Here, have more self indulgent trash c': everything I write is trash but still ;; I wanted soft fluffy moments between the doctor and his assistant. I like to think Medic DOES actually care, he just absolutely refuses to show it around anyone. Also sick fics are one of my favorites to read, so here's me pushing that on my galleries hhhh ;;

tagging is a little wonky because technically it's kinda shippy buuuut eh? I dunno, if that's not your thing or you don't like OCs then that's your vibe my dudes.

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Rustling outside his room stirred the young doctor from a fitful sleep. He groaned softly and sat up, trying to shake the aches from his body. The noises from the hallway suddenly sharpened and he heard Soldier’s unmistakable war cries. He cursed under his breath and hauled himself out of bed, stumbling over the blanket in his rush to get ready. “Scheisse! I’m late!” Klein hissed as he fumbled with his jacket. A wave of dizziness passed over him, but he shook it off, snatched his weapon, and took off towards the base’s entrance.

He skidded to a halt beside his mentor with a few minutes to spare. Medic glanced over at his partner. “Not like you to be late, Klein,” he pointed out, raising an eyebrow. Klein shifted on his feet, feeling a bit too warm. He brushed it off, chalking it up to the sprint for the field. “It’s fine. I’m fine,” Klein insisted. Medic gave him one last skeptical glance before the Administrator’s voice called out over the intercom.

“Battle begins in 10! 9! 8!” Klein’s hands tensed around his syringe gun, legs ready to run. “7! 6! 5!” Heavy’s machine gun whirred to life while Demo brandished his prized grenade launcher. “4! 3! 2! 1!” A hush fell over the room, a moment of calm before the storm. “Begin!”

The gates dropped and the din of battle flooded their senses, as deafening and vibrant and visceral as the desert around them. Today would be a good fight.

————

Klein hefted his medigun back onto its rack, his arms shaking with the effort. He rested his head against the cool metal of the shelf, trying to catch his breath. His breathing had become ragged and he was far too hot, even for having been out in the desert sun all day. Something was certainly not right with him. The young doctor sighed and ran a hand through his hair, hoping to ignore the issue. Footsteps echoed behind him.

“Rough day, mein freund?” Medic asked idly as he set about sorting his own equipment. Klein half-managed a short laugh which quickly turned into a coughing fit. He composed himself quickly, though Medic could read him easily. He knew he looked like hell anyway. Medic looked on, a look of concern flashing across his features. “Klein? Are you alright?” his mentor asked, reaching to put a hand on the blonde’s shoulder. Klein glanced back at him and waved a hand dismissively. “I’m fine, Medic. Just tired from the fight,” he insisted, internally cringing at how congested his voice sounded. Medic frowned slightly and crossed his arms.

“You are sick, aren’t you?” he stated plainly. Klein deflated, fidgeting with the cuff of his sleeve. “It’s nothing, I promise. I just- I was needed on the field and- and nothing,” Medic interrupted, “Come with me.” Klein reluctantly followed his mentor across the medical bay, feeling rather like a child in trouble with their parents. The doctor pointed to an exam table. “Up here please while I get some things.” Klein did as he was told. He cleared his throat in an effort to stop the scratching feeling, to little help. He stared at the floor as Medic returned, fully expecting the riot act. The doctor held out a thermometer, a chart in his other hand. “Alright, you know the drill. Under the tongue, one minute, don’t move,” he instructed calmly. Klein nodded and took the device. He tried to speak around the thing.

“I- and no talking either, bitte,” Medic stopped him and he fell silent again, the only sounds being his harsh breaths and the occasional noise from the doves overhead. The timer on the thermometer beeped and he glanced at the display. Medic shook his head and sighed, marking something on the chart. “102.4. You shouldn’t have gone to the field today, Klein,” he scolded his assistant. Klein said nothing but nodded sadly. “What other symptoms have you had? Any aches or pains?” the doctor continued, making notes as Klein answered his questions. “And I’m assuming a sore throat and lethargy as well?” he asked as he ran a hand under the young doctor’s jaw. Klein nodded tiredly. He groaned softly and rested his head in his hands. “I am sorry for worrying you, Medic, I really am. I just felt guilty and figured I could deal with it on my own,” he admitted.

