Cuddles are the Best Medicine, Conclusion: Sid & Joe

[handsomesempai]

Sid lays a hand on Joe’s back as they walk back to the ambulance, having left Marvelous and Don to themselves once more. “That went really well,” he says, turning to smile at Joe. “I’m glad that you and Don got on so well, I don’t think that would have gone nearly so smoothly if you hadn’t been here.” He’s not exaggerating at all; judging from how Marvelous had described him on the phone, Don had been greatly calmed by Joe’s presence. He’d been so brave, Sid hadn’t been able to help the urge to give Don a little petting on his fluffy curls when it was all done with. “Thank you for your help, Joe.” He strokes the back of Joe’s neck briefly before they get into the ambulance. Sid starts it up and backs it out of Marvelous’s driveway carefully.

“And I don’t think we need to worry about the possibility of abuse, either,” he adds as he drives. Marvelous’s every gesture had been loving and gentle, and Don had accepted them all happily, affectionately, never once flinching from his touch or looking the slightest bit uncomfortable in his presence. “I’m glad of it, Don seems like a very sweet boy.” Joe had seemed reluctant to leave him, like he’s grown attached in a way he usually doesn’t with patients. Or with the other catpeople at the clinic, for that matter - Joe has always been a little detached, and while he’s as fond of George as anyone, Sid can’t picture Joe cuddling with him the same way he’d done with Don just now.

“We’ll see him again soon,” Sid says, reaching over to pat Joe’s knee. “Marvelous is going to take good care of him, and with any luck he’ll be healed up when we give him his check-up.” They stop at a red light, and Sid turns to look at Joe. “If you want, I’ll give you official clinic director permission to give him a call now and then to check in on him. I think he’d be happy to hear from you.”

Comments

[ajoeface]

"I’m glad that you and Don got on so well," Sid says, and Joe can't help but flush a little, the way he hadn't in front of Don. Yes, it was obvious that they got on well, and yes, Sid is genuinely pleased - he has never, ever said anything, or put any pressure on Joe in regards to the subject, but Sid knows catpeople like contact and comfort from their own kind and he also is well aware that Joe hasn't tried to seek it out for himself since coming to the clinic, or before that either. There's nothing to be embarrassed about, but Joe doesn't like his feelings being so obvious. But this is Sid.

Joe leans into his touches readily, but is also aware that they're still on the clock, and so when Sid opens the ambulance door on the driver's side Joe makes his way round to the passenger side without hesitation.

"I don’t think we need to worry about the possibility of abuse," he says, and Joe nods firmly in reply before remembering Sid's eyes are on the road.

"No," he agrees. "I decided that quickly. I knew you'd notice it too. Even when we were alone and we'd built up a level of comfort Don didn't try to drop any hints or change his behaviour." It feels awkward to talk about such a thing, but at least they're talking about the absolute absence of abuse and not the signs of it.

"We’ll see him again soon," Sid says reassuringly, and Joe smiles a little, especially when Sid makes the offer that Joe can call him during office hours from time to time. For Sid that's almost a scandalous thing to do!

"It's okay," Joe says quickly, "I'll do it at home. Or during my breaks." He doesn't even bother denying that he'd like to. Joe grabs hold of Sid's hand while they're temporarily stopped and he has the chance. "He said I was kind," Joe says quietly. "And good at helping."

[handsomesempai]

Sid can’t help smiling at how Joe doesn’t make any attempt to deny that he wants to keep in touch with Don, saying that he’ll call on his breaks or at home rather than during work. Sid would protest that there’s no need for Joe to go quite that far, but he knows how stubborn can be with regard to his own duties and work ethic. “Whenever you want to call is alright with me,” he says, as a way of conceding to Joe while still trying to assure him that he can call Don while he’s on duty. “I’ll be happy to hear about his progress once you’ve talked to him.”

Joe takes Sid’s hand in his own while they’re stopped at the traffic light, and when he speaks again his voice is soft. “He said I was kind,” Joe says, as though it’s a new and remarkable thought. “And good at helping.” He sounds so disbelieving about it, like he still can’t grasp why anyone would compliment him that way. It tugs at Sid’s heart to hear him talking like that. He turns his hand over so that he can give Joe’s a gentle squeeze.

