When Grian peeled his eyes opened, sunlight was fluttering out from under the curtains on the wall and spraying across the bed. He crinkled his nose, rubbing at it afterward before he sat up. He stretched, a soft sound slipping from his mouth as his bones ached before he paused. Something felt... Wrong. Something felt... Off. It felt like he had forgotten something, but how could he? He had just gotten up! He looked around the room, trying to blink the sleep from his eyes. It wasn't very difficult. The feeling was chasing away any sleepy content he had been feeling moments ago. What was he missing? He had fed the stray cats in their yard last night and he would have to do it again today, but that was normal. He always did that. It was part of his routine. He had woken around the same time too. It had to be maybe nine, ten o'clock. His apprentices would be showing up in an hour and they would go over what they were doing before heading back to that stupid cathedral—

Wait. This was the first time he had woken up today. Mumbo hadn't woken him up for their morning kiss and so he could tie his tie! They always did that! That was part of the routine! Grian racked his brain, trying to determine if that was what was wrong. For the life of him, he couldn't remember if Mumbo had woken him up. Sometimes he woke up by himself when Mumbo would make some noise as he was getting ready; because try as he might it was hard for his taller boyfriend to stay quiet while he was navigating in the dark. If Grian was in a deep enough sleep, Mumbo would gently shake him away to get what he needed. It was just what they did. As Grian thought this over, he turned to get out of bed—only to fall against Mumbo's sleeping body.

Now the alarm bells were ringing in his head. He pulled back and looked at his boyfriend with wide eyes. He was lying on his side, his bare back to Grian as he slept. His hair was messy from sleep and he barely had any blankets on him. That wasn't unusual, Grian wasn't above hogging any blankets, but it looked like it had been a choice from his boyfriend. He had shoved them off of himself, and Grian could see why. There was a coat of sweat on his body, especially on his back. It was beginning to soak into his side of the bed. It was spring! The nights were still cool! Not to mention, the fact that his boyfriend was shirtless was a surprise in of itself. Mumbo hated showing skin. That's why he wore a suit every single day, no matter the weather!

"Mumbo?" Grian grabbed his shoulder, pushing himself up onto his knees. They pressed against his back and he realized just how much he was covered in sweat. "Mumbo!" He shook his boyfriend, who felt like he weighed like a ton of bricks. His heart dropped and he quickly craned his head around, letting out a strangled sound of relief as he saw he was still breathing. "Mumbo, wake up!" He shook him roughly with both hands and Mumbo finally let out a low groan, stirring. It looked like he tried to open his eyes, but he could barely crack them open. It seemed he was struggling to even keep them open as he turned his head and looked up at his boyfriend, squinting at him from under his eyelashes. "Mumbo, it's— it's nearly ten o'clock! Are you not going to work?!" Mumbo blinked up at him slowly before he grunted and turned his head away.

"Is it?" He muttered weakly, staring at the wall across from the bed. "No, I guess I'm not." He slid his eyes shut but Grian shook him again, making him open them with a groan.

"Mumbo, you're scaring me!" Grian whimpered. His hands were beginning to tremble. Mumbo Jumbo didn't miss work. Since he had become Chief Redstoner nearly four years ago, he hadn't missed one day of work. He rarely got sick, and even if he was he'd still go to work without so much as a complaint!

"I'm tired, just, just lemme sleep," Mumbo muttered.

"Mumbo, are you sick?! Should I get a doctor?!" Mumbo opened his mouth to respond and then stopped. His eyebrows furrowed down before his eyes flew open. They were bloodshot and the pupils were so small they looked almost nonexistent. His body jolted, he shoved himself up, and then he threw up over the edge of the bed. Grian screamed, loud and piercing, as Mumbo vomited up red.

He yanked himself out of bed. He moved on autopilot as he rushed downstairs and grabbed a bucket from a chest, hurrying back up to find his boyfriend on the floor. His body was shaking like he had been electrocuted, gagging and choking, grabbing at his throat. Grian was sobbing as he shoved the bucket into his chest and then screamed again as Mumbo threw up again, more than last time. It was red and it was liquidy, like water. A cooper scent filled the room and Grian realized that his boyfriend was throwing up blood. "Stay here!" He sobbed as he scrambled to his feet. "I'll get a doctor, I'll get a doctor!" He rushed down the stairs as Mumbo slumped back against the bed, hunched over the bucket as he continued vomiting.

As for Grian, he stumbled out of their house, still in his pajamas and barefooted. Their neighbors had come out of their house at the sound of his screams. "Grian!" One of them shouted over the fence. "What's wrong?!"

"Mumbo, he's—! He's throwing up blood!" He screamed. Across the road, a figure clad in purple paused in their walk as they stared at him across the street. The figure behind them was clad in sleek diamond armor. "I don't— I don't know what's wrong with him! I need a doctor, I need a doctor!" The neighbors shouted in horror and concern, but before anyone could volunteer to go find one the figure across the street walked briskly across the cobblestone road to his house.