Medic’s expression softened and he set the chart aside. “Klein, you know we make do with whatever our situation is. That’s part of the job. Going into battle sick is only going to make you miserable, not get us a win,” he said gently. Klein looked back at him, his face flushed and his hair a mess. Medic felt a pang of guilt for not noticing something was wrong sooner. He motioned for Klein to get up. “You need to get some rest. Your flu is certainly not going to go away if you insist on working through it! I will take care of your sick leave paperwork,” the doctor told him. Klein started to protest, but decided against it. He nodded weakly and shuffled off the exam table, stumbling a bit as he made his way to their living quarters. The blonde collapsed into his bed and quickly fell into an unsteady sleep.

———————

His body shook with chills and he curled into a ball against them. His dove sat perched beside his pillow as if on watch. Klein groaned and sat up, deciding there was little point in trying to get back to sleep for the moment. He glanced around his room and let his gaze wander to his window, watching as a few stray clouds lazily crossed the sky. His dove fluttered up to land on his shoulder and he smiled tiredly. “Hallo, Sappho. It must still be late, hm?” he asked the dove, stroking her head softly. The bird let out a content chirp and nudged his hand. Klein rubbed his head and flinched slightly, noting the start of a headache. He gently set Sappho down and shuffled out of bed. As quietly as he could, he made his way out to the medical bay.

He dug a bottle of ibuprofen out of a cabinet and grabbed a bottle of water from their small fridge. At least Medic used a different one to store his experiments and exotic organs. Klein made a face at the thought and shook his head. He popped two tablets into his mouth and downed them with a swig of water. A noise and a soft glow of light turned his attention back towards their living quarters. Medic stood in the doorway, half asleep and trying to set his glasses on straight.

“Klein? What are you doing up? You should be resting,” he rasped groggily. He tried to hide a yawn and Klein smiled a bit. “Chills made it a bit difficult and I was getting a headache, again,” the blonde explained. He crossed the medical bay back towards his room. Medic stopped him. “Hold on a moment,” the older doctor instructed. Klein managed a confused glance and blinked in surprise when Medic placed a hand against his forehead. The doctor frowned and put his hand down. “Your fever feels like it’s getting worse. Come on, let’s get you back to bed,” he said gently, coaxing Klein back to his room.

Klein didn’t protest as he was helped into bed, feeling too miserable to even think about it. He settled back down and curled up under his blankets. Medic stepped out for a moment and returned shortly, holding another blanket. He settled it over Klein, who mumbled something incoherent. “This should help a little. And please tell me if you need anything else. You really should not be up and about, especially at three in the morning,” he added, a twinge of humor in his voice. Klein huffed in what Medic took as an attempt at a laugh. “Sappho’s a dove, not a courier pigeon,” he said drowsily. Medic rolled his eyes and turned to the dove. “Bitte, keep an eye on him, little one,” he asked, patting the bird’s head softly. The dove cooed happily in agreement. Medic glanced back at Klein to say something else, but the poor man had already fallen fast asleep, loosely holding onto a teddy bear Pyro had given him some time ago. Medic’s expression softened and he shook his head. “Rest well, Klein,” he said quietly. The doctor took his leave and turned in for the night, leaving his assistant to rest.

——————

Morning came a bit too soon for Medic’s liking, but the doctor stirred nonetheless. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and crawled out of bed to go make some breakfast. He glanced at a calendar hanging above his dresser to see two days of ceasefire set, starting today. That was good; it would give Klein more time to recover. Medic momentarily stopped by his partner’s room on his way out. He chuckled softly.

Klein had kicked his blankets half off, but was still curled around his bear. His hair stuck up in several places and he was snoring softly. Sappho sat asleep on his nightside, nested in his jacket. Medic shook his head and stepped quietly into the room. The dove raised her head, but settled again, assured by the other doctor’s familiar presence. Medic gently pulled the young doctor’s blankets back over him and brushed his hair back into place. Klein whimpered slightly at the touch, but remained fast asleep. A warm smile crossed Medic’s features as he turned and left the blonde to sleep in. At least the stubborn doctor was actually getting some sleep now.

Medic carefully closed the medical bay doors behind him, trying to avoid making any noise. He padded down the hall towards the kitchen, enjoying the rare moment of quiet the base held in the time before the other mercs were up. He silently set about slicing up some fruit and making a few slices of toast. Footsteps behind him drew his glance to Sniper and Miles, who admittedly still looked half asleep.

