Massage

Tim wasn't a morning person by any stretch of the imagination ("Too many late nights," he joked, although Bernard didn't know why it was a joke), but usually he was in better condition than this. Right now, he was curled up in the nest he'd made of blankets on their bed. His only response to Bernard leaving half an hour ago to go eat had been to pull the blankets tighter. And although there was a truly amazing storm outside which would certainly be excuse enough to cut class for Bernard it wasn't like Tim to skip.

"Tim," he said softly and brushed some hair out of Tim's face. "Tim, are you all right?"

Tim groaned and opened his eyes. "It's raining, isn't it."

"It's storming pretty badly. I don't know how you slept through all the thunder."

"I hate rain," Tim said, voice muffled by the pillow. "It always makes everything ache."

"Why don't you skip class today then?" Bernard suggested. "I know I will." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. Even if Tim couldn't see it, he'd know somehow.

"I'll be fine once I use the liniment," Tim said, but he didn't move.

"And where, pray tell, is the liniment?" Bernard asked. "The least I can do is help you with it, if you insist on going out today."

"Bottom drawer of my nightstand," Tim said, not raising his head from the pillow.

The liniment looked expensive, like it was something professional athletes used to keep playing sports in the face of injuries that really should bench them for the rest of the season. With the amount of damage Tim's body had taken, Bernard wasn't surprised at all that he had it, but he asked anyway to make conversation as he pulled the blankets down and began to massage the liniment into Tim's body.

"Pretty fancy liniment," he said.

"It's made by Wayne Pharmaceuticals for, well, people who are as banged-up as I am." Tim made a happy noise and seemed to melt under Bernard's touch. "That feels really good."

"It's all part of my master plan," Bernard said.

"Oh yes?" Tim asked. "And what possible use could you have for somebody who's melted into a puddle of goo?" He flipped over on his back.

"Isn't it obvious?" Bernard asked, not stopping his massage as he leaned in for a kiss.