Forever and Always

3

Alfred hissed under his breath, trying to wiggle but finding himself unable. His lower body was numb. He was disoriented, and it meant that he was trying to figure out where he was. He knew Ivan tended to hold onto him very tightly at night, but it didn't feel very good when he was practically paralyzed.

Ivan noticed he was up, feeling him growling in his ear, and let his arms fall, moving Alfred from laying on his chest to laying on the bed, petting his cheek.

Alfred hissed at the contact. He wasn't happy. Mostly with the fact his heat had to come on the day of the party, at the party? He thought he could remember something else too, after Ivan moved him.

Oh, Ivan got in a fight. He hoped it wasn't too bad. He wouldn't be able to tell, because he couldn't fucking move.

God, his heat had hit fast. He went from normal to delirious way faster than normal. Probably because of the cannabis, he reasoned to himself. That was the only logical explanation.

"Do you want a bath?" Ivan asked. Alfred didn't respond, and he wondered if he was still in heat before he realized, "Oh, do you need water?"

A garbled sound came out of him, and he took that as a yes, taking three bottles of water from where he kept some near the bed and giving each to Alfred after he sat him up.

"Do you feel any better?" Ivan asked, tilting his head and looking him over. He'd been extra nice this time, unlike last year, which was... rough. He wasn't allowed to do that again.

"Not really," Alfred said, reaching up his hands to rub his eyes. He could feel every muscle moving, stretching and contorting and elongating, and he glared at his shoulder.

"I'm guessing you're sore?" Ivan asked, softly, sweetly as he could, Alfred looked at him and smiled.

"Yeah, no shit," Alfred groaned, leaning back onto the pillows.

"Do you want a bath?"

Alfred tried to feel beyond his aching muscles. Yes, he would want a bath, because he was dirty. He cringed when he realized, and his neck popped when he moved, which also did not feel the best.

"Ya," he replied, feeling Ivan pick him up bridal style, carrying him over to the bathtub, and holding him while he fiddled with the faucet, making sure it was hot enough.

"What time is it?" Alfred asked, his mouth feeling sticky again. He wanted more water, or some other drink. Water didn't help the feeling in his mouth.

"Um... one in the afternoon," Ivan replied, looking at the clock on the wall. Alfred groaned, burying his face in Ivan's bare chest. It was warm, and somehow it made him feel better then he did previously.

When the tub was full enough, Ivan put him in, watching him immediately close his eyes.

He started to wash his hair, Alfred melting into his hands. His black and golden hair was knotted and wild, so Ivan took the time to brush it out, Alfred practically asleep. He didn't mind. He just pet his cheek when he was done.

"Honey?" Alfred said, and Ivan looked at him, watching as he cringed in the water. He immediately went to kiss his face, not knowing what to do at the moment. Alfred whimpered when he pulled the plug out of him, tears pricking in the corners of his eyes, and he felt Ivan kiss them away, petting his hair to try and comfort him.

There was a thump on the floor, and Alfred went back to relaxing, best he could. Ivan was just thankful he wasn't bleeding, because last year he started to bleed.

"Is there anything you need from me, my darling kitten?" Ivan asked, smiling with his eyes. He couldn't stand to give a full smile when he was in pain, it made him feel horrible.