Taking the Pain Away

Chapter 9

Words: 6,500+

Rated: M

tumblr; thefluffyrenegade

A/N: Thanks for sticking around during my absence, everyone! For those who don't follow my tumblr, I had to move twice and I ended up rewriting chapter 9, bumping the previous chapter 9 to 11 and inserting a brand new chapter 10, also. Things have been a little chaotic, no pun intended, but I should be getting back on track with the chapters now. JUST A FAIR WARNING, FRIENDS! Chapter 10 is NSFW. For those who have been waiting for this, I hope it's everything you've been waiting for. After I post this chapter I'm going tp run through chapters 1 through 8 and do a few spell checks and revisions, as well as put the inspiring song for each chapter in the header. I made a post a few weeks back on my tumblr with the songs I listened to while writing, and thought, "If I have that compilation, why not insert the music with the given chapter so readers can enjoy the, also?" Ultra mega gigantic thanks for 10,000 views in 3 months and all of the reviews, some supportive, and some just absolutely hilarious. PMs and reviews make me smile, feel free to send them! I don't bite! On a final note, if I missed anything during editing, please private message me, don't leave it as a review! I re-read this fic so mich during editing, it's easy for me to miss a lot of small errors. Thanks again, friends!

Chapter 9 Song: "Simple Math" - Manchester Orchestra

For practically two weeks after Cry was released from the hospital, he wore his mask.

It was a safety blanket. A place to hide.

Even just holding a conversation with his own friends yielded the same result: Cry would pull down his mask, just above his lips, and hide behind the familiar persona. Although tension was high and concern was thick for the self-destructive little brunette, no one dared tell him to take off his mask for fear it would be enough to push him into a state of despondency. It wasn't at all for simple lack of concern, but rather minding their own business, and keeping Cry at ease. Each of his friends feared that bringing it up might upset him too much.

It wasn't until the day before he was scheduled to leave for Italy with Pewdie that Red expressed her concern to her friends and prompted something of a small intervention during the party they were hosting, a combination farewell to everyone who was dispursing to their own homes and a get well gift for the friend who was currently out with Scott at the nearby liquer store, acquiring more soda and drinks for their friends. "He can't go on like this." Red started, watching Russ as he pushed the blinds down to check that the two youtubers hadn't returned home yet. She resumed as he sank back down onto the couch with Snake and Cry's dog, who looked up for a short moment before yawning and laying his head on his paws. With a nod in his direction, she quietly spoke. "I mean, he hasn't shown any signs that he is upset or suicidal, it looks like he's recovering really well and he's acting like the old Cry..." she trailed off thoughtfully, twirling the string of her hoodie. Having had decided to hold the debate suddenly and without planning, she found it hard to conduct an organized discussion, especially in front of such a large group.

Zutara, Minx, and Ken had made it down for the party, adding to the already present Jund, Red, Russ, Snake, Pewds, and Battlestar, totalling the number of gamers at a suprising ten people, more than they had ever planned on having in Cry's apartment at once. It had been an irrefutable task to acquire the funds and time to bring together the friends, let alone all at the same time. There were work schedules to squeeze through, hotels to organize...Cry ended up pitching in money to help nearly half of his friends attend, but the end result was worth it. Having everyone together like one, big, geeky family was worth it.

A staggering number of the people at the party had never seen Cry in person before in the first place...Zutara, Minx, and Ken specifically...with that realization, Red resumed with conviction. "He might just feel a little out of place at the moment with so many people here. You guys know how he is, he values his privacy. I'm sure if we make him feel comfortable, he'll take the mask off and feel secure being around all of us." She looked around the room, relaxing when she saw understanding nods. "It's already a toll on him emotionally just to have Russ and myself...or even just Jund come visit. He's put a lot of effort into gathering us. Let's make sure we value the time we have here and make him feel at home." Red drew her legs up into the chair and snuggled down into a thick blanket, content. "In the end, we're all really here to support him while he recovers."

