Sickfic - Blog Posts
Character B hacks another cough into their hands, probably their hundereth of the day.
Except this time, as they glance down, they see specks of blood amongst the phlegm.
Well that’s new.
A feverish Character B leaning into Character A’s cool touch
What I really love is....Whumpee being sick or injured enough that they were delirious with a high fever and semi-conscious for like 15 (or more) hours, but when they finally woke up they tried to say something completely unrelated.
Like “your apartment is beautiful” or “your bed feels comfortable” when they woke up in Caretaker’s apartment.
Or “you look really tired” or “have you ever slept?” to the Caretaker, as if they were not the reason that kept Caretaker up.
Just...something unrelated to their own condition, as if they were not sick/hurt/miserable at all
“Character B, you’re sick! Please just lay down and rest.”
“I’ll rest when I’m dead!”
“And that’s gonna be far sooner than you think if you don’t just lay down!”
Chapter 3 of my TBB short story series. Wanted to post it here as well as on wattpad. This Chapter was a bit rushed but I still enjoyed writing it. Enjoy! ~Maddy
"Well, what's wrong."
"She has a fever and a stomach ache."
"I can take us to the nearest medic for medicine but it will be a while. Tech sat down at the navi computer.
"The nearest inhabited planet will take us approximately half a rotation to arrive."
"That long?!" Hunter exclaimed.
"There is nothing in the outer rim close enough or inhabited enough to land by. It is our only option. Especially if Omega is too sick for me to turn the hyper drive on. If I did use the hyper drive the trip would only take us 3 hours."
"No. Let's go sub lite. I don't want Omega throwing up again. She already feels bad enough."
"Very well." Tech said plugging in the coordinates.
They set off for the nearest inhabited planet. Omega layed in the gunners mount under her blanket. Her head was feeling dizzy. Hunter walked back and put his hand to her head. She was very warm. He sighed.
"H-Hunter?" Omega said weakly.
"What is it?"
"Where are we going."
"Were going to find some medicine for you."
"Can I have some water?"
"Of course, kid."
Hunter grabbed a full cantine of water from storage doused a piece of cloth with some of it and rang out the remaining water. Then came back to the gunners mount and placed the damp cloth on Omega's forehead. He then handed her the cantine and watched as she took small sips from it. Her stomach growled and ached in pain.
"Are you sure you don't want to try and eat something, Omega?"
She shook her head frantically and hid herself under the blanket. Hunter sighed and nodded.
"Ok. Try and get some rest." He said then left her alone.
"Hey Hunter." Wrecker began. "How's the kid?"
"Not great. We better hurry and get that medicine." Hunter took a seat in the cockpit.
"You better double check and make sure we don't already have medicine in the med kit." Tech suggested.
"I'll check again but I'm pretty sure we don't."
"I hope she'll be alright." Wrecker said sounding worried."
"She'll be fine Wrecker. Its just a stomach ache." Hunter said standing back up. He went to the back of the ship and searched for the med kit. It was a large metal case with a red cross on it. He set it on a chair and unlocked the top. Carefully moving objects inside of it aside he realized that they really didn't have any medicine on board. He packed everything up and returned to the cockpit.
"We don't have any medicine. Stay on course Tech. We'll have to get extra to keep on the ship from now on."
"Copy that."
"You better get some rest too, Wrecker. It's going to be a while before we land."
"I'll rest when Omega is better."
"If you say so." Hunter said.
●●●●●
They finally landed and Omega was lucky enough to sleep almost the whole way there. Hunter went back to wake her up.
"Omega?" He said putting his hand to her head. She still had a small fever.
Omega groaned a bit and rubbed her eyes awake.
"Are we there?"
"Yeah. We made it. Time to see the Doctor. Do you want to walk?"
She shook her head no.
"Do you want me to carry you?"
She shook her head up and down. Hunter chuckled a bit under his breath and picked her up. She cuddled the lula plush as Hunter carried her off the ship. They went into a bustling but peaceful town down to where Tech seemed to have found a doctor.
"Here we are." Tech said eventually pointing to a door. The building was on a corner. They went inside. A receptionist stood from her desk to greet them.
"Greetings travelers."
"Hello. I made an appointment." Tech said.
"Yes, we received your transmission. The doctor will see you now." The receptionist guided them through another door way into a sterile room. A man was waiting for them inside. He smiled and looked very friendly.
