the-perfect-scientist:
Carlos nodded in agreement. “Yeah… it doesn’t seem real for me, either. It’s been… roughly twelve hours already. But you’re still here… that’s all that matters.” Carlos took his hand and lifted it to his mouth, giving him gentle, loving kisses.
Cecil vibrated softly at the affection, yet at the same time he was trying to wrap his mind around the first part of what Carlos had just told him.
Twelve hours already. Twelve hours, he had been afflicted with this strange, horrific curse. Yet what was twelve hours compared to a lifetime, an eternity? Cecil shuddered. It wouldn’t come to that. Rather, he hoped it wouldn’t come to that. Optimistically, this would be cured. Again, he had to remind himself of his husband’s brilliance, of the effectiveness of science. Just because Night Vale had never had to face vampirism before did not mean that it could not overcome it, that, more to the point, he and Carlos could not overcome it.
And he was still here, yes. And so was Carlos. And they were together. And this was surely enough.
Cecil gazed up at Carlos, still gently vibrating. “Yeah, I’m still here. I promise.”
Carlos smiled at him. He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Cecil’s mouth, still gripping his hand.
“We need to get up and ready for the day,” Carlos said softlly. “We should call the mayor… see if anything’s developed while we were sleeping.”
Cecil met the kiss softly, humming appreciatively in his throat. He was ever grateful for Carlos’s love and reassurance, and how much warmer the scientist’s touch felt when his own skin was so cold! He felt as if this was itself sufficient to bring him back from
the deadunlife.“Right… Right, good idea,” he murmured in reply. “It’s gonna be a big day, huh? There’s another disaster for the great Carlos the scientist to save the town from.” He chucked thinly, faith and apprehension mingled in equal measure in the quiet sound.
Carlos laughed softly, a little bashful. “I don’t really save anyone from anything… I just give them information.” He kissed Cecil again on the cheek. “I need to go shower and shave,” he murmured with a sigh.
“Oh, you do more than that,” Cecil told him, his voice brimming with all the pride he felt in Carlos. Why, during their very first date, Carlos had saved Night Vale from a malevolent shadow energy that turned people into vaguely torso-and-limb shaped black spaces in the fabric of reality. It was a memory that Cecil cherished.
“OK, sweetheart,” he said sweetly, his voice still a bit quiet. “While you do that, I’ll go ahead and check on the situation at large.”
Carlos smiled at him gently. He then yawned suddenly, reaching up to cover his mouth. “Ugh… sorry. Time to get up and get busy…” He turned to stand up from the bed and started to stretch his arms high above his head. His back gave an uncomfortable crack and Carlos groaned.
“Are you OK?” Cecil asked sympathetically as he gradually pulled himself up off the bed. His concern for his husband was written in his features (somewhat ironic considering his own troubles), and as soon as he was on his feet, the newly vampiric radio host was by Carlos’s side again, fretful as ever.
Carlos hummed. “I dunno… must’ve slept wrong,” he murmured. He took a deep breath and felt some more bones crack. “Ugh… that’ll stick with me for a while.” Carlos held his hand out for Cecil’s. “C’mon… we got work to do.”
The Perfect Scientist 