"Let's all remember that he's going through...a lot right now." Pewdie said simply, nothing more, nothing less, leaving the statement at that as he folded his arms in his lap. It would have been unnecessary for him to bring up the proposal, Cry's recent move, the chaos with his fans, the hate mail he'd been recieving, the narcotics, his cutting-the things that had pushed him over the edge he had been scarcely balancing on for weeks before the accident...

Pewds' cheeks flushed, his eyes suddenly moist with unshed tears as emotions flodded him, and he looked down, tensing as the memories came to him as clear as day. Although he felt Ken's hand on his shoulder, comforting and reassuring, it didn't change the fact that the image of Cry on the bathroom floor would burned into his brain for the rest of his life. It hurt not just him, but everyone who had had the tragic misfortune of seeing their friend crumpled in his own blood on his bathroom floor. No one dared speak of the incident more than it needed to be brought up. Pewds and Red had been tortured with that night and the memories of it already, and everyone else that had been present that night were finally overcoming that turmoil. Red had Russ to help her cope but Pewds was without his girlfriend in America, whilst she remained in Italy, and until this point it had been Scott whom he confided in, seldom finding comfort with these other gamers he scarcely knew. Ken was aware of the fragile emotional state Felix was in and kept his arm around his neck, trying to cheer up the blonde.

After a concencus that Red and Pewdie should talk to Cry alone before the party and make sure he was doing okay, the conversation wrapped itself up and eveyone went about their individual business. Some of them decided to sit down to watch one of Cry's favorite movies, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, and others sat down in the dining room and shuffled cards, loud caterwauls and laughter filling three bedroom apartment.

Pewdie moved to the couch, absentmindedly nibbling on a piece of candy from the pile that Red had dumped across the table in front of the television, thinking about his friend. Cry had had the obvious withdawal symptoms from time to time, but was taking his new medication regularly, as needed, despite the drowsiness and headaches it often caused, and he was increasingly eating and sleeping better, even as he suffered through an excrutiating recovery...he had boughts of sluggishness, drowsiness and a bit emotional instability, the lack of appetite and general lethargic behavior from time to time, but he enjoyed spending time watching movies and playing games with his concerned friends and would sit on the kitchen counter while Jund would prepare meals regardless of his horribly ill he felt just to keep him company, and needless to say, Scott knew how to make Cry laugh. That was their friendship. They just knew how to make wach other giggle and grin.

Cry needed help taking baths with his arm the way it was, and how lethargic and shaky he often felt from the withdawals. He eventually returned to taking showers as he recovered, which everyone felt was an improvement, that he was starting to be able to stand again. Usually, Jund would offer his assistance if Cry needed it and would wait on the closed toilet seat until Cry was clean and warm, talking loudly over the steamy downpour that threatened to drown out their voices. Red was comforted by the fact that Jund now had the opportunity to check for further self-harm and so far, he reported none.

After his initial fight with Scott two weeks priar, they hadn't spoken for an entire day-a long time for them-until Cry finally broke and came to Jund, in tears, in the middle of the night, shaken by a horrible nightmare and desperate for forgiveness, willing to explain why he had gotten so rambunctious. Scott eagerly forgave his friend and in turn apologized for his own behavior, telling Cry that he should have been more understanding and made room on the guest bed for Cry to sleep beside him.

They spoke not a word of their fight since.

Cry's arm was still too damaged to carry the heavy paper bag of alcohol, and instead he held the front door for Scott when they returned shortly after the meeting has dispursed. Scott was trying in vein to see where he was going over the tall brown bag, much to the masked gamer's entertainment. "Thank you, Scoots!" Cry giggle, biting his lip to muffled his laugh, the sound warm and inviting to his friends after the previous state of Cry's emotions. Cry reached up and pushed his glasses up his nose, looking over curiously as Red and Pewdie greeted the brunette at the door, using this opportunity to pull him aside and have a short discussion with him. Scott set up the alcohol and drinks on the kitchen counter with the help of Russ, showing off the selection before heading into the living room to give Red and Pewds some privacy with Cry.

