Chapter Text
Tai wasn't being stupid and ignorant and ignoring his health just because he was lazy. He did what he could with the resources at hand. And it also wasn't like he couldn't actively get out of bed in the morning, so it was quite a minor cold.
That's how it started out, a light cold he caught while he was running for his life and had to make a temporary camp in the snowy mountains. The camp, or more like hole under a cave system, was freezing, but it was his best bet to make it through the night. The next morning after waking up sore and stiff, Tai felt awful to say the least and the scratching ache of his throat didn't make it any better. But atleast the hunters were gone.
Life went on. That's how the Strength smp worked, it waited for nobody and the weakest fell and strongest rose to the top. Tai was never labeled weak, only determined.
He chugged a lot of potions and honey when he came back to his base, which did the trick. Until people started knocking at his door again. Until Rejoice also came into the picture, because Rejoice loves making Tai's life miserable. So the cold came back.
That's the short version of how he ended up like this. How he ended up getting so sick and so fucking fever dazed he didn't know the difference between the color teal and blue. On his knees infront of his sworn enemy. In public. Yeah, Tai was never living this one down.
For the last month of constantly running, fighting and actively being in denial about how sick he actually was led him here. Tai could blame nobody, but himself. But how was he supposed to get better when there was always somebody wanting a taste of what Tai was made of?
The second thing he was mad about were the amount of regen and health potions he waisted and that completely probably wiped his immune system clean from active potion use. This is what Tai was going to die to, not in honor while fighting a battle- but a stupid common cold. He should have expected this.
He felt horrible and couldn't get out of bed that fateful morning, but he had already called Rejoice and scheduled the battle. There wasn't much he could do at that point. What would people think if Tai was going to use his poor immune system as a reason to not show up? What would Rejoice think of him?
He was stubborn not weak and after three miserable hours of getting ready and making it to their spot, Tai was just about ready to empty his whole stomach into the grass. He felt sweaty and warm despite the windy weather.
''Tai?''
He didn't really register the voice until two very slow moments later, but it was already too late. Rejoice was standing somewhere behind him and he distantly heard a sword being pulled out. The noise made Tai's stomach drop even more and on unsteady feet he had only about a second to grip a tree for stability and throw up.
He never felt this sick and pathetic in his life and Tai wasn't a stranger of making a total ass of himself.
Even as he stopped retching and gagging, he didn't feel like getting up, but the sound of footsteps getting closer to him forced him to get his bearings and deal with it like a man.
''You look horrible.'' He heard the taller man say softly, missing his signiture mocking grin, as Tai turned around and faced him. He had yet to say a single word to him, too busy trying to steady himself and walk like a normal being.
The growing ache in his head increased and as he was finally standing, he couldn't help but think, he was going to pass out. But Tai couldn't and wouldn't. Never infront of Rejoice of all people. Being vulnerable infront of the taller blond was a death sentence and Tai knew a thing or two about those.
''I'm fine.'' Tai spoke up more to himself, He was unsure of how he sounded, but with how Rejoice was frowning with calculating eyes, probably not great. ''Let's fight.''
''Uh-huh. Yeah, fight.'' The voice was mocking, but made no advances to actually instigate a fight.
''Mhmm..'' Tai had to close his eyes, because of the pressure building up behind his eyelids.
Tai flinched as he felt a cold hand on his forehead, but it didn't feel all that bad, quite the opposite. It felt amazing and Tai wanted more of it. That's why he melted into the touch. When Rejoice retracted his hand, Tai leaned to follow it and sighed dissapointingly when he realized Rejoice had done it on purpose.
''You should go home and rest.''
''Wha- no, no. I'm okay, I'm good. '' The shorter of the two opened his eyes and was met with the worried gaze of the blond. It was foreign to see such a blatant display of worriedness in the blond's face that Tai just couldn't tear his eyes away from his face.
Rejoice only shook his head, ''I'm going to walk you back home, okay?''
Tai felt dissapointed and frusturated. He had just wasted so much energy on walking here only to get turned around. And it's not like any of his teammates are on right now, infact they aren't even around, being too caught up in something else. Tai wanted to cry and Rejoice probably knew.