“I think Don is quite a good judge of character,” he says softly. “And for what it’s worth, I agree with him. I know I couldn’t have treated him nearly as well without you there to help. And he wouldn’t have warmed so quickly to anyone who isn’t as kind as you.” He gives Joe’s hand another squeeze before letting go and taking the steering wheel in both hands again as the traffic light turns green. “I don’t think Don could ask for a better friend than you.”

[ajoeface]

"I’ll be happy to hear about his progress once you’ve talked to him," Sid says and Joe goes puce.

"Of course!" He almost splutters. That's really what the purpose of the call should be, after all! He'd almost forgotten. He should really be enquiring as to Don's well-being when he calls so that Sid is free to treat patients in that time without worrying. "I uhm, I promised I'd go back with you for the check-up, too..."

It's not something Sid is going to deny him; Sid would've never even thought of going back to Marvelous's house alone, since Don still barely knows him and so he would much prefer Joe there to keep him at ease, but Joe feels honour-bound to tell Sid that he didn't just agree: he has promised. Sid will know the importance of it then.

Sid squeezes his hand reassuringly. "I think Don is quite a good judge of character,” he says. "I know I couldn’t have treated him nearly as well without you there to help."

"He liked you too," Joe insists, hoping it isn't inappropriate to reveal Don's feelings when he isn't around. He'd made no attempt to hide the fact, though, and it isn't Sid's fault he couldn't read in it Don's scent. Don had smiled though, and humans read plenty into facial expressions. "Nobody else treats catpeople as well as you do, and they can tell. They wouldn't respond the way they do to you for just anyone. Don was scared but you gained his trust. He likes you a lot."

Sid has to let go of his hand to have both of his back on the steering wheel so Joe folds his own hands into his lap awkwardly, missing the contact but unable to do anything about it when it would distract Sid from his driving.

[handsomesempai]

“Oh, of course,” Sid says when Joe comments on having promised to come back for Don’s check up. He’d been planning to take Joe in the first place, and Joe would have known it - it wouldn’t be fair to either of them for Sid to deny them the chance to see each other again, and Don will be much more comfortable with Joe there - so the important thing here is that Joe has made a promise. Joe has always taken promises very seriously for as long as Sid has known him, and Sid has taken great care never to break a promise to him, or to put him in a situation where he’d have to break one of his own. “I’ll make certain to schedule the visit at a time when we can both go together. I know Don will be happy to see you.”

Sid smiles fondly, thinking of how sweet and amiable Don had been once he’d gotten past his initial discomfort. He can’t recall meeting a catboy with a more pleasant temperament in all his time working at the clinic. “He liked you, too,” Joe says to him as they continue driving. “Don was scared but you gained his trust. He likes you a lot." Sid had realized that from Don’s expressions and body language, but it’s reassuring to hear it from Joe as well.

“That’s good, I’m glad,” he says. “I was really worried about scaring him. It went even better than I’d hoped, though.” It’s flattering to hear Joe saying how good he is with catpeople, too; Sid really doesn’t think of himself as being that good at it, but he tries his best to consider his patients’ needs and comfort levels, and it’s always gratifying to hear from an actual catperson that he’s doing well.

The clinic comes into view, and Sid glances over at Joe, sat quietly with his hands in his lap. Sid had felt a bit of hesitance in his hand when he’d let go; maybe Joe is craving more affection. They haven’t had much time to themselves today, after all, and it had obviously been an intense experience for him to meet Don, even though it had been a good one! Perhaps they can afford to take a little time to unwind before they go back into the clinic.

Sid pulls into the clinic’s garage and shuts off the engine, but after he puts the key in his pocket he lays a hand on Joe’s shoulder rather than getting out right away. “Come with me?” he asks softly, and then steps out of the ambulance to lead Joe around to the back, opening the door and climbing inside. He holds out his hand for Joe to take and helps him up into the back of the ambulance. “No one’s going to miss us if we’re out here a few more minutes,” he says as he sits down on the gurney. He opens his arms to beckon Joe close. “Come here.”