"Welcome in. Please." He said in a soft tone motioning for Hunter to put Omega on the table in the center of the room. He carefully layed her down. Omega grumbled a bit and held her stomach in pain. Hunter put a caring hand to her head. The doctor approached her with a scanner. A blue beam shined across her face and scanned up and down Omega's body.
"Hmm." The doctor said pondering. "I've never seen a female clone before."
Hunter stared up at him shocked and hovered his hand over his holster.
"Relax. I've gotten clones here before. I don't report any of them." The doctor said. He continued studying. "How long has she had this fever?"
Hunter relaxed.
"2 rotations."
"One moment."
The doctor went to the cabinet behind himself and opened one of the doors. He fiddled around for a bit before returning with a small metal bottle. He took the cap off and filled the cap with the liquid inside of the bottle. Then held it up to Omega's mouth.
"Here, swallow this." He said.
Omega drank the liquid gagging a bit as she did but eventually swallowed it. Then gave her a glass of water.
"Here, have her take this every 6 hours with a cup of water. Make sure she drinks lots of water. She is very dehydrated which is why she is sleeping so much. She will also need a meal of some kind before her next dose." The doctor said handing the bottle to Tech. "Her fever should go down in about 8 hours. If her stomach doesn't feel better in 4 rotations please return to my office. My receptionist will check you out."
"Thankyou doc." Hunter said.
The doctor smiled back and nodded a bit. Wrecker picked up Omega from the table and they began heading back to the receptionist desk.
"C'mon kid. You'll be better in no time." Wrecker said.
Omega gave him a soft smile from his arms.
"Your visit today will be 60 credits." The receptionist said.
Hunter pulled the credits from his pocket and set them on the desk. They returned to the Maurader and Omega went back to bed.
"Get some more rest kid."
"Hunter? Wait."
"What is it?"
"When is Echo coming back?"
"Hm. I'm not sure. He said this mission could take a few days."
"I miss him."
"I know kid. We all do. You'll see him soon though."
"Do you ever worry that one of these missions he might not come back from?" Omega asked.
"To be honest, no. But we are soldiers. We always know the risks of every mission. The risk of death is always there, but its not something I like to think about."
"I think about it sometimes. But I get scared." Omega began. "I'm scared that one day one of us will get hurt really badly or worse."
"That's not something you need to worry about Omega. Nothing can hurt us as long as we are together."
"But Echo isn't here."
"He's with Rex and the rest of his squad. They are good men and don't leave each other behind. Echo is safe with them."
"Promise?" She asked.
Hunter grinned and pushed the hair from her face.
"I promise."
"Ok." Omega said putting her hand on top of Hunter's and smiling up at him.
"Let me know when you're ready to eat something ok?"
She nodded and got cozy back under the blanket. Hunter left her alone and went up to the navi computer. He sat in the chair for a minute and pondered before getting back up and stepping out of the ship for a moment. Hunter closed the door behind him before taking out his com device.
"Havoc 4? Its Havoc 1. I need a favor."
●●●●●
Omega was resting more soundly but was still feeling a bit under the weather. The ship was quiet, but she was suddenly woken up by a hand sitting against her head.
"E-Echo? Is that you?"
"Heh, how did you know it was me?"
"Echo!" Omega exclaimed sitting up. She threw her arms around him.
"Your hand is colder than every one else's." She explained.
Echo chuckled a bit and held her tightly.
"Heh heh. Yeah I guess that's true."
Omega pulled away to look at him. His smiling face was a sight for sore eyes.
"What are you doing here?"
"Well, heard you were feeling under the weather so I came to check on you. How are you feeling?"
"Actually....a little bit better now that you're here." Omega said smiling. "I missed you."
"I missed you too kid. Glad you're feeling a bit better."
"Are you staying for long?"
"I suppose I could stay for a bit."
"Yes!" Omega said excitedly. She hugged Echo again tightly. Hunter and Wrecker stared at them from the other side of the ship. Wrecker smiled.
"Seems like she's feeling better." Wrecker said. He looked over at Hunter who was crossing his arms and looked a bit annoyed at Echo. "What's with you?"
Hunter couldn't help but feel a bit jealous that he didn't have the same effect on Omega. At least right now. But he smiled knowing that she was finally starting to feel better.
"Nothing Wrecker. Good to see Echo back and Omega feeling better. That's all."
"You got that right!" Wrecker said.
Omega took out her data pad and started showing Echo how much she's been studying like he told her to. Hunter turned over to Wrecker again.
