(Author's note: My poor modern Ornstein has quite a few health issues going on. One of them is a severe cat allergy. I wanted to explore it and the prompt "pet allergies" was perfect for it. Also, I don't want to miss any chance to write some more Smoughstein ^^ )
It had gotten late and Ornstein was rushing to get Smough. He had promised him to drive him home from his garden plot, but once again work had come in the way. It was inevitable when one worked as a police officer, crime wasn't having office hours.
Ornstein expected Smough to be mad or at least a little bit upset, but when he arrived at his garden plot, his boyfriend was still there and seemed calm. He didn't seem to tend to the garden, but he also was busy with something…
"Smough, I am so sorry I am late, we got called to a robbery.", Ornstein said, running towards Smough.
"Oh, Kitten, don't worry.", Smough said, "I found a way to pass the time. It was quite pleasant actually. Well, little ones, we have to say goodbye now."
Ornstein was a bit confused as to who Smough was talking to. He would probably see once he came closer. Maybe Smough had made friends with a child and looked after them while he waited for Ornstein.
Ornstein entered the garden and enjoyed the smell of herbs in the air. He loved Smough's garden. It was an absolute joy to spend time there and Ornstein wished he could help with it more often.
However, suddenly Ornstein's eyes started to water. Then the smell of the herbs vanished and next Ornstein had to sneeze very hard. Right after this, his nose started running.
It was without a doubt an allergic reaction, but what had triggered it? Ornstein wasn't aware that he was allergic to any of the herbs.
Then he saw who Smough had talked to.
On his lap there were three cats, all cuddled against each other. For everyone else it would have been the cutest image ever, for Ornstein it was the reason for his allergy breaking out.
"Smough! I am allergic to cats! Put them away!"
"What?! You never said something.", Smough stood up and in the same motion caught all three cats so that they could sit in his arms instead. The sudden motion upset the three and there was a loud concert of annoyed meows.
Smough left the garden and set the cats down somewhere while Ornstein got a handkerchief out and blew his nose. It was too late however, the allergic reaction had already been triggered. The worst thing was his watering and itchy eyes. He barely could keep them open. Which was a problem because he was supposed to drive.
Smough came back without the cats. He also seemed to have tried to remove any cat hair from his clothes. The emphasis was on tried because there was still plenty left. Of course Ornstein knew that it actually was the saliva of the cats that triggered the allergy, but they used to clean themselves with their spit, so the hair very much was a trigger in itself.
"Your face is swollen, Kitten. I never knew you had such a severe cat allergy.", Smough said.
"Because there was never a reason to talk about it.", Ornstein sniffled, "Smough, I can't drive like that. I can barely see." Ornstein rubbed at his eyes, he hated how itchy they were.
"Then let's get a cab and get you home.", Smough said, "We can get your car tomorrow."
Ornstein nodded, leaning into Smough, which was a bad idea, because he started to sneeze right away again.
"Oh dear, I will take a shower at home and put on new clothes. For now, why don't you sit on the bench?"
Smough led Ornstein to a nearby bench where he could sit down. While Smough was calling a cab, Ornstein was busy going through the rest of his handkerchiefs. Smough returned to Ornstein's side not much later, but kept a healthy distance.
"It really got you down, Kitten…", he said.
"I just have to be near a cat and it is like I got sprayed with pepper spray.", Ornstein murmured, "I had no clue they were coming in your garden or I would have stayed away."
"They like the smell of my herbs.", Smough said, "Cats love weeds and herbs. I often play with them or let them chew on some of the herbs. I never had the desire to have a pet myself, but I like playing with the cats that roam around here. Now that I know that you have such a severe allergy, I will make sure to get properly cleaned up each time I play with them."
"...And warn me if they are present when I come to get you..", Ornstein added, "So that I can wait in the car."
The cab arrived and Smough and Ornstein got in. Ornstein got on the backseat, Smough on the front seat. The cab driver seemed to stare a bit at Ornstein, but he couldn't blame them, he was looking awful after all.
"Allergy.", Ornstein murmured as he got in, to make it clear that he wasn't having something highly contagious.
The ride home was quiet, besides Ornstein's constant sniffling because his nose wouldn't stop running. He was out of handkerchiefs, so Smough handed him a new package which Ornstein almost completely went through before they were home.
Finally at their apartment, Smough had to come closer to Ornstein another time, because he was not able to climb the stairs in his state. "I have medicine at home…", Ornstein said, "It should be better in no time once I take it."
"And I will get a shower and new clothes right away so that you don't trigger your allergy again.", Smough said.
Once they were home, Smough left for the bathroom right away, while Ornstein made his way into the kitchen where their medicine cabinet was located. It was a bit difficult to locate his allergy pills through his swollen eyes, but once he had found them, he took them with a glass of water and then crashed on the couch, using up the rest of Smough's handkerchief.
When Smough came out of the bathroom, the swelling of Ornstein's eyes had already ebbed away a bit and he was able to see better again, but his nose was still running. It genuinely started to hurt a bit because he had to blow it so much.
"Kitten, you probably should shower too.", Smough said, "There might be a bit of cat hair left on you because I had to help you find your way."
"Yeah… you are right.", Ornstein said. He was glad he could find his way again without too much trouble. Once he was in the shower, his nose seemed to clear and the moment he was out of it and put on fresh clothes, his allergic reaction was almost gone.
"How are you feeling, Kitten?", Smough asked.
"Better.", Ornstein said, "The medicine worked. I think I can smell again."
"Perfect. Because I was about to make dinner.", Smough said, "Though I should make sure to wash the herbs. I don't want to find out what happens when cat hair gets into your stomach."
Ornstein shuddered: "Neither do I."
(Author's note: I like my modern AU. I want to use it more ^^
The next fic will be updated tomorrow and it is another Dark Souls fic. There will be a few of them in a row now ^^ )