“Going out hunting today? I think Soldier mentioned seeing some, er…” the doctor paused for a moment, trying to find the right word in English, “ah, the mammals with the shells! Oh, armadillos.” Sniper nodded and lightly nudged Miles’ shoulder. “Yep! Gotta show this kid what’s food and what’s not around here,” the marksman explained. Miles gave a yawn and nodded. “Makin’ coffee for the road. You want some, doc?” Sniper asked, holding up the tin of ground coffee beans. Medic nodded. “That would be good, danke Sniper. You two should take something for breakfast as well,” he added, offering a portion of fruit and toast to the two Aussies. “Besides, it might wake Miles up a bit more.” Sniper smirked and shrugged, grabbing a slice of toast and munching on it as they waited for the coffee to brew. Miles chose to ignore the teasing and popped an orange slice into his mouth while the two chatted. The old coffee maker sputtered to a stop and Sniper poured some for himself and his apprentice, who accepted it eagerly. “See ya around, doc! We’ve got dinner to catch!” he called as he headed for the door. Miles offered a wave as the two left the room, letting silence fall once again. Medic gathered up his breakfast and set off back towards the medical bay.

A shuffling sound from Klein’s room caught his attention. He quietly poked his head inside, surprised to see Klein awake, mostly. The young doctor yawned groggily and mumbled a greeting. “Guten morgen…” he rasped hoarsely. He coughed a few times but composed himself and shook it off. His hair stuck up in a few places. His dove sat perched happily on his shoulder. Medic gave him a relieved look. “Guten morgen, sleepyhead! I thought you’d sleep all day,” he teased, setting a cup of coffee on the nightstand. Klein shakily reached for the drink; Medic gently stopped him and placed the mug in his hands instead. The blonde sheepishly mumbled his thanks.

“How are you feeling? Head still hurt?” Medic asked as Klein sipped his drink. Klein shook his head, making a face when Medic placed a hand against his forehead. “Still have the fever though, doctor,” the blonde replied tiredly. Medic rolled his eyes and ruffled Klein’s hair in retaliation. Klein let out an undignified squeak in surprise. “You’ll recover in time. Here, eat some breakfast. It should help some,” the doctor offered, setting a smaller plate of fruit and toast on the nightstand. Medic sipped his own coffee, though it had cooled some in the time he’d been tending to Klein. Klein glanced at the food and shook his head.

“Danke, but I really don’t have much of an appetite. And that hard bread they give us is hardly going to go down easily with a sore throat,” he pointed out, nudging the plate away a bit. Medic set his coffee aside and frowned. “Klein, you have to eat something. You won’t recover on an empty stomach you know. And coffee is not a suitable replacement!” he scolded his assistant. Klein flinched slightly and Medic hesitated for a moment. “Er, es tut mir leid. I am just… concerned,” he admitted. Klein gave him a sad look. “I… I know. I didn’t mean to snap at you,” he apologized.

Medic let out a chuckle and brightened up a bit. “If you call that a snap, then we have got to work on your battle attitude,” he replied with a laugh. Klein smiled weakly and picked a few pieces of fruit from the plate. “I still don’t want the toast, and I am still not hungry, but I’m a doctor too, aren’t I? I should really take the type of advice I’d give my patients,” he joked, munching on an apple slice. Sappho fluttered over to peck at the abandoned toast; Klein let her have it. The blonde shifted uncomfortably and sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Can you bring me some more ibuprofen?” he grumbled, rubbing at his sore back. Medic nodded and stepped out for a moment. Klein took the moment to crawl out of bed and stretch his sore muscles. He shook a bit of dizziness from his head as Medic returned with his medicine.

Klein gave a nod of thanks as he took the offered pills and water. Medic narrowed his eyes at him. “And where are you off to, hm? Certainly not work, I hope,” the older doctor said, a tinge of annoyance in his voice. Klein blinked in confusion, then shook his head. “Nein, I wanted a shower. The worst part of having a fever,” he explained, tugging on his damp pajama shirt, “is that I wind up feeling sweaty and disgusting.” The blonde made a face at the thought and Medic tried little to hide his amusement. “Well if you think you can manage it, schatz,” he chimed in. Klein shot him a glare at the condescending tone but a sneeze tore away any semblance of a threat from his features. Medic smirked and let out a laugh as Klein grumpily gathered his things and stepped into the bathroom. “Call me if you need anything,” he said in a singsong voice as he strolled to his office. “I will not!” Klein called back hoarsely, clearly not amused with the teasing.