"Would you mind watching Omega for a while, Wrecker? I'm gonna take Echo with me on a supply run."
"Absolutely no problem." Wrecker responded.
Hunter stood up to get Echo's attention. Echo saw him out of the corner of his eye from across the ship and looked over. Hunter tilted his head motioning for them to go outside. Echo nodded and sent Omega to give Wrecker her attention then stepped outside of the ship.
"Something wrong?" Echo asked.
"No no. I guess I just have a few questions. Can I.... buy you a drink?" Hunter asked.
Echo agreed and they went to the nearest bar in town and took a seat at the counter. After ordering their drinks Hunter struggled to find the best way to ask his first question.
"So, I guess I'm wondering what makes Omega happy?" Hunter asked a bit nervous. He didn't want Echo to catch on, but he also couldn't hide how he was feeling. Echo chuckled a bit.
"You're not wondering what makes her happy. I know you better than that. You're wondering why she likes me so much. You're jealous."
Hunter rolled his eyes and took a sip of his drink.
"Well. You're not gonna believe me Hunter but I'm jealous of you too."
Hunter sat up and stared at him quickly. He was surprised.
"You're jealous of...me?!" Hunter asked. "Why? You make her happy Echo."
"I know. But that's for a different reason. It's the reason you even called me here, Hunter. She is only happy now because I am not around her like you are. She doesn't need to miss you if you are already there."
"Yeah, but you still make her happy Echo. How are you jealous of me?" Hunter asked.
Echo faced the bar and looked down he tipped his glass from side to side. Then spoke.
"Because she admires you more than any one else in the galaxy." Echo explained. Hunter stared at him a bit shocked.
"Whenever she talks to me it's always about you. How you train her. How you teach her. How you love her, Hunter. You can give Omega something that I can't because I chose a different path. Everyday I wonder if I made the right choice to leave, because of the family that I left behind. But then I remember how good you are for Omega. I'm reminded that she is in the best hands." Echo said putting his hand on Hunter's shoulder. "As my brother I can honestly say that you have become the best father figure to Omega that I could ask for and I wish I could be the same for her."
"You are, Echo." Hunter said putting his arm on Echo's shoulder also. "Even if you're not around. I know you have become Omega's inspiration and she is motivated to learn and do better because of you."
They both smiled and pulled each other in for a hug.
"Thank you Hunter."
"No. Thank you Echo."
A MadaTobi sick fic where Madara has to take care of Tobirama
Fandom: Naruto
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Romantic relationships: Senju Tobirama/Uchiha Madara , Senju Hashirama/Uzumaki Mito
Platonic Relationships: Senju Tobirama & Uchiha Izuna, Senju Tobirama & Uzumaki Mito, Uchiha Izuna & Uchiha Madara, Senju Hashirama & Uchiha Madara, Senju Tobirama & Uchiha Kagami
Characters: Senju Tobirama, Uchiha Madara, Senju Hashirama, Uzumaki Mito, Uchiha Izuna, Uchiha Kagami
Additional tags + Summary under the cut
A few of the additional Tags:
Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Founders Era, Uchiha Izuna Lives, Senju Tobirama Needs a Hug, Slow Burn, Misunderstandings, Miscommunication, Angst with a Happy Ending, idiots to lovers, Sick Tobirama needs a caretaker, Tobirama has the flu at the start of the story
Summary:
He was going to wordlessly hand the paper to the white haired man to sign and then hurriedly leave before one of them could say or do anything to irk the other’s temper.
Though as soon as Madara looked up from the yet unsigned form in his hand and saw the Senju, his hand paused mid-movement.
“You're sick.”
Tobirama’s flushed face looked strained and had a light sheen of sweat. He was wrapped in an oversized, worn haori that he likely had snatched from Hashirama when the latter had been distracted.
At least judging by the size and unflattering colour choice. Vomit green and pale yellow. Really?
(Or: Overworked Tobirama is sick and unfortunately Madara gets roped into taking care of him by Izuna. Only to then realize that he may have slightly misjudged the younger Senju.)
hello lovely!! I hope ur doing well! I’ve been to gobbling up all your writing recently and I just wanted to say that you’re so talented! Your ability to accurately characterize, well, the characters is so important and it’s just overall fantastic. Please keep up the good work!! <33
I wanted to request Sugawara — possibly taking care of the reader when they’re sick? Or maybe period pains? Either works, I really don’t mind! There’s not a lot of Suga writing on tumblr as a whole (that I’ve been able to find), and I’d like to see you work your magic! Thank youuu!
