Trigger warning: seizure and death
Hey guys! I just published the first two parts (a prologue and chapter one) of my new Hermitcraft fantasy/fanfic. It's called The Unseen Beauty of the Ungrateful. I would be super appreciative if you would consider checking it out and let me know what you think.
Enjoy!

"Mumbo... do you want me to set up a cot?"

Mumbo lifted his head from where it was resting in his arms and squinted up at Stress.

They had managed to crawl through the tunnels leading out of the corporation's territory - Cleo had kept her word. Doc had convinced them that going back to the bunker would be a bad idea as it would probably be where they would come searching first, and thus Stress had led them to the closest healers compound, only about 10 miles west of the bunker.

Mumbo had carried Grian the entire time, even refusing to let him go when they reached the hospital.

"Mumbo we need to take care of him" Stress had softly explained. "I'll be there the whole time and you can stay with him when we're done"

After several minutes of Stress's soothing encouragement, Mumbo had reluctantly lowered Grian onto the small hospital bed and watched while he was wheeled away.

Once he was back and placed in a private room, Mumbo had refused to leave his side, pulling up a chair next to the bed, talking to the unconscious avian during the day, and sleeping with his head lowered onto the bed railing at night.

Now, he struggled to blink the sleep from his eyes as he tried to work the crick out of his neck.

"Mumbo?"

"No I'm ok thank you. I would prefer to be next to him when he wakes up" he said as politely as he could muster. Stress and several others had been coming in and out for the last couple days, trying to get him to leave and lay down properly. He always refused.

Stress sighed as Mumbo heard the clattering of a tray on the table next to him. He looked up to see False and Iskall.

"Eat" False said.

Iskall gave him an encouraging smile, while False had her hands on her hips, the look on her face daring him to defy her.

She relaxed only when he had picked up the bowl and began to shovel the porridge into his mouth. Truly, he was starving.

"How is he doing?" Iskall asked Stress, walking to the opposite side of the bed to look at Grian up close.

"He's ok for now" Stress said. "He had a couple broken ribs and his ulna was fractured, but those seem to be healing properly. The more worrying injuries are the ones on his back and legs, but so far we haven't seen any signs of sepsis and his fever is beginning to go down. Hopefully he'll wake up soon"

"And if he doesn't?" Mumbo heard himself croak out.

She opened her mouth and then closed it. Silence closed in around them for several minutes before Stress sighed again.

"Look we need to talk about X"

Mumbo felt his stomach clench up immediately in guilt as his hands gripped the bowl more tightly.

"How is he doing?" False asked.

"He's not going to last much longer" Stress said, a slight waver in her voice.  "Mumbo are you sure you don't want to come see him before... he goes?"

"I..."

Mumbo couldn't. He just couldn't. How as he supposed to have known that Xisuma had been drugged? How was he supposed to have known that the letters being sent to X every day were coated in mercury and a cocktail of other substances? How could he have been... so awful.

"He doesn't want to see me"

"Yes, he does" Ren said, standing in the doorway. "Mumbo go see him"

Mumbo glanced at Grian.

"But-"

"I'll stay here" Ren interrupted, going to stand next to Iskall. He took Grian's hand gently. "He's my family. I will look after him"

Feeling as though he had no choice Mumbo stood, his legs feeling like lead.

Xisuma's room was only a couple doors down but it felt like it was a mile away. Everything inside Mumbo screamed to be with Grian, and he had to fight the urge to vomit from the tightness of his stomach.

"Mumbo!"  Xisuma made grabby hands at him.

He was lying back in bed, a serene smile on his sunken face. Mumbo swallowed hard. He looked like a corpse.

"He's on a lot of painkillers" Stress whispered, guiding Mumbo to a chair by the bed. He nodded dumbly, his tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth.

Stress busied herself with X's chart, checking his vitals and fluid levels while Mumbo sat stiffly, looking everywhere except the healer in front of him.

X made an irritated face.

"Mumbo why won't you look at me? That's very mean you know"

Mumbo forced himself to make eye contact.

"X... I'm... I'm really sorry"

"Sorry for what?"

Mumbo blanched.

"For-for tying you up, and, and yelling, and I-I hit you and-"

He was cut off by an excessive amount of giggling.

"Oh Mumbo I'm not mad at you! I don't even remember that those things happened" X said between giggles. Suddenly his face became very serious. "But Stress said that I did something very bad to you. Is that right?"

"I- yes?"

"Well I don't know what I did Mumbo, and for some reason my Stressy won't tell me" he stuck his tongue in Stress's direction and she laughed softly, a strained smile on her face. X turned back to Mumbo. "But whatever I did I'm sorry"

Mumbo felt his heart ache as he met Stress's eyes, who just shook her head slightly. The implication was clear.

There is no point in upsetting him when he isn't going to be around much longer.

Mumbo managed a very small smile.

"I-"

I forgive you was too strong, and really not true at all, but it's ok was too soft.

"I... I accept your apology"

Xisuma gave him a massive grin that stretched wide across his face and nodded before his eyebrows scrunched together and his face fell. He turned to Stress.

"Stressy I-"

He choked on his words as he began to shake violently, his eyes rolling back in his head as his muscles spasmed.

Stress slammed her hand down on a blue button to the side of the bed before grabbing onto X and turning him on his side.

"Stress what should I-"

"Go!" Stress yelled as several other healers ran into the room. "We need the space, get out of here!"

Mumbo stumbled back, almost tripping over his own feet as he bumped into the door frame. A nurse shut the door on him and closed the blinds.

He stood outside of the room with his mouth hanging open, the only thing reaching his senses being the panicked voices from inside the closed off room.
_________________________________________________

"I think he really meant it" Mumbo said, brushing Grian's hair out of his face as he spoke. "I'm sure he meant it. The funeral was really nice too. I wish you could have been there"

Mumbo sat back in the chair, letting his eyes gaze at the unconscious man. He swallowed hard.

"Stress... Stress said you should be awake by now" he said softly, willing his voice to stay calm. "I would really like... we really want you to wake up Grian. I... we miss you a lot"

He took Grian's hand and held it against his cheek before coming to his senses and placing it back in its previous position.

He is not yours. He doesn't think of you that way. Don't take advantage of the situation to be closer to him. This isn't about you. Just stay with him.

Mumbo looked out the window at the dark sky and then at the clock. It flashed 4:27.

He put his face in his hands and rubbed his eyes. It was so late and he had slept so little in the last two weeks since arriving at the hospital.

"What am I going to do" he murmured under his breath. "I need you to come back"

"Look... l-look no... further"

Mumbo's head shot up so quickly he winced at the sudden whiplash.

"Grian?!"

Grian's eyes, barely open, were peering at him, a small soft smile teasing at the corners of his mouth.

Mumbo's vision grew blurry as his eyes swam with tears. He covered his face with his arms as he sobbed, trying to stifle the embarrassing sound.

He felt a hand on his head and looked up. Grian brushed his hair out of his tear stained face. He spoke slowly, but his eyes glinted mischievously in an all too familiar way.

"Why so sad Mumbo Jumbo? Don't you ever have any fun?"

He's awake! I hope you enjoyed the chapter. If you did, please consider leaving a like and leaving a comment to let me know what you think.
Don't forget to check out my new HC fanfic! The Harry Potter one will also be coming very soon.