FrieAme AU where Friede's a paediatrician and Amethio's a terminally ill inpatient. Friede's in charge of Amethio's care and keeps telling himself not to get attached but oops Friede gets attached. So does Amethio.

Contains main character death, obviously!

Thanks to my good friend for always contributing great ideas! <3

Gibe finally trying to bond with Ame but both of them are extremely awkward and Ame always assumes Gibe means things in a negative way and Gibe always assumes Ame wouldn't be interested in talking to him anyway...

Gibe does want to get to know Ame better, but he doesn't know how to
[Me] Gibe decides to just let Ame do things at his pace. Ame assumes Gibe's not pushing for things because he's disappointed in Ame
[Me] Ame tells Frie that things have been slow to progress and he doesn't know how to talk to his father about normal, boring things to begin with (and reckons Gibe probably don't know how to do that either)
[Me] Frie suggests they each come up with a list of questions of things they want to know about the other and write those questions down. That way, they can exchange them and answer them in their own time, and privately, too
"[Me] Ame agrees to that idea. He's still too scared to contact Gibe directly, so he just puts together his list of questions anyway.

It takes him ages to come up with things. He doesn't know what to ask Gibe. He honestly doesn't care that much about his father's interests or his likes and dislikes..."
[Me] But eventually, Ame manages to think up 8 questions. That seems like enough to him
"[Me] When Gibe visits next, Frie asks him if he'd be willing to do the question thing and Gibe, to Ame's surprise, agrees.

Ame doesn't give Gibe his list of questions until the end of their time together. Which is mostly spent in silence, as usual"
[Me] Gibe decides he'll answer the questions at home, later that night, when he no longer has work to worry about. He's going right back to his office after visiting Ame.
[Me] Ame's rather anxious about Gibe reading his questions and what Gibe's answers will be. He knows he's asked some things he absolutely shouldn't be inquiring about, but... it's now or never. He wants to know the answers before he dies.
[Me] I am struggling to come up with all the questions but like. He'd ask Gibe what made him have the affair, how old Gibe was when he realised he liked men, what Gibe's job actually is (Ame only knows he's a businessman, beyond that he's clueless), why he hates Ame so much, if he ever loved Mother at all, etc
"[Me] 1. Why did you have the affair with Lucius?
Gibe leaves this answer blank.

1. How old were you when you realised you liked other men?

Fifteen.

1. What's your job? I've never been told.

Gibe's rather surprised by this question.

I am the chairman of an international company that deals in business relations and finance."
"[Me] 4. Why do you hate me so much?
Gibe leaves this answer blank.

1. Did you ever love Mother? At all?

No. But I do not believe she ever held any affection for me, either."
"[Me] 6. Will you be sad when I die? Or will you just be relieved you don't have to put up with me anymore?
Gibe hesitates to answer this question. If Ame had asked a few weeks ago, he would've said that he'll undoubtedly be relieved, but now...

I cannot predict my emotions."
"[Me] 7. Did you end up reading that book? The one you found on my bedside. If so, what did you think of it?
While the writing was rather intriguing, I was unable to make it past the initial sex scene in the second book. I am aware it is a work of fiction, but it was a woefully inaccurate portrayal. Regrettable, really."
"[Me] 8. Why did you react so badly when I splashed that water on you?
Gibe leaves this answer blank, but... maybe he should finally tell Ame. And perhaps Spi, too..."
[Me] Also I have no idea what the fuck Gibe would ask Ame... Maybe he only comes up with 5 questions lol
[Me] Thinking about this again and the best I can come up with is Gibe going "Hm well I know nothing about him and I should start with the basics"
[Me] And the first question is "When is your birthday?" and it makes Ame so mad that his dad doesn't know when his birthday is that he's tempted to rip the sheet of paper up but instead he crumples it into a ball and throws it across the room while yelling in frustration
"[Me] Ame properly looking at the questions and trying to answer them once he's calmed down later... Gibe's trying. Ame knows this. But like, his dad doesn't know his birthday.

