Chapter Text
Right up until the pain and sickness hit, Kremy Lecroux had been having a pretty normal day.
It had been a perfectly serviceable afternoon so far – Lou-Ann had even stopped in to give him some (admittedly bland) gossip about Davey's dog getting out and making puppies with Maisie's and now there was a whole hullabaloo about who the puppies were going to belong to. Still, nothing had happened to explain why one minute Kremy was stood at the counter perfectly normally, and then the next he was hunched over it, the worst headache he'd ever had in his life pressing against his eyeballs like they were about to pop out, and nausea so bad he started actively gagging.
He braced himself against the counter, breathing deeply, hoping that it would pass. It lessened some, but not enough. He felt warm, too, the kind of warm he usually only got when he'd been out basking on a rock for hours.
It was so bizarre that he hung up a sign on the store’s front door that he'd be back soon and wobbled over to the apothecary on shaky legs. He pushed open the door with some effort and sloped over to the counter, leaning his head against the cool wood. He hoped Rett had heard the bell when he came in. He didn't think he was up for walking to fetch him, or even yelling for him, in this state.
Thankfully, Rett had, although Kremy didn't see him come down the corridor to the front of the shop as he had his eyes closed and was groaning softly to himself.
"Well, shit. Y'know, I'd ask if yeh were feelin' alright, but I reckon I can guess." Rett's voice was gruffly amused, and Kremy internally winced at how pathetic he must look right now. "C'mon, Kremy, let's get a look atcha."
Kremy blearily brought his head up from the counter and blinked at Rett before shuffling after him. The nausea and headache had abated somewhat, although he couldn't quite work out why. He took a deep breath in, and felt strangely comforted. He stopped at the door he knew lead upstairs to Rett's apartment he shared with Gideon and Shepherd, and paused. He knew neither of them were up there right now, but he still felt a pull to go up there. He placed a hand against the wood, startling when Rett called to him from the examination room. Shaking his head, he quickly ducked into the room.
"Alright, what exactly is ailin' ya?" Rett asked as Kremy hopped up onto the hospital bed.
"I- well I'm not sure exactly. It was just a normal day, an' then I suddenly got this real bad headache an' I felt like I was gonna puke everywhere." Kremy answered, miserably. "Oh, an' I feel all warm for some reason? Like I been out in the sun, but it ain't hot enough for that yet."
It was true – spring had only just started to touch Eden, and while the winter cold had been burned away in the bright sunshine, it still would be several months until it was basking weather.
"Mhm, gotcha. An' there ain't nothin' else that's been happening?" Rett asked, coking his head to one side.
Kremy thought back over the past few days. He'd been cleaning a little more than usual, checking his pantry to make sure it was full, too, although he couldn't work out why. He knew what was in there, and yet he felt compelled to check at least twice a day.
There was also the fact that apropos of nothing, he'd dragged every cushion, blanket and relatively soft fabric he had into his bed to create some kind of nest, then snuggled down into it and had the best sleep he'd ever had, his face pressed against a shirt of Gideon's he'd somehow gotten ahold of.
If he could have, he would've flushed.
"Uh. Nothin' much, just been doin' some spring cleanin' I guess…" He mumbled, looking down at his legs.
"Alright, take ya jacket off an' unbutton ya shirt, lemme just check a few things…" Rett said, grabbing a stethoscope. Kremy winced as the cold metal pressed against his skin, but sat still as Rett listened to his heart.
Rett took his temperature, next, and flashed a bright light into his eyes afterwards. He pressed his hands against his stomach, gently feeling for something, although Kremy wasn't sure what. As he continued testing things, his frown grew and grew until he stepped back and folded his arms.
"Aw, hell, Kremy. Your Meemaw never tell ya nothin' about this?" Rett squinted at him.
"I don't know what this is, Rett, how'm I supposed to know if she told me anythin' about it?" Kremy protested, exasperated. His head was pounding and his stomach had started churning again. He closed his eyes and pressed a hand over them. It didn't help.
