Well, Here it is, another chapter to Drawing Down the Moon. As for Ryou's flu, I'm decribing whatever I've had for the last 2 weeks, even the fainting spell and why I fainted. In my case it was simply the flu that set me off. And yes, it's Malik talking again in this chap.
Malik: Sweeeeeet! I'm in the spotlight!
Kaiba: -_- U.... you're worse then me...
Ryou: No one's worse then you...
LYB, Malik, Kaiba: O_O!
LYB: Ryou! That wasn't nice! That wasn't like you at all!
Ryou: ^_^ U;; Malik and my yami are rubbing off on me...
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Healing an Angel
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I swear to every god I know the name of, he seemed okay. I had felt horrible all day about how I had treated him and every time I closed my eyes I could see his beautiful looking so completely unhappy. It was driving me insane; he was all I could think about! I finally couldn't take anymore of my own conscience and decided to go back to the cabin. I closed all the curtains, built myself a large fire and pulled the couch in front of it, fully intending to enjoy the warm. There was a book lying on the floor and I picked it up curiously, there was no doubting it was Ryou's and the title sparked my interest. I had started to read, then the next thing I knew I was begin awoken by a string of nasty coughs. There he was, the one who had been haunting my thoughts all day, but it didn't look like him at all. He was sickly pale and his eyes seemed to be clouded over with lack of emotion of any kind. He looked so tired and run down.
My heart went out to him, at that moment there was nothing I would rather do then try to make him feel better. At least maybe I could make up for how I treated him. I really do care about him, with every bit of my being. And at that moment I was caught with myself in an overly strange tug of war. One part of my felt horribly guilt, another wanted to take this little nymph in my arms and ease every bit of his pain, the third practically screamed at me to put up ever defence I had against everything I was feeling. I somehow managed to do all three. I let him have the mug I love so much, I go no where without because it's the only written lines I have from the play, and brought him my blanket.
Though I almost did let my feeling slide not once but twice. I thought at that point I could never be more afraid. Hell was I wrong. I accidentally blurted that I knew how he liked his tea, something I had watched him make once while I was visiting Bakura and filed away to memory. I did manage to cover that up half-decently, but my second slip... I don't know what to think of it... he was cold so I put my arms around him next thing I know I have this night angel in my arms, my hands in his hair, looking up at me with the most blissful expression and he looked so tempting... I can't believe I tried to kiss him! And much to my disappointment (and after a moment, relief) he started the most awful fit of coughing I'd ever seen anyone have. I felt so bad for him!
But I swear when I asked if he wanted to go upstairs, I thought he was okay! Just a cold, nothing more. He had the blanket pulled around him as he walked toward the stairs then two steps up the stairs he stopped. I stared at him for a moment and then he started to take short quick shallow breaths. I came up behind him, concerned that maybe he had developed pneumonia. "Ryou?" I asked, "Are you okay? Ryou?"
He gripped the rail tightly, his knuckles turning white "Yes," he said gently, "Yes, I'm fine..." Then he swayed dangerously on feet and it was like his whole body suddenly gave way.
"RYOU!" I cried, rushing forward just in time to catch him as he feel back into my arms. I've never been more scared in my life as I lowered him to the ground, gathering him into my lap. His eyes were closed and he was pale as sin. His breath came in short, shallow gulps. Oh Goddess let him be alright! Just let me help him! I pulled him to my chest and turn his head slightly so I can watch his eyes, he skin was like ice under my fingers and his eyes weren't fluttering. He was out cold. I pull my hand to his neck, feeling his pulse race again my hand, but it started to fall back to normal. His breath evened out and it seemed like his whole body started to relax. Though he remained horribly cold and I could feel him start to shiver.
I breathed a sigh of relief as I sat there on the floor and wrapped the blanket around him snugly then gathered him up into my arms. I rested my forehead against the crook of neck. "Thank Isis," I whispered, running my hand through his hair, a warm wave a relief came over me as I realized what had happened. It wasn't really his flu that had gotten to him; he had an anxiety attack. I recalled Isis taking a spell like this when they were overworking her at the museum. One of the symptoms of an attack is hyperventilating and increased heart rate that only lasts for a few minutes but can cause a fainting spell. Ryou with his horrible cough seemed an easy target for lack of oxygen.
