Couvea: The Medicine Dad
It was early November and a cold had been going around Aei Lynn's school. Every day one of her classmates was coughing or sneezing with a stuffy, sometimes runny, nose. Sometimes they would have a fever and not return the next day. Couvea knew it was only a matter of time before his daughter got the cold too. Being a psychic mutant didn't make them immune to the common cold, or give them the ability to know exactly when they'd get it.
"Good morning, it's 6:30 AM. It's looking like a cold November Day so bundle up," said Jay their local radio host. "Let's kick off the next music hour with--"
"I think not," said Couvea, turning the radio off. He yawned and stood, stretching. ~What's today? Oh, another Wednesday. Another...lovely, cold November, well might as well start it.~ He then changed into his usual wear and started his usual routine, walking to Aei Lynn's room and opening the door.
"Aei Lynn, time to wake up," he said. He continued to the bathroom and brushed his teeth, washing his face, and brushing his hair back, slicking it back to form small, perfect spikes pointing out behind his head. He finished his daily ritual in the bathroom and started down the hall back to Aei Lynn's room.
"Aei, are you up and ready?" He asked, talking to her through the closed door. She didn't answer and he didn't hear any sounds from her room. "Aei?"
He frowned and opened her door once more, walking into his young daughter's room. Couvea gently turned her over to her back and though she was still breathing normally, her face looked paler than usual. He gently rested his hand on her forehead, it was warm. Aei Lynn slowly opened her eyes at his touch and began to rise in an effort to get out of bed.
"No Aei Lynn," Couvea gently said. "I'll keep you home today and stay with you. Okay?"
"Okay Daddy," Aei said.
"You just get some rest and I'll call in at work," he said, even though Aei Lynn was well on her way back to sleep. He tucked her in again and went to the phone in the kitchen, leaving her door open.
"Hello, Garrett, can you give Mr. Smith a message for me? Tell him I won't be in, my daughter's sick. All right, thanks. Bye."
*****
Garrett delivered Couvea's message to Mr. Smith, their boss. Though quite mysterious and many times silent, Couvea was a hard worker. Unfortunately, his boss knew nothing about him except his work in the office.
"So? His daughter's sick. Even if she is, can't his wife look after her?" Said Mr. Smith. The man looked roughly in his mid-fourties and was all about work.
"No sire, he and his wife split up about five and a half years ago. He's a single parent sir."
There was a pause in Mr. Smith's office. He realized he really needed to connect with his employees. After a while he nodded slowly.
"I want you to go to the store and pick up cough medicine, soup, and anything else you think might help make his daughter better. Bring them to his place and tell him I hope his daughter gets well soon. And tell him to take his time coming back to work. Family comes first here."
*****
Couvea answered the knock at his apartment door, quite surprised to see Garrett on the other side with a Phar-More-C bag in hand. Couvea had planned to go to the pharmacy and food store later that day, hopefully if Aei Lynn was feeling better.
"Garrett, what are you doing here?" Couvea asked as he opened the door. Garrett held the white plastic bag out to the gothic looking man.
"From Mr. Smith. Take your time coming back to work and he hopes Aei gets well soon."
"Thankyou," Couvea said as he took the bag. "I really appreciate it." Garrett gave Couvea a quick nod and headed off. The psychic watched him go for a moment before he closed the door. ~They have their good points but, guaranteed, if the boss or his lackeys knew Aei and I were mutants I'd be out of a job and they wouldn't care if she were sick with a cold or on the brink of death...But the gesture was nice, I give them credit for that.~
He walked to the bathroom, putting the children's medicines away. Next stop - kitchen. Couvea weighed his soup choices carefully. Vegetable or Chicken...Vegetable or Chicken...Aei Lynn loved chicken soup. She didn't really *like* vegetables, common for her age. He didn't like veggies in his younger years either, and he remembered being a little hellion when his mother made vegetables.