"You got me there. Right." Rett sighed. "Y'know how every springtime all the animals get all lovey an' we get a whole load o' babies?"
"Sure. Davey's dog done knocked up Maisie's an' now she's spittin' mad about it." Kremy nodded, wincing at the motion.
"Well, most humanoids don't do that kinda thing. But some of 'em – drakona included – do." Rett explained gently. Kremy removed his hand from his eyes to stare at Rett.
"What." He said, blankly.
"This is why I was askin' if your Meemaw never told ya about it. Feels like somethin' she shoulda mentioned." Rett explained sympathetically.
"Rett, she barely told me what sex was beyond sayin' if I get a girl pregnant outta wedlock it'll bring shame on the family. She sent me to you for the details, remember?" Kremy scoffed. His Meemaw had been a wonderful woman in many ways, but having frank conversations about what went on in the bedroom was simply something that she did not do.
"That's true." Rett half-chuckled, stroking his chin.
"But if I'm really, y'know, havin' a springtime or whatever it's called, how come I haven't had one until now? I'm grown, feels like they shoulda started before now." Kremy pressed a hand to his stomach, hunching over. He was in his mid-twenties, after all.
"Well, it's true that for most, seasons – that's what they're called, by the way – start when ya reach maturity. But, based on averages, yer pretty small for a drakona. It's probably just that yer just a late bloomer." Rett said, kindly.
"Yeah, but by years?" Kremy whined. "An' how come it hurts so damn much? I don't feel like makin' babies at all right now."
Rett actually laughed at that, the noise bright and slightly startled.
"No, I don't reckon ya do. Ya probably will, though. Think of this as the thunder before the lightning. It's a warnin' of sorts, I suppose. That's what the cleanin' was about, too. You might also experience some wantin' to hoard food, an' create a nest." Rett gave him a knowing look. Kremy did have to admit, the pile of blankets was very nest-like. "Look, I won't lie, this is probably gonna be a very difficult time for ya. Seasons vary from person to person. Generally, they last for about 3-5 days, but they tend to go on longer if y'ain't got a partner to share 'em with."
"I could have a partner!" Kremy protested, folding his arms.
"But do ya?" Rett raised an eyebrow at him. Kremy sighed and shook his head.
"No…" He mumbled. There was only one person he'd want to share a season with, and he was pretty sure he wasn't interested.
"Right. You'll wanna drink a lot of fluids, make sure yer eatin' at regular intervals, too. Cold baths can help – don't give me that look, I know ya don't like the cold but it'll help getcha temperature down – an' so can self-stimulation." Rett rattled off, tone businesslike. Kremy gaped at him, blinking rapidly. Rett gave him an unimpressed look. "I can give ya somethin' for the pain and the nausea now, an' I'll let people know yer sick so they don't stop by the store."
"Thanks, Rett." Kremy said, a little hesitantly. He was still stuck on the fact that Rett had basically just told him it was medically necessary for him to go jack off for the next week.
"S'alright. You got enough food an' such?" Rett asked as he rooted through a cabinet. Searching for medication to give him, Kremy supposed.
"Yeah." Kremy nodded, even though Rett couldn't hear him. Rett turned back to him with two pills in his hand, and tipped them into Kremy's palm. Kremy dry swallowed them, making Rett tut at him.
"I woulda got ya some water. So impatient." He shook his head, but he didn't actually seem irritated. "When it's over, come back for a check-up, alright?"
"Alright." Kremy agreed. His stomach twisted with anxiety. Rett placed a hand on his arm. squeezing lightly.
"It'll be alright, Kremy. You'll get through it." He said, reassuringly. Kremy nodded, although his anxiety was not quite abated.
"Alright, I'll go on home now. An'…Wait for things to start, I suppose." He said grimly.
"Attaboy. I'll see ya out." Rett waited for him to hop off the hospital bed, and gently guided him through to the front of the apothecary. As he passed the door up to the apartment, Kremy felt that strange pulling in his gut again, but they went past too quickly for him to do anything about it.