Medic smiled and shook his head as he settled himself behind his desk. He busied himself with finishing his assistant’s sick leave paperwork. Klein seemed to be doing a little better today, so with any luck, he’d be back to his old self by the end of the ceasefire. Medic paused for a moment, stopping a few lines from the bottom of the form. “Duration of leave?” the form asked silently. The doctor tapped the pen against his hand a few times, then made his choice, smiling. “Stubborn boy could use some extra time off anyway,” he said to himself. He signed off on the paperwork and set it aside, to be sent with Ms. Pauling later that afternoon. Archimedes kept his master company, occasionally chirping or scritching at things on the desk.

A short time later, he heard the water cut off and Klein rummaging around in his room. Sappho fluttered into the room, landing beside Archimedes and happily preening the other bird. Klein followed shortly, dressed in, to Medic’s surprise, his usual outfit of choice. “Not feeling the pajama look, hm?” he teased, tilting his head slightly. Klein shrugged and made his way into the office, taking a seat on the old couch. “Force of habit, I suppose? It’s comfortable enough anyway,” he assured the doctor. “And I’m feeling much better now. My fever’s gone down some.” This piqued Medic’s interest, and the doctor stepped away from his work in favor of standing beside Klein. “You’ve checked your temperature?” he asked, placing a hand against Klein’s forehead in a practiced motion. Klein leaned into the cool touch ever so slightly and Medic pulled his hand back. The blonde shook his head. “Er, well I didn’t check, nein. But I’m feeling a bit better,” he insisted. Medic hummed in thought and motioned for Klein to wait. The young doctor shot his mentor a confused look as he left the office, only to return with a thermometer in hand. “Here. We should know for certain, so we can tell if you really are recovering,” he explained, handing it to Klein.

The two sat in silence for a moment, until the device chimed. Klein glanced at the display and grinned smugly. “Told you so,” he smirked, holding it so Medic could see. Medic adjusted his glasses and peered at the numbers on the tiny screen. “Hm, you were right after all, doctor! 100.3, down a bit from last night’s reading,” he agreed. Klein gave a small smile and sighed. “Hopefully that means I’ll be well again soon. Oh, I wanted to ask. What did you write down in my paperwork for sick leave?” he asked, tilting his head slightly. Medic raised an eyebrow. “Why? As your acting physician, my decision is law,” he said firmly. Klein flinched and shook his head. “Nein, I don’t mean it that way! I just… I think I’ll be fine in another day or so and I wanted to know when I could get back to work so-ah!” Medic interrupted his rambling by tapping his head with the aforementioned paperwork. “Relax, young man. You won’t be returning to the field for at least three more days,” Medic said matter of factly. Klein started to protest but his mentor cut him off again. “I might consider letting you work on some paperwork or other things here, if you continue to improve quickly. But, no battle for now!” the doctor insisted, ruffling Klein’s hair playfully. Klein blushed slightly at his mentor’s treatment and looked away.

“Ja, understood. Er, well, do you mind if I stay here for a bit?” the blonde asked. Medic gave him a look. “If you like. You do not need to ask, this is your office too. Even though you don’t come in here much,” he chuckled softly. Klein shifted his weight a bit and gave a small smile. He pulled a book with a worn cover from the shelf along the wall, flipping it open to the last pages he’d read. He curled himself up on the couch, leaning against one of the armrests.

Medic smiled, glad to see his assistant relaxing for a change. He set about getting his remaining paperwork finished, as well as submitting the week’s supply orders. The doctor set his things aside and moved on to organizing some of his files, which he had sorely needed to do earlier. Soldier’s file was a wreck, on account of the American menace insisting on “exercising his rights” to determine the accuracy of the information within. Medic wished he hadn’t seen fit to use a shovel for the action. Luckily nothing some paper clips and staples couldn’t fix, hopefully. He sorted the file out soon enough, with less trouble than he’d originally thought it would be. He nestled it back in its correct place and glanced over to the couch.