Maybe he read it off his face or connected the dots in his head, but he very carefully wrapped his arm around Tai and started to guide him to his base.
Out of those ten minutes it took to guide Tai back, Tai remembered only half of it. The fever getting to him and the only thing he remembers from that point is him swaying on unsteady feet while Rejoice felt stable and solid. He must have passed out somewhere near his base, because Tai could have sworn he felt hands haul him up and Rejoice mumbling something about not getting paid enough and calling Tai stupid.
Honestly, everything is a bit blurry and hazy from there. The only thing certain in Tai's brain is the constant sweating of his person and being tangled up in his own bed.
That is until he wakes up realizing he wasn't where he was supposed to be. Instead of his own bed filled with blankets, he was laying in a different bed that had silk sheets and he felt hungry, thirsty, filthy and cold.
The room had a lit fireplace and warm yellow walls that should have looked horrible, but they looked actually nice in the room. The bed was made out of dark oak and the sheets were red. There was a carpet.. that was about the brain function Tai's brain could fart out without wanting to nuke itself.
Well, if Tai was kidnapped he might aswell face it like a man, plus he really needed to find a bathroom.
He took slow measured steps, only noticing now he wasn't in his normal attire. He was wearing black shorts and a red hoodie. He decided he was going to spare himself the added headache, so he could just focus on finding out where he was.
Opening the only door in the warm yellow room lead to a hallway. In the corner stood a big vase with sunflowers. It was then that Tai's fever ridden brain finally caught up to it self. Rejoice, of course. Only he is crazy enough to kidnap him when he is in this state. But Tai doesn't necessarily feel anger towards him at this moment in time. He'll make sure to give him a piece of his mind when he feels better.
He opens the nearest door only to find a closet with armour and clothes neatly tucked away. His footsteps make the wood creak under his feet which alerts in return the older man of the voidling. Not that the said voidling actually pays any attention to it until he feels a hand on his lower back and flinches back, ready to hit the person behind him as he spins around. His knuckles never find their target, because Rejoice is already holding his wrist and with a stern voice tells him, ''You should be in bed resting, your fever has only now started to break, Tai.''
''I need to go to the bathroom.''
Rejoice sighs, ''Okay, glad you're feeling better. Atleast you aren't mumbling nonsense. You are finally somewhat coherent.'' He passes Tai so he can get into the closet and get him new clothes.
''How am I here?''
''After I dropped you off last week at yours, I decided the next day to check if you got better.'' The blond man guides him down the hall with fresh clothes in his hands, ''You looked awful and kept mumbling and you're fever was still very bad. I took you in, this way you are safer and I can actually make sure your fever breaks, because dying to a fever would be a very unfortunate death.'' The I was scared and worried about you goes unsaid, but even Tai could feel the words crush around him.
He nods at Rejoice and takes the clothes given to him. ''I have to ask though, how?''
''How what?'' Tai furrows his eyebrows, confused.
''How did you become this sick?''
''I kept drinking regen and health pots, but they just didn't work, I guess..'' As embaressing as it is, Tai slurs his words, but the pounding in his head decides for him, that a little bit of slurring is nothing compared to what's trying to combust his brain.
''You didn't have time to properly lay down after?'' the blond asks and Tai shakes his head, ''That explains why my potions didn't work on you, your body is regecting it. I'll get you some other medicine to get you better.''
''Really don't need to.. I'll be out of your hair soon.'' He shakes his head and goes into the bathroom, trying to end the conversatiion there, silently knowing that there was no way he was winning against Rejoice in an argument, where he was already at such a disadvantage.
Before the shorter man can close the door Rejoice grabs it and invites himself in. ''Ha, you are really funny. You might not remember, but for the last three days you were here, you were completely dependant on me. I doubt that's going to change for some time.''
Tai clears his throat, because his brain is trying to come up with something to say, before ultimately giving up. The voidling turns around and starts undressing, hoping Rejoice gets the hint to leave. It backfires, because now Rejoice knows that he's winning and to drive in his point one last time he says mockingly, ''You were so needy, I had to be in bed with you otherwise you would just start crying and shaking. It was truly heart warming, the great Tai_ MC begging to be held by me.''