"See ya, Rett." Kremy waved as he exited the apothecary. He blew out a breath as the afternoon sunshine hit his face, closing his eyes and trying to enjoy it.
Season.
He felt angry at his Meemaw for not warning him about it, embarrassed that Rett had needed to explain it to him like he was a child and so, so lonely that he didn't have anyone to spend it with.
Mortifyingly, he felt tears spring to his eyes and hurried along the street, wanting to be behind closed doors if he actually started crying about this. He sniffled to himself as he closed and locked the door of the general store, quickly writing and hanging up a sign that said he was sick and the store would be closed until further notice. People would be irritated, he supposed, but they would manage. If not, he thought he could probably open back up briefly if people really needed something.
He climbed the stairs up to his apartment, feeling more and more exhausted with each step he took. By the time he made it to his bedroom, it took an concerted effort to strip his clothes of a collapse into bed.
My nest, Kremy thought wryly, pulling a blanket over himself and rubbing his face against Gideon's shirt. He drifted off to sleep, praying that things wouldn't be as bad as Rett had said they would be.
He was awoken some ours later to the gentle plink, plink, plink of stones against his window. It was a sound he'd heard countless times before, and it signalled that Gideon was outside. He stumbled around, pulling on an undershirt and underwear to retain a small sense of dignity, and poked his head out of the window.
"Gid?" He hissed down at him. "What're ya doin' here?"
Gideon, who had been winding back his arm to throw another stone, dropped it on the floor and cupped his hands around his mouth.
"Rett said y' were sick! I wanted to come check on you!" Gideon called up to him.
"O-oh. And…Did he say what kind of sick I was?" The strange, rushing heat was back under his skin, only temporarily dulled by sleep.
"Uh, nah. I mean, he said I probably shouldn't come see ya, so I guess it might be catchin'? Y'know me though, I got a strong constitution, didn't even get sick once last winter."
An odd thrill went through Kremy at Gideon's words. It was true, he was strong, and he was barely ever impacted by the same coughs and colds that seemed to spread through Eden like wildfire.
"Now c'mon, let me in." Gideon complained. "I don't wanna stand out here yellin' all evenin', I'm gonna get in trouble with Mrs Lebinski again."
Kremy bit his tongue, pondering. On the one hand, if he was going to keep up his cover story of sickness, he probably shouldn't let Gideon in. On the other hand, the thought of sending Gideon away was making an impending sense of dread descend upon him.
"Alright, I'll come letcha in. Come round the back." Kremy nodded, even though he knew Gideon knew exactly what he meant. There was a door with a staircase that led directly to the apartment at the back of the shop, meaning Gideon didn't have to traipse through the store whenever he came to visit. Kremy had also considered how much more discreet it would be for other kinds of dalliances, should Gideon ever want to do that. Not that he'd ever suggested that he would, but it was fun to dream about.
Sometimes, when the lights were low and they'd been drinking, Kremy could swear there was something between them. Gideon would look at him in a particular way and it would make his heart throb, but then he'd look away and the moment would be gone. He thought about the kisses they'd shared as teenagers more than was strictly healthy, and he wondered if Gideon ever thought about them, too. He hadn't got the courage up to ask him, yet, too worried that the answer would be no.
Sighing, he wrapped himself in a bathrobe and quickly padded down the stairs to let Gideon in. When he opened the door, it took everything in Kremy not to rush forwards and press himself against Gideon, a need for physical contact so great rising in him. Instead, he stepped back and gripped onto the banister, gesturing for him to come in.
"Thank ya kindly." Gideon grinned at him, pretending to doff an invisible hat at him. Kremy half-smiled at the gesture, but his headache was already starting to press at his eyeballs.
"C'mon upstairs. Was gonna make some tea. Got beer, if ya want it." Kremy didn't wait for a response and climbed the stairs again, wincing at the pounding in his head.
Gideon whistled as they climbed the stairs.
"Lookin' nice in here Kremy, you been sprucin' the place up?"
Kremy preened at the compliment, feeling excessively pleased that Gideon had noticed what he'd done with the place. The relief was short-lived, however, and he found himself just trying to catch his breath as another wave of pain and nausea crashed over him.
