Ignoring the question, I slowly pushed myself to sit. I waited for the world to not spin, which thankfully it didn’t, before standing on shaky legs. I had to brace myself with a hand on the edge of the couch while I took a few steps.
Beckett’s hand was gentle, wrapping around my elbow in a light hold as I shuffled off the blankets and onto the hard floor. Even then, he didn’t let go as he helped guide me down towards the bathroom.
“Bath, I think will be best,” he mused. “You go pee while I get it set up.”
Too worn out to argue, I did as instructed. Following orders was easy. Peeing, washing my hands, and quickly brushing my teeth were overshadowed by the sounds of the bathtub running. I didn’t pay attention to what Beckett was doing, not even when Noah’s scented bath salts wafted around the space.
Just doing those few things tired me out enough that my legs threatened to collapse where I stood. I had to support myself against the sink as I turned, watching Beckett as he finished adding the last touches to the bathwater.
“All set.”
Great. If only I could get my feet to move. I wasn’t sure how to tell him that, though. I hated feeling weak, but at that moment I just didn’t care.
“Noah? Help our friend get undressed please while I go get him something new to wear.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
I hadn’t realized that Noah was hoovering in the doorway until he spoke. Beckett stood for a second, maybe debating about something, before he nodded to himself. While he left, Noah was quick to step up in front of me, helping me take off every piece of clothing.
While being naked in the same space wasn’t uncommon for the two of us, since we’ve known each other for years, this time felt a bit different. I couldn’t put my finger on it.
Maybe because I was indeed weak, worn out in ways that I had forgotten how to deal with being like this.
As my shirt was lifted over my head, my arms helped take it off, but then flopped back to my sides as Noah took off my pants next. The dirty clothes lay in a pile to be taken care of later.
With Noah’s help, he led me towards the warm bath, steam billowing from the water. Carefully, with his help, I climbed in, one foot first, then the other. I held onto the side as I sunk into the deep water, letting the heat and salts soothe my aching body.
Beckett appeared right then, setting a pile of clothes on the toilet lid. His eyes were a bit drawn in, but he forced the look away before I could get my gaze to move from him.
Leaning my head against the edge of the tub, I let my body relax, forcing away the aches and pains that were there.
“Take a drink,” Beckett’s words were spoken half a second before a straw was placed at my lips. I didn’t bother to open my eyes, sucking in a drink of Sprite.
Was he afraid I was going to puke again? I didn’t think I was going to. But I wasn’t going to say that.
“Good boy.” At those words, something in me settled even more. It hit me differently than what anyone had ever said to me before.
It was better than when strange men wanted me to do something. I was always a boy, but the way Beckett said it, it felt like it was something else entirely. Something to be proud of.
“No falling asleep in there.”
No promises, I thought. Beckett heard my thoughts, as he chuckled lightly in his chest before telling me to sit up.
With a grumble, because I didn’t want to, I sat forward, legs bent enough to wrap my hands loosely around them. It took everything in me to not rest my head on them.
“I’m gonna wash you now.” He gave me enough time to argue if I wanted to. Maybe tomorrow I would. Today, I was happy to let him take all the control for a bit longer.
Beckett was quick, almost too much so, to wash my hair. He also wiped my body down with a wash rag, taking away the sweat, tears, and other body fluids that no doubt covered me. I couldn’t help but sigh as he ran the rag over my face, too.
I could get used to this. The care that another man wanted to shower me with. The tender touches didn’t hurt. The soft words Beckett mumbled too, even though my brain began to go foggy again as he did so.
“All done, precious boy.”
“Not precious,” I muttered as he pulled the plug. That wasn’t something I was. I wasn’t...well not that. I was going to say I wasn’t breakable, but right at that moment, I kinda felt like I was. Like one word, one wrong touch, and everything would be shattered.
Beckett simply hummed, helping me to stand and get out of the tub. My eyes stayed down towards the floor as a towel was wrapped around my body. Another towel was used to dry the drips of water off my legs.
“Then what are you, darlin’?”