"Chicken soup it is," Couvea decided.
*****
Couvea poked his head into Aei Lynn's room. It was lunchtime, the soup was ready, and it was time to administer the first dose of medicine. She was still sleeping. He walked over to his little one and sat down beside her on the bed.
"Aei Lynn, sweetie, I made you some soup...It's chicken."
Aei rolled over and slowly opened her eyes. She could smell the soup...mmm chicken soup, with all its chicken-y goodness. She could see the steam rising from the pale golden surface; fresh and warm and just for her. She knew her father had made it with lots of Tender Loving Care. Aei sat up a bit, supporting her back against her pillow and smiled up at Couvea.
"How are you feeling?" Couvea asked, smiling back.
"I slept for a long time...But I slept good. I didn't wake up until you came in here."
"Good," he said. He lifted the back of one hand up to her forehead. She still had a fever, she was still warm, but it had gone down since that morning. He nodded slightly in satisfaction. "Are you hungry?"
Aei Lynn nodded and Couvea took a spoonful of the chicken soup, blew on it, and then carefully held the spoon up to Aei's mouth.
"Careful, it's hot."
"Okay," she replied and took the spoonful. Aei smiled contently and her father proceeded to feed her. She yawned when she was finished, the soup had made her feel a little better, but now she was tired.
"Wait sweetie, there's just one more thing you need to take before you go back to sleep."
She just looked at him sleepily, one eye already half closed while the other slowly drooped and then suddenly opened. Couvea picked up another teaspoon and medicine, filled the teaspoon accordingly as prescribed by the label, and carefully brought the spoon to his daughter's lips. Aei closed her mouth and blinked as the medicine hit her tongue after Couvea took the teaspoon back.
~This is horrible!~ Aei Lynn thought.
"Swallow Aei, it'll make you feel better. And if you swallow that now the taste will go away sooner." She grumbled and did as told, making a face in disgust as she swallowed.
"That wasn't so bad," Couvea said.
~Easy for you to say daddy, you didn't have to take it.~ She thought to herself; Couvea heard it though. She didn't know how to keep her thoughts private yet. Her father held back his laughter, instead he tucked Aei Lynn back into bed.
"Get some rest Aei, you deserve it."
*****
It was a Tuesday, Blud Rayne was coming over for one of his psychic sessions. Aei Lynn was still sick with a cold but well enough to walk around...and try to run away from Couvea whenever he had that awful "cherry" medicine. Aei Lynn didn't know about Blud Rayne.
And if Couvea could have his way, she never would. But fate has a mean sense of humor and some things just can't be helped. Couvea was now searching high and low for his daughter with her medicine in hand. He was hoping to give Aei the cough syrup and then put her to bed but his plans were soon thrown out the window when she saw the dreaded "red medicine of doom".
"Arg...where is she? He'll be here any minute!" ~Aei Lynn, come take your medicine...please?~
Then there was a knock at the door. It was a knock Couvea was very familiar with. Blud Rayne was right on time, if not a little early. Couvea went to the door and opened it, giving a quick look around as if he expected Aei to bolt outside when he wasn't looking.
"Well hello," said Rayne. He looked like a kind, gentle old man, but looks were deceiving. This was one "old guy" you didn't want to piss off unless you wanted to be soup.
"Hello Mr. Rayne." Couvea greeted, stepping aside to let him in. "Please, wait in the kitchen and make yourself comfortable. I'm trying to...find my daughter."
Rayne raised a brow, Couvea nodded to the medicine and scowled slightly.
"I see," Rayne said with a chuckle. After so many visits to Couvea's apartment Blud Rayne knew his way around fairly well so he found the kitchen easily. And that's where he found Aei Lynn.
"Well, you must be Aei Lynn," he said as he walked over to her. The little blue haired girl looked up at him and nodded. "Hiding from your daddy I see, you don't like that awful medicine do you?"
She shook her head. "It tastes really bad."