1. When is your birthday?

Feb 14

Ame can't remember how to spell ""February"" so he just uses the short version."
"[Me] 2. Is there anything you want to do before you die?
Ame leaves this question blank. Even if there is, it's all things involving Frie that Gibe can never know about."
"[Me] 3. What is your favourite book? If you cannot choose, then your favourite author is sufficient.
Ame hesitates, since the book series he likes the most would be what Gibe would consider ""homosexual erotica"", but... he doesn't really care anymore. So he gives the name."
"[Me] He also adds ""I cannot tell you if the sex scenes are inacurite or not.""

Ame feels like he spelt ""inaccurate"" wrong, but he's tired and his head hurts and he can't be bothered looking up the spelling. If Gibe's disappointed in him, whatever."
"[Me] 4. Is there anything you miss from home?
Privacy. The lack of tubes. A comfortable bed."
"[Me] 5. Do you still miss your mother?
Ame immediately gets angry again. What kind of question is this? Of course he still misses his mother!

Ame initially writes ""Take a wild guess"", but decides that's too rude, so he scribbles it out and answers with ""Why do you think I'm still mad about the affair?"""
[Me] Gibe only asked 5 questions. Ame wonders if he just couldn't be bothered coming up with any others, or if Gibe didn't know what to ask...
[Redacted] Oh no, Ame is forgetting how to spell things and he is still worried about being judged by his dad...
[Me] Part of him's stopped caring, the other part... is scared that if he forgets how to spell things, Gibe will no longer want to bother with getting closer to him since he'll think Ame's too stupid to talk to...
[Me] Gibe's always thought Ame was stupid, after all, so if he's proven right, then why would he waste his time trying to bond with Ame?
[Me] Maybe underneath question 5's answer, Ame leaves a note saying "PS Sorry about the spelling"
[Redacted] Even now, he is still trying to reassure others so they aren't mad at him huh
"[Me] Gibe looking over Ame's answers after their session the following week and immediately noticing the spelling mistakes... He's concerned, since Ame's not that bad of a speller... and then he sees Ame's note at the end

Why would Ame be apologising? Gibe's been told that cognitive decline is part of what will happen, so it's not like would be mad..."
[Me] Besides, it's simply a casual Q&A exchange, not an essay or a report. Spelling shouldn't be an issue.
[Redacted] My man, you made him feel like shit about everything ever, of course he is apologizing-
[Me] Gibe asking Ame why he's apologising for things that aren't his fault and Ame getting really angry and yelling at him like "YOU'RE THE ONE WHO ALWAYS PUNISHES ME FOR BEING WRONG! EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT MY FAULT!"
"[Me] Ame: YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE THIS! MINOR SPELLING MISTAKES? OF COURSE THEY'RE SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT! YOU'D CALL ME A WORTHLESS IDIOT IF I SO MUCH AS ASKED YOU WHAT A WORD MEANT!
Gibe: ...Watch your voice--
Ame: YOU MADE ME FEEL PATHETIC FOR NOT KNOWING THINGS! LIKE YOU THOUGHT I SHOULD MAGICALLY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING AUTOMATICALLY!"
"[Me] Ame: YOU JUST... YOU ALWAYS...

Ame's crying and shaking with anger. He knows he shouldn't be blowing up at Gibe like this, but he's had enough. If Gibe won't understand, then Ame will tell him--"
[Redacted] The way Gibe doesn't even realize that he made Ame feel like shit by belittling his skills and knowledge all this time huh!
"[Me] Gibe: My intent was merely to inform you that you were incorrect. How would you have known you were wrong if you were not told?
Ame: T-Then why... Why were you so horrible about it?
Gibe: ....
Ame: Why did you... act like I should know better? Even with things I hadn't learnt in school yet?
Gibe: ...Is that how you saw it?"
"[Me] Ame sobs loudly. He can't do this.