[ajoeface]

"I was really worried about scaring him," Sid says, and Joe can't help but shake his head to himself - of course Sid would be concerned about such a thing because he's so mindful of others, but it's just so far from the reality that Joe can't help but fiercely deny it to himself. Yes, Sid being a human is a cause for concern and even fear for catpeople, but it's never Sid himself or the way he treats catpeople that is a cause for them to fear, that's why the unease in his patients always disappears so quickly once they've interacted with him even a little.

"No, you're wonderful," Joe says softly, brushing his tail softly along the side of Sid's thigh, not lingering over it too much because Sid is busy concentrating on taking a left turn.

When the clinic comes into view Joe resigns himself to getting back to work - not that he doesn't want to, it's just that he'd like to be able to ask Sid some things right now, while his mind is still reeling. It's often the case that he has to wait for he and Sid to get private time though, and it won't surprise anyone in the clinic if he's a little quiet this afternoon while working.

Joe unfastens his belt and moves to get out of the ambulance once they've parked, but Sid stills him with a hand on his shoulder. "Come with me?" He asks, and Joe follows him into the back of the ambulance. "No one’s going to miss us if we’re out here a few more minutes," Sid explains, holding out his arms to Joe. Joe folds himself into them willingly, wrapping his arms around Sid's chest and burying his face into the crook of Sid's neck. He feels arms encircle him warmly and takes a moment to enjoy the hug, composing himself to speak. "I don’t think Don could ask for a better friend than you," Sid had said. Joe hadn't even known they could be considered friends so soon after having met!

"You think Don wants to be friends with me?" He ventures, and it's really more of a statement than a question - he already knows Sid thinks that from the way he's been speaking. "If I wanted to... How do I... How do you make friends with someone?"

[handsomesempai]

Joe sits down and curls himself into Sid’s embrace readily, putting his arms about Sid’s chest and hiding his face in Sid’s shoulder. Sid wraps his arms around Joe’s back and holds him firmly but gently, and after a moment he reaches one hand up to stroke the back of his neck. He turns his head slightly to press a kiss to Joe’s hair, and then decides to stay that way, breathing in Joe’s scent, and it’s not until Joe speaks again that he moves.

"You think Don wants to be friends with me?" Joe asks. He sounds almost disbelieving about it, even though he’d been cuddled up with Don not twenty minutes ago, had seen how much Don had wanted him to stay. "If I wanted to... How do I... How do you make friends with someone?"

The question takes Sid off guard, and it makes him ache a little to hear Joe ask it, as though he’s convinced he’s never made a friend before in his life. Sid holds him a little tighter and kisses the side of his head again before he answers.

“Well,” he says, “I’m obviously not an expert on interpersonal relationships where both parties are catpeople, so take my advice with a grain of salt, but I think you’re off to a good start already.” He strokes his thumb idly over the back of Joe’s neck. “You like him, he likes you, you’re very comfortable with each other. And he trusts you, which is one of the most important parts of a friendship. So you have a good foundation right there.”

Sid rubs his hand up and down Joe’s back as he continues. “So if you’d like to get to be friends with him, just spend some time with him, get to know him. Talk to him about the things he likes, the things you like, and find some things you have in common. Do some things together once he’s back on his feet, or sit and talk with him while he’s still recovering.”

Sid lays his cheek atop Joe’s head, pinning one of his sleek, furry ears beneath it. “I know it can seem hard, and intimidating, to try to befriend someone,” he says softly. “But it’s very much worth it. And I know you’re going to do just fine.”

[ajoeface]

Sid squeezes him and kisses his hair so gently that Joe's ears start to flutter. He already knows that Sid has complete faith in his ability to become friends with Don just from those tender touches before he even says anything.

“I’m obviously not an expert on interpersonal relationships where both parties are catpeople," he says, "but I think you’re off to a good start already.”

The way Sid talks he makes it sound easy, almost too easy! You like him, he likes you - Joe knows that much is true because he could sense it. It was plain enough in him for Sid to be able to read, that's no surprise, but Sid seems to have picked that up from Don too. His hand on the back of Joe's neck is soothing, just his thumb running up and down over his skin and the stray hair that grows there. His advice is sound, and reassuring - it doesn't sound like something Joe can't accomplish! Spend time with Don, talk to him, learn his interests.