"Aei Lynn are you in the kitchen?" Couvea called from the living room. He'd looked everywhere else.
Blud Rayne grinned and opened a cabinet, "Hid in here and stay quiet."
She complied and Rayne sat down at the table, smiling pleasantly as Couvea walked in.
"I don't suppose you've seen her, have you?"
"Blue hair, about this tall," Rayne motioned with a hand. "Pretty icy blue eyes, and adorably cute?"
"That's her."
"Nope, never seen her," Rayne chuckled, gesturing to the cabinet. Aei Lynn softly giggled inside the dark space and Couvea walked over to it.
"Oh I wonder where she could be," Couvea said, then opened the door and picked up his daughter. She laughed and hugged his neck, to which he smiled.
"Now you have to take your medicine," her father said as he sat her down on a chair.
"But dad," said Aei Lynn.
"Don't call me 'Butt Dad'," Couvea said.
Aei laughed again, shaking her head. Rayne chuckled, admiring their chemistry.
"If I take some will you take some too?" Aei asked. Rayne watched Couvea expectantly.
Couvea sighed, at this point he would do anything just to get her to take it.
"Okay. If you take a spoonful then I'll take a spoonful," Couvea agreed. Aei Lynn nodded and took her medicine. She made a face of disgust and twisted a bit as she let out a "gaaah".
Couvea couldn't help but laugh at his daughter's expressions. And then it was his turn. He grabbed another spoon for himself and filled it. He glanced at Aei Lynn and Blud Rayne - Rayne was thoroughly enjoying this!
"Bottoms up," Rayne grinned.
Couvea downed the spoon of medicine, and then went into the same series of faces of disgust and disapproval.
Aei Lynn burst out into outright laughter that was uncontrollable. Within seconds her sides were hurting and her eyes were tearing up a bit. Blud Rayne controlled his laughter with chuckles and a few snickers.
"*Ahem*", he coughed, trying to regain some dignity. "You've had your medicine Aei, now it's time for you to rest."
"Okay daddy," Aei said. She looked up at Blud Rayne. "Nice meeting you...uhm..."
"My name is Mr. Blud--"
"Haven. Mr. Bludhaven," Couvea finished.
"Nice meeting you Mr. Bludhaven."
Aei headed off to her room. All that running around had made her tired anyway.
"She doesn't need to know, not yet," Couvea said, though it was mostly directed to himself.
"Shall we begin then?" Blud Rayne asked.
Couvea nodded.
*****
Couvea woke up groggier than usual. His head felt like it was floating, his nose was stuffy and within two minutes he was having a short coughing fit. He felt warm...wonderful. He'd been blessed with the gift that kept on giving - he'd gotten Aei Lynn's cold. Well, at least she wasn't sick anymore. He grumbled and rolled over, 7:00 AM on Saturday...
Aei Lynn walked in and climbed onto her father's bed, plopping down at his side.
"Morning daddy," she said. It was uncanny how only on Saturdays Aei could wake herself up, but during the week she'd sleep in unless Couvea woke her up.
"Morning Aei," came his muffled reply.
"Are you okay?"
"Fine. I just have your cold but I'll be alright."
"Do you want me to take care of you?"
Couvea couldn't help but chuckle. He could see it now: Aei Lynn giving him the dreaded cherry medicine - he didn't want to go through that humiliating scenario again, not in front of his daughter. He shook his head and smiled at her.
"No that's alright, I can take care of myself without getting out of bed."
"How?"
"It's called telekinesis. You have it too, you can move and pick up objects with your mind."
"Will you teach me daddy?"
Couvea nodded. "When you powers are more developed I'll teach you. In the meantime I want you to be my little girl and watch your cartoons. Don't worry about me today...And from Monday on until I get better I want you to ask Kyle's mother to take you to school."
Aei Lynn nodded and smiled, then headed to the living room to watch her Saturday morning cartoons.