"Grian." Grian looked up, puppy-brown eyes glassy with his panic and tears. A few neighbors gasped while his eyes widened. His Majesty Seto Sorcerer was the figure in purple, his gloved hands clasped together in front of his stomach as he stared down at Grian with concern. "What is wrong with Mumbo?"

"He's—" Grian's voice trembled and he was sobbing all over again, harder than before. "He didn't wake up to go to work! H-He didn't wake me up for the kiss or the tie, and, and he— he throwing up blood, your majesty! He's...!" Seto didn't need to hear anymore as he walked past him, the end of his robes fluttering after him. The guard in diamond armor followed silently, ushering Grian inside with them. The neighbors crowded out on the yard, whispering to each other worriedly as they debated on what could be going on inside. Had Mumbo been poisoned? He had seemed fine all week!

Inside the house, Grian and the guard stood in the doorway to the bedroom. The guard was holding Grian back as Seto kneeled beside Mumbo, who was lying on his back on the floor. The bucket was beside him with a horrible smell emitting from it. Seto's eyebrows were furrowed as he cupped Mumbo's sweaty face in his cool gloved hands, pulling his eye open with his pointer finger and thumb to study his pupils. As he did Mumbo groaned, shaking his head slightly as Seto pulled his hand back. "Your Majesty?" He slurred out before his body shuddered and he jerked back up, grabbing for the bucket. Seto grabbed it readily and held it up, watching him vomit into it with narrowed eyes. After Mumbo was done he reached out and touched his forehead, pushing his bangs back.

"What's wrong with him?!" Grian sobbed. "Is he dying?!" Seto studied Mumbo for a moment longer before he sighed softly. He looked at Grian and smiled gently.

"No, dear." He stood and suddenly picked Mumbo up easily, despite the fact that the man was certainly taller and heavier than him. He turned and laid him down on the bed, pushing the covers to the headboard at the end. "It's alright Pewds, let him in." The guard released Grian, who immediately scrambled over to Mumbo's bedside, grabbing his boyfriend's hand.

"What's wrong with him?" He sobbed, clutching Mumbo's hand to his chest. Mumbo tried to squeeze his hand to comfort him, but it was such a pitiful attempt it made Grian feel worse. "Why is he coughing up blood?!"

"He isn't coughing up blood, Grian," Seto informed him gently. "Pewds, can you get some water?" The guard, who Grian finally recognized as Pewdiepie, nodded before he turned and left the room. Seto reached over and placed his hand on Grian's forearm. "Mumbo isn't dying, I'm afraid he's just caught a bad case of Redstone Poisoning."

"Redstone Poisoning?"

"It's common for people in the Redstone business, and something tells me that this isn't the first time for him," Seto claimed. Mumbo muttered something unintelligently, turning his head towards Grian. He peeled his eyes opened, blinking a few times as he squinted at his boyfriend.

"Why are you crying?" He muttered. Grian whimpered.

"Because you're sick, idiot!" He looked at Seto. "What was he throwing up then?!" Seto chuckled.

"It wasn't blood. It was pieces of redstone with some spit and phlegm. It looks like it was a pretty hefty back up that finally broke loose." He looked down at Mumbo. "That can usually be avoided with some rest and a lot of water, but something tells me Mumbo didn't tell you that he was sick." Grian whimpered.

"I didn't notice, I didn't..." Seto squeezed his forearm before he pulled his hand back.

"Don't feel bad, my dear. There really aren't any outward signs of Redstone Poisoning aside from coughing up redstone, and that's something that can be hidden."

"Mumbo," Grian whimpered. "Why didn't you tell me?!"

"Didn't wanna worry you," Mumbo slurred out, coughing roughly afterward. "You got enough going on, with the... the cathed—"

"Do I take him to a doctor?" Grian said hurriedly, cringing instead as he noticed Seto certainly hadn't missed the cathedral comment. But Seto only smiled and shook his head.

"No." Pewds entered with a glass of water, handing it off to Seto who got Mumbo to sit up. He coaxed him into drinking from the glass and Grian quickly took over, holding the cup for him so Seto had his hands free once more. "Just have him drink plenty of water. Stay with him. If he vomits, just let him. It's a way for him to get the redstone out. Redstone poisoning can be concerning for a first-timer, but this certainly isn't Mumbo's first time." He looked down at Mumbo. "Let's take this as a lesson to always let your loved ones know when you're sick, yes?"

Mumbo groaned in reply and Grian let himself smile shakily. He looked at Seto and it faltered. "I'm— I'm sorry to have bothered you over this, your majesty," he whispered as he suddenly felt sheepish. Seto was a busy man, being one of the two leaders of their Kingdom. Somehow he always made time to be with his people while his husband-to-be worked on things behind the scenes, making him beloved and trusted among the civilians of all social statues. Grian felt bad—ashamed—for pulling him away from a peaceful walk for something that hadn't even been anything life-threatening. But Seto only smiled at him, brown eyes twinkling.