"We were just worried, hun." Pewdie looked down at the somewhat shorter man, feeling bad for making him worried. Cry's mask was currently off to the side of his face, the strap tied through his hair. He shuffled his feet shyly and reached up to touch it, self-concious of it now that it had been brought to his attention, a nearly guilty look in his blue eyes. "I-I hadn't even realized I..." He timidly reached up and pulled off the mask, looking down at it and playing with the strap before handing it to Pewdie who looked startled, accepting the offer and taking the mask from his friend who smiled in return. "Thanks for being worried, but I'll let Pewds hold it for the rest of the night so you don't have to do that anymore, 'kay?" he sounded chipper, a friendly grin on his face now. He adjusted his hair and gave them both a hug before reaching, almost shyly out fot Pewdie's hand, sticking his tongue out playfully. "Come on, guys! We're missing the movie."

Red grinned and looked down, shuffling into the other room. "Sorry for upsetting you, Cry." Pewds watched her go, aware of Cry watching him, before turning to look at his brunette friend, his fingers twitching with the desire to grab his extended hand. He reached out and the American took a step closer, loosely wrapping his arms around Felix in a light hug. "I was worried you'd be mad at me for hugging you, but..." His voice was muffled against Pewds' chest, making his soothing voice even more enticing. The blonde man hushed his friend and took a step back to lean against the counter, returning the hug. "Let's just...enjoy this." He touched the back of Cry's head, tangling his hand in the thick, clean brunette hair and running his fingers through it's length. "Whatever...this is."

Cry nodded, his thougts trailing from the trip he would be embarking on the next day, to how warm Pewds was, and how good he smelled. The sweet's scent wreathed Cry and made him dizzy, his heart racing as he exhaled. "I'm going to miss home." He whispered, licking his lips and pushing his nose against his friend's collarbone. Bathed in his comforting scent, the Floridan relaxed and closed his eyes, his glasses slightly askew against Pewd's shoulder. When he looked up at the blonde, feeling the awkward position of his glasses across his face, they both laughed. "...Lemme fix that for you, bro." Chuckled Felix, adjusting Cry's glasses and brushing his bangs from his face, pressing a feather light kiss to his warm forehead

Both men blushed, Cry's eyes wide and expression awkward as he gaped, making Pewdie blink shyly and look away, face flushed. "We should..."

"Yeah."

Cry untangled his arms from the Swede's and leaned up on his toes, his lips pressing against Pewds' jaw in a ligt, experimental kiss. He felt Pewdie's stubble on his lips, he heard the blonde's breath hitch and Cry took a deep breath, licking his lips and touching his friend's cheeks, leaning close, his eyes half open, lips parted. Felix tensed at that, suddenly seeming uncomfortable. He looked away. "...We should..."

Cry blinked, swallowing hard. Pewds was trying to run away again. But tomorrow, they were going back to Italy, where Marzia was waiting for the Swede...Cry had to make his mark. He needed to make sure Pewds couldn't get him off of his mind. He was running out of time. He was shaking, his cheeks tinted a deep red.

"Kiss me."

Pewds swung his head towards the brunette, expression screaming 'startled'.

"...Cry..."

"I won't hold it against you later." The Floridan promised, his voice soft, their bodies flush together, Pewdie's shirt riding up against the cold marble countertop at his back. Pewds could hear their friends bantering in the next room, unaware of what was happening...it made him even more anxious. What if someone walked in and saw..? Would they tell everyone else?