Hi sweet anon!! 🥹💛 Thank you so much for your kind words — They genuinely mean the world to me. I’m so happy you’re enjoying the writing!! Hopefully this is want you pictured in your head hehe
Enjoy<333
--
Anon Asks: Sugawara
The door creaked open before you could even lift your head from the couch.
"Hey, you should be resting," came Sugawara’s voice—soft, teasing, but edged with concern. The sound of it washed over you like a balm, even as your body rebelled against every small movement.
You grunted in response, curling deeper into the fortress of blankets you'd made for yourself. Every inch of your body ached with a dull, persistent throb. Your head pounded in time with your heartbeat, and your stomach twisted and cramped unpleasantly, making you feel heavy and brittle all at once.
Koushi set the grocery bag down with a soft thud, the rustling of plastic filling the room as he moved around. You cracked one eye open to find him methodically unpacking supplies: herbal teas, a box of your favorite crackers, a heating pad, a fresh bottle of painkillers, and—to your complete and utter dismay—a small bouquet of daisies.
“You didn’t have to,” you croaked, voice hoarse.
He shot you a look over his shoulder, eyebrow arched in a way that immediately made you feel silly for even suggesting it. “You’re right,” he said lightly, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I didn’t have to. I wanted to.”
You huffed, burrowing deeper into the blanket, trying—and failing—to hide the way your face flushed. Whether it was from embarrassment or overwhelming gratitude, you weren’t sure.
Sugawara padded over, kneeling down so you were eye-level. His hand, warm and slightly calloused from years of volleyball, brushed against your forehead. Gentle, steady.
“Still warm,” he murmured, his brows knitting together in a tiny frown. “Poor thing.”
You cracked a weak smile, the motion tugging at the ache in your temples. “I’m fine, really,” you mumbled.
“Mmhmm,” he hummed, clearly not believing a word of it.
Without asking, he cracked open one of the heat packs, giving it a firm shake until it warmed to life. He slipped it under the blanket, pressing it against your lower abdomen with slow, careful movements. A soft, involuntary sigh slipped past your lips as the warmth seeped into your cramping muscles.
He smiled at that, eyes crinkling in that boyish, heart-melting way he had.
“There’s my girl,” he said, so quietly you almost didn’t catch it over the gentle thrum of the rain starting outside.
Sugawara busied himself preparing tea—the comforting clatter of the kettle, the soft clink of a spoon stirring honey into a mug—all while stealing glances at you every few moments. Watching. Making sure you didn’t strain yourself.
When he returned, he slid onto the couch beside you, coaxing you upright just enough to press the steaming mug into your hands.
“Easy,” he murmured, one hand steadying the cup with you. “Small sips.”
You obeyed, too tired to argue, the warmth from the tea and his touch making the ache behind your eyes begin to loosen.
Once the tea was safely set aside on the coffee table, he didn’t retreat back to his corner. Instead, he carefully pulled you into his arms, arranging you across his lap with an ease that made your heart ache. His hands found your lower back almost immediately, working slow, tender circles into the tense muscles there.
The world outside faded. The rain against the windows softened into a background hum. Your muscles remained sore, but the sharp edges of your pain dulled—replaced by the steady, grounding beat of Koushi’s heart against your ear, the rise and fall of his breathing, the feeling of being wrapped up in something—someone—solid and sure.
Your hands tightened weakly in the fabric of his shirt, clinging to him like a lifeline.
“Thank you,” you whispered back, voice cracking from the weight of everything you were too tired to say properly.
He only squeezed you tighter, thumb stroking lazy, soothing patterns across your hip.
“Always,” he murmured.
And as your eyes fluttered closed, your body giving in to the exhaustion at last, you realized: with Koushi here, you could finally let yourself rest.
Truly, completely, safely rest.
heyy first time requesting from you but i looove your work so if you don’t mind can you please write a timeskip!kenma x female!reader where reader is sick w high fever and kenma takes care of her and everything but two or one n a half day in she starts feeling really needy but is too tired embarrassed to tell kenma but he eventually finds out about what getting her so fussy and moody (other than the fever) and gives her what she longs for🙏🏻🙏🏻 I apologize if this is too long i mean no pressure at all you dont have to do it but i love the way you write fics please make it as long as possible thank youuu<33
I think I've ticked all your boxes hehe NEVER apologize for a request I love every one <333 thank you for your lovely words of encouragement! Enjoy!!!
