Chapter Text
Physical therapy is something Grillby can tell Aster is both excited for and anxious about. He's excited to get moving again, but he also knows his partner is a bit worried about how much it'll hurt. And Aster already can move around a bit, despite how ineffective it is sometimes. Unfortunately, he can't just crawl everywhere he needs to go.
Dr Lois brings the physical therapist to them the first session, a short but sturdy looking woman with sharp eyes. She introduces herself as Amy, then immediately starts talking to Aster about his medical history.
When Grillby tries to answer for his partner, she gives him a look.
"I know about his memory problems, Samantha warned me, but I want him to talk for himself. If I need more information, I'll ask you."
So he settles down in his arm chair and watches as Amy talks to Aster, then has him show her the range of motion in his legs. He's pretty flexible, all things considered, though being a menace by climbing on Grillby at every chance he gets has probably helped with that aspect.
"Looking good. You're going slower with this one knee joint, does it get locked up often?"
Aster shrugs.
"Kinda. It gets sore if I sit on it for too long."
"Alright." She scratches something down on the notepad sitting nearby, "Lets get you on your feet then."
He nearly falls the second he's on his feet, swaying dangerously. Once Amy stabilizes him, holding him up by his shoulders, he trembles anxiously, tail curling between his legs.
"You're doing great honey." Grillby encourages when Aster looks back at him, claws curling up against his sternum, "Just listen to Amy. She won't let you get hurt."
"Alright. I'm not going to let you go like I originally planned, since I don't want you to fall. Instead, I'm going to keep holding you up, and I want you to try and take a few steps."
Aster chirrs and manages an awkward, shuffling few steps. He doesn't really pick up his feet, instead just scooting across the ground.
"Can you try again, but this time you lift your feet?" Amy suggests.
He refuses, balking at the suggestion.
"Good try anyways. So what I'm seeing is your balance is non-existent, and because you've been stationary for so long, your joints are not used to your weight and are irritated."
"He has head trauma, he can't balance on his own." Grillby says quietly.
"Noted." She scribbles that down, "Lets get down on the floor and I'm going to show you a few stretches to do, okay? If I push you too hard and things start to hurt, I need you to tell me. The goal is to stretch, not to hurt."
Aster nods, wobbling as she helps him to the floor. Grillby gets up and goes around the edge of the bed to watch him do stretches.
It seems to be going well, though he does squeak or wince a few times as she nudges him into a slightly different position.
"Anything hurt?" She checks.
"No."
"Good. Take a break and breathe for a few."
Aster flops onto his spine, sprawling out in a tangle of limbs.
"Are you okay honey?" Grillby crouches, peering at his partner.
"I'm okay. Not hurting."
"Well that's good." He flickers fondly. Aster beams up at him, then sits back up when prompted and gets back to his session.
Things seem to be going pretty well, until Amy presses down lightly on one of his femurs to deepen a stretch.
Aster yelps, jerking away from her.
"Too far?"
He nods, rubbing the joint of his femur and pelvis.
"Alrighty. That's a good stopping point for stretches anyways." Amy stands and helps him up onto the hospital bed, "I think that to make the most progress we'll have to do a few sessions a week." But we'll do rest days between sessions, so I think we should start with two a week and go from there."
Aster chirrs, clicking his teeth.
"We'll do probably the first few sessions here, and then move to the facility. I want to try some hydrotherapy to see if that helps with your joints. As for stretches, it would be good if you did stretches on your own some days, but be gentle with it."
His partner nods, tapping his foot slowly.
"I'm done for you today. Lets schedule our next appointment for Thursday."
XxXxXx
He wakes up from His nap with His hip throbbing. Pain spikes down His leg in short, sharp bursts.
"As? Are you okay?" Their voice is soft
He swipes blindly for His phone, grunting as His leg spikes.
"Hurts. Leg hurts bad." He fumbles out, wincing.
"Do you want heat or cold?"
"Cold."
"I'll go get you an ice pack."
He hums, flinching when the cold pack touches the sensitive joint.
A warm hand pets the top of His skull.
"Think you went a little too hard with the stretches, sweetheart. Do you want to take a bath?"
"No." He lays His skull down, "Come cuddle?"
"Yes." His flame slides into the bed with Him, wrapping gentle arms around His ribs and pulling Him close. Gentle fingers pet His sternum slowly, making tiny circles on the bone.
He settles into the rhythm of their breathing, listening to and feeling the gentle puff of air against His cheekbone. He curls His tail around their thigh, holding them back.
The ice pack slowly melts, cold water dripping down His femurs and soaking into the bedding. He feels them flinch against His spine, then settles.
"Will you tell me a story?"
"Sure. I'll tell you a happy one, this time."
He dozes off to their voice in His ear, the warmth of their body pressed against his. It feels familiar, it feels good.
XxXxXx
Grillby watches Aster drift off, a small smile tugging at his teeth and his tail wound tight around his leg. Its sweet.
"I love you." He mumbles as soon as his husband is asleep, "I love you, so much. I'm sorry you've been through so much, my sweet songbird."
Aster's bone is cool to the touch when he presses his lips to his partner's cheekbone, humming softly. It feels kind of taboo to kiss his partner like this, when Aster is sleeping and unaware of their relationship.
But it makes his soul pound in his chest and something unfurl that was previously tangled up. There's some shame, but it's overshadowed by the warmth.
"I love you." He whispers reverently, resuming petting his sternum, "It's going to be okay, my dear. I promise. You'll be moving home with us and everything will be okay."
Aster stirs lightly when he snuggles closer, but dozes back off.
"I love you the way you are. Even if you never remember, even if you are sick for the rest of your life, I love you. You're my best friend." He promises, feeling kind of silly for talking to a sleeping man, "I just want you to be happy."
He wants Aster to be happy and feel safe. Even if their relationship is never again what it once was, he's still happy.