Exhaustion

"Hey, Dad." Varian said tiredly.

"Hello, son. I see you've got some blankets. Going to take a nap" Quirin greeted his boy.

"Y-yeah. Rapunzel kinda forced me to." Varian replied, sneezing into his elbow.

"Bless you. Have you been sneezing all day?" Quirin asked.

"It's the chemicals in the lab." Varian insisted.

Quirin placed a hand on Varian's forehead. "You feel warm. You're running a fever." Quirin accused. "And don't try and pin that on the lab!"

"It's the temperature in the… hallway?" Varian tried.

"Good effort, but no. You're going to bed." Quirin stated firmly.

Varian sighed. Quirin had only been free from the amber for a few months, but he'd wasted no time getting back into the role of Dad. It was… kind of nice, actually. Or at least it would have been if Varian didn't have so many projects that demanded his attention. He didn't have time to take a nap, even if he had told Rapunzel he would, and she had gone to all the trouble of making blankets for him and Ruddiger, blankets that looked awfully soft and comfy...

"Varian, you're still standing here. Go to bed." Quirin repeated.

"...Huh?" Varian snapped out of his thoughts. Ruddiger rubbed up against him and swished his tail towards the bedroom.

"Go on, son. Whatever projects you have in mind, they can wait a day or two." Quirin gently urged.

Varian sneezed again. "Oh, all right." he mumbled. He'd never been good at arguing with Dad, Quirin was always so calm and insistent, and stern when he needed to be. Quirin was only suggesting that Varian rest now, if he resisted Quirin would undoubtedly force him to rest and at his age, that was embarrassing for both of them.

Varian walked slowly to his bedroom, Ruddiger plodding along beside him. His bedroom didn't have all the supplies his lab did so he couldn't work on any inventions, but it did have copies of his notes on the Demanitus Scroll and the beginnings of a translation key he'd been working on. Varian could just get out his quill and add a few lines to it, then… Ruddiger nipped at Varian's ankles, clearly against the idea.

"Why are you on everyone's side but mine?" Varian complained. But Ruddiger only made chittering noises in reply. Rapunzel and Quirin, both trusted adults, wanted his human to rest and Ruddiger would see that he did.

Varian undid his work apron, letting it fall to the floor. Normally he was tidier than that, but today he was ill and very tired. Quirin would probably pick it up later, when he came to check on his son. Varian set the new blankets on the bed and lay down with a sigh. He still had his gloves on, but he remembered to kick off his boots before flopping onto the bed. Ruddiger curled up next to him and made little chirruping noises.

"I know, I know. I'm supposed to rest." Varian groused. "But don't you see how much work I have to do? I'm the only one who can translate that scroll, I know it. And- and in the lab I've made some progress studying the amber solution and how it reacts to the black rocks. It's hard, because it reminds me of Dad getting trapped, but I have to know more about it! Right now it's the only reliable weapon we have against the black rocks and Ca- Cassan-" Varian broke off with another sneeze.

He didn't like thinking how Cassandra had turned against Rapunzel and the others. He hadn't actually seen her yet, but he'd heard how Cassandra had blue hair now and was trying to master the Moonstone's considerable powers. Varian knew better than anyone else how it felt to feel angry and hurt and want to lash out at others. Part of him thought they wouldn't even need the amber, if he could just talk to Cassandra, she'd realize how wrong her actions were and give up the Moonstone. Varian could do so much if he could just talk to her, if he could just go back to the lab, if he could just finish the scroll, if he could just do something, prove they could trust him and…

Ruddiger nestled under the crook of Varian's arm, his soft fur brushing against him. Varian relaxed slightly at the sensation. It had been 2, going on 3 days since he last slept, and Ruddiger's presence in the bed was very soothing. Maybe his work could wait, just a little bit, while Varian napped…

Quirin came in, half an hour later, carrying some honey tea. He set the tray down, picked up and folded the apron, carefully setting it aside. He removed Varian's gloves too, and pulled the blanket up until it was just under Varian's chin. Ruddiger moved and resettled himself on top of the blanket.

"Just rest, Varian. It's the best thing you can do for now." Quirin told him, smiling gently.

The End

I think it must have been such a tremendous relief for Varian to have Quirin back, to eat meals with his Dad again, to work in the fields together, to have his Dad to talk to and to care for him when he's sick. Poor boy went through one hell of a year, and he absolutely deserves and treasures every moment he got to have with Quirin afterwards.