It was early November and a cold had been going around Aei Lynn's school. Every day one of her classmates was coughing or sneezing with a stuffy, sometimes runny, nose. Sometimes they would have a fever and not return the next day. Couvea knew it was only a matter of time before his daughter got the cold too. Being a psychic mutant didn't make them immune to the common cold, or give them the ability to know exactly when they'd get it.
"Good morning, it's 6:30 AM. It's looking like a cold November Day so bundle up," said Jay their local radio host. "Let's kick off the next music hour with--"
"I think not," said Couvea, turning the radio off. He yawned and stood, stretching. ~What's today? Oh, another Wednesday. Another...lovely, cold November, well might as well start it.~ He then changed into his usual wear and started his usual routine, walking to Aei Lynn's room and opening the door.
"Aei Lynn, time to wake up," he said. He continued to the bathroom and brushed his teeth, washing his face, and brushing his hair back, slicking it back to form small, perfect spikes pointing out behind his head. He finished his daily ritual in the bathroom and started down the hall back to Aei Lynn's room.
"Aei, are you up and ready?" He asked, talking to her through the closed door. She didn't answer and he didn't hear any sounds from her room. "Aei?"
He frowned and opened her door once more, walking into his young daughter's room. Couvea gently turned her over to her back and though she was still breathing normally, her face looked paler than usual. He gently rested his hand on her forehead, it was warm. Aei Lynn slowly opened her eyes at his touch and began to rise in an effort to get out of bed.
"No Aei Lynn," Couvea gently said. "I'll keep you home today and stay with you. Okay?"
"Okay Daddy," Aei said.
"You just get some rest and I'll call in at work," he said, even though Aei Lynn was well on her way back to sleep. He tucked her in again and went to the phone in the kitchen, leaving her door open.
"Hello, Garrett, can you give Mr. Smith a message for me? Tell him I won't be in, my daughter's sick. All right, thanks. Bye."
*****
Garrett delivered Couvea's message to Mr. Smith, their boss. Though quite mysterious and many times silent, Couvea was a hard worker. Unfortunately, his boss knew nothing about him except his work in the office.
"So? His daughter's sick. Even if she is, can't his wife look after her?" Said Mr. Smith. The man looked roughly in his mid-fourties and was all about work.
"No sire, he and his wife split up about five and a half years ago. He's a single parent sir."
There was a pause in Mr. Smith's office. He realized he really needed to connect with his employees. After a while he nodded slowly.
"I want you to go to the store and pick up cough medicine, soup, and anything else you think might help make his daughter better. Bring them to his place and tell him I hope his daughter gets well soon. And tell him to take his time coming back to work. Family comes first here."
*****
Couvea answered the knock at his apartment door, quite surprised to see Garrett on the other side with a Phar-More-C bag in hand. Couvea had planned to go to the pharmacy and food store later that day, hopefully if Aei Lynn was feeling better.
"Garrett, what are you doing here?" Couvea asked as he opened the door. Garrett held the white plastic bag out to the gothic looking man.
"From Mr. Smith. Take your time coming back to work and he hopes Aei gets well soon."
"Thankyou," Couvea said as he took the bag. "I really appreciate it." Garrett gave Couvea a quick nod and headed off. The psychic watched him go for a moment before he closed the door. ~They have their good points but, guaranteed, if the boss or his lackeys knew Aei and I were mutants I'd be out of a job and they wouldn't care if she were sick with a cold or on the brink of death...But the gesture was nice, I give them credit for that.~
He walked to the bathroom, putting the children's medicines away. Next stop - kitchen. Couvea weighed his soup choices carefully. Vegetable or Chicken...Vegetable or Chicken...Aei Lynn loved chicken soup. She didn't really *like* vegetables, common for her age. He didn't like veggies in his younger years either, and he remembered being a little hellion when his mother made vegetables.
"Chicken soup it is," Couvea decided.
