Chapter Text
Torbek was a bit disappointed when he woke up the next morning and the Duke had already drunk most of his bean milk. He hadn't expected to sleep so long. Usually he was the first to wake, but Kremy was already handing out breakfast when he cracked his eyes open.
Gricko's not feeling well, the Duke muttered in his ear helpfully. Make sure you keep an eye on him for me.
He was glad he had talked to the Duke about Gricko and the rest of the party. He'd been so afraid before, but his other half just hadn't realized the limits of their bodies. He had helped them save Frost too, and he'd been looking after Gricko all night while Torbek slept, as well.
"T-Torb-beck-...!"
He swallowed down the rest of his drink, his eyes lingering on his fellow goblinoid. Gricko did look tired, and the Duke had said he'd been unable to sleep after seeing Frost. If Torbek didn't share a mind with the Duke, he'd have been horrified by the sight too. It was a good thing the Duke had decided to help desensitize him a bit. Being inundated with flashbacks and feeling only pain was the worst. The dreams he was having now were definitely better.
At least Torbek doesn't have to worry about hurting anyone. He thought, smiling to himself. Gricko coughed again, setting down his mug of bean milk. He'd only drank a very small amount of it and he hadn't even touched the lightly seasoned eggs Kremy had made him, but the way his jaw was working made Torbek wonder if he was about to hurl.
"M'gonna go check on Frosty," Gricko mumbled, rising from the ground and making his way into Kremy and Gideon's tent again. He'd just come out from checking on Frost a few minutes ago. Torbek tilted his head to the side, his ear twitching, remembering how Frost had looked the previous night. He wanted to see Frost again. Did he look peaceful in his sleep? Was he still shivering?
Frost's cries were much more subdued in Torbek's dreams. He didn't think Frost was the type to scream, after all. Gricko, however…
Not that Torbek would ever lay a hand on either of them. They were his friends. His friends. The Duke had agreed not to hurt them anymore, too. Everything stayed in their shared fantasies, fueled by the Witchlight.
Follow him.
Torbek rose fluidly. Okay, Mister Duke. He would just make sure the two were alright. They were the most vulnerable members of the party.
Gricko couldn't fucking get away from him.
"Are you okaaaay, Gricko?"
His whole body jerked as if he'd been shocked when he heard Torbek behind him, flipping around and stumbling into the tree he'd been hiding behind to throw up again. Nothing had even come up; he'd thrown up three times within an hour after leaving his tent and hadn't been able to swallow anything since. He just kept retching every time he swallowed his own spit.
He still felt bloated.
"M-m'fine," he stammered. He just wanted a second to breathe and let his heart rate calm down. He felt so sick and dizzy, staring up at Torbek's watery eyes.
"You don't looook fine, Gricko," Torbek's eyes flashed magenta for just a split second. "Maybe you should lay doooown for a bit."
A chill danced across his neck and he gagged before he could stop himself. Torbek's ear twitched, his frown deepening and his eyebrows coming together. "Mister Kremy was thinking you should take something to help you sleep toooo, you knooow?"
Gricko shook his head, forcing himself to smile, his breathing quickening. "S'really not necessary, D-, T-Torbek, I need'a keep an eye on Frosty, too."
"Because the answer to both will upset you."
Torbek moved and Gricko flinched and shut his eyes, but instead of a hand grabbing his head in greeting, Torbek gently pressed just the back of his index finger against Gricko's forehead, humming in concern. "Torbek can't teeeell, but Mister Duke says you're a little waaarm, Grickooo."
"G-Gricko…"
He shivered. He probably did have a fever, all things considered. His forearm was worse today than it had been since he was able to eat that banana. He didn't have any left now and he was being forced to save his last spell slot for an emergency. He couldn't heal himself and he was having trouble keeping up with the wound care in the first place. He couldn't even refuel now. What the fuck was he supposed to do?
"M'fine, Torbek," Gricko shook his head, pulling away. Dizziness washed over him. "I uh… I'm fine." Torbek towered over him, hunched forward as always and blocking out even the meager sunlight coming through the canopy. Gricko couldn't look up at him. "I should… ch-check on Frosty."
Torbek took a single step back, smiling and opening up the path back to the other side of the tent Gricko had tried to hide behind. It felt like a trap. "Torbek will keep you company!"
"Ah…" Gricko wanted more than anything to tell Torbek no, that he wanted to be left alone, that he remembered the dream from last night, that it hadn't been a dream, that he'd been assaulted. He wanted to say a lot of things but, when lifted his gaze to Torbek's eyes high above himself, he saw that flash of magenta again.
Torbek tilted his head at him, one ear twitching when Gricko didn't start moving right away.
"Grickoooo?"
"I'd hate for Frosty to lose anything else."
He couldn't breathe.