Engravings
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Promp 8: Monkey

To those of you who might wonder after reading this: yes I am an avid Lord of the Rings Fan. And by the way, thanks for liking X=Squirell so much, I had no idea it would be such a hit. This particular story goes before X=Squirells, I'll be posting a timeline in my profile soon (as soon as I figure it out). Anyway, here goes another attempt at the whole Balthy 100 Challenge.

David had a fever.
His throat was sore, he was light headed, and he was having trouble breathing. So to open up his lungs he was forced to cough two (or ten) times to get enough oxygen.
Did he mention he also had a headache?
Benet called Becky an hour or so ago, announcing that her beloved nerd needed someone to take care of him, because he was sure as hell not taking care of his nuclear mucus. Becky arrived with some small cans of soup, cold and flue medicine, and a ton of orange juice. Dave had been under his covers the whole time, trembling like a leaf against the wind, and trying to keep his teeth from clattering together.
Becky, who had gotten quite cozy in Dave's apartment now that Benet was gone, walked from the small kitchen to the sick boy's room with a steaming bowl of chicken soup and some orange juice. She smiled at the bundle of covers on the bed and announced her arrival by calling his name. "I brought you soup."
"I don't think I can swallow it," he rasped out, the most intelligible speech he'd made so far. Becky just placed the meal on the night table and sat on the bed beside him.
"Dave, you need to eat something."
"I'm dying. I don't want to eat."
"You're being a baby."
Suddenly Dave sneezed rather loudly, letting out a cry of pain. "My lungs disagree with you." He gave another loud sneeze, followed by a yelp and then another sneeze, this time followed by a little cry.
"What? What happened?" cried Becky. Dave had lifted his hand to his mouth, covering something that was probably disgusting. But when he lowered his hand she saw nothing. "What?"
"I think I need to call Balthazar," he murmured as he got up, mind surprisingly clear, making Becky get up as well.
"Good idea. Maybe he has some quick spell that can heal you."
Dave picked up his cell phone, laughing nervously as Becky waited... Suddenly a flying monkey yelped as it hovered over Becky's head, pulling at her hair.
"What is that thing?" she cried out, trying to grab said thing and shook her head, which made the monkey fall on the bed. Dave just pressed close to the wall, hoping to merge with the crappy wallpaper as he dialed the number. Becky screamed and pressed up to the wall beside Dave, covering her mouth. "What did you do?"
"I…I… Hello? Balthazar?"

Balthazar got to Dave's apartment in less than five minutes, which had Becky thinking he must have teleported from wherever he had been. Right behind him was Veronica, wearing her usual garb from the medieval age and looking as lovely as ever. She had taken off the necklace Balthazar had given her and for good reason. Such fine jewelry could be damaged during silly gone-wrong-magical-experiment-fixing. The situation was explained to both new arrivals and Veronica stifled a laugh, turning away as her soon-to-be-husband furrowed his brow and sighed.
"I know I will probably regret this in five minutes, but why in Merlin's name did you turn Tank into a flying monkey?"
"It just happened!" Dave said as best as he could through his stuffy nose.
"I already regret it. Catch the thing!" The monkey flew through the bedroom door, chirping loudly as it did, looking at the humans… and slammed against the door to Benet's room. It slid to the ground with a painful thud, making Veronica laugh openly now. The sorceress' laughing froze the monkey and she moved towards the living room to continue laughing. Becky just stood, still merging with the wall. Balthazar waved his hand and the flying monkey became Tank, although he was still wearing wings.
"Why were you thinking about monkeys anyway?" Balthazar asked as he leaned down to touch Tank's new limbs with curiosity, making them vanish a few minutes later.
"I wuasan… " Dave swallowed, finding it hard to talk, when Veronica walked back into the scene, her laughing fit done with, and frowned at him.
"Have you had this cold for long?"
"Dis mornin'." he answered, trembling. Veronica slid through the tight space of the small hallway and touched Dave's forehead.
"You are burning. To bed. Now." Veronica didn't seem afraid of being close to someone so sick and literally helped Dave get into bed. Becky watched in amazement as the sorceress mothered Dave, who didn't seem to mind so much. Where was Dave's mother anyway? Becky couldn't even remember the woman from their old school. "Now be very calm. I will try and see how bad the sickness has taken hold of your lungs."
"Wah? 'eally? Ju kan du dat?"
"Yes, now quiet." Becky pulled away from the wall and looked down the hallway where Balthazar was cleaning the poor whining dog, then back to watch Veronica sit beside Dave on the bed, placing her hands over his throat. "Just be calm. It will be over soon," Veronica murmured to the apprentice as Becky watched the older woman's hand literally light up.
"Becky?" Balthazar suddenly appeared from behind the young woman. He whispered softly to her. "May I ask you to visit me tomorrow morning? I need to talk to you about something."
"Sure, no problem. I'll walk in with Dave…"
"I would prefer it if Dave wasn't there."
"Alright, but what is it?"
"I'll tell you tomorrow. Eight o'clock at Dave's lab." And he turned away to feed Tank, who was grateful to be back in his original shape. Becky turned back to watch Veronica working on Dave and frowned a bit. Why would Balthazar want to talk to her alone? She hoped it wasn't because she and Dave were together. God, it hadn't even been a whole week! And if it was, then this brake-up would be the shortest most painful one she had ever had.
"Balthazar," Veronica called out, breaking Becky's line of thought.
"Yes, beloved?" Both Becky and Dave turned to look in the general direction of the kitchen. It was the first time Balthazar had called Veronica by any sort of pet name in front of them, and although they were sure it would not be the last time, it was still surprising. It was a testament of how much he loved her and trusted them.
"Dave has a very strong lung infection. He will need some rest."
"Then he can rest in his room while levitating books!" he called from the kitchen, showing he did care by keeping Dave home and safe. Yet the Prime Merlinian would have to keep working. Dave gasped as the glow in Veronica's hands intensified and then coughed as the woman slid the hands away from his neck, some glittering dust filtering through her fingers and onto the floor.
"I tried, David (more in her character to call him by his full name), but Balthazar is very strict with the arts."
"No worry," Dave said and was surprised that he could utter a few coherent words. "Hey, I feel better."
"I took most of the infection out but I can't promise it will not take over again. So lots of rest and liquid."
"Yes doc." Veronica touched her forehead and then his, making Dave close his eyes. He was instantly asleep.
"Oh, wow! You've got to teach me that bit of magic," Becky said and Veronica smiled at her. Balthazar was already at the door, hand extended towards Veronica. Tank stood beside his leg, looking a little nervously about nearing Dave's bed.
"We'll drop by with dinner, alright?" he offered.
"Yes, thank you," Becky said appreciatively.

"Make sure he levitates that Lord of Rings book set he recently bought so he can brag bout it some more," Balthazar said softly, making Veronica laugh as they walked towards the door.