When he entered the kitchen, he dragged himself over to the table and chairs that served as a dining area and collapsed into one, throwing his arm over his eyes and groaning.
"Aw, shit, Krem. Yer in a real bad way, huh? Is there anythin' I can do?" Gideon sounded concerned. Kremy ignored the jolt that apparently sent through him as he peeked at him from under his arm.
"Can- can you hold me?" He asked. It sounded pathetically miserable to his own ears, so Gods knew how it sounded to Gideon.
"Yeah! Yeah, of course." Gideon nodded. "D'ya wanna stand, or I can lean down, I guess?"
Kremy stood, leaning heavily on the table to prop himself up. His legs felt shaky, and his heart was racing. He shuffled over to Gideon, pushed up onto his tiptoes and flung his arms around his neck, rubbing his face against his chest. A litany of noises poured out of him, chirps and rumbles that he believed he was far more experienced in repressing before today.
"Aw. Y'ain't made those noises since we were kids." Gideon's voice sounded amused as he wrapped his arms around Kremy, slinging them low against his back. Kremy could feel that he had to bend over slightly to do so, and felt a gentle thrill at the height difference between them.
"Sorry." Kremy muttered, embarrassed and yet apparently not embarrassed enough to stop nuzzling into Gideon and chirping at him.
"No, no, I like 'em. Missed ya makin' 'em. Always knew y' were extra happy when y' made one of them li'l peep noises." Gideon did a terrible impression of a chirp. Kremy found it hopelessly endearing.
"Happy you're here." Kremy said, breathing in deeply. There was something so comforting about having Gideon here, with his familiar smell and strong arms and broad chest. He trilled softly as he shoved his snout into Gideon's neck.
"Happy to be here." Gideon replied softly, one arm stroking down Kremy's back. Kremy felt his tail raising instinctively and slammed it back down to the floor, wincing at the loud noise and the pain of his tail hitting the ground so quickly. Gideon pulled back slightly and held Kremy's arms, glancing over his face. "You okay?"
"Y-yeah, s'just the fever I guess." Kremy said shakily. He realised, with mounting horror, that he must be getting onto the next stage of his season. Want sat low in his belly, and he could feel wetness gathering in his underwear.
"Thought ya felt warm." Gideon frowned, and placed his palm against Kremy's head. Kremy bit down on his tongue to suppress the pathetic whine that he wanted to make. "Aw, Krem. S'okay, I got you."
He drew Kremy back into his arms and started gently petting down his back, rocking him from side to side. Kremy clutched onto his shirt with his hands and tried not to moan.
He wasn't sure how long they stood there for, Gideon murmuring comforting nonsense at him, only that he was wet to his thighs and inordinately grateful for the bathrobe he'd put on by the time Gideon drew back, looking down at him with a soft smile on his face. He opened his mouth to say something, and Kremy had an awful feeling that he might be about to make his excused and leave. Panic spread through him at the thought of Gideon going away. He couldn't leave, he needed him. He was his best friend, he was his Gid, he was his-
Mate.
The word came unbidden, but in it filled Kremy with a need so voracious it almost scared him. Gideon was his mate. He couldn't leave, he needed to stay here and protect Kremy and take him to his nest and then…Well. Kremy could sense what lay down that train of thought and very cleverly sidestepped it, worried he might faint from want or moan at Gideon again.
He shook his head. This was absurd. Gideon was not his mate, he was just his good friend. Who was here to check up on him, and was not here for any other activities, no matter how much Kremy might want him to be. He was not going to be a slave to this- this season or whatever it was.
"Let's getcha into bed, okay?" Gideon gently rubbed his arm, and Kremy's legs buckled. His hide felt overly sensitive, and just that simple touch had him almost keeling over. "Oh, shit, okay, don't worry, I got you."