Gibe doesn't care about him. He never has. Even if he's pretending to now, Ame knows he can never truly get close to his father"
"[Me] Ame: You could have just... been nice about it...
Gibe: ..."
[Me] Ame: If you just wanted me to know I was wrong, why did you always tell me I was stupid and pathetic and useless and hopeless and worthless and an idiot and a moron and... and...
[Redacted] He really could have been nice about it (just like how Frie is nice to Ame)
"[Me] Gibe: ...My intent was to encourage you to improve
Ame: HOW IS CALLING ME A DISGRACE ANY KIND OF ENCOURAGEMENT?!
Gibe: Is it... not?
Ame: NO! NONE OF IT IS! Why... Why would you think that?!
Gibe: ..."
[Me] Ame, not wanting to talk to Gibe anymore, hides under his blanket. He knows he's being pathetic, but he doesn't care. He's too angry.
[Redacted] He is worried Gibe will call him childish for this but-
"[Me] Gibe: But I... was told to do that...
Gibe: I... I thought that was how... how you...
Gibe: ...

Gibe falls silent. Ame feels somewhat uneasy, so he peeks out from under the sheets. Gibe looks... confused"
"[Me] Ame forces himself to speak calmly.

Ame: Who told you that?
Gibe: ...
Gibe: I...
Ame: Did you really get told that that was the right thing to do? Or did you make it up yourself?"
[Redacted] Told to do that?
"[Me] Gibe: ...I was told that... that was how you... how you react when your child doesn't know something...
Ame: BY WHO?!
Gibe: ...............
Ame: Who? Was it Lucius?
Gibe: No. Leave his name out of your mouth.
Ame: Okay, then who-"
[Me] Gibe: [Sighs deeply] My... My father would always... do it that way. And he'd tell me that, when I had my own children, I would do the same. Point out that what they said was wrong. Encourage them to do better next time by belittling them.
"[Me] Gibe: Since they won't want you to insult them again, they won't behave like that in the future...
Gibe: I never once questioned it. The method worked with me, after all... So..."
"[Me] Gibe: ...I... I had no other frame of reference... I assumed my father was correct, as he always was... Why would I think otherwise?
Gibe: ...No. I was not allowed to think otherwise. I was not allowed to even entertain the idea of questioning my father...

Ame shuts up completely. He doesn't know what to say"
"[Me] Gibe: But I suppose... Now that I think about it... All I was doing was... insulting you... and your brother...
Gibe: I...
Gibe: I never wanted to be like my father, and yet... All I did was follow his teachings... So what did I expect? Why did I think things would turn out differently?"
"[Me] Gibe: What... What have I...
Ame: ..."
[Me] Gibe looks somewhat... sad. Ame has a weird urge to give Gibe a hug or something, but he immediately pushes that thought out of his mind, since Gibe would probably slap Ame if he tried hugging him
[Redacted] Ame is too nice!
[Me] Gibe thinking about the parenting advice his father gave him for more than two seconds and realising it makes no fucking sense and that Gibe himself was always miserable around his father so why the fuck would he treat his own children that way
[Redacted] He only had to think about it for two seconds huh
"[Me] Gibe just. Gets up and goes to leave, only to stop when Ame calls out to him

Ame: Um... I'm sorry... I-I know I shouldn't get angry like that, but... I just...
Gibe: No. You should. Defying your father... means you think independently and are able to stand up for yourself.
Gibe: Unlike my cowardly self, you...
Gibe: ...You are brave."
[Me] As Gibe shuts the door behind him, Ame starts crying again, but this time, it's not out of anger...
[Redacted] Ame is too cute, way too cute and nice
[Me] Gibe, probably: Please stop being nice to me I don't deserve it--
[Redacted] It shows that Ame is much better than him. Still able to extend kindness to him even now.
[Me] Yes... Gibe's aware lol
[Me] I feel like Gibe's father was so abusive that Gibe would never have even attempted to defy him, especially after his father threw boiling water on him lmao (by "lmao" I mean "there's nothing funny about that situation)
[Redacted] Gibe realizing that Ame and him are much more similar than he thinks-
"[Me] And Gibe also realising that Ame is a version of him who never had his core beliefs or his humanity beaten out of him...

Gibe wonders how Ame has been able to stay true to himself this whole time despite how terribly he's been treated... Gibe shut his true self away long, long ago..."
[Redacted] Ame is strong in many senses of the word! He managed to keep his humanity.
"[Me] Yep : )

It makes Gibe feel extra pathetic : ) (As he should)"