bsumone | ❝ You give me an education ❞

The way the room was set up, James had his back to Sky. He was sitting at the desk grading papers when he heard the young man stir. He was in full father mode and, unbeknownst to Sky, he’d been up to check on him several times. Maybe he turned too much on the bed or made some worrying sound at some point or other. James was definitely on high-alert.

This time when the professor looked back, he saw Sky’s eyes were open – he wouldn’t dare say he looked awake. But seeing him looking around, James immediately made his way over to the bedside.

“You’re in my house,” James explained. He’s the Sky had to be wondering where he was when he saw the unfamiliar surroundings. “You passed out before I could get directions from you to take you to your own room,” he explained.

He reached to put the back of his hand against Sky’s forehead. Still feverish. His lips pursed and his hand reached for the glass of water and the medicine he’d put on the little table beside the sofa bed. “Here, this will help bring your fever down.”

For a moment there was utter fear past all of the haziness of the fever. He even flinched when the man touched him. However, when he realized this was his teacher, he settled a little and tried to understand what he was being told. Medi...cine? Oh. Right.

Shakily, he reached his hand up for it. To try to take some so he could bring the fever down. Likely he'd need help to take it and to drink the water though. Energy was not something that he had a lot of at this exact moment.

Why was he here though? Oh right. Mr. Cooper just explained that. It was so hard to think... Especially in English.

James understood that this had to be confusing for Sky. His experience as both a teacher and a father helped him be patient.

“Let me help you up.” He waited for Sky to nod or otherwise indicate that it was okay before slipping an arm around the young man’s shoulders to help him sit up. It would only make a mess if he tried to chase down the pills while reclined on the bed. If Sky wanted to go back to sleep after, that was fine. If he wanted to stay up, James would help prop up the pillows for him to rest against.

“Go ahead, I’ve got some water right here for you. If you feel hungry, I can get some broth and bread for you.”

With the help, he was able to sit up and take whatever he was given. He didn't even fight it. Medication, water... The man could have easily poisoned him and he would have swallowed it right then. He was just too weak to fight back. So he took it and swallowed, eyes opening and closing.

So tired.

But the moment that the man tried to lower him to let him down, he weakly held his arm. Scared of being left alone. "...be good. I'll...be..."

It was all in Thai. English was too hard for him to remember yet.

He didn’t have to understand what Sky was saying to understand the fear in his eyes and his tone. James nodded, reaching over to pat the hand gripping him with his free hand.

“You’re alright,” he soothed. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay right here.” If that put Sky at ease, James could stay there on the edge of the bed. The papers he was grading weren’t going anywhere. Nor were they pressing. Even if they were on a tight deadline, someone’s health and well-being was far more important in James’ eyes.

He patted Sky’s arm once more, then reached out slowly to brush Sky’s damp hair back from his face. “I’m right here,” he said gently.

He was going to stay. There was a little whimper but finally Sky relaxed. Soon he was asleep again, still holding that hand. Breathing slowly, he entered what started out as a dreamless sleep. Until eventually the nightmares caught up with him. The horrible memories of that time.

Hands all over him. Him begging them to stop as they kept touching him, kept getting inside him. All while he called out to a face that was just watching it all happen. Someone who should have protected him because they were dating but instead just smiled and told him to keep his friends entertained.

Tears fell down his face in the waking world as he thrashed and talked in his sleep. Begging for it all to stop. Begging for help.

James didn't move when Sky drifted back to sleep, clutching his hand. No, instead, he shifted a little to make himself more comfortable where he sat. If Sky needed the comfort of his hand, James would give him that.

When the nightmares started to seep out of Sky's mind, causing the young man to move and cry out, James didn't have to understand the language he spoke to know whatever was happening in his mind was horrible. Pleading sounded the same in his language and James'. So he squeezed Sky's hand tighter, reaching out with his free harm to jostle the boy until he woke.

"Hey, hey," he uttered, trying to get Sky awake and focused on him. "You're okay," he promised. "You're safe."

When he started awake, he gasped and stared up at the man. His teacher. There was fear in his feverish eyes, pure terror. The images in his mind slowly faded away and he realized that it was Mr. Cooper above him, telling him that he was okay. He struggled to remember why he was here but soon desperation overwhelmed that and he reached out to cling to the man instead.

Body trembling, he just held on as tight as he could. Sky was fighting between fear and fever and something in him had concluded that this person was safe. That he'd protect him somehow.

And he needed that so badly right now.

It was a little startling when Sky flung himself into James. But the man instinctively put an arm around him, gently rubbing his back. He’s been a father long enough that he recognized the aftermath of a nightmare when he saw one. Sky still felt feverish and definitely needed more rest. That will come after James had a chance to calm him down.

