Chapter Text
Well who knew that THE Kalim Al-Aasim who didn't seem to bat an eye at basically anything happening around him and had an explicit experience in going trough assasination attempts of varying cruelty, would be bawling his eyes out from having an ear infection. Jet, there he was, clutching a pillow, unable to stop shaking, his nails painfully digging into Jamil's arm as the latter one explained the whole situation to the Asim family doctor. It's been a week since Kalim got a nasty case of otitis media and any of the conservative measures didn't seem to work. Everyone knew where this was going to.
"Well, it seems we just have to perform an eardrum puncture. But this kind of procedure would require young master's consent." - The physician glanced at Kalim, who seemed to be wiping his tears with Jamil's sleeve, fruitlessly trying to calm down.
"I-i.. I..." - The boy tried to answer, but... apparently the concept of having a needle pushed into his ear was too much. - "Is there... really no... other way?"
"There isn't, young master." - The physician sighed. He already waited for that kind of reaction. - "We have to do that to avoid any complications." - Jamil almost physically felt his eyes lingering on him. Of course. Of course he had to persuade the stubborn kid, that's now clinging to him like a five year old, to agree on not going deaf.
"Kalim." - Jamil crossed his arms with a tiny sigh. - "You literally couldn't sleep last night because the pain wouldn't go away. It shouldn't be that bad."
Kalim only proceeded on looking down. It seemed like it's gonna take weeks for him to build up courage. And Jamil couldn't imagine what would happen to him if Kalim gets any kind of severe damage that could've been prevented.
For a second he hesitated, but getting over it quick was worth it. No one's gonna notice... He just needs one quick eye contact...
"Kalim, remember what the doctor said?" - He coaxed his master into looking at him as if talking to some avoidant child. All of this was stupid, but he got the necessary glance. Now things must be easier. - "You'll go deaf. Or get sepsis. It's just one agreement and a tiny procedure."
"O-okay... I agree..." - Kalim nodded. Being mind-controlled also finally stopped him from borderline crying, but not for long. Jamil tried to make everything seem as natural as possible, but... No one knows when somebody will notice young master behaving slightly off, so Jamil let go of him the moment Kalim was put on a couch and anesthecisized. The same moment he felt the master's hand rushing to grab his. Kalim seemed to be slightly disoriented after just regaining control over himself, but... no one noticed. "Must be success" - Jamil thought, feeling the boy's hand gripping his once again. Apparently, as Kalim realised he got no way to retreat now, he just froze, squeezing his eyes shut as the physician worked on him. There were even tiny teardrops forming at the edges of his eyes, as he let out an occasional whimper - must've felt the physician's devices inside his ear. The breaking point came when the puncture itself finally happened. Kalim twitched slightly and gripped the couch with the hand that wasn't busy cutting off Jamil's circulation, seemingly scared to even breathe, until the needle was gotten out.
"Is it over?" - He asked, opening one teary eye, as if he was at risk of seeing himself bleeding profusely or something (though... he already saw himself that way a bunch of times...).
"It is, young master..." - The physician answered, drying the oozing pus with cotton.
The very moment everything was over, Kalim was back to clinging to Jamil, who was now listening and mentally noting down the physician's instructions.
"Just don't cry again. You know the snot will only make it worse." - The servant signed in slight relief, as he head Kalim mumbling something about how the process still hurt.