The sickness in the motel room was so thick and heavy that it was almost tangible.
The windows had been opened to air out the room leaving the drapes to lazily sway in the breeze. The table that stood near the small kitchen was covered in various medicines ranging from simple allergy medicines to cold and flu syrups.
The one who the medicines was for was laying limp on the mattress. Ignis groans as he digs his nails into the sheets, his strength having left him completely as he lays sweating heavily. His fever having reached dangerous levels leaving him shivering with aching muscles and a pulsing headache.
Gladiolus had been designated as the go-get-it guy. He was the one to go out to fetch various medicines to try when the other ones failed to cure this or cure that, and to pick up whatever else they would need. Prompto had taken up the responsibility for the hunts so they could keep gil to buy food and the medicines. And Noctis had requested that he be the one to take care of Ignis.
Granted the last time he took care of him was when Ignis was bedridden with chickenpox, when he was eight years old and Noctis was six. He wasn't the best doctor.
But he's older now and slightly more patient. But seeing how weak his advisor currently is he'd do anything to make him healthy again.
Noctis walks towards the conjoined bedroom and living room and sits on the stool next to Ignis's bed. His eyes were closed and his face was flushed with fever, his usually spiked hair now hanging limp in his face. "Hey Iggy, how you feeling now?" He asks, referencing the ibuprofen he had given Ignis to bring down the fever. Ignis whimpers "I...I'm sorry..." Ignis mumbles "I threw it up." He says weakly pointing to the other side of the bed. Noctis stands and walks around the bed only to find that Ignis was telling the truth.
Sighing Noctis nods as he returns to the stool he was sitting on "Don't worry about it, I'll clean it up. And I'll see if we can find you some acetaminophen, if not we'll find something easier on your stomach." Noctis says gently rubbing his advisor's back hating that the only thing that the convenience store had was the exact thing Ignis was allergic to. "You're not mad...at me?" Ignis asks sounding confused and Noctis shakes his head "Of course not." He says reassuring the other.
Ignis nods his eyes glassy as he stares at the space in front of him before turning back to Noctis with an odd expression on his face. Ignis closes his eyes as a fresh wave of sweat breaks out over his skin causing him to shiver "What's wrong with me? Why am I cold and hot at the same time?" Ignis cries his eyes watering. "I don't know, we're thinking it's the flu, but I'm going to make you better." Noctis says heading to the kitchen where he collects ice from the freezer and adds them to a plastic bag wrapped in a shirt. He returns to Ignis's bedside where he pats the cubes against his forehead, cheeks, neck, and chest.
"I'm going to make you better. Like you have done for me so many times before." Noctis whispers as he watches Ignis relax slightly against the coolness on his skin "Try and get some sleep Iggy, I'll be here when you wake up." Noctis says softly noticing how Ignis was starting to close his eyes.
"I'm sorry..." a soft pant "I'm sorry you have to take care of me...when you could be...else...where." Ignis trails off his head tossed back revealing his beet red neck. His eyes closed and he was soon snoring loudly, which he only does when sick. Noctis sighs as he lowers the ice pack onto Ignis's forehead before standing and making his way to the kitchen, where he collects a rag and a bucket from under the sink which he fills with hot water. After collecting a roll of paper towels and a plastic bag he sets to work on cleaning the mess on the side of the bed.
It was late in the afternoon when Gladiolus and Prompto return, both look worn out and ready for bed. "Hey, how's Iggy holding up?" Gladiolus asks as he sets down a take out bag his voice soft when he hears Ignis snoring not wanting to wake him. "He's been better...I can't seem to get him to drink anything though. I tried but he whines and puts up a fight." Noctis says sounding defeated.
"Well maybe some chicken soup will do him some good." Gladiolus says as he pulls off his boots nodding towards the bag "There's a bowl of it in the bag. We picked it up on the way here...along with his antibiotics."
"Also, we looked and checked the shops along with the guys who sell stuff on the side of the road...we couldn't find any Tylenol. But we met up with Sania and she said she'll bring some over tomorrow." Prompto adds.
"Sania? You mean that crazy frog lady?" Noctis asks.
"Hey, be respectful." Gladiolus snaps "She doesn't have to do this for us." He reminds his king.
"I know...I just- I'm glad she has some." Noctis looks over to Ignis "I love him and all but I'm not enjoying the fact that I'm constantly cleaning up puke. I just wish we had had something else to ease his aches and pain." Noctis adds as he reaches into the bag pulling out the soup and walks it over to Ignis. He gently shakes his shoulder calling his name as he does so. Ignis whimpers slightly as he barely opens his eyes "Noct...?" he asks weakly his voice a harsh raspy whisper before falling into a fit of coughs each one would send and spread pain through his chest causing him to grimace. He groans miserably looking up at Noctis through blurry vision, the king gives him a sympathetic smile as he helps him into a sitting position with pillows piled behind him for support.