--
Kenma had never liked seeing you sick.
Not in high school, not now, not ever.
He wasn't the overly expressive type—not with words, not even with touch unless prompted—but he was attentive in the quietest, most precise ways. It was in how he brewed your tea with exactly the right amount of honey, how he remembered which corner of the blanket you preferred, how he adjusted the thermostat a degree lower without being asked. It was in how he never once complained when you sneezed directly onto his hoodie and then apologized like you'd committed a crime against humanity.
You'd caught a fever two days ago. High. Dangerous enough to make him drop his controller mid-stream, tell his viewers he was logging off, and shut everything down without a second thought. His fans could wait. You couldn't.
Now you were curled up in bed, cocooned under three layers of blankets, face flushed and eyes watery. Your hair stuck to your temples in damp strands, and your lips were dry despite the water and juice he kept coaxing you to drink. A warm haze clung to you like a second skin.
Kenma sat on the edge of the bed, gently brushing a clammy strand of hair from your forehead, his brows drawn together with a soft, worried furrow. You looked so small like this. Fragile in a way he hated.
"Do you need anything?" he asked, voice soft.
Your response was a quiet hum—too soft, too weak. Your hand barely moved when you tried to reach for him and gave up halfway through.
He sighed. "I’ll take that as a 'no' then."
He rose and padded barefoot to the bathroom to change the cool compress on your head. When he returned, you winced slightly at the shock of it against your heated skin but gave him the smallest of smiles. That smile was all he needed to stay planted beside you for the rest of the evening.
The first day was simple: fever, rest, more rest. Kenma read to you in a soft voice when you couldn’t sleep, half-watching the screen of his Switch when you drifted off. The second day, the fever didn’t break. Your cough got worse. You started getting whiny—not in a mean way, just more clingy, more fussy. You tossed and turned, grumbled at the blanket for being too heavy and then too thin. Kenma adjusted it each time without complaint, wordlessly refilling your cup when it was empty.
"Don’t leave," you murmured once when he stood up to grab your medicine.
"I’m just going to the kitchen."
"Still. Don’t."
He paused. Then slowly sat back down. "Okay."
You fell asleep not long after, your fingers curled in the fabric of his sleeve like a tether.
By the start of the third day, the fever had started to dip, but something was off. Not worse—just different. You were moody. Restless. Your eyes kept drifting toward him, then away. You fiddled with your sleeves, pulled your legs up under the blankets only to stretch them back out a moment later. You weren’t saying much, but when you did, it was to complain—your pillow was too soft, your tea was too sweet, your shirt was itchy.
Kenma didn’t mind. He never minded when it came to you. But the inconsistency in your behavior pinged in the back of his mind like a notification he couldn’t swipe away.
By mid-afternoon, he closed his game console and leaned forward, placing it gently on the nightstand. His golden eyes watched you with subtle intensity as you fiddled with the edge of your blanket.
"Okay," he said flatly. "You’ve been squirmy and weird all day. Spill."
Your eyes widened, and your face—already flushed from the fever—somehow turned redder. You immediately turned your face into the pillow.
He waited.
You groaned. "It’s nothing. I’m just... tired."
He didn’t buy it. Not for a second. "You’re not tired. You’re needy."
Your breath hitched in your throat.
Kenma blinked, letting the silence stretch for a moment as he watched you squirm. His voice dropped lower, a little softer, more curious than accusatory. "...That it?"
You buried your face deeper into the pillow, voice muffled and near-incomprehensible.
"What was that?"
You turned just enough to peek at him with one eye, your lip trembling slightly. "I just... I wanna be held. But I’m gross and sweaty and disgusting, and I didn’t wanna bother you."
Kenma stared at you for a long beat. Then he gave a soft sigh, scooting closer until his knees bumped the side of the mattress.
"Move over."
Your eyes widened again. "But—"
"You think I care about sweat?"
"I literally sneezed in your hair yesterday."
"You did," he admitted. "And I’m still here."
You shifted slowly, cautiously, your heart fluttering like the fever had sparked all over again. Kenma climbed into bed beside you, the mattress dipping under his weight. He was careful not to press against you too hard at first, but once you leaned into him, he wrapped his arms around you with a slow, deliberate tenderness, pulling you close until your head rested just beneath his chin.