“I know it can seem hard, and intimidating, to try to befriend someone,” Sid says, tucking Joe's ear beneath his cheek. Joe thinks his words sound like personal experience. Who could Sid possibly have found it difficult to befriend? There's been nobody who has ever been reluctant with him, except... Except Joe himself. Joe has been going on, forgetting about Sid this whole time and Sid - so understanding and kind - hasn't said a word about it!

"You," Joe begins carefully, untucking his head so that he can at least look in Sid's direction, even if he feels a little embarrassed now. "You have always been more than a friend to me. You have been a mentor, and a confidante, and a..." Joe's tail twitches nervously, and he channels the energy into brushing it over Sid's side to convey the closeness he still wants to feel. He can say it, even if he never thought he would. "And a lover. Sort of. Eventually. To me you are now, though. A friend, too, but always a lot of other things too. So I didn't think of it like that. I didn't offend you, did I?"

[handsomesempai]

Sid had, of course, been speaking from experience, remembering how difficult (but how much more worthwhile!) it had been to earn Joe’s trust and become his friend. He hadn’t actually thought that Joe would pick up on that or take it to heart, though, so it’s a bit of a surprise when Joe leans back to look him in the eye and speaks.

"You have always been more than a friend to me," Joe says, his eyes serious and sincere. Sid's heart swells with affection for him as he speaks. He understands Joe's feelings quite well without having to hear them spoken aloud, but it's deeply moving to hear Joe speak so openly about them when normally he's so quiet about them. "You have been a mentor, and a confidante, and a..." Joe hesitates a moment before brushing his soft, smooth tail over the side of Sid's waist, sending a shiver up the length of Sid's back. "And a lover," Joe says, before adding, "Sort of. Eventually. To me you are now, though." Sid just smiles at him; he considers Joe a lover now as well, even if they haven't been as intimate as most people who'd identify with that term.

"A friend, too," Joe continues, "but always a lot of other things too. So I didn't think of it like that." Sid thinks he sees a look of worry and regret pass over Joe's face. "I didn't offend you, did I?"

"Oh, Joe," says Sid, reaching up to stroke the side of Joe's face. "Of course not, you never could." He brushes his thumb over the soft skin of Joe's cheek, wanting to soothe him; he'd never meant to give Joe cause to worry about that. "It wasn't easy for me to earn your trust," he says gently, "but I have never thought of that as a fault in you. And it's made me value your trust all the more. " He smiles and strokes Joe's back with his other hand. "You're more than a friend to me, too. You're my partner, my lover. There's no one in the world I care for more than you." Just to make sure Joe gets his point, Sid leans forward to punctuate his words with a gentle kiss to Joe's soft lips.

[ajoeface]

Joe lets out a breath he hadn't realised he was keeping in when Sid assures him that he wasn't offended. He hadn't meant that he didn't consider Sid a friend! He does - and more! - but the circumstances of their meeting had been so different to Joe meeting Don. And Joe quite obviously had not been proactive in forming a relationship with Sid. He knows how lucky he is that Sid never gave up on him, especially considering Sid isn't one to push or be aggressive about things. He was gentle, and calm, and determined for Joe to know help was available should he ever decide he needed it.

'If you need anything, you can call me': Joe thinks he might be able to say that to Don over the phone. Not only taking Sid's advice, but modeling his actions after him a little, it's bound to be the right thing to do.

"It wasn't easy for me to earn your trust," Sid admits, "but I have never thought of that as a fault in you. And it's made me value your trust all the more. " He makes it seem as though Joe's trust is special, precious. Joe sometimes wonders, if he'd been more trusting, would he and Sid have become friends sooner? But he'd felt that way for a reason; no-one else is like Sid. He'd had no reason to believe things would turn out as wonderfully as they have.

"You're my partner, my lover. There's no one in the world I care for more than you," Sid says, and then presses his mouth to Joe's softly, as though he hadn't already taken Joe's breath away with his words. Joe reaches up, running strands of Sid's hair through his fingers as he kisses Sid back. He wouldn't mind staying like this for longer, but they're both still on the clock and if he's starting to feel uneasy about taking advantage then soon Sid will be suggesting that he himself work an extra hour or five this evening to make up for his time away from the clinic.