As Rejoice mentions it, Tai sort of remembers a hazy memory of the blond next to him, whispering in his ear something and tracing his spine with his hand. Fuck his stupid abandonment and trust issues. Tai could still laugh it off or deny it, but something deep in his gut panics.
He feels his face get warmer and he thanks that he had just turned around in order to get the hoodie off.
''Has anyone told you, you are even more attractive when you are begging?'' Tai could practically hear his smirk and he wanted to throw up.
''You really aren't convincing me to stay right now.'' He says quickly.
Rejoice snorts, ''Don't need to. You can barely stand.''
''I'd love some privacy.'' This whole conversation just made his head hurt even more.
''You'd love some help.'' He corrects him.
''Leave.'' Tai says firmly and that does the trick. So as Tai gets rid of his pants, he hears Rejoice close the door behind him.
--
He should have just stayed in bed. Tai's head feels like it's going to explode any minute now and the pain in his stomach wasn't getting better either.
He had drank a lot of water and eaten a few pieces of bread, before deciding it was probably smarter to not push his stomach. His throat only hurt a little.
Tai had just resorted to curling up in ball under Rejoice's sheets. They smelled so much like him it made Tai's head dizzy with old want.
Before the betrayel, him and the blond were extremily close. He was exactly Tai's type too. He prefered women, but men were okay to Tai too. He hadn't had too many male crushes in his life. But something about the way Rejoice just perfectly understood him, protected him (even now) it drew Tai in. He found his manic personality attractive, he found his inteligence and combat magnetic. Gross, it was gross, Tai knew.
Nothing happend between them and the tension eventually subsided. The voidling thought that, that it was the end of it.
He sighs and turns so he can see the fireplace, hiding himself further into the sheets. Tai starts to lose himself in sleep slowly and he faintly hears the door opening when he's broken out of his stupor.
''Enjoying my bed?''
Tai hums as Rejoice makes his way towards him, potion in hand. It makes Tai's skin crawl with panic.
Rejoice sences his distress, ''Don't worry, it's just vitamins for your immune system. I added some honey too. I'm going to get you real medicine for your fever soon, you just have to drink this first.''
He sits down on the edge of his bed right next to where Tai is curled up. There is no way in hell, that Rejoice is getting anything into his mouth.
''Sit up for me?'' For you? Yeah, no. As much as he would, Tai doesn't wanna die to poisoning.
After a moment of Tai doing nothing, Rejoice gets impatient and visibly fed up. Much to Tai's shock Rejoice grabs the collar of Tai's shirt, or more like Rejoice's shirt, and hauls him up without much protest. ''Is it really that hard to listen? You were a better listener a day ago, when you were still fever ridden and plaint.''
''It's probaby poison, knowing you.''
Rejoice rolls his eyes and argues, ''If I wanted you dead, you would already be gone. You're pathetic state makes you much more vulnerable than you realize.''
''Why are you doing this?'' Tai's throat feels scratchy.
''I like hunting you alive, not worrying if you can even make it through the night, let alone walk two steps without collapsing. Now, please, open your mouth.''
Tai shivers.
''Open up. Do you want me to force you to do that too?'' Rejoice orders him and Tai can't help feeling
warmer then necessary. He can't help the humiliating picture that makes it's way into Tai's mind much like the supposed poison in his hand. Rejoice's fingers in mouth, holding his jaw, telling him off. Okay, time to calm down.
Slowly, hesitantly he opens his mouth. The hand that was on his collar now resting on his shoulder.
Tai feels like he was going to combust if he looked at Rejoice longer.
The dim lighting of the fireplace, the quietness of the bedroom, the lack of armour and violence makes Tai's heart do circles. It all feels terribly familiar. This is what they could have had.
Rejoice helps him drink the potion of vitamins slowly. He can feel his eyes on him, but refuses to look back, scared to see what he would find.
''See? You're fine. No poison. Get some sleep.'' He says quietly. Tai lowers himself back down on the bed and closes his eyes. Rejoice just sits there and eventually he feels his hands push back some of his hair back from his eyes. Tai melts from the inside. It's sickeningly domestic, just like they were months ago.
He falls asleep like that, with Rejoice's hand playing with his hair. Tai faintly remembers the hand stopping and then continuing after he asked for them to continue. The hand in his hair pets him and he occasionally feels them move, he hears himself mumble incoherent things, but can't remember exactly what he wanted to say. Tai feels the person playing in his hair even in his hazy dreams. Something about the color yellow and sunflowers, but Tai doesn't know.
When Tai wakes up, he realizes Rejoice is still with him, laying down with him, but shaking him awake. He's vaguely aware that Rejoice's hand is on his waist shaking him and the other still in his hair. Tai won't however admit he's got his face burried in his neck and his own hands under his shirt, legs tangled together.
''Tai, wake up.'' He feels a pinch on his side and groans at the annoyance. Tai feels sticky with sweat.
''Baby, come on. '' now the voidling is listening. He hadn't been called that pet name for months yet it never lost the appeal. Even when they were still teammates anytime Rejoice called him that Tai's gut would make a treacherous ache.
Tai turns and coughs into his hand, ''I'm awake.'' Sleep still very evidant in his voice.
The hand in his hair moves down to his neck, then down his spine and back up in delicious pressure and Tai's body can't help shiver in satisfaction at the pleasure it brings into his gut. For a crazy moment Tai thinks this is better than drugs. This should be illegal.
''I need to go and make food.'' The words don't make sence and they sound more like sounds to Tai. So he obviously doesn't make a move to get up or even try. Rejoice's body is right there under him, solid and inviting. He barely even registers when Rejoice sits up with Tai basically straddling him. Instead of reacting like Tai normally would by getting off him, maybe punching him, Tai wraps his hands around his neck loosely and hums in approval as he keeps his head on his shoulder.
''Tai, be a good boy and let go of me, baby.'' The blond tries to get through to Tai by trying to rage bait him, but he's just so gone, completely plaint above him. Tai hums as he only half gets the memo. He doesn't really listen to the words, just the sound of his voice. His hands fall off Rejoice's shoulders and he set them down on his sides as Rejoice once again has to manhandle him.
Tai misses the warmth almost immediatly and sighs in annoyance at the lost contact. He hears sheets rustling and Rejoice getting up and make his way to the door and closing it.
He loses consciousness only to gain it back as he felt kisses being pecked on his jaw and neck. Tai opens his eyes to see a mop of blond hair in his vision and a warm body pressed flush against his back. A hand carefully making it's way down from his stomach to cup his pants.
Tai wasn't going to last long, he knew it.
''Be a good boy for me, yeah?'' Rejoice's voice felt like the silk sheets under him. Tai couldn't form any words, any common sence left in his brain vanished in mere miliseconds. He could only very uselessly open and close his mouth before ultimately deciding it's useless.
The hand moved to where the hem of his boxers were and teasingly slowly slid their way under the fabric.
Tai could hear how wet he was from just hearing the filthy sounds of the hand moving. His own panting and moans felt foreign to his ears as he lost himself in lust.
Though he was very distracted within this situation, he felt something was odd.
Crash!
Tai flinched and pushed himself up from the bed. Only to find it empty and the supposed palm in his pants also gone. There was some cursing from somebody next door and it then dawned on Tai it must have been Rejoice trying to cook something in the kitchen.
Tai had to blink a few times to find out, he just had a wet dream, a very short one, but still a very real wet dream. In the older, taller blond's bed. Fuck, he was still hard, Tai groaned.
He let his back softly hit the mattress. It felt wrong, but good, like it was something.. sacred, but dangerous. It felt very intimate. He shouldn't be feeling this, not in his bed of all places. Maybe, it's because Rejoice has been so kind and caring towards him or it's the fever doing wonders for his mind. He doesn't know for certain, but he knows that the tent in his pants isn't going away anytime soon.
Deep in his soul, Tai knew that he really shouldn't. The voidling shouldn't want to jerk off in Rejoice's bed. It's gross and probably crossing more than one boundary. But the thought brought a delicious shiver to his spine and made his already hazy brain want it. Need it with such strength he could barely convince himself otherwise.