His expression softened when he noticed Klein. The young doctor had fallen fast asleep, still holding his book loosely against his chest. Medic smiled and quietly set the book aside, careful not to lose the page. He reached a hand up to Klein’s shoulder and gently nudged him. “Klein? If you’re tired, you should go back to bed,” he said softly. Klein shifted slightly, but seemed content where he was. Medic rolled his eyes and shook his head. He reached down and carefully lifted the young doctor into his arms. Klein curled closer to his chest, seeming comfortable in his presence. Medic carried his companion into his room and gently settled him into bed. To his surprise, Klein whined slightly when he pulled away. The doctor chuckled softly and set Klein’s bear in his arms instead. “Rest well,” he said happily as he tucked Klein’s blankets up around the blonde’s shoulders.

———-

The afternoon had passed in relative silence, save a few rustles and scratches from the doves in their nests. Medic spent much of it finishing the last of his paperwork before he’d settled into an armchair to catch up on some reading. The doctor eventually set aside his empty tea cup and rose to his feet, glancing at the wall clock. “No wonder you’ve all been so chatty! It’s nearly dinner time already,” he said, staring up at the doves in the rafters. He smiled and held a hand up towards them. Archimedes and a few other curious birds fluttered down to him and he stroked the dove’s head. The doctor hummed softly as the birds flitted about, following him over to the small feeder Engineer had built for him. He set a handful of seeds out for the doves, who chirped excitedly and crowded around the food. He watched them for a moment and raised an eyebrow. “Wait, who is missing? There are supposed to be seven of you. Archimedes, Euclid, Socrates…” he counted the birds aloud, “Ah, Sappho must still be with Klein.” He chuckled and patted Archimedes’ head. “Our patient will need some dinner as well, hm?”

He turned on his heel and headed for the kitchen, already trying to plan out what to make. Klein seemed to be doing better earlier, so perhaps he might be up to something a bit tastier than sliced fruit again. Maybe some pasta or a meat dish? He’d have to see what was left in the kitchen first; Soldier had a tendency to throw away things he didn’t like or couldn’t identify. As he rounded the corner towards the kitchen, he picked up on a few voices coming from the room. He briefly wondered if Miles and Sniper had gotten back from their hunting trip. The doctor stopped short when he discovered the origin of the voices.

Klein stood in the small kitchen, up and about though admittedly looking like he had just woken up. He stirred a pot of something, occasionally sipping from a cup of tea set off to one side. Miles and Sniper were seated across the room at the dining table and were telling the blonde about their day.“Klein! I thought you were still sleeping,” Medic said, stepping closer to inspect the contents of the pot on the stove. “What’s this?” Klein shooed his mentor away. “I was, but Sappho woke me up after a while. She was hungry,” he chuckled, stroking the dove’s feathers. “And I’m starving,” he added, stirring his food a bit. “Don’t worry, we’re not trying to feed him any armadillo or anything!” Miles chimed in, grinning. Sniper playfully nudged his apprentice’s shoulder and shook his head. “You don’t boil armadillo anyway, kills the flavor,” the marksman explained. Klein made a face and shook his head. “I do not think my mother’s soup would taste good with it anyways…” he grumbled. Sniper shrugged and tapped Miles’ head. “C’mon, let’s go get the meat cleaned. I’m making my dad’s special meat pie!” he proclaimed gleefully, half-dragging his partner out of the room. Medic stifled a laugh as the two marksmen left.

“Those two are like a dysfunctional family,” he said with a laugh. Klein chuckled softly and nodded in agreement. “How are you feeling? It seems you’ve recovered enough to have an appetite again, which is certainly a good start,” Medic pointed out. Klein smiled and pulled two bowls down from a shelf. “Still a bit weak, slightly feverish,” he said calmly, “and ja, I checked this time. The chills are mostly gone though and my cough is much better.” He sipped his tea. “The tea helps that though.” He hummed quietly as he poured soup into each bowl and handed one to his mentor.

“As thanks for keeping an eye on me,” he insisted, settling at the table with his own bowl. Medic blinked in surprise and started to say something, only to be interrupted. “Oh, and… you didn’t need to carry me to my room,” Klein mumbled, clearly embarrassed. He blushed slightly and avoided Medic’s amused gaze. Medic smirked and took a seat beside him. “Then don’t fall asleep in my office,” he said cheerily, ruffling Klein’s hair playfully. Klein swatted his hand away, but failed to hide the slight smile on his face. He turned his attention to his meal instead. Medic did the same, and for a few moments they ate in silence. That is, until Medic piped up. “To be fair, I did try to wake you but you were out like Demo after a Friday night,” he teased. Klein rolled his eyes and shook his head. Medic’s expression softened a bit and he put a hand on Klein’s shoulder. “I am glad you are getting the rest you need though. And it’s good you have your appetite back, I was getting a bit worried,” he admitted. Klein gave him a confused look. “You’re not normally one to be so sentimental, doctor,” he pointed out, smirking when the normally stoic doctor grew flustered. “Er, well you are my partner. We are assigned to work together and I feel we have even become friends in your time with RED,” the older doctor stammered, shoving his emotions back into a corner of his mind. Klein chuckled a bit. “Ah, you do like having me around after all,” he teased. Medic waved a hand dismissively and picked up the two empty bowls.

