Healing Milton

ten

The whirring of the blender makes Milton's ears ache, but he tries not to let it bother him. Rather, he focuses on the device as it blitzes the veggies inside – something he'd never seen until today.

He's sitting in a chair at the kitchen bench, propped up on a stack of pillows, a blanket tucked over his legs. Callum stands in front of him on the other side of the white stone, a chopping board beside him.

"So, we have carrots, spinach, lemon juice..." He frowns in thought, pausing the blender to take the lid off and dip a finger in the puree.

Milton watches with wonder as Callum pops a few pieces of apple in the blender, turning it back on until the orange-ish puree is smooth.

Tipping it into a bowl, he takes two spoons from the kitchen drawer. Taking a comically big breath, Callum dips a spoon in and tastes. Milton watches with big eyes for any kind of giveaway as to whether it's good or not.

Cal gives no such indicator. Instead, he dips the second spoon and leans over the kitchen bench, popping it in Milton's open mouth.

"What do you think?"

Milton hums as he swallows, the sweet taste making him smile. It's earthy, the lemon giving it a nice fresh zingy aftertaste that makes him want more. Cal smiles, picking up the bowl and moving to sit beside his charge on another stool, carefully spoon feeding him their creation.

"I think we can say this one is a success."

He'd looked up a few recipes online, some included things like turmeric and celery, both of which he didn't think Milton would like, but by the small smile on the boy's face, this one is definitely a success.

Together they finish off their bowls, Milton unknowingly humming every now and then in content as he finishes off his puree and watches as Callum gets up and puts the bowls away in the dishwasher, tidying up the rest of the kitchen from their morning experiment.

"What do you think we should do next?" Callum asks as he wipes his hands, turning to face the little human still sitting on the stool.

He really did look very small sitting at the island bench swallowed by  blankets.

Milton blinks, not knowing what to say to that. He still hadn't been able to really get his words out, but he did feel like he had more energy today, his body didn't feel so weak. Callum had gone back to giving him the liquid pain medication and a few other vitamins (all in fruity liquid form) that seemed to be helping. At least, he felt like it was helping.

"What about some tv?"

Milton only blinks again, letting Callum pick him up carefully into his arms with a hand supporting his head like a child and carry him to the couch where he's yet again tucked in, his leg propped up on a pillow resting on the coffee table that Cal pushes closer.

He switches the tv onto a nature documentary, the volume on low as he places the remote back on the couch beside the little human where he grabs another blanket to place over Milton's lap.

"I'll be right back, just getting your hot water bottle." He gently brushes Milton's hair away from his face with a smile before disappearing back into the kitchen.

The kettle is hot to touch, having been boiled while Cal cleaned up the kitchen. He carefully tips it into the bottle along with some tap water before buttoning it back into the teddy-bear cover.

Just as he finishes, the tell-tale sign of keys jingling at the door lets him know Aldric is home, his husband walking in with a big paper bag under his arm and keys in the other.

Callum smiles at him, pressing a kiss to his lips in passing before he goes back to the couch and tucks the bear under the blankets.

"Al's home. Let me help him with the groceries and I'll come watch tv with you. Okay?"