There should be a fic about sick, sneezing Ratty Charles (and Erik looking after him).
so here is my best shot at a fic.
“Charles,” Erik called, softly. There was no sense in raising his voice. Rats - and especially when Charles was one himself, all twitching whiskers and translucent ears - didn’t just hear - they felt the world, and Erik knew Charles knew his step better than any other. It had always been like that between the two of them.
The problem with Charles turning into his white-rat form, however, was that then he became so *difficult* to find. Sure, he tried to stay in just the one place so he was neither underfoot nor easy to lose - but try finding one rat in a library full of shadows on an overcast day. White fur or not, it was usually a near-impossible task, and Erik had long since learned to simply wait - he had patience enough - wait for the rat to come to him.
He was just settling in his usual chair near the fireplace, already turning to the page where he’d left off in The Three Musketeers, when he heard the tiny, unmistakable sound - of a sneeze.
Come on out, you sound like you’re about to die, Erik thought in the quietest mental voice he possessed. Stay out in the rain too long?
Go’way, was the reply. No use for you today. Miserable.
At least come and get comfortable. It’s not like I can catch your cold.
You’ll regret saying that if I change back, Charles said.
Do you really think I care. And Erik looked down, ticklish sensation of something running - slowly - up his trouser leg, and he scooped up the white rat that was climbing sluggishly up to his armrest. If he were looking at Charles in his human form, Erik would deny that he felt *fond* of the other man - but this was the rat, and he was allowed to cluck his tongue and be concerned.
Never liked being sick, Charles complained - and then cut himself off as a sneeze lashed his entire tiny frame, from nose to tail.
“Then sleep and think about being well,” Erik whispered - and without waiting for an answer he dropped Charles into his breast pocket. Squirming sounds and motions for a moment and then he could, if he strained his ears, hear the little rat snoring very quietly.
Erik looked back down at his book and was quietly glad no one could see the contented smile on his face.
Awwwwwww..! <3