You melted.
The warmth of him, the steady rise and fall of his chest, the way his fingers settled gently against your spine and started tracing soft, grounding lines—it was everything you hadn’t been able to ask for.
"Better?" he murmured.
Your voice cracked. "Yeah."
He kissed the top of your head, barely a brush of lips against fever-damp hair. "Next time, just say it. I can’t read your mind, you know."
You made a weak, embarrassed sound. "I didn’t want to be annoying."
"You’re always annoying," he mumbled, brushing his thumb against your arm. "But you’re mine. So it’s fine."
Despite the congestion, the soreness in your throat, the heat in your cheeks—you laughed. A breathy, tired little sound that still managed to be real.
He felt your smile against his collarbone.
Kenma held you tighter.
Neither of you moved for a long time. Minutes passed, then maybe an hour. Eventually, you dozed off in his arms, breathing soft and slow, and Kenma didn’t dare shift or get up.
He stayed right there, running his fingers along your back, as the fever began to retreat.
The medicine was working.
But more than that, you had finally let yourself rest in the place you needed most.
With him.
27. Warm
Kidd - 8 | Killer - 12 | Victoria - 13
Tags specifically for this chapter:
Children in danger
Sick!Killer
Kidd is out of his depth
aftermath of Grief
Enter Victoria
drug use (pills) both 'prescribed' and not
Read at A03 linked above or here below cut
Drabbles from Pocket Jack's KiKi-tober Prompt list
"What's wrong with him?"
Kidd startled, and the mystery voice yelped as scrap metal flung itself at her haphazardly. Kidd armed himself with a pipe, planting himself firmly between the girl who'd dropped to the ground, and Killer's still sleeping form.
Seeing as no other attack followed, the girl looked up tentatively, before glaring at him as she stood up, brushing the filth from her shorts. Kidd just adjusted his grip on the pipe.
"You're Kidd, right? I've seen you two around town."
"Yeah, so what?" Kidd hisses.
"So, what happen?"
"None of your business."
She blinks at that, looking honestly surprised. "oh.. okay. Fair, i guess." she shrugs, turning to leave.
"I can't get his fever to go down." Kidd admits. She stops, looking back at him. "We got .. we got ambushed. Killer got hurt and now he was a fever and no matter how many times I change the bandages, he doesn't get better."
"You can't... You gotta do more than just change bandages," she muttered, cautiously approaching him. "Can I see?"
The blond boy under the rags is shivering and panting, blue eyes glazed over and unresponsive. His skin is warm and clammy, splotchy red where it's not paper white pale. She doesn't even need to see more to know this is way past her expertise.
"He needs a doctor."
"They don't see Heaps kids," Kidd said bitterly, and Victoria's heart broke - it sounded like the kid had already tried that only to be turned away.
She pulled the makeshift blanket away further, the dirty bandages wrapped to the best an eight year old could manage. She didn't dare try and unwrapped them again with nothing to wash the area. "Okay... okay, let me think..."
Kidd pulled the blanket back up, small face twisting in grief. At least she didn't have to explain to the boy the dangerous situation his friend was in. "Sure."
He looked at her, like he didn't dare to hope. "Help me get him up, I'll carry him." she said, kneeling down so Kidd could drag his friend up onto her back.
"What.. what's the plan?"
"The nurse at the boarding house."
Kidd paused, look at her like she was an idiot. "We're not allowed in the Mill's houses."
Victoria started walking without him.
"Wait! Wait! We're not allowed in!!"
"You're not allowed in." She corrected, "But I am, and if I go to the infirmary Ii should be able to avoid the Widow Matron. It's early enough in the day that the only ones in the house are working and they are too busy doing chores to bother with me."
She was right, even if Kidd was left at the gates to pace worriedly.
<><><>
It was starting to get dark and Kidd was staring infuriated at the large foreboding stone building, angry tears falling without his permission as he waited for any word on Killer or the girl who'd whisked him away. He felt a fool, sure that he' been swindled and now his only friend had been stolen away after everything they'd gone though to stay together.
Killer had worked so hard to keep them together and safe, and Kidd had just lost him.
One of the men at the gates was watching him suspiciously, whispering to on of the other men. Well, let them whisper. Kidd wasn't going anywhere. He wiped some of the snot and tears from his face, glaring back at them, daring them to try and run him off.
He wasn't expecting someone from inside to call his name, some older auntie asking for him to be let inside. The men at he gates seemed just as surprised.