Gideon effortlessly picked him up, and some previously mostly-silent part of Kremy's brain congratulated him on having such a strong and capable mate. The still-slightly-functioning part of his brain admonished him for thinking like that. Gideon was not his mate, he was his friend. He was only here because he wanted to see how he was, and soon he would leave. And Kremy would let him go, and deal with all of this by himself.
If Gideon thought the mess of blankets on pillows on Kremy's bed was odd, he did not say so. He didn't even comment on the fact that one of his shirts was laying rather conspicuously on top of the pile. Instead, he just placed Kremy very gently into the Kremy-shaped divot that Kremy had been working into it, and stepped back, fussing with some of the blankets.
"Let's getcha outta this, too, getcha nice an' ready for sleepin'." Gideon said softly, reaching down to undo the tie that was holding Kremy's bathrobe shut. The only thing preventing him from seeing the soaked mess underneath it.
"Wait, wait, wait, Gid-" Kremy babbled frantically, holding a hand out in an attempt to stop him, but it was too late. Gideon had undone the tie and his robe had fallen open. Kremy chanced a quick look down, and it was worse than he could have imagined. His cock was straining against his underwear, and the cotton was almost see-through with how wet it was. He looked as painfully aroused as he felt. He shut his legs quickly, whimpering at the pressure as he did so, and looked up at Gideon.
Gideon was staring at where his legs were pressed together, jaw slack and eyes wide. He looked up at Kremy's face, a blush rising up his neck and onto his face.
"So, uh. Not the usual kinda sick, then?" Gideon asked. His tongue darted out to wet his bottom lip. Kremy's breath hitched just looking at it.
"Uh. No." He shook his head. He couldn't stop looking at him, no matter how much he wanted to bury his face in his blankets and die from shame. "It's, uh, called a season, or somethin'. Means 'm like, y'know. Like how the animals get in the spring.”
Kremy cringed at the comparison.
Gideon nodded slowly, carefully, as if he was afraid of scaring Kremy off.
"Still want me to stay?"
"More than anythin'." Kremy gripped at the blankets beneath him.
"Alright then. I'll stay." Gideon grinned at him, all sweet and mischievous, and Kremy's stomach swooped. "Want some help with that?"
He nodded towards where Kremy's legs were still jammed shut.
"Please." Kremy begged, letting his legs fall open.
Gideon leaned forward and gently pressed the heel of his hand against his cock through his underwear. His palm covered the area almost completely, and he started to rub gentle circles against Kremy. The amount of slick made the fabric glide far smoother than it usually would, and the small amount of stimulation already had Kremy crying out. He canted his hips up, pressing himself more firmly against Gideon's hand, shuddering breaths wracking his chest.
"Gid, Gid, Gid." He chanted, humping against his hand, all shame and pretence completely gone. He dimly registered that he was going to find this entire thing horrendously embarrassing once it was over, but for now Gideon's hand pressing agaisnt him through his underwear was the most delicious sensation he'd ever felt, so he oculdn't quite bring himself to care. "My Gid."
"All yours, Kremy." Gideon replied, and then Kremy's vision whited out completely as he came. The rumble he made at Gideon's words reverberated throughout his entire body, and he was pretty sure it might have made the bed shake, too. "That's it. I got you."
Gideon carried on rubbing him until Kremy fell back, limp with pleasure. Kremy lay there, chest heaving, looking up at Gideon. Gideon looked back at him with a mix of self-satisfaction and awe on his face.
"I'm guessin' that won't have done it, huh?" Gideon smirked, nodding towards Kremy. Kremy shook his head, desire already starting to stir within him again.
"No. Rett said it'd be 3-5 days?" Kremy said apologetically, wringing his hands together. He felt suddenly ashamed, like he was a burden he was settling Gideon with.
"Huh. Well, wish I coulda said I was gonna be away, but I 'spose Rett might put two an' two together an' guess where I'm at." Gideon shrugged. "Now. What d'ya need?"
The fact that Gideon was not phased by this reignited Kremy's desire fully. The short distance was too much, he needed to be completely surrounded by Gideon.
"You." Kremy leaned forwards and grabbed Gideon's shirt, pulling his body onto his.