Did they already know? Scott did. He was almost sure Red and Russ did...did they hate him for doing these things with Cry while he had a girlfriend waiting for him at home? Would Marzia hate him when he told her what he had been doing with Cry? Every worry that had been itching at Pewds the past few weeks hit him all at once, yet...looking into Cry's hopeful, beautiful eyes, his worries melted into a subtle nagging at the back of his brain. He bit his lip, trapped between his friend and the counter, his heart racing desperately. Every kiss pressed against Cry's lips before was...at least nice...and Marzia did say that she wouldn't hold it against him if he gave into Cry a little bit...what was a little to her? What was crossing the line?

Pewdie shakily placed his hands on Cry's hips and gripped the small of his cute waist, steering him to the wall behind them, all but pinning the brunette against it as he crushed their lips together awkwardly. A startled sound escaped his Cry's throat as Pewds pushed his tongue into his mouth, but his resistance gave away at once as he tasted Felix, swooning at the heat and pleasure erupting inside. Cry's lips were still cool from the late night air that still chilled his skin but his tongue was hot, his mouth sweet, his scent making the blonde man dizzy. Pewdie tilted his head, a soft sigh escaping his lips as they parted from Cry's, but just for a moment before deepening the kiss. Cry gave no resistance, tilting his own head and pushing his tongue against Pewdie's in response. Their tongues twined and fougt for dominance, even as Pewds began to lean away from Cry, who audibly shuddered as he exhaled. Pewds did the same, leaning closer and breathing against Cry's lips, kissing him again with just as much conviction as the first time. They were silent and still as their lips parted once again, both of their eyes mututally closed, but their breathing was ragged and audible in the slight space between them. Cry shuddered and placed his hand on Pewdie's shoulder, listening to the blonde's breathing.

Their eyes opened at nearly the same time, slowly and anxiously, Cry's skin still tingling where the blonde's stubble had rubbed his face. "T-t-thank y-you..." Cry stuttered, his chest rising and falling rapidly with each deep inhale. He looked down to the tacky tile floor and pushed at Pewds lightly, smiling a bit, face flushed. "I...think...we should go. For real, this time." The Swede nodded and fixed Cry's hair and glasses before lifting himself off of him, his emotions unbalanced and arousal quite untreated, worsened by the makeout session and his frustrating emotions. "You're not mad, right?" He asked. He had to make sure Cry was okay...but the brunette quickly responded with a trembling but reassuring smile. "I could use a drink. Let's go already, friend."

Cry had done exactly what he had wanted to and felt accomplished.

Despite Snake and Jund sharing glares with one another the great majority of the night, with the added benefit of snarky remarks scattered here and there, everyone seemed happy and entertained. Cry was on the couch between Pewdie and Jund watching his movie, more than drunk and swaying side to side as he stared at the scren. He didn't try to lay a hand on Pewds for the rest of the evening, either, instead headbutting and teasing Jund during the first film and into the second one. He leaned foreward for his drink, eyes half opened and face flushed but a suprisingly sober-perhaps just compared to Cry-grabbed his arm and gently pulled him back onto the couch, shaking his head. "You've had too much to drink." His face and voice both were stern but friendly. "Just looking out for you. Want a soda?"

Cry whined in protest at first but nodded when he realized the battle was lost, eyes half open, falling back against Pewdie's open and waiting arms, the grip on his body secure and comforting. Although the Swede was drunk himself, he was much more capable ot handling himself, and quite capable of watching over Cry so Jund could go down the road to get him a fresh drink. "I'll keep an eye on him for you." Pewds chuckled, blinking as he stared at the film on the television. He forgot what it was called, but it was strange...or was he just drunk? Maybe both. But Cry was warm and smelled good, and no one seemed to notice or mind that they were cuddling...and at least the youtubers were both content and happy. Snake gave them a short look from the dining room before opening his can or beer and looking back to the card game he was currently invested in, deciding it was none of his business. Jund liked to involve himself but...it wasn't really Snake's place. At least, that was his personal opinion.