“You’re alright,” he promised again in a quiet, sympathetic voice. “You’re safe here. There’s no one else here. You’re okay.”

Whatever scared Sky so terribly wasn’t his business. There wasn’t any reason for James to believe he was haunted by memories and not merely some frightening fever dream. He shushed Sky like he would a smaller child and rocked him very slightly while the young man clung. It went on for a few minutes before James tried to pull back just enough to look Sky in the eyes.

Reaching up with his free hand, James brushed Sky’s sweat-damp hair back and offered his most reassuring smile.

“You still feel warm,” he pointed out. “You should have something to drink and a little food before more medicine. Are you hungry?”

After a few minutes of the comforting, he was able to relax again. Feeling that cool hand on his skin, he sighed softly then looked up at the man. It took longer than normal for him to process the words and even then he didn't seem to be all there. Still, Sky nodded to say he was hungry despite the fact that he really wasn't. To be honest he wasn't even sure why he nodded at all.

Breathing a little heavy still from the fever, he lost what little energy he'd had before and slumped in the man's arms. He was still awake but only barely, dazed with his eyes open.

"Water..."

It was a mumbling that started Thai and finished in English making it sound strange to say the least. Like he'd only remembered he wasn't in Thailand right now halfway through.

There'd been times, very long ago, when his daughter had been sick like this: burning up and nearly delirious with fever. It was frightening then, but he learned how to handle it in case it happened again. Now, James was determined to help Sky. He didn't have any family here in the US and, unless the situation required him to be admitted to the hospital, James had no mind to worry the boy's family a world away.

When Sky's weight slumped in his arms, James carefully laid him back against the pillow. "I have to go to the kitchen for more water, okay? I'll just be gone for a moment." Maybe he'll get the boy some crackers or something light to try to eat, too. Once Sky falls asleep again, James can make him some broth for later.

"I'll be right back," he murmured again, speaking slowly and clearly.

And, as promised, he was only gone a moment. Just long enough to get a fresh glass of ice water and bring it back.

Sky drifted off while the man was gone, not really asleep but not really awake either. Eyes partway open as he watched the figure go through the door and then come back through it. Looking up at him he blinked several times as he tried to remember who this figure was.

Oh. It was Mr. Cooper? Why was he in his room? That made no sense...

That water looked so good though...

James was pleased to find Sky looked a smidge more lucid when he returned. Just a smidge. The boy seemed to recognize him, at least, which was a step further than they'd been a few moments before. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, James offered a soft smile and held the water out to Sky.

"Hi. How are you feeling?"

There was no telling how long this would last. Lucidity was here and there for him. Enough so that he didn't notice how much the hand he reached out was shaking. Or how it was a struggle to sit up to drink the water even if he got it.

"Where...?" Had they had this conversation? He couldn't remember...

"You're at my house. You weren't in any shape to tell me which dorm you live in," James explained in a gentle tone. "You passed out, do you remember that?"

As he spoke, James helped Sky to sit up and brought the glass of water to his lips. "You have quite a fever."

He was at Mr. Cooper's house? He passed out... That part he sort of remembered. Very distantly. It was almost so blurry he wasn't sure what it was anymore.

Sky took a few sips of the water before looking to the man who was taking care of him. Why was he doing that? He didn't have to do that. It went beyond his duties as a teacher. Yet here he was going so far out of his way. Did he have an agenda?

It was so hard to think right now.

James realized it was probably hard for Sky to think clearly. He was still burning up. It had to be even harder to try to translate in his head. So, he'd just have to make sure to convey as much meaning through his tone as possible.

"Just try to rest a little longer." If the fever didn't break by night, James would take the young man to the hospital. He knew from his experience as a father that these things sometimes took a little time to sort themselves out. No sense in being overly anxious about it.

Rest. He nodded as he shifted to lay back down, curling on his side this time. Mainly so he could watch the man taking care of him, confused by his actions and not understanding his motivations. Not at all. Licking his lips, he looked away and finally decided to speak. Just one word.

"...why?"

James blinks, canting his head. A confused look flickers over his face briefly. Was Sky asking why he should rest or... why James was looking after him? Well, thankfully, his answer to both questions is the same.

"Because you're sick."

Sick and mostly alone. A kid halfway around the world with no family to be by his side. None of the friends he probably knew for years and years. James didn't even know if Sky has a roommate. So the task fell to him.

Not the he minds one bit. He offers Sky a gentle smile.

"Someone should look out for you."

❝ You give me an education ❞

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cw: domestic violence, abuse, rape...all that horrible stuff

:C

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