.
“I’ll be fine,” He rasped, “Just need to get away from here. Need… some time, just with you.”
Arcade’s chest ached as Six’s hand grasped at him, as he slid down to join his partner on the ground at the foot of the stump. Kneeling in the dirt, Six pulled him into another tight hug.
“That…” Arcade began, his hands settling around his partner once more, this time truly allowing the relief to settle in.
He’s back. Six is here.
He's... different, but he's back with me again.
We’re going to be okay.
Spero...
As much as he wanted to pry, to try and help his partner further, to understand all that happened, all that was going on, Arcade couldn't help but admit that the courier's idea was more than idyllic.
With a deep breath, he expelled the built up worries as best he could. For the time being.
“That... sounds wonderful, Six.”
105 notes
·
View notes