“Danke for dinner. I didn’t know you cooked! Learn something new each day,” he said calmly. “You cook very well, Klein.” Klein smiled and gave a short laugh. “I don’t know about that. I can follow a recipe well. The soup is my mother’s recipe. She always made it for me when I was sick as a child,” he explained as he and his mentor returned to the medical bay. He wrapped his arms around himself against the chill of the base’s halls. “It’s comforting.” Medic glanced at his companion as the blonde yawned a bit. “Tired already? You slept all afternoon!” the doctor pointed out incredulously. Klein shook his head slightly. “Nein, I woke up after a few hours. And even if I had, I’m still unwell. Would it not be beneficial for me to rest as much as possible?” he replied with a shrug. “Ach, fair enough,” Medic agreed.

He sighed and rubbed his eyes as the two stepped into their office. “I think having a good meal will do the trick though. That, or I’m showing my age,” he said with a laugh. A shuffling noise and a groan snapped his attention back to Klein, who was leaning heavily against the wall. He was at the blonde’s side in a heartbeat. “What’s wrong? What happened?” he asked, steadying the young doctor. Klein groaned and put a hand to his head, his breathing still a bit unsteady as his vision swam. He cursed under his breath and shook his head weakly. “Klein, talk to me, bitte,” Medic asked, gently guiding him to the couch. Klein let out a breath neither realized he’d be holding and rubbed his head tiredly. “Fever’s broken…” he mumbled, managing a half-smile when he looked back at Medic. “Always hated that feeling,” he whined softly. Medic put a hand against his forehead, noting the beads of sweat that had broken out from Klein’s experience. “Your temperature does seem to be doing much better. You look a mess though,” he chuckled, pulling his hand away. Klein gave a weak laugh and leaned back against the couch’s armrest. “You may feel bad, but at least it’s a step closer to your recovery,” Medic said, resting a hand on Klein’s back. “Do you want to go lie down?” Klein shook his head weakly. “I… think I will be alright after a few minutes. I’m a bit cold now though,” he said softly. Medic nodded and pulled a blanket from beside the couch, settling it around Klein’s shoulders.

The blonde nodded his thanks and curled up under the protection of the blanket. He reminded Medic of Pyro a bit; the little firebug liked to hide in pillow forts sometimes. Klein looked around for a moment. “Hey, did you see where I set my novel down earlier? I wanted to finish it before the ceasefire ended, it’s getting good!” he said happily. Medic laughed lightly and pulled the book back down from the shelf. “You fell asleep with it, you must have been oh so engrossed in the story,” he teased, handing the item back to his assistant. Klein made a face and gave a nervous laugh. “Er, well… It’s a bit harder to focus with a fever,” he pointed out, thumbing through the pages. Medic shrugged and waved a hand. “Fair enough!” Klein shifted into a comfortable position and settled with his book, content to read in the relative peace of the office.

Time slipped away and he only noticed it when he had to squint to read the last few pages in dimming daylight. Klein was suddenly aware of something leaning against his arm. He turned carefully to see Medic slumped against him, sound asleep, a few reports discarded by his side. The doctor was fast asleep, his glasses sitting precariously on the edge of his nose. Klein tried to wiggle free without disturbing him, but quickly realized that wouldn’t be possible given what little space he had between his mentor and the couch’s armrest. He sighed and resigned himself to his fate, curling back up into a semi-comfortable position. He yawned softly and rested his head against the couch, soon falling asleep as the desert night grew darker.

