Sick Day
Lightning was the big sister. That means she always knew what to do when Serah was sick. Lightning and Serah-centric.
One-shot drabble. Rated: T
Written while this author herself was home sick.
xxx
Lightning always knew what to do. It made sense, seeing as how she was the big sister.
She had always taken the day off from work or school when Serah got sick, always fussing over her and sitting in the white wicker chair by her bed, tissues in one hand and a warm drink in the other.
She always searched for their mother's big medical book, a magical guide that would help Lightning cure her little sister.
She could always find the right medicine for her. Watching her from the edge of her doorframe with a blanket around her shoulders, Serah watched as her sister searched through bottles and packages and sprays and bandages, finally selecting one and measuring the orange syrup into the little plastic cup.
She's rush back to her bed where she should have been resting just in time for Lighting to return, a glass of water always handy to help the medicine go down. She was an expert with this stuff, like Serah with her cooking. Lightning was a master chef when it came to these cures. It was probably the most domestic thing she could handle, but Serah was fine with that.
It wasn't just the medicine that helped.
She always stayed with her even when Serah told her she could go, she should go.
She wouldn't go. She wouldn't leave Serah to cough and sniffle and throw up and shiver all on her own.
Lightning would smile sad, take Serah's hand in her's and say it was no big deal. She would be there if she needed anything, anything at all.
Serah would smile back, nodding and pretending to go to sleep so Lightning wouldn't worry any more.
Lightning always knew she was pretending, but would pretend to believe it, patting her identical pink hair gently.
Lightning always knew what to do. It made sense, seeing as how she was the big sister. She always knew.
Almost always.
"Serah?"
Lightning looks down at her little sister anxiously, seeing her peaceful smile and for once, not knowing if she was faking.
"You can save us…"
Serah repeats weakly, and Lightning questions her further, sweat starting to form on her brow.
Her grip on Serah's hand tightens, but not enough to hurt her.
Just enough to let her little sister know she's there.
She'd always be there. She always knew what to do.
Even as Serah's body grows colder, crystal working its way around her frame, Lightning knew she could find a cure.
Serah's body rises into the air, and Lightning feels her cold hand slip away.
She wouldn't leave her to freeze and grow silent and stop moving altogether.
Serah's tear falls, the last one she'll ever cry.
Lightning can see her icy face as she leans over her sister.
She's not smiling; she's not whispering that Lightning can go.
She's not sitting up to take the medicine Lightning got for her.
She's not pretending to sleep so Lightning won't worry.
Lightning stands, stoic again. Anger and grief under her skin.
Serah isn't sick. She's gone.
And the big sister doesn't know what to do.
xxx