"What time is it?" Ignis asks his voice still harsh. "Its nearly six, but don't worry about that. You need to focus on getting better..." Noctis says handing Ignis the soup "The guys got this for you eat all of it." He orders handing the older male a spoon as well. Ignis doesn't say anything as he opens the container and dips the plastic spoon into the golden broth and sips at it carefully not wanting to burn himself. "How's it taste?" Prompto asks curiously.
"Like absolutely nothing...I can't taste anything." Ignis sighs as he swallows down a mouthful of soup. "Yeah that's a downfall to being sick, but you'll be feeling better in no time. You just need to rest." Gladiolus says opening a can of beer he had retrieved from the fridge "But I'm tired of laying around, its all I've done these past four days. I need to be out helping you lot. I need to-" Ignis stopped talking which spurs on concern from his friends "Specs you alright?" Noctis asks when Ignis closes his eyes "No...the room began spinning." He mutters rubbing his temples. He let's out a short pant before trying to continue "I need to-..."
"What you need to do is get better." Noctis advise "We aren't doing anything special, we're just doing a simple task here and there for money so we can stay here, get food, and get the medicines you need." He says repositioning the pillows so Ignis could lay down once more "Like Gladio said just focus on getting better and leave the other stuff to us." Noctis finishes as he takes the soup and sets it on the nightstand.
"But...I feel like I'm a burden. I can't stand up without becoming dizzy, I can't eat or drink without it coming back up...and I'm to weak to move. And on top of it all I can't take the same medication...you have to go out of your ways to get something I can take for pain." Ignis rasps. "Well we did tell you to change out of your clothes and warm up didn't we? You know that you get sick easily and when you do you're bedridden for weeks." Noctis lectures causing Ignis to sigh softly "But doing this, taking care of you...it's not a burden to us. You do so much for all of us that we cherish these little moments where we can take care of you." Noctis says tucking Ignis in "So just focus on getting sleep and healing okay?"
Ignis nods "I can do that..." he settles down shifting until comfortable "It has been sometime since our roles were reversed." He says chuckling earning a nod from the king "Yeah, it has...sleep tight Specs."
Noctis was awoken by a feeling of dread settling in his gut, at first he wasn't sure what it that woke him.
Until he heard it.
It was Ignis, he was coughing but that wasn't what worried the king, no, it was the desperate gasps for air that set off his alarms. Ignis couldn't breathe and he wasn't sure what do to. Noctis's first instinct was to panic and scream at Ignis to breathe which wouldn't help at all. However through his mental freak out Noctis recalled a technique that his advisor had showed him and had used on him.
Climbing out of bed Noctis rushes to the bathroom and turns on the shower blasting the hot water. As he waited for the water to run hot he returns to Ignis's side coaxing him to try and calm down, to take deep breathes but it only lead to more coughing. With smoke bellowing out from the bathroom door and into the hall Noctis helps Ignis to his feet and with latter to weak to support himself Noctis half carries half drags Ignis to the bathroom. Sitting him down on the toilet Noctis closes the door trapping the steam inside. He returns to Ignis's side and moves him to sit beside him on the tub where he begins to rub his back "Try and breathe through your nose Iggy. This will help clear you out and easy your cough.
Ignis does as his he's told and despite the few coughs that escaped along with the wet sniffles he was finally able to breathe again. Ignis closes his eyes as a shaky sigh of relief escapes him "Thank you...Noct." Ignis says his face averted from his friend "Don't mention it, you just scared me to death. I swear I thought you were going suffocate or something." Noctis says as he tears off a wad of toilet paper passing it to Ignis for his nose.
Thanking him Ignis takes the tissue and blows his nose before speaking "To be honest I was scared too. I couldn't breathe and I couldn't call for help..." he says shaking slightly "But...I'm grateful that you woke up when you did." He says softly.
Noctis shakes his head "You seriously thought I'd sleep through that? You needed me, and I wasn't just gonna let you suffer." Noctis says causing Ignis to look up at him giving him a small nod "I know...I'm just-" Ignis was cut off by a short cough leaving him cringing at the hot burning of his sore throat "I don't suppose you have a recipe to cure my throat do you?" He asks softly causing Noctis to look thoughtful "Actual I do, sit here and I'll make it for you." He says leaving Ignis alone in the makeshift humidifier.
Stepping out into the hall Noctis is reminded of just how strong the sickness is that is hanging in the air making him shiver as he heads to the kitchen. He takes out a small saucepan setting it on the stove turning on the burner as he waits for it to heat up he heads to the fridge and pulls out a carton of milk setting it on the counter. He sighs waiting for a another more before pouring the milk into the pot he lets it heat up a bit as he pulls a whisk from the utensil drawer and stirs the milk three times before turning off the fire.