———-
Medic was the first to stir, shuffling closer to the comforting warmth beside him. He curled against it, sighing contently. A small noise pulled him from sleep and he blinked awake. He was suddenly very aware of a hand resting on his chest. His senses jolted to attention and he carefully surveyed his predicament. Klein was still fast asleep in his place on the couch, his head rested on one arm. Medic himself was laying partly against the blonde’s chest; the doctor’s face tinged a bit pink at the proximity. He carefully disentangled himself and sat up, stretching his stiff limbs. He grimaced slightly; of course, that’s to be expected when sleeping on a couch. He picked up his glasses from where they’d fallen and set them back in place.

Klein groaned softly and groggily looked up. “Medic…?” he mumbled, a yawn cutting him off. “Did you sleep here…?” he asked blearily. Medic nodded and rubbed the back of his neck. “Ja, it seems I fell asleep reading,” the doctor admitted with a shrug. “You do not make a very comfortable bed,” he added jokingly, smirking at the blush that quickly spread across his assistant’s face. He hesitated for a moment, staring off ahead. “But… you seem rested. And it was not unpleasant sleeping beside you.” The doctor spoke nonchalantly, though Klein could hear uncertainty in his words. Klein fidgeted with his blanket a bit, suddenly feeling vulnerable. “Nein, you’re right. It was… nice to be near someone again, who isn’t actively trying to kill me,” the blonde half-joked, allowing himself a tentative smile. “I-I… I wouldn’t mind the company again sometime,” he added softly, almost whispering. Medic stumbled over his words in an attempt to reply before ultimately giving up and shutting his mouth, clearly having not expected Klein to say that.

Klein seemed equally flustered and avoided his gaze. “I apologize for bringing this up, I’ve made things awkward,” he said sadly. He shook his head. “Forget I mentioned it, and bitte, don’t even mention it to anyone.” Medic shook himself out of his reverie and turned back to his partner. “Nein, it’s alright. I admit, being out in the desert is lonely and we’re all starved for contact. You were just brave enough to admit it,” he said softly, placing a hand on Klein’s shoulder. Klein shook his head slightly. “I… don’t know if I’d call it brave,” he muttered, fidgeting with his blanket. “I just- ah!” His explanation was cut off by Medic suddenly drawing him into a hug, holding him close.

The blonde faltered and froze, trying to make sense of it. He slowly relaxed, settling into the embrace and returning the hug. He rested his chin on Medic’s shoulder, comforted by his companion’s presence. “You are brave, Klein. You are not weak,” the doctor said gently. Klein could feel the vibrations in his chest as he spoke. “I have an idea.” Medic released him, and the young doctor tried to mask his disappointment at the loss of his source of comfort. Klein shuffled back under his blanket and tilted his head. “What are you thinking?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. Medic held up a finger. “We can sleep together!” he declared happily.

Klein visibly paled and stammered something incoherent. It suddenly clicked in the doctor’s head and he shook his head wildly. “Nein, I didn’t mean it like that! Sorry, I mixed up the phrasing,” he quickly explained. Klein’s face was bright red and he tried to hide it by avoiding Medic’s gaze. “Not that you aren’t a handsome specimen, but ah, I have a wife back home,” Medic added with a slightly joking tone in his voice. Klein blushed worse and hid his face in his hands. “Bitte, knock it off, will you?” he begged, clearly very unused to taking any sort of compliment. “Es tut mir leid, Klein. I didn’t mean to imply anything like that or make you uncomfortable,” Medic apologized, setting his hands in his lap. Klein sighed and nodded. “It’s alright. I’m not one for compliments is all,” the blonde chuckled. “Now, what was your idea?” Medic grinned excitedly.

“I believe we could both benefit from some form of regular contact. Humans and many other animals naturally feel safer in numbers after all. There are plenty of studies which demonstrate that very principle. Even the doves flock and nest together!” Klein gave him a look, motioning for him to get to his point. “Ach, anyway, the short version is this. I am proposing that we, er… stay together, on occasion. No strings attached, no expectation of anything beyond companionship, and no obligation should one of us wish to terminate the agreement.” Medic finished his proposal, nodding his head towards Klein. “Well?” Klein thought for a moment, genuinely a bit stunned that Medic had offered this arrangement. He fidgeted with his blanket and gave a tiny nod.

“I… I think that’d be nice. I think we could both use something comforting once in a while,” the blonde finally agreed, smiling gently. He carefully tugged the doctor into a somewhat clumsy embrace, resting his head against the man’s chest. “Danke, Medic.” Medic sighed and returned the embrace, smiling contently. “I think this will work out quite nicely, little dove.”