"His sister fell ill today, the poor child's just waiting to hear she's okay."
"Ma'am, no one's allowed in or out after curfew..." One of the men stated nervously, wilting immediately under her glare. Kidd wasted no time squeezing though the gate bars and running to the woman's side unprompted. The men grumbled, but seemed like chasing a kid down wasn't worth their time.
"You're Shiruton's friend, yes?" the woman asked him quietly, and Kidd nodded; He didn't know who Shiruton was, but he'd be whatever she claimed he was if it meant he got to see Killer again. The older woman was waking across the yard carefully, faux-casually staying to the shadows and Kidd made sure to do exactly as she did. They slipped around the side of the larger building, entering in though a food prep area before navigating to the brink building's infirmary.
Victoria sat waiting for him, sitting in a wooden chair next to a bed at the end with the curtain drawn. She must be Shiruton then, Kidd assumed.
Kidd practically threw himself at Killer, even if his friend still slumbered on. He smelt funny - a sharp tangy smell that also filled the room in general. The woman hissed at him, and bodily drug him back off the bed. "You are filthy, get down!"
Kidd hissed at her, fulling intending to bite her for manhandling him. For separating him from Killer.
"Stop it!" She warned him, "You will wash and if you don't have lice or fleas, then I will let you back on the bed."
Wash? Kidd started at her blankly, so thrown that he forgot he was upset. He wiped his hands on his shorts, and held them up for inspection. Her and Victoria both looked horrified. "I'll take him," Victoria volunteered, her face still pinched.
She lead him to a privacy room off to the side, and introduced him the joys of hot water and showers. And then the doldrum of soap and shampoo. She also took his clothes and informed him they should be thrown away, before lending him a nightshirt that was practically a nightgown on him. He stood once again for inspection by the nurse, right down to her checking his scalp with a comb.
"Clean enough for now - go on then." She dismissed him before talking quietly with Victoria for a moment before sending the girl away to her own room before she was noticed missing.
He was at Killer's side in a flash, gingerly climbing up on Killer's right side, avoiding the injuries he knew festered on Killer's left. The injury was unwrapped, and the nurse waited for him to settle before speaking.
"This is a third degree burn, and it's infected. You need to make sure it stays clean." No eight year old should be the one receiving these directions - a doctor should be caring for these children. but Victoria had sad all she needed to hear - Heap's Boys. No one was going to care about if they lived or died. Her Bosses certainly wouldn't either.
She showed the little redhead a jar of cream she'd prepared. "You want to gently use this on the whole area - every day." She demonstrated how to apply it, before then showing how how to correctly wrap the area. Next she showed him a little orange bottle she'd prepared. "He needs to take one of each color, every singe day, until they are gone. Kidd, this is very very important. He has to take all of them. Even if he starts to feel better, he has to take them all."
Once he nodded solemnly, she set it on the top of the burn creme jar. "Make sure he's drinking clean water, as much as he can stomach. After the pills are gone, he might still want some pain killers, just make sure he's taking only as much as he absolutely needs."
And... easy part done. now the hard part. She handed him the last packages she'd prepped. "I was able to stop the bleeping - it's healing up now, but over the next week or so it still needs to heal. You need to make sure he soaks in a warm bath of this, twice a day." He looked over the collection, pointing a the creme - "one a day", the pills "once a day until they're gone," and then hold up the little box of powder, "twice a day."
It may not be enough, but at least she tried. She'd have to kick them out before sun up, hoping the meds would have enough time to get the older boy somewhat lucid. He had already started to sweat, and his temperature was slowly coming back down. Until then, she watched as the younger boy crawled under the thin little blanket to curl up on the narrow bed with his partner.
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Once they're back on the streets, getting clean water proves to be a task too large for Kidd, try as he might. He's got enough for Killer to either drink it or wash in it, and Kidd finds someone to trade the bath mix to. He brings back soups and painkillers and holds Killer tight when he cries in pain. Holds him tighter, scared when too many of the pills Kidd bought on the street puts Killer in a limp daze as they try to find the right dosage. The bleeding comes back every few days, but it looks less and less each time, so Kidd just hopes and prays
Slowly, Killer heals, and the infection clears up. Kidd can tell that walking hurts for a long time, and his arm is still messed up pretty bad. But Kutsukku doesn't care, and they both know Killer needs to suck it up or the Heaps will eat them both alive.