"Get another 2-liter please, Jund." Red leaned out of the kitchen to sure the shorter haired man had heard her. He nodded in agreement and put on his shoes, watching her stir the macaroni and cheese she was preparing for herself and Russ, wondering to himself how hard this walk would be in his state, before leaving, the door clicking shut behind him and the late night chill hitting him like a brick wall. "Well, i'm sober now." He mumbled to himself, amused and annoyed at the same time. He smiled and started down the sidewalk.

Pewds could tell Scott was really worried about how drunk his friend had managed to become. He could barely walk, let alone stand, and keeping his eyes open seemed more and more like a chore. But despite this, Felix found himself stroking Cry's hair as he held him close, keeping an eye on his behavior. They had checked his medication before allowing him to drink, and he hadn't been allowed to take anything four hours priar, but he had seemed fairly comfortable without his medicine.

Cry was abundantly aware of a burning pain spreading like acid through his body. It felt as if someone had injected him with that damned numbing medicine his nurse at the hospital had used on his stitches...but it hurt everywhere this time, and was gettimg worse as time passed. He was too drunk to articulate the words to say such, instead managing the drunken slur of, "Bathroom..." before clumsily climbing to his legs and slinking off, stumbling down the hallway falling against the door with a sickening thud as he struggled to close it. He winced, aware that he was groaning softly, cringing in nausea and pain. He looked down at his hands and saw their shaking...the fleeting thought of, "Who saw me?" passed his mind before he threw himself at the toilet, forcing the lid up, resulting in a loud thud, before his stomach fully revoted on him. He spent several minutes shaking and heaving, crying in pain only to be silenced by more vomit. Before long, his stomach was empty enough to stop it's painful stranglehold on the youtuber. He collapsed on the floor in front of the toilet, sobbing as violent pain ripped at each nerve, his face so flushed and warm that his own cool tears felt like fire. Each attempt to cry out was muffled by the bathroom fan, until finally Snake was knocking on the bathroom door, his deep voice salvation to Cry who was slowly but surely loosing his grip on reality to the drunken dillusions and fever.

He wasn't sure what he had said to convince Snake to open that door amidst his cries and weak yelps, everything muffled in a painful, incoherent haze, but when the other man opened the door, Cry momentarily lost conciousness. His body went limp upon the comforing realization that he would be cared for and not left to die, as his dillusions were previously telling him. Snake inhaled sharply and reached over Cry to flush the toilet and grap a towel, wrapping the Floridan up in it and carrying him out of the bathroom.

Although unaware of such, Cry proceeded to whimper and shiek in pain even after Snake had pulled the brunette from the bathroom floor and placed him on his own bed, blankets askew from the previous night's sleep. "Stay here." Like he needed to be told-Cry had no intentions of moving from that spot. "I'll go get help."

For the second time since the Late Night Crew had met Snake, he looked terrified, lost for words, shaken even as he shambled out into the hallway, looking lost. His face was pale as he called out for Red, who jumped, shoving her bowl of noodles onto the coffee table. She didn't need to be told what was happening to come. She could already hear Cry through the half-open door whimpering and crying out, his voice sounding dry, pained amd desperate. The sounds were turning into screams of pain that alarmred everyone, but Snake pleaded with them to stay out of the room. He was the nurse after all. No one dared disagree with him. "Tell us if you need anything, okay?" Zutara almost demanded, looking up at Snake and Red's backs. Pewdie looked alarmed, sitting on the edge of the couch and scratching at his own legs.

Cry was crumpled over himself on the end of the bed, his breathing ragged and uneven, his face flushed and eyes damp with fresh tears. He squirmed, rolling back onto his back, and cried out again. At a loss, Red looked over at Snake as if to ask what had happened but he looked just as clueless, lips drawn in a tight, scared line. "Call Scott and get Pewds, i'll do what I can." Keeping his word, Snake kneeled down beside Cry and pushed up the other's sleeve, feeling his wrist and checking his pulse.