I got to my feet, cradling him against me. I wondered what could have stressed him out so much that he would take faint but at the moment I had more important things to worry about. It was obvious Ryou didn't have a plan cold; he was fighting a rather nasty flu and had developed a bad case of the chills. I carried him up the stairs and laid him on the bed. But I faltered when it dawned on me what needed to be done. If I did break his chills, he'd start raging a horrible fever and if I didn't get him out of his clothes they were bound to become water logged and bring on the chills again.
Somehow I managed to get him out of his shirt, jeans and socks, but decided it was in the best interest of my sanity to leave his boxer on. I carefully lay him on his side to help ease any more coughing fits he might take to before carefully tucking the sheets around him and laying the comforter over him again.
I ran downstairs faster then I ever thought I could go and put the kettle back on the stove. I tore the kitchen apart looking for the things I needed: a few small pieces of apple, allspice, bay, cinnamon, nutmeg, rosemary, I was never more thankful Kaiba provided his guests with a wide variety of spices. I had to smile in spite of myself looking at my choices for magickal herbs, as if you couldn't tell where I was from. I went threw all the drawers, pulling everything out, and eventually realized I'd have to be satisfied with what I had. The kettle boiled and I poured the hot water to the largest blow I could find, and loaded up the spice bottles into a another, taking them upstairs. I put everything on the bedside stand and then ransacked the bathroom. I finally found what I was looking for, a soft and small white hand towel. I filled the extra bowl I had brought up with cooler water from the tap and brought both the water and towel back to the bedroom along with a few flu-fighting medicines that could help him when he woke up, and I proceeded to start my work. I blessed the towel and both bowls of water, clearing them of whatever negativity may be in them then laid the towel out flat. I started pouring the herbs onto its center, asking each one to lend me it power. Asking that they each work in their own way and together to break my little nymph of his illness.
I folded the cloth over, both sides into the center then bottom to top, sealing in the magick I was working. I dipped my rectangular medicine bag into the hot water and the smell of rich heated spice struck the air and the water turned a pale golden brown as the colour of the cinnamon and allspice leaked into it. The heat scalded my hands but I really didn't care, all that worried my was getting the boy lying still in the bed to come back to me. I rung out the extra water, careful not to unfold the cloth and let the herbs fall out, and sat down next to him on the bed. I pressed the cloth to his forehead, "Come back to me," I whispered softly dabbing the warmth against his face, leaving his skin slightly shined with the dampness "feel the warmth and come back to me." I rung out the cloth in the cooler water, "rinse it free of all illness that none shall come back on him." I whispered softly to the water then dipped the cloth into the hot again, by now the water had turned much darker and the smell of warm magick lingered in the air. I pressed the cloth to his skin again, nursing his chills, hoping I was having some effect on him. After repeating my water ritual once more, I lay the cloth on his forehead again, holding it there with the palm of my hand. He shifted a bit and gave a soft whimper, rolling slightly. "Shh..." I said gently, still keeping the cloth again his skin. "It's okay."
He's eyes fluttered open and looked at me, his half-laden brown eyes following me slowly as I rinsed the cloth again, only this time careful to say my chant in my head. "Malik?" he said in such a lower whisper it was hard to hear.
"Yes, It's me." I replied, pressing the makeshift compress to his temple, I was more tender this time, as if more to sooth him instead of heal him and it seemed to help. I had no doubt he knew it was me, it was more of a questioning then not being able to see me clearly. "Hush now, your very sick." I instantly chastised myself for sounding like I was talking to a child but kept dabbing his face with the warm cloth. His eyes closed.
"Do I have to go to the hospital?" he asked nervously.
"If your not any better come morning I think it would be best." his eyes shot open and he looked at me fearfully.
"No, please no! Promise me I won't have to go..."