*****
Couvea poked his head into Aei Lynn's room. It was lunchtime, the soup was ready, and it was time to administer the first dose of medicine. She was still sleeping. He walked over to his little one and sat down beside her on the bed.
"Aei Lynn, sweetie, I made you some soup...It's chicken."
Aei rolled over and slowly opened her eyes. She could smell the soup...mmm chicken soup, with all its chicken-y goodness. She could see the steam rising from the pale golden surface; fresh and warm and just for her. She knew her father had made it with lots of Tender Loving Care. Aei sat up a bit, supporting her back against her pillow and smiled up at Couvea.
"How are you feeling?" Couvea asked, smiling back.
"I slept for a long time...But I slept good. I didn't wake up until you came in here."
"Good," he said. He lifted the back of one hand up to her forehead. She still had a fever, she was still warm, but it had gone down since that morning. He nodded slightly in satisfaction. "Are you hungry?"
Aei Lynn nodded and Couvea took a spoonful of the chicken soup, blew on it, and then carefully held the spoon up to Aei's mouth.
"Careful, it's hot."
"Okay," she replied and took the spoonful. Aei smiled contently and her father proceeded to feed her. She yawned when she was finished, the soup had made her feel a little better, but now she was tired.
"Wait sweetie, there's just one more thing you need to take before you go back to sleep."
She just looked at him sleepily, one eye already half closed while the other slowly drooped and then suddenly opened. Couvea picked up another teaspoon and medicine, filled the teaspoon accordingly as prescribed by the label, and carefully brought the spoon to his daughter's lips. Aei closed her mouth and blinked as the medicine hit her tongue after Couvea took the teaspoon back.
~This is horrible!~ Aei Lynn thought.
"Swallow Aei, it'll make you feel better. And if you swallow that now the taste will go away sooner." She grumbled and did as told, making a face in disgust as she swallowed.
"That wasn't so bad," Couvea said.
~Easy for you to say daddy, you didn't have to take it.~ She thought to herself; Couvea heard it though. She didn't know how to keep her thoughts private yet. Her father held back his laughter, instead he tucked Aei Lynn back into bed.
"Get some rest Aei, you deserve it."
*****
It was a Tuesday, Blud Rayne was coming over for one of his psychic sessions. Aei Lynn was still sick with a cold but well enough to walk around...and try to run away from Couvea whenever he had that awful "cherry" medicine. Aei Lynn didn't know about Blud Rayne.
And if Couvea could have his way, she never would. But fate has a mean sense of humor and some things just can't be helped. Couvea was now searching high and low for his daughter with her medicine in hand. He was hoping to give Aei the cough syrup and then put her to bed but his plans were soon thrown out the window when she saw the dreaded "red medicine of doom".
"Arg...where is she? He'll be here any minute!" ~Aei Lynn, come take your medicine...please?~
Then there was a knock at the door. It was a knock Couvea was very familiar with. Blud Rayne was right on time, if not a little early. Couvea went to the door and opened it, giving a quick look around as if he expected Aei to bolt outside when he wasn't looking.
"Well hello," said Rayne. He looked like a kind, gentle old man, but looks were deceiving. This was one "old guy" you didn't want to piss off unless you wanted to be soup.
"Hello Mr. Rayne." Couvea greeted, stepping aside to let him in. "Please, wait in the kitchen and make yourself comfortable. I'm trying to...find my daughter."
Rayne raised a brow, Couvea nodded to the medicine and scowled slightly.
"I see," Rayne said with a chuckle. After so many visits to Couvea's apartment Blud Rayne knew his way around fairly well so he found the kitchen easily. And that's where he found Aei Lynn.
"Well, you must be Aei Lynn," he said as he walked over to her. The little blue haired girl looked up at him and nodded. "Hiding from your daddy I see, you don't like that awful medicine do you?"
She shook her head. "It tastes really bad."