He collects a mug pouring the milk into and adds honey to it which had sat on the counter from the last time Ignis had a coughing attack. He gives the drink another stir before bringing it to Ignis, who's air waves sounded much more clear. "Here Specs, drink this." Noctis says handing him the mug "It's gonna help your throat and cough, you should sleep better after this." Noctis says softly as Ignis begins to sip at the drink "Did the vapor rub help last time?" The king asks earning a shake of the head from his advisor "It made me nauseous." Ignis admits softly "Don't feel bad...I'll ask Sania if she has anything that you can use that won't make you sick." Noctis says rubbing Ignis's shoulder.
Ignis drains the mug licking his lips his eyes closed as the feeling of exhaustion overtakes him brought on by the steamy room and milk he just drank. Noctis eases Ignis to his feet and helps him back into his bed, the second his head hits the pillow Ignis is out like a light.
The next morning there's a knock on their motel door prompting Noctis to get up and answer it "Hello?" He calls sleepily secretly hating that neither Gladiolus nor Prompto got up.
"Why good morning, I was asked by a gentlemen with a eagle tattoo to stop by and drop off some medication." The voice of the biologist reaches the king's ears causing him to nod "Yeah- yeah just uh...just a moment." he says looking around realizing that the room was mess. Trash was strewn everywhere along with their clothes as empty beer and soda bottles dotted the room. Noctis knew there was no time to clean and that be couldn't leave her outside knowing she came to help Ignis. So he sighs and opens the door causing Gladiolus and Prompto to stir before both sitting up trying to wake up for the day.
"Sania...thanks for coming over." Noctis says stepping aside to let her in the room "Sorry about the mess." He adds but the biologists simply laughs "Oh don't worry your pretty little head. I was told you were taking care of your friend, in my book loved one's first before a clean space." She says playfully hitting Noctis's arm.
"Speaking of which where is he?" Sania asks looking around "He's still sleeping, should I wake him?" Noctis asks causing Sania to shake her head as she reaches into her bag "Here you boys are the medicine you requested." Sania says handing Gladiolus the small box "Now if you boys-" she stops mid-sentence when she spots the bottle of antibiotics "Quick question. Has he been taking that?" She asks as she moves towards where Ignis was sleeping.
"No, we just got it yesterday." Prompto says honestly. "We were going to when he wakes though." He adds watching as Sania gently shakes Ignis awake earning her a small grunt and a blink his eyes sticking close for a moment. He looks up her his mind not registering the situation "Oh you poor thing you, you look like death warmed over." Sania laughs a bit "But don't worry I'll do what I can to help you and lead your friends in the right direction." She says heading to the kitchen to wash her hands.
"Now what is it that you boys think he has?" She calls as she returns to Ignis's side helping him sit up causing him to flinch at the coldness of her hands.
"We thought just a nasty cold...its usually what he gets." Gladiolus states as Sania reaches into her bag and pulls out a stethoscope which she warms in her hands before she places the buds in her ears and places the other end on Ignis's chest "Take a deep breath sweetie." Sania says softly. Ignis does as he's told only to end up coughing into his hand "I'm sorry..." he croaks. Sania simply smiles "Your have nothing to be sorry about." She says as she removes the stethoscope "Well I have some news, it sounds like fluid is in your lungs." Sania says earning a weary look from the boys. "It doesn't sound like a lot but we still need to get you looked at "I don't want to burden them further by having to take me to a hospital." Ignis says his voice a harsh whisper.
"What? Dude, you'll be doing no such thing to us." Prompto says disbelief rising in his voice "Yeah, you say that but what if this is serious? You have fluid in your lungs Ignis." Gladiolus jumps in.
Ignis opens his mouth the intention to argue back but instead he is left with a violent coughing attack. Noctis fetches him a bottle of water twisting off the cap and hands it to the older male who manages to gulp down a several small swallows.
"Look, I like you boys and I gotta tell you I love the concern you have for each other but I think he may not need to go to the hospital. I think if you continue with the treatment you been doing up till now he should be alright. Though its a good thing you didn't give these" she says picking up the antibotics "if I were you boys I would get my gil back on that. You see, the symptoms he's displaying are those of a virus not bactierial. These would've done more harm than good in him." Sania explains she "Tell ya boys what. I'll stay next door and help research some medicinal herbs for you. I can even see if there is a way I can get you boys some antiviral medicine for him." She adds nodding.
"Yup I'll do that. Back in a jiffy."
Before anyone could say yes or no Sania was gone. Turning to the others Noctis shrugs helplessly "Well at least we got an extra set of hands to help out." Noctis walks up to Ignis and adjusts his pillows before laying him back down "Don't worry. We'll get back to your old self." He says holding out his pinkie to Ignis who wraps his own around Noctis's pinkie.
"I have no doubt about that."