"Shhh, shh..." I said in the best soothing voice I could manage and abandoned the cloth to lay a hand on his shoulder and press him back into the bed. "I can't promise that. You took a bad fainting spell and you have a nasty set of chills, if you're no better..."
"Please?" he said in a gently, pleading tone, "No hospitals, not unless it's absolutely necessary..."
I sighed, that seemed reasonable. "Okay, not unless necessary..." He visibly relaxed at this, closing him eyes again. I moved a bit closer to him and helped him sit up, then put the back of my hand to his forehead. "Your still cold..." I muttered more to myself then to him then started going threw the medicines I had put aside to see if anything targeted fevers and chills. He didn't protest, just sat quietly while I poured out a good dose of Nyquil and offered it to him. He gave me a lazy glare as if to say "you really don't expect me to drink that do you?"
I tapped me foot impatiently, "Come on, Ryou, it doesn't taste that bad and it will make you feel a hell of a lot better then you do now." He coughed roughly, then snuffed a bit before taking the red syrup and gulping it down. He twisted his face up at the so-called cherry flavouring but didn't protest. A funny look crossed his face.
"Smells strange in here... like," he paused and seemed to be thinking about something, "like apple crumble." I laughed and shook my head.
"Yes, I suppose it does!" I replied, folding the towel over neatly and setting it aside with the two bowls of water. I cracked open another of the med-bottles and handed him one of the pills. He smiled weakly.
"What are you trying to do, dope me up?"
I smiled; even sick he has a sense of humour. "It's Advil, it will help your temperature and shouldn't mess with the Nyquil." he nodded briefly and took that from me too. "Lay down now," I directed, tiding the nightstand a bit, I'm rather picky about keeping things clean, "Try to rest."
He snuggled down on his side and again, closing his eyes. I tried to focus on cleaning up and taking things back to where they belonged, but my eyes kept wandering back to him, laying curled up in a ball, the blankets pulled around him. Despite the fact he was sick, he did like so innocently cute. I had just finished putting away most of whatever I had brought upstairs and had come back to turn out the bedside lamp and let him sleep when he let out another long string of deep violent coughs then he whimpered a bit again. I wanted so badly to wrap my arms around him and hold him to me, I wanted to cradle him to me and ease his pain. My heart sank in my chest and I sat down beside him again, smoothing his long hair. I loved the way his hair felt under my fingers, like soft strains of silk. He snuffled again and coughed before looking up at me, the most pitiful expression of misery on his face. "I hurt." he said simply and I smiled sympathetically as best I could, but I think it turned out more depressed then anything.
"Where do you hurt?" I asked gently, easing a few stray locks of hair from his face.
"My chest... my back..." he muttered, then started to cough again.
"No wonder, with a cough like that..." I sighed. "Lay on your stomach, maybe I can help." He gave me a tired, questioning look, but flopped over, letting his left forearm dangle over the edge of the bed. I rolled down the blankets to his waist. His eyes were closed and his hair lay in tresses over his shoulder and back. I swallowed deeply, admiring his bare skin then shook my head trying to clear it of my dreamy thoughts. I brushed his hair away from his back and shoulders, letting it fall from his neck to the pillows and started to knead his shoulders in slowly, firm circles. He gave a soft noise and shifted a bit, a small smile playing across his face. I ran my hands up and down repetitively over the areas between his shoulder blades and spine from his shoulders to his lower back. Pressing gently with my palms when I moved then up and digging the tips of my fingers into the soft skin as I pulled down. I could fell the muscles beneath start to relax and began to work around his ribs with a massaging motion, my fingers on his side, palm on his back. His body shuddered and he started to cough again and I spread my hands across his upper back to feel where the coughing was pulling at him. I felt the tightening just under his shoulder blades and after he finished I started to work the thin area with my thumbs rubbing in small circles, releasing the knotted muscles. He sighed deeply.
"You're good at this."
