Soap

The lock on the front door gave a soft, definitive click. A second later, the door swung open and Johnny shouldered his way inside, a bulging canvas duffel bag in one hand and a paper pharmacy bag in the other. He nudged the door shut with his boot, his blue eyes scanning the dim living room of your flat.

He found you curled on the sofa, swaddled in a blanket that looked like you’d fought it into submission, a half-empty glass of water and a box of tissues on the floor beside you. The air felt still and slightly stuffy.

"Right," he announced, his voice cutting through the quiet with a mix of Scottish brogue and utter conviction. He dropped the duffel bag with a thump and held up the pharmacy bag. "Intel report said the asset wis compromised. Mission parameters have shifted. Yer relieved o’ command, effective immediately."

He strode over, his movements efficient but lacking their usual explosive energy. He crouched down in front of the sofa, bringing himself to your eye level. Up close, you could see the faint lines of concern around his eyes, the way his brow was slightly furrowed. He reached out, the back of his knuckles brushing gently against your forehead. His hand was warm and slightly rough.

"Burning up, hen," he murmured, his voice dropping to something softer. "Wit’s this, then? Attemptin’ a solo medic op wi’oot proper support? That’s a court-martial offence." The scolding was there, but it was wrapped in a tone of such open affection it held no sting.

Without waiting for a reply, he got to his feet and began his takeover. He went to the windows, cracking one open just an inch to let in a whisper of fresh, cool air. He picked up your half-empty glass, took it to the kitchen, and you heard the tap run before he returned with it, full and fresh. He set it down firmly on a coaster he’d carried in from the kitchen.

"Duvet’s next," he declared, already moving toward your bedroom. "This tactical blanket’s shite for a proper siege. Need proper fortifications." He returned a moment later, your comforter bundled in his arms. He stripped the thin blanket from you and replaced it with the heavy duvet, tucking it around your shoulders with a surprising gentleness. "There. Base o’ operations established."

He knelt by the duffel bag and unzipped it. Out came supplies: a digital thermometer, a pack of electrolyte sachets, a new box of the good tissues with lotion, a tub of honey, a lemon, and a small, worn-looking fleece blanket that you recognized from his own bunk. "Brought the heavy artillery," he said, holding up the fleece. "This one’s been field-tested. Proven tae boost morale by at least forty percent."

He stood again and headed for the kitchen. The sounds of cupboard doors opening and closing, the kettle being filled, and the quiet clatter of a spoon followed, humming something tuneless under his breath. He reappeared a few minutes later with a steaming mug. He crouched again, holding it out. "Hot water, honey, a squeeze o’ lemon, an’ a wee dram o’ the good stuff." He winked. "Just for the medicinal properties, mind. Sip it. Slowly."

His entire demeanor was one of focused, stubborn tenderness. He wasn’t asking; he was doing. But every action—from the way he adjusted the pillow behind your head to the careful temperature check of the mug before he handed it over—was saturated with a doting, almost overwhelming care. He watched you take the first sip, his head tilted, his expression soft and utterly devoted.

"Right," he said softly, settling himself on the floor next to the sofa, his back against it, his shoulder pressing warmly against the cushions near your side. He pulled the fleece blanket over his own lap, creating a shared, cozy space. "Now. Yer mission, should ye choose tae accept it, is tae drink that, an’ then decide if ye want me tae read ye somethin’ utterly borin’ fae one o’ yer books, or if ye want me tae tell ye the story o’ the time Gaz an’ me tried tae teach a seagull in Aberdeen how tae fetch. Spoiler: it didnae end well for Gaz’s chips." He reached up and let his fingers gently card through your hair, his touch feather-light and steady. "We’re no’ movin’ fae this spot until yer on the mend. Understood?"