"Red..." Cry was whimpering, extending his arm out and reaching in her direction. He looked almost perplexed by the swaying of his hand a few feet in front of his face, too drunk to even understand that he was drunk for the pain that consumed him. From time to time it looked like he was in an uneasy sleep, his eyes closed and his face twisted in the beginnings of pain, the terror in the whimpers escaping him proof that he was truly suffering. The occasional scream made Red jumped and tense.

She pushed Cry's hair out of his face, immediately aware of the sweat pooling there. Her frown deepeneing, she looked around and bit her lip, looking out of the bedroom door desperately. Pewdie was already halfway down the hallway, his face displaying his obvious. He couldn't stay put in the kiving room knowing Cry was in pain. Red was thankful for his presence and looked up at his face as he evaluated the situation, worry filling his eyes. He shut the door behind him just before Cry cried out in pain, eyes squeezed so tightly shut that tears poured down his cheeks. "His pulse is a little high but it's really nothing to worry about. We need water, medicine, a warm blanket...a wet rag would help."

Without hesitation Felix climbed onto the bed and slid behind Cry, pulling him back between his legs and against Pewdie's own chest. "Hey, hey, wake up, Cry..." He had to take a deep, steadying breath to prevent himself from audibly trembling as he pushed Cry's hair from his sweaty forehead, feeling the heat of his flushed face. His struggle to wake up the now screaming brunette was in vain by now and without anyone able to help Cry sufficiently, Red reaching hysterics and Snake now in the hallway battling with Jund to listen to what he had to say on the phone, Pewds was feeling a little cornered and scared. "Hey, open your eyes. Open your eyes, Ry. It's me. Look at me."

It seemed as if Jund had been on his way back when he got the call from Snake because shortly there after he burst through the front door, throwing his bags on the floor and running back into the master bedroom where Dty was wailing incoherently. In the living room, Cry's shrieks were more like a distant cry under the various conversation and the movie that remained playing, but once Jund had opened the bedroom door he could plainly hear the horrifying, almost shrill screams of pure bloodcurdling terror and pain. Jund had quickly regained that similar sense of leadership that echoed that of the previous incident involving the same friend, completely disregarding Snake for the moment and sitting on the edge of the bed in front of Cry, who was cacooned in a blanket against Felix to prevent him from flailing or falling over, eyes closed, wailing and trembling in horror.

Unscathed, Snake turned to the nearest friend, who happened to be Russ checking in on the situation, and pleaded, "Bring me a cold damp washcloth and a bottle of water." As the other man gathered himself from the terrifying sounds, he nodded and went out for the supplies. Less than ten minutes after he had joined the group in Cry's bedroom, Jund and Snake were able to diagnose the problem and offer ideas to solve the condition that was causing Cry so much pain.

"Felix, keep him awake."

The Swede gave no complaint, pulling Cry close and whispering into his ear, lips pressing to his cheek and his murmurs soothing as a hand ran through his hair. "Shhhhshhhh, Cry, wake up. Come on, you can open your eyes for me, right?" The brunette responded with a squirm and a whimper. He tried to open his eyes like Pewdie wanted, he tried to stay awake like everyone asked, but more sobs choked out the words from his throat and his eyes continued to squeeze shut. Was he dreaming..? Cry wasn't sure anymore.

Sleep melded with wakefullness, dreams with reality, turning his muddled state into that of great terror. "I'm sorry, hick, i'm sorry, sob," the brunette's face was contorted into an expression of pain. "Don't leave me, Felix..." Pewdie placed his hand on his friend's burning forehead and pulled him back against his shoulder, kissing his cheek and ear comfortingly as his whispered soothingly, "Cry, wake up. You're okay. Open your eyes."

Scott was fairly certain he heard Pewdie whisper, "Baby," and "I love you..." admist his comforting crooning, his hands in his hair and around his torso. He took a small drink from the water bottle before pressing the it to the American's lips, tilting it up and slowly pouring the cool liquid into the smallers mouth. At first Cry drank loudly, coughing and gulping but soon with the cool water came sweet relaxation and some of the tension left for a moment, nuzzling into Felix's arms.