Tai had always liked Rejoice. Usually he was very much sober and aware of those unwanted feelings and just hid them deep underground. Even when they were teammates, Tai made a very big rule in his mind to never address the elephant in the room. If he was right now in his normal state, Tai would slap himself twice and have a cold shower and try to forget about it. But right now he wasn't anywhere near himself. So he carefully turned on his side, slid his hand under his boxers and finished the job the dream started. He could still see the pictures of the dream behind his eyelids. Fuck- he just needed to come.
He tilted his head into the pillow under him, smelling remenants of Rejoice's cologne and his scent. Tai couldn't get enough of this, Rejoice filling his lungs. Tai wondered to himself how Rejoice was actually in bed. If he was loud or not, if he would still tease and mock Tai (which was probably true), what position would he put Tai in.
And lost in these fantasies, Tai found himself completely powerless, the only sound in the quiet yellow bedroom was his own ragged breathing and the hitch before Tai ultimately came and the hand burried deep in his pants stopping, afraid of overstimulation and of staying there.
He pulled it out to find it sticky, before Tai could get his bearings the door opened and he quickly wiped cum off his hand on the sheets.
''Hey, you're still alive. '' The blond's mocking tone carries over to him and hands him a stew. The shorter man was lucky enough that Rejoice hadn't noticed the panic in Tai at him opening the door.
Tai hadn't had proper time to even think about what he did and feel shit about it. It sounds like another migraine to Tai.
''I didn't really have anything else, so I hope it's okay.'' Rejoice adds quietly.
Tai felt as if he was caught red handed, his cheeks flushing. ''Thanks.''
Rejoice studies him for a moment in the dim light. Only now does Tai realize the sunflower in his hair is missing and with it his sweather too, but he doesn't comment on it. He refuses to think about anything right now.
He opts to eating the warm stew slowly while his back is rests against the headboard.
''You aren't getting worse, right?'' He asks the other.
Tai only shakes his head, embaressed as hell. The evidence neatly tucked away in his boxers. He feels sticky and gross.
Rejoice leans forward to press a hand against his face, checking him.
''I'm going to get you some medicine,'' Tai nods as he eats quietly, ''and if you throw it up, I'm going to make you eat it up again. You have no clue how much of a hassle it is to get you medicine that doesn't have health pots mixed with them.''
He gets up from his seat at the edge of the bed and goes into the hallway. Tai quickly finishes up eating, the blush tinting his face makes a permanent home there for now. As he sets down the bowl on the nightstand, Rejoice comes back and with a spoon and carefully drops a few droops on the spoon.
''Confess your deepest, darkest secrets to me.'' Rejoice spins on heel and heads quickly towards him, spoon in hand and his mocking smile in place once again.
''Wh-?'' Before Tai could even get in a word, Rejoice puts the spoon into his mouth. Tai gags, but swallows the disgusting taste of the medicine anyway. ''Didn't have to do that, could have just told me to open my mouth, but okay.'' He says quietly.
''It's almost like the last time I asked you to do that, you looked at me as if I had asked you to burn down a village.'' Rejoice tilts his head to the side.
Just thinking about the posibility of it being poison makes Tai vaguely sick from his stomach and he once again thinks back if it wasn't poison afterall. The bottle looked legit enough and not like poison though.
He just wanted to go home and not feel like this anymore. Everything is weird. His body is not only sticky from sweat but also cum now. His fever is still very much present and the need to empty his stomach is still persistent through all of this. And Rejoice's constant presence is giving him a confusing edge to his already dulled head. Tai feels pathetic for feeling so much at the same time and not being able to pin point his mood to one emotion.
''Do you want me to stay?'' Rejoice asks. In Tai's head it's like he had just won the lottery. He nods as the taller man gets under the covers with him. It should be illegal how easy it is for Tai to cuddle up to Rejoice. After everything. After the betrayal, the hunting and making Tai's life hell.
As Rejoice lays down, he moves Tai towards him, so he could lay down on his chest. Tai straddled his left leg and Rejoice found a nice spot for his arms to hug around Tai's waist.
One last sensation he feels as he shifts his leg is his cum in his boxers still very much there and making everything disgustingly sensitive and slippery. Tai would be lying, if he said it didn't turn him on even now.
Thankfully he doesn't have any more wet dreams, but what he gets instead of them are just hazy memories of what's going on around him. He feels sicker and sweatier through the night, but feels way better when he wakes up.