"Thank you," I said quietly wishing he knew just how much will power it was taking not to lean over and start trailing kisses down the back of his neck. I was stuck somewhere in pure bliss, running my hands across his bare skin and burning hell from the way he would shift and purr under my touch. I experiment, learning what touch gave me what results. A gentle trail of fingers over his spine produced a little sigh, a kneed motion created a deeper purr, and a firm steady caress over neck and shoulders resulted in a light moan. I should stop this because I'm only torturing myself. After awhile he nuzzled his face into the pillow and semi-open opened his eyes.
"I feel..." he dropped off and blinked a few times, flexing his shoulder a bit.
"Tired?" I offered. He nodded.
"...yeah..." he replied sleepily. He coughed a bit more, but not as harsh this time, I took it as a good sign. But I felt another tremor of cold shivers pass through him and I sighed, his chills hadn't improved.
"Close your eyes," I offered soothingly and lessened my kneading of his back, opting instead to just rub in soothing circles to make him feel drowsy. He let his eyes fall and he sighed a bit, tucking his arms under the pillow. I've never felt the need to comfort someone as much as I did then, and I promised in my own mind that even if I could never have him, I would always be there to look after him and watch out for him if he ever needed me. I hummed softly, surprising myself, I never offered to sing for any one besides myself when I was lonely or pre-occupied and no one was around. Isis was the only one who ever listened to me sing and she laughs at me for being afraid of revelling what she calls a talent. Though I never believe her. But at the moment I was feeling peaceful and I started to sing gently, crooning him to sleep:
Heaven can wait,
and a band of angels wrapped up
in my heart,
will take me through the lonely nights,
through the cold of day~
I know, I know,
Heaven can wait,
and all the gods come down here
just, to sing for me.
And the melody will make me fly,
without fear,
without pain~
Give me all of your dreams and
Let me go along on your way
Give me all of your prayers to sing and I'll
Turn the night,
Into the skylight of day,
I've got a taste of paradise,
I'm never, gonna let it,
Slip away.
I've got a taste of paradise,
That's all I really need to make me stay~
Just like a child again,
Heaven can wait,
And all I got is time until the end of time,
And I won't look back,
I won't look back,
Let the alters shine,
And I know that I've been released but I,
Don't know to where.
No one is gonna tell me now and I
Don't really care
no, no, no,
I've got a taste of Paradise,
That's all I really need, to make me stay.
I've got a taste of Paradise,
If I had it any sooner you know,
You know I never would have run away,
From my home~
Heaven can wait
Heaven can wait
And I won't look back,
I won't look back,
let the alters shine,
Let the alter, shine~
His breath had become steady, a smile resting peacefully on his lips, so I suppose my singing wasn't that bad. I covered him up carefully to keep him warm and laid my fingers to his cheek finding it still cool to the touch. I sighed inside myself, I really didn't want to drag him off to the hospital come morning, he made it clear that something about them terrifies him. I glanced at the clock on the wall, 5 pm. I had all night but really didn't want him having a raging fever at dawn either, it would be best if both could be broken before they became a problem.
I took off my socks then pulled my shirt off over my head and shook out my thick blond hair. "When all else fails, use the classic non-medical way." I muttered, crawling under the blankets with him. "Your yami is going to kill me," I hissed to him, wrapping my arms around him and pulling him to me, his back to my chest to warm him with my own body, "If you don't kill me first." I added. I was flirting with bad luck on this one, being so close to him it was getting hard to hide how I did feel for him. I smoothed his hair back and curled up against him, laying my head against the silken pillow of long white hair. I took a deep breath, catching the scent that was so purely him, something like lavender and the rich smell of insent smoke. I liked it, it reminded me of working my magick for some reason and I tightened my arms around him a bit, feeling a peace I hadn't felt in along time. My thoughts for once were still and in that warm embrace I fell asleep.
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Awwww!!!! Well, I'm not going to wake them and bother them with their normal outro... I meant to post this yesterday, but I had a ceremony to go to... sorry ^_^ I'll try to get two chapters posted on Christmas Eve. Yule blessings everyone!!
Yeah I know my grammar is still bad, I haven't had time to write anyone back about beta reading but thank you everyone who offered! I will write to you soon! THANK YOU!!
Malik: Sweeeeeet! I'm in the spotlight!
Kaiba: -_- U.... you're worse then me...
Ryou: No one's worse then you...
LYB, Malik, Kaiba: O_O!
LYB: Ryou! That wasn't nice! That wasn't like you at all!
Ryou: ^_^ U;; Malik and my yami are rubbing off on me...
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Healing an Angel
*****************************************************************
I swear to every god I know the name of, he seemed okay. I had felt horrible all day about how I had treated him and every time I closed my eyes I could see his beautiful looking so completely unhappy. It was driving me insane; he was all I could think about! I finally couldn't take anymore of my own conscience and decided to go back to the cabin. I closed all the curtains, built myself a large fire and pulled the couch in front of it, fully intending to enjoy the warm. There was a book lying on the floor and I picked it up curiously, there was no doubting it was Ryou's and the title sparked my interest. I had started to read, then the next thing I knew I was begin awoken by a string of nasty coughs. There he was, the one who had been haunting my thoughts all day, but it didn't look like him at all. He was sickly pale and his eyes seemed to be clouded over with lack of emotion of any kind. He looked so tired and run down.
My heart went out to him, at that moment there was nothing I would rather do then try to make him feel better. At least maybe I could make up for how I treated him. I really do care about him, with every bit of my being. And at that moment I was caught with myself in an overly strange tug of war. One part of my felt horribly guilt, another wanted to take this little nymph in my arms and ease every bit of his pain, the third practically screamed at me to put up ever defence I had against everything I was feeling. I somehow managed to do all three. I let him have the mug I love so much, I go no where without because it's the only written lines I have from the play, and brought him my blanket.
Though I almost did let my feeling slide not once but twice. I thought at that point I could never be more afraid. Hell was I wrong. I accidentally blurted that I knew how he liked his tea, something I had watched him make once while I was visiting Bakura and filed away to memory. I did manage to cover that up half-decently, but my second slip... I don't know what to think of it... he was cold so I put my arms around him next thing I know I have this night angel in my arms, my hands in his hair, looking up at me with the most blissful expression and he looked so tempting... I can't believe I tried to kiss him! And much to my disappointment (and after a moment, relief) he started the most awful fit of coughing I'd ever seen anyone have. I felt so bad for him!
But I swear when I asked if he wanted to go upstairs, I thought he was okay! Just a cold, nothing more. He had the blanket pulled around him as he walked toward the stairs then two steps up the stairs he stopped. I stared at him for a moment and then he started to take short quick shallow breaths. I came up behind him, concerned that maybe he had developed pneumonia. "Ryou?" I asked, "Are you okay? Ryou?"
He gripped the rail tightly, his knuckles turning white "Yes," he said gently, "Yes, I'm fine..." Then he swayed dangerously on feet and it was like his whole body suddenly gave way.
"RYOU!" I cried, rushing forward just in time to catch him as he feel back into my arms. I've never been more scared in my life as I lowered him to the ground, gathering him into my lap. His eyes were closed and he was pale as sin. His breath came in short, shallow gulps. Oh Goddess let him be alright! Just let me help him! I pulled him to my chest and turn his head slightly so I can watch his eyes, he skin was like ice under my fingers and his eyes weren't fluttering. He was out cold. I pull my hand to his neck, feeling his pulse race again my hand, but it started to fall back to normal. His breath evened out and it seemed like his whole body started to relax. Though he remained horribly cold and I could feel him start to shiver.
I breathed a sigh of relief as I sat there on the floor and wrapped the blanket around him snugly then gathered him up into my arms. I rested my forehead against the crook of neck. "Thank Isis," I whispered, running my hand through his hair, a warm wave a relief came over me as I realized what had happened. It wasn't really his flu that had gotten to him; he had an anxiety attack. I recalled Isis taking a spell like this when they were overworking her at the museum. One of the symptoms of an attack is hyperventilating and increased heart rate that only lasts for a few minutes but can cause a fainting spell. Ryou with his horrible cough seemed an easy target for lack of oxygen.
I got to my feet, cradling him against me. I wondered what could have stressed him out so much that he would take faint but at the moment I had more important things to worry about. It was obvious Ryou didn't have a plan cold; he was fighting a rather nasty flu and had developed a bad case of the chills. I carried him up the stairs and laid him on the bed. But I faltered when it dawned on me what needed to be done. If I did break his chills, he'd start raging a horrible fever and if I didn't get him out of his clothes they were bound to become water logged and bring on the chills again.
Somehow I managed to get him out of his shirt, jeans and socks, but decided it was in the best interest of my sanity to leave his boxer on. I carefully lay him on his side to help ease any more coughing fits he might take to before carefully tucking the sheets around him and laying the comforter over him again.
I ran downstairs faster then I ever thought I could go and put the kettle back on the stove. I tore the kitchen apart looking for the things I needed: a few small pieces of apple, allspice, bay, cinnamon, nutmeg, rosemary, I was never more thankful Kaiba provided his guests with a wide variety of spices. I had to smile in spite of myself looking at my choices for magickal herbs, as if you couldn't tell where I was from. I went threw all the drawers, pulling everything out, and eventually realized I'd have to be satisfied with what I had. The kettle boiled and I poured the hot water to the largest blow I could find, and loaded up the spice bottles into a another, taking them upstairs. I put everything on the bedside stand and then ransacked the bathroom. I finally found what I was looking for, a soft and small white hand towel. I filled the extra bowl I had brought up with cooler water from the tap and brought both the water and towel back to the bedroom along with a few flu-fighting medicines that could help him when he woke up, and I proceeded to start my work. I blessed the towel and both bowls of water, clearing them of whatever negativity may be in them then laid the towel out flat. I started pouring the herbs onto its center, asking each one to lend me it power. Asking that they each work in their own way and together to break my little nymph of his illness.
I folded the cloth over, both sides into the center then bottom to top, sealing in the magick I was working. I dipped my rectangular medicine bag into the hot water and the smell of rich heated spice struck the air and the water turned a pale golden brown as the colour of the cinnamon and allspice leaked into it. The heat scalded my hands but I really didn't care, all that worried my was getting the boy lying still in the bed to come back to me. I rung out the extra water, careful not to unfold the cloth and let the herbs fall out, and sat down next to him on the bed. I pressed the cloth to his forehead, "Come back to me," I whispered softly dabbing the warmth against his face, leaving his skin slightly shined with the dampness "feel the warmth and come back to me." I rung out the cloth in the cooler water, "rinse it free of all illness that none shall come back on him." I whispered softly to the water then dipped the cloth into the hot again, by now the water had turned much darker and the smell of warm magick lingered in the air. I pressed the cloth to his skin again, nursing his chills, hoping I was having some effect on him. After repeating my water ritual once more, I lay the cloth on his forehead again, holding it there with the palm of my hand. He shifted a bit and gave a soft whimper, rolling slightly. "Shh..." I said gently, still keeping the cloth again his skin. "It's okay."
He's eyes fluttered open and looked at me, his half-laden brown eyes following me slowly as I rinsed the cloth again, only this time careful to say my chant in my head. "Malik?" he said in such a lower whisper it was hard to hear.
"Yes, It's me." I replied, pressing the makeshift compress to his temple, I was more tender this time, as if more to sooth him instead of heal him and it seemed to help. I had no doubt he knew it was me, it was more of a questioning then not being able to see me clearly. "Hush now, your very sick." I instantly chastised myself for sounding like I was talking to a child but kept dabbing his face with the warm cloth. His eyes closed.
"Do I have to go to the hospital?" he asked nervously.
"If your not any better come morning I think it would be best." his eyes shot open and he looked at me fearfully.
"No, please no! Promise me I won't have to go..."
"Shhh, shh..." I said in the best soothing voice I could manage and abandoned the cloth to lay a hand on his shoulder and press him back into the bed. "I can't promise that. You took a bad fainting spell and you have a nasty set of chills, if you're no better..."
"Please?" he said in a gently, pleading tone, "No hospitals, not unless it's absolutely necessary..."
I sighed, that seemed reasonable. "Okay, not unless necessary..." He visibly relaxed at this, closing him eyes again. I moved a bit closer to him and helped him sit up, then put the back of my hand to his forehead. "Your still cold..." I muttered more to myself then to him then started going threw the medicines I had put aside to see if anything targeted fevers and chills. He didn't protest, just sat quietly while I poured out a good dose of Nyquil and offered it to him. He gave me a lazy glare as if to say "you really don't expect me to drink that do you?"
I tapped me foot impatiently, "Come on, Ryou, it doesn't taste that bad and it will make you feel a hell of a lot better then you do now." He coughed roughly, then snuffed a bit before taking the red syrup and gulping it down. He twisted his face up at the so-called cherry flavouring but didn't protest. A funny look crossed his face.
"Smells strange in here... like," he paused and seemed to be thinking about something, "like apple crumble." I laughed and shook my head.
"Yes, I suppose it does!" I replied, folding the towel over neatly and setting it aside with the two bowls of water. I cracked open another of the med-bottles and handed him one of the pills. He smiled weakly.
"What are you trying to do, dope me up?"
I smiled; even sick he has a sense of humour. "It's Advil, it will help your temperature and shouldn't mess with the Nyquil." he nodded briefly and took that from me too. "Lay down now," I directed, tiding the nightstand a bit, I'm rather picky about keeping things clean, "Try to rest."
He snuggled down on his side and again, closing his eyes. I tried to focus on cleaning up and taking things back to where they belonged, but my eyes kept wandering back to him, laying curled up in a ball, the blankets pulled around him. Despite the fact he was sick, he did like so innocently cute. I had just finished putting away most of whatever I had brought upstairs and had come back to turn out the bedside lamp and let him sleep when he let out another long string of deep violent coughs then he whimpered a bit again. I wanted so badly to wrap my arms around him and hold him to me, I wanted to cradle him to me and ease his pain. My heart sank in my chest and I sat down beside him again, smoothing his long hair. I loved the way his hair felt under my fingers, like soft strains of silk. He snuffled again and coughed before looking up at me, the most pitiful expression of misery on his face. "I hurt." he said simply and I smiled sympathetically as best I could, but I think it turned out more depressed then anything.
"Where do you hurt?" I asked gently, easing a few stray locks of hair from his face.
"My chest... my back..." he muttered, then started to cough again.
"No wonder, with a cough like that..." I sighed. "Lay on your stomach, maybe I can help." He gave me a tired, questioning look, but flopped over, letting his left forearm dangle over the edge of the bed. I rolled down the blankets to his waist. His eyes were closed and his hair lay in tresses over his shoulder and back. I swallowed deeply, admiring his bare skin then shook my head trying to clear it of my dreamy thoughts. I brushed his hair away from his back and shoulders, letting it fall from his neck to the pillows and started to knead his shoulders in slowly, firm circles. He gave a soft noise and shifted a bit, a small smile playing across his face. I ran my hands up and down repetitively over the areas between his shoulder blades and spine from his shoulders to his lower back. Pressing gently with my palms when I moved then up and digging the tips of my fingers into the soft skin as I pulled down. I could fell the muscles beneath start to relax and began to work around his ribs with a massaging motion, my fingers on his side, palm on his back. His body shuddered and he started to cough again and I spread my hands across his upper back to feel where the coughing was pulling at him. I felt the tightening just under his shoulder blades and after he finished I started to work the thin area with my thumbs rubbing in small circles, releasing the knotted muscles. He sighed deeply.
"You're good at this."
"Thank you," I said quietly wishing he knew just how much will power it was taking not to lean over and start trailing kisses down the back of his neck. I was stuck somewhere in pure bliss, running my hands across his bare skin and burning hell from the way he would shift and purr under my touch. I experiment, learning what touch gave me what results. A gentle trail of fingers over his spine produced a little sigh, a kneed motion created a deeper purr, and a firm steady caress over neck and shoulders resulted in a light moan. I should stop this because I'm only torturing myself. After awhile he nuzzled his face into the pillow and semi-open opened his eyes.
"I feel..." he dropped off and blinked a few times, flexing his shoulder a bit.
"Tired?" I offered. He nodded.
"...yeah..." he replied sleepily. He coughed a bit more, but not as harsh this time, I took it as a good sign. But I felt another tremor of cold shivers pass through him and I sighed, his chills hadn't improved.
"Close your eyes," I offered soothingly and lessened my kneading of his back, opting instead to just rub in soothing circles to make him feel drowsy. He let his eyes fall and he sighed a bit, tucking his arms under the pillow. I've never felt the need to comfort someone as much as I did then, and I promised in my own mind that even if I could never have him, I would always be there to look after him and watch out for him if he ever needed me. I hummed softly, surprising myself, I never offered to sing for any one besides myself when I was lonely or pre-occupied and no one was around. Isis was the only one who ever listened to me sing and she laughs at me for being afraid of revelling what she calls a talent. Though I never believe her. But at the moment I was feeling peaceful and I started to sing gently, crooning him to sleep:
Heaven can wait,
and a band of angels wrapped up
in my heart,
will take me through the lonely nights,
through the cold of day~
I know, I know,
Heaven can wait,
and all the gods come down here
just, to sing for me.
And the melody will make me fly,
without fear,
without pain~
Give me all of your dreams and
Let me go along on your way
Give me all of your prayers to sing and I'll
Turn the night,
Into the skylight of day,
I've got a taste of paradise,
I'm never, gonna let it,
Slip away.
I've got a taste of paradise,
That's all I really need to make me stay~
Just like a child again,
Heaven can wait,
And all I got is time until the end of time,
And I won't look back,
I won't look back,
Let the alters shine,
And I know that I've been released but I,
Don't know to where.
No one is gonna tell me now and I
Don't really care
no, no, no,
I've got a taste of Paradise,
That's all I really need, to make me stay.
I've got a taste of Paradise,
If I had it any sooner you know,
You know I never would have run away,
From my home~
Heaven can wait
Heaven can wait
And I won't look back,
I won't look back,
let the alters shine,
Let the alter, shine~
His breath had become steady, a smile resting peacefully on his lips, so I suppose my singing wasn't that bad. I covered him up carefully to keep him warm and laid my fingers to his cheek finding it still cool to the touch. I sighed inside myself, I really didn't want to drag him off to the hospital come morning, he made it clear that something about them terrifies him. I glanced at the clock on the wall, 5 pm. I had all night but really didn't want him having a raging fever at dawn either, it would be best if both could be broken before they became a problem.
I took off my socks then pulled my shirt off over my head and shook out my thick blond hair. "When all else fails, use the classic non-medical way." I muttered, crawling under the blankets with him. "Your yami is going to kill me," I hissed to him, wrapping my arms around him and pulling him to me, his back to my chest to warm him with my own body, "If you don't kill me first." I added. I was flirting with bad luck on this one, being so close to him it was getting hard to hide how I did feel for him. I smoothed his hair back and curled up against him, laying my head against the silken pillow of long white hair. I took a deep breath, catching the scent that was so purely him, something like lavender and the rich smell of insent smoke. I liked it, it reminded me of working my magick for some reason and I tightened my arms around him a bit, feeling a peace I hadn't felt in along time. My thoughts for once were still and in that warm embrace I fell asleep.
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Awwww!!!! Well, I'm not going to wake them and bother them with their normal outro... I meant to post this yesterday, but I had a ceremony to go to... sorry ^_^ I'll try to get two chapters posted on Christmas Eve. Yule blessings everyone!!
Yeah I know my grammar is still bad, I haven't had time to write anyone back about beta reading but thank you everyone who offered! I will write to you soon! THANK YOU!!