"Aei Lynn are you in the kitchen?" Couvea called from the living room. He'd looked everywhere else.
Blud Rayne grinned and opened a cabinet, "Hid in here and stay quiet."
She complied and Rayne sat down at the table, smiling pleasantly as Couvea walked in.
"I don't suppose you've seen her, have you?"
"Blue hair, about this tall," Rayne motioned with a hand. "Pretty icy blue eyes, and adorably cute?"
"That's her."
"Nope, never seen her," Rayne chuckled, gesturing to the cabinet. Aei Lynn softly giggled inside the dark space and Couvea walked over to it.
"Oh I wonder where she could be," Couvea said, then opened the door and picked up his daughter. She laughed and hugged his neck, to which he smiled.
"Now you have to take your medicine," her father said as he sat her down on a chair.
"But dad," said Aei Lynn.
"Don't call me 'Butt Dad'," Couvea said.
Aei laughed again, shaking her head. Rayne chuckled, admiring their chemistry.
"If I take some will you take some too?" Aei asked. Rayne watched Couvea expectantly.
Couvea sighed, at this point he would do anything just to get her to take it.
"Okay. If you take a spoonful then I'll take a spoonful," Couvea agreed. Aei Lynn nodded and took her medicine. She made a face of disgust and twisted a bit as she let out a "gaaah".
Couvea couldn't help but laugh at his daughter's expressions. And then it was his turn. He grabbed another spoon for himself and filled it. He glanced at Aei Lynn and Blud Rayne - Rayne was thoroughly enjoying this!
"Bottoms up," Rayne grinned.
Couvea downed the spoon of medicine, and then went into the same series of faces of disgust and disapproval.
Aei Lynn burst out into outright laughter that was uncontrollable. Within seconds her sides were hurting and her eyes were tearing up a bit. Blud Rayne controlled his laughter with chuckles and a few snickers.
"*Ahem*", he coughed, trying to regain some dignity. "You've had your medicine Aei, now it's time for you to rest."
"Okay daddy," Aei said. She looked up at Blud Rayne. "Nice meeting you...uhm..."
"My name is Mr. Blud--"
"Haven. Mr. Bludhaven," Couvea finished.
"Nice meeting you Mr. Bludhaven."
Aei headed off to her room. All that running around had made her tired anyway.
"She doesn't need to know, not yet," Couvea said, though it was mostly directed to himself.
"Shall we begin then?" Blud Rayne asked.
Couvea nodded.
*****
Couvea woke up groggier than usual. His head felt like it was floating, his nose was stuffy and within two minutes he was having a short coughing fit. He felt warm...wonderful. He'd been blessed with the gift that kept on giving - he'd gotten Aei Lynn's cold. Well, at least she wasn't sick anymore. He grumbled and rolled over, 7:00 AM on Saturday...
Aei Lynn walked in and climbed onto her father's bed, plopping down at his side.
"Morning daddy," she said. It was uncanny how only on Saturdays Aei could wake herself up, but during the week she'd sleep in unless Couvea woke her up.
"Morning Aei," came his muffled reply.
"Are you okay?"
"Fine. I just have your cold but I'll be alright."
"Do you want me to take care of you?"
Couvea couldn't help but chuckle. He could see it now: Aei Lynn giving him the dreaded cherry medicine - he didn't want to go through that humiliating scenario again, not in front of his daughter. He shook his head and smiled at her.
"No that's alright, I can take care of myself without getting out of bed."
"How?"
"It's called telekinesis. You have it too, you can move and pick up objects with your mind."
"Will you teach me daddy?"
Couvea nodded. "When you powers are more developed I'll teach you. In the meantime I want you to be my little girl and watch your cartoons. Don't worry about me today...And from Monday on until I get better I want you to ask Kyle's mother to take you to school."
Aei Lynn nodded and smiled, then headed to the living room to watch her Saturday morning cartoons.