"you're not problematic Nath. Please stop apologising. I'm the one who should be sorry. I thought once you saw Ariah you'd calm down." V shook his head and tucked Nathaniel safely beneath his chin. "I will never understand what you went through Nath, nor will I understand the fear you feel whenever you remember your past but I want to help you in any way I can. I would never out you in danger Nath." He reassured, hiding the smaller angel with his wing.
Nathaniel drew in a wavering breath and huddled closer to V, curling his wings around himself for comfort. "I-I just… doctors don't really care about you, or… or if you die or get kicked out." He said in a whisper. "If you die, they just change the sheets and move on to the next patient. It means nothing to them whether you live or die. I-I don't… I don't like being in the hands of someone who couldn't care less if I die, especially if they're the ones supposed to be fixing me. They just… they didn't fix me, and they didn't care, and I lost everything… I-I can't… I c-can't do that again…"
It broke his heart, hearing just how badly treated Nath was when in the care of the doctors. The doctors he had let the older angels take Nath to when he had found him as kids. He choked down a son and pressed close to Nathaniel.
"But what if she's different Nath? She seems to genuinely care about you, even if it's just your first time meeting her. She's an angel, just like you. She was kicked out of heaven and forced to live here just like us." He tried to reason. He took a deep breath to calm himself down. "I'm not trying to convince you to trust her. I know that's next to impossible, but she's not just a doctor Nath. She's Jarvis' sister. She might have a wife or husband or even a family. This can be a way for her to support them."
"T-Those doctors were angels too, though…" Nathaniel whispered weakly, his voice breaking. "Angels aren't all they're cracked up to be… I know firsthand how horrible and cruel they can be, and so do you. If they were kind and caring, you and I wouldn't be stuck here in the first place." He choked on his sobs and clung tighter to V. "T-They make money whether or not they fix people… even… even if the patients die, they get paid. They don't care about us. They just care about the money."
"yes, but I don't think I'd want to go back up there. We're not stuck here. Not anymore." He took a deep breath and rubbed Nath's back. "Maybe but I don't think it's Ariah's reason to help you. I think she genuinely wants to help you." He said, lightly brushing his hand along Nath's cheek
Nathaniel buried his face in V's chest, trembling violently in his arms. "I-I don't… I don't… trust her…" He choked out. "I don't trust doctors… or… or hospitals, or their s— s-stupid medicine poisons and stuff… I don't want it…"
V took a deep breath and wiped away a few tears. "I know my love, I only hope you can trust her as you've come to trust Urielle and Jarvis and not see her just as a doctor." He pressed a kiss to Nathaniel's brow. "Get some rest Nath, it's been a long day."
Nathaniel hiccuped and nodded weakly, closing his eyes and trying to relax in V's arms. It took him a while to get comfortable, but he eventually managed to drift off into a light sleep, still frequently shifting and whimpering.
V didn't sleep as much as Nathaniel did that night, still worried for Nath and still conflicted. Nath was right in a way, he didn't trust angels. He didn't trust many people on Earth save for a few friends he had made. But he refused to believe everyone was out to hurt them. With a sigh, he glanced out the window, watching as the sun slowly creeped over the horizon, light streaming into their bedroom
Nathaniel was fast asleep by the time morning came, limp on the bed aside from his shivering. His hands were still clammy, and his cheeks still flushed with fever. He whimpered softly and curled in on himself, rolling over onto his side with the blankets tangled around himself.
V rolled into his side, body around Nathaniel's. He gently brushed aside his hair and laughed softly and the bundle of blankets Nath had managed to tangle himself in. He traced the engagement band on Nath's ring finger and pressed a kiss to his brow.
Nathaniel stirred a bit and opened his eyes, looking up at V sleepily. He still had faint pink splotches on his cheeks, and dark circles under his eyes. He seemed exhausted and miserable and he clearly still felt awful. "Mmmm…?"
"morning sweetheart." V whispered, brushing a gentle hand along his cheek. He sat up and adjusted Nath's blankets so that they wrapped around him snugly but not so tight that they restricted movement. He lied back down beside him. "Get a bit more sleep, it's still pretty early for breakfast."
Nathaniel drew in a wavering breath and huddled closer to V, seeming uncomfortable with his wings forced up against his back. "Mmmm… noooo…." He whined, curling in on himself. "Can't sleeeeeep…"
"why not love? you were just sleeping a few moments moments ago." He chuckled lightpy, resting his head on his arm. "If not sleep then what do you want to do, hm?"
"Because my brain doesn't like going back to sleep after it's already woken up, that's why." Nathaniel huffed a bit and huddled closer. "And I dunno… drink something, maybe…"
"and what would my love like to drink? Maybe some tea or hot chocolate?" He mused, wrapping his wings around Nathaniel as he huddled closer. "Are you mad at me still?" He asked softly, pressing g his lips to his brow "it's ok if you are."
"Hot chocolate, I guess… and yeah…" Nathaniel pulled away a bit when V kissed him and turned away, curling up on his side on the bed. "I'm still exhausted and jittery just thinking about last night. It really freaked me out, okay?"
He nodded and sighed softly, letting Nathaniel scoot away. "I know Nath." He whispered, sitting up and running a hand through his hair. "I'll bring the kitchen if you need anything." He muttered softly, standing from the bed and going to the kitchen to begin breakfast and Nath's hot chocolate
"Mm…" Nathaniel closed his eyes and tangled himself up in the blankets to be more comfortable, hiding himself in his wings. He didn't look up when V came back in, only curling up tighter.
V eventually came back with some hot chocolate and a warmed Bagel. He set both down on the night stand. He gently rested his hand against, Nathaniel's cheek before going to the living room
Nathaniel only sat up after V had already left, grabbing the hot chocolate and the bagel from the night stand to eat. He was starving, and although he didn't expect his stomach to thank him, he needed to eat something. Both the hot chocolate and the bagel were soon gone, and he curled up on the bed again.
V occupied himself by calling the venues they had narrowed the list down to for the wedding. He wrote down their information so they could choose later then move onto calling bakeries for the wedding cake.
Within about half an hour, Nathaniel forced himself to his feet so he could stagger into the bathroom to throw up. After doing so, he decided he didn't have the energy to get back to bed and just sprawled out on the nice cool tiles instead.
V glanced up from his computer, brows creasing in worry as he heard Nathaniel throwing up in the bathroom. He eventually got up and filled another glass of water he brought that as well as the meds to the bedroom. He was glad that at least Nath had eaten the bagel.