"Oh, don't feel sorry. I'm just glad I could be here to help!" He looked down at Mumbo, who was holding his glass by himself and sipping the water left inside of it slowly. "I'll leave you two now, I'm just a letter away if you get concerned about something! I'll be sure to inform your apprentices and associates that you won't be coming into work today." He turned and walked to the door where Pewds was waiting for him. "Get well soon, Mumbo!"

Mumbo muttered something in reply as Grian stroked his hair with a trembling hand.

"Goodbye, your majesty," Grian whispered, kissing Mumbo's forehead. "God, Mumbo," he whimpered, "I'm going to kill you once you're lucid again."

Mumbo woke up slowly. His head was still foggy from his sickness, but not nearly as much as it had been before. After a couple of moments, he mentally dragged himself up, shaking the cobwebs out from the corners of his mind. He shifted and grunted as his sore muscles ached. His throat hurt, but it wasn't burning like it had been the past few days. He pulled his eyes opened, squinting in the dim room. The only light they had was coming through the skylight above their bed, moonlight coming from the half-moon in the sky. He was shirtless and the room was chilly, though he saw why when he realized one of their windows was open. There was a warm shape curled into his side and he didn't have to look to know what it was, but he still did.

Grian was curled into him, fast asleep with his hand pressed against Mumbo's bare chest. His soft brown hair covered his eyes and it looked like he hadn't slept in some time, judging by the black bags underneath his eyes. Mumbo reached down and touched his cheek before brushing his hair back from his face. He knew how much he hated it, he often had to pin it back with bobby pins when he was building high up and it was windy. Grian stirred and, to Mumbo's surprise, fluttered his eyes opened without much difficulty. Grian blinked up at him before his eyes widened, pushing himself up. "You're awake!" He declared, a smile coming to his lips. Mumbo smiled back, opening his mouth to speak but all that came out was a cough. Grian's smile faltered before he grabbed a large cup of water from his bedside, handing it off to Mumbo who nodded his thanks before he drank from it. Grian watched him anxiously, worrying his bottom lip before Mumbo lowered the glass from his lips with a sigh.

"Sorry." His voice was hoarse. "How long have I been asleep?"

"Since Friday, and it's Sunday night now," Grian whispered. "The doctor said once you woke up, and was lucid, for more than a couple of minutes you could go back to work after another day of rest."

"Well," Mumbo smiled. "I feel pretty good. You must be a pretty good nurse." Grian rolled his eyes and smacked his shoulder playfully, taking the cup to put it back on the nightstand.

"Enough jokes," Grian huffed. "You scared me." Mumbo's eyes softened. Though he wasn't sure about the past few days, he could remember Friday morning enough.

"I'm sorry, Grian," he whispered. "I didn't mean for it to get that bad."

"Why didn't you tell me you were sick?!" Grian whined. "You could have rested more! I would have made dinner!" Mumbo crinkled his nose.

"Oh, I don't think so." Grian scoffed and Mumbo softened. He reached out and grabbed his hand, squeezing it carefully.

"I've gotten Redstone Poisoning about five times this year alone," he said simply. "Usually, I can just power through it."

"Well." Grian pressed his hands against his chest. The sleeves of his wool sweater felt warm against his cool skin. "No more. Okay? When one of us is coming down with something, no matter what it is, we tell the other one." Mumbo chuckled.

"Alright," he whispered.

"Promise me, Mumbo. Promise you'll tell me."

"I promise." Mumbo took one of his hands and pushed the sleeve up so he could kiss his hand. "Now come on, let's get back to sleep. You look exhausted." Grian didn't fight him, leaning against his chest as they laid back in bed. Mumbo ran his hand up and down his arm in the way he knew he liked, staring down at him as Grian got comfortable. Grian lifted his eyes and caught him staring, staring back before he smiled a bit.

"What?" He whispered. Mumbo smiled.

"I'm just remembering how much I love you," he whispered. Grian blushed. "And how lucky of a man I am." Grian blushed brighter, dropping his eyes as he covered his face.

"Stooop," he whined and Mumbo chuckled, wrapping his other arm around him to pull him close.

"You're my antidote~" He cooed. Grian groaned, smacking his back.

"Now you're just being corny!" He could hear Grian's smile. "Go to sleep!" Mumbo laughed against his shoulder, the sound rumbling through both of their bodies as Grian wrapped his arms around his neck and his legs around his waist, essentially koalaing himself to his lover. Mumbo squeezed him before he kissed the place behind his ear.

"I love you," he muttered. Grian shivered and squeezed him tighter, shutting his eyes.

"I love you too."

And with that, the two fell fast asleep.