Bleh. Forgot disclaimer. Me no own, Blizz already has plenty of money from me. Also, I have some issues with this chapter and how the dialogue turned out. Anyway, give me feedback.
It had taken all of a week for Kael to decide he absolutely despised Outland. It had been one thing when they were searching for Illidan and battling Magtheridon's froces – there had been plenty then to distract him. With Illidan in a coma, however, there was little direction, just worry and doubt. After a month, there had been more worry and doubt, accompanied by a terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach that kept him up at night wondering what his father would think. Did he make the right choice? Had he simply traded one hell for another? His mind refused to rest, and it was making him sick.
He sighed, drumming gloved fingers along cold stone. He assumed it was cold, anyway. His finger were still fairly numb, and it irritated him to have his senses so dulled. He supposed he was better off than Vashj, who had begun shedding her frostbitten scales and refused to leave the small room she had claimed for herself, save small forays into the hall to ask whoever was passing by if Illidan had awoken.
It took one half hearted glance at the horizon for Kael to decide visiting the moping naga would be far more worthwhile than simply waiting for something to happen.
Vashj's room wasn't far from Illidan's and, judging by small, shiny flecks on the floor, she visited him frequently while no one else was around. Now, however, the candles had been snuffed and the only sign that anything dwelt there was the pile of furs in one corner. With a small smirk, Kael crept over and knelt beside her. One serpent had nosed its way out, and was sleepily nuzzling the ground. Kael smiled at it and gently rubbed its nose. Fortunatley, Vashj's serpents knew him by now and no longer tried to bite him as they had in the past – with the exception of one on the right side whom she insisted didn't even really like her and would probably kill her if it didn't depend on her as a host of sorts. It rubbed against his hand gently, gave a satisfied flick of it's tongue and slid back under the blankets. Moments later, the lump shifted and a single, violet eye gazed back at him.
"Mm. Kael? What are you doing in here?"
"Came to see how you were feeling," he smiled and gently patted the furs.
"Illidan's not awake yet, then?" The furs slid a bit further, revealing her brow and a portion of her cheek.
"Not yet. But Akama says he's doing better. He should wake up soon," she was pulling the blanket over her face again, he had lost her already.
"That's what I hear everyday. Tell me when he actually wakes up. Until then, leave me alone."
Kael gave an exasperated sigh and tugged gently on the blankets.
"You can't keep this up, Vashj. I'm tired of naga sneaking up on me while I'm bathing and asking where you are."
That wasn't entirely true. The naga never asked Kael anything.
"I'm gross. I'm not coming out until Illidan's better, and when he does wake up, I am covering myself in a sheet, telling him I'm glad he's alright, and coming right back in here."
Kael laughed. "We both know that's not true. The moment he wakes up, you'll be all over him."
"Shut up."
He laughed again and yanked on the furs, pulling them off her head. She squealed childishly and scrambled to snatch the blankets back from him, shoving one of her hands over his face and nearly knocking him over.
"Bastard! Don't look at me!"
Laughing so hard he feared he would hyperventilate, he pulled on her wrists, pulling them both down and receiving a soft bite on the nose for his efforts.
His eyes locked with hers and he smiled. She didn't look nearly as bad as she claimed, although there were a few spots where her scales hadn't come in fully yet, giving her a slightly blotchy appearance.
"You best be damn glad we like you enough to not poison you, Prince," she hissed, hitting his shoulder.
"You needed it. Have you smiled once since we got back?"
She sat up, pulling the blankets to her chest and sighing.
"I haven't really had reason too," she gave him a small smile. "Plus, it makes my scales crack. Which is disgusting. So, no. I don't imagine I have."
Kael sighed and leaned against the wall, idly flexing his fingers – it was becoming a habit – and stared at her.
"Well, now you have."
She laughed, a strange sound he doubted he would ever get used to.
"And if I ever need to again, I can just think of one of my lieutenants sneaking up on you in the bath."
He made a face. "Would you tell them to stop that, please? It's actually rather terrifying."
"In that case, no," she stuck her tongue out.
Unfortunately, the light mood couldn't even hope to last in the Black Temple, and they were soon both sitting in awkward silence, staring at the floor.
"Is he really doing better?" Vashj asked timidly. "Have you gone to see him?"
"He seemed a bit less pale last time I was in there, but..." he hesitated. "He still seemed feverish and the wound was still seeping a little."
"Oh."
"I'm sure he'll wake up soon though," he added quickly. "I mean, he is breathing better and..."
Vashj still looked absolutely crestfallen. Kael mentally kicked himself and reached over, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.
"It's going to be alright. Illidan is perhaps the strongest person I have ever had the honor of meeting. He's going to come out of this just fine," he placed a hand beneath her chin and lifter her face to look in her eyes. "You'll see."
She smiled weakly and nodded.
"Thank you," she said softly. "For coming to see me. I think...I needed someone to try and cheer me up. And you're right. He'll be alright. He always seemed to have such uncanny luck when it comes to pulling though, even when odds seemed impossible."
Kael nodded and they sat in silence for a bit longer, before it was interrupted by soft footsteps just outside. There was a gentle tap on the door frame, and the both looked up to meet Akama's calm blue eyes.
"He's beginning to stir. It may simply be a fever dream, but I figured you would like to know."
Kael stood, almost nervously, and held out his hand for Vashj. She seemed to cling to him, he could feel her small claws digging into his bicep, and he suddenly felt dizzy. Illidan had been in a coma for over month. Between the fever and the recurring infection in his chest, he had been close to death several times. There was no telling just how he would be when he woke up, and, as they approached his room, Kael realized he was even more scared than he'd been since those terrible moments on Icecrown.
Akama said nothing, simply moving to one side of the demon hunter's bed and gently dabbing at his scarred face with a damp cloth. Sure enough, Illidan did seem to be stirring, his brow furrowed and his claws curled slightly into the furs. However, he also seemed to be struggling, fighting for each ragged breath. Kael cast a nervous glance at Akama, who still said nothing, only frowning and checking Illidan's temperature and pulse.
Vashj slithered slowly, clutching her furs to herself, face pale, to Illidans side and gently took one of his hands in hers. Kael almost fell, not having realized just how much he had been leaning on her, and clenched his hands into loose fists, trying to calm his nerves.
Time moved agonizingly slow, as if whatever aspect controlled it's flow on that barren world had a personal grudge against them. Tears had begun to roll down Vashj's cheeks – she made no effort to wipe them away, and Kael suspected she was too nervous to notice them.
"Please..."she whispered. "You're almost there. Just a bit further and you'll be back."
Kael stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder to steady himself more than to comfort her.
Illidan groaned and shifted lightly.
Akama checked his pulse again and very carefully let some water drop on the unconscious elf's lips.
Illidan's brow furrowed further and his lips moved, parting slightly.
Vashj let out a small sound, and out of the corner of his eye, Kael could see that Illidan was now squeezing her hand weakly.
She reached out and smoothed his forehead.
"It's alright. You're alright. Just come back to us."
He groaned again and very, very slowly, a dim glow, like an ember, started in the back of his empty sockets. It wasn't much, and it didn't get any brighter, but it was enough for Kael to let out the breathe he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
Vashj was crying now, smoothing Illidan's forehead and whispering softly in words that sounded both vaguely familiar and entirely alien to Kael's ears. Illidan's lips moved, mouthing something Kael couldn't make out. Akama brushed the back of his hand briefly across pale violet flesh.
"The fever is still very high. He's likely delirious," he said very softly.
Vashj and Kael both nodded numbly, not really listening. Vashj was holding Illidan's hand to her face and sobbing. Intuitively, Akama handed Vashj the bowl of water.
"Not too much. He won't be able to swallow, and he won't stay awake for long."
He didn't. The glow had faded to nothing in minutes, Vashj laying her head on the bed beside him and gently stroking his hair. Kael rubbed her back and gently touched Illidan's arm.
"He's back now. I told you things would be alright."
Vashj said nothing, drifting into a light sleep. It didn't matter if she had heard him, the words were for his own benefit. Even through the gloves and the numbness he could feel the heat that coursed through Illidan's body – and the cold sweat that covered it.