"He's having night terrors. Chronic nigtmares." Jund explained.

"Because he's drunk, he can't stay awake, but he's in pain from a withdrawal, so he's having painful nigtmares. The alcohol makes it feel like he's in worse pain than he really is, but he can't stay awake..." Snake added, looking around. "...He really should take a pain killer." He advised, voice soft to keep Cry from possibly hearing.

He was so drunk that he kept falling asleep, but when he did so, he would have a realistic, horrible nightmare he couldn't wake up from, even if he screamed. Add one painful withdrawal and Cry was an incoherrent wreck, screaming and sobbing in nightmarish pain and fear. It scard Pewdie to imagine what his friend was going through.

"W-will he be sick? If he takes a painkiller with alcohol im his system?" Red asked, eyeing Snake curiously. The taller man shook his head no in response. "It might make him really sleepy...but it will be a good, deep sleep. In his current state, deep sleep is good sleep. He'll be okay. But I wouldn't recommend this any other time." Snake finished, nodding promisingly to Red and looking over at Jund, who had been gazing over at the shrieking brunette, his face solemn.

"Someone find my duffle bag."

Pewdie's eyes jumped from Cry's face to Jund's. "B-but this will put him back at square one, won't it..? Won't he just...become addicted again?"

Jund's lips were drawn in a straight line. "He needs one, Felix. It's all we can do." He looked almost choked up as he tried to persuade the other man. Apparently this decision wasn't easy on either men. Pewdie felt his throat tighten and he looked away. "We have to make him as comfortable as possible until the terrors pass. Besides, he'll be asleep. It's likely he won't even know he had taken one." Scott assured...if he was reassuring himself or Pewds was up for debate.

Red wasted no time, running out into the apartment and scavenging room through room for the bag. When it didn't turn up she began raising her voice in desperation, demanding someone help her find it. Russ immediately trailed her in to the other room to help look, rubbing her back. Worried friends searched the apartment until Jund's bag was located, and the pill bottle was passed to the shorter haired brunette as soon as it was found.

He didn't waste any time opening and spilling some out onto his hand.

It tortured Pewdie to take the pill from Scott, extended on his palm before him, and place it in Cry's mouth. He hesitated, watching Cry's tortured, half open eyes look at him with confusion and pain... It hurt Pewds. So much was obvious on his whiskered face as he poured water into the trembling man's mouth and watched him swallow the medication with a gag, a loud whimper escaping him. "What was that?" he slurred, swaying as he tried to sit up his eyes half open and scared. He looked behind him at Pewdie, falling into the crook of his shoulder as the strength left him again.

Cry looked up at Jund.

"You'll be sleepy soon. You'll stop hurting." Pewds whispered, giving Cry a comforting squeeze.

Cry felt so far gone. He wasn't sure why he hadn't pushed the pill away. He hadn't felt like taking it, but his body was on fire and he hadn't had the strength to spit it out...but maybe it would help, like Scott said? Surely Scott and Snake wouldn't push him in the wrong direction...He wasn't sure. All he was sure of was pain. Why won't they let me sleep? Why am I here? Did I throw up..? He whimpered his acknowledgement a few moments later and closed his eyes, hiccuping and sniffling, an occasional cry escaping him as he made himself relax against his friend's shoulder.

The blanket was suddenly up to his nose, either had was sinking down or someone had covered him up further...Maybe both? He was warm...Pewdie smelled good...and these things were all that mattered. He murmured his 'thank yous' and apologies to Pewdie, Red and Scott, but began to slur and sink off into sleep before he could finish the sentences he had started. He didn't even realize he was drifting in and out of sleep before he was gone.

Half an hour after the whole mess had started, Cry was calming down. The scrams were dissipating as he dozed off into a heavy sleep.

Russ and Red said their goodbyes, with Red planting a friendly and concerned kiss on her friend's forehead, which woke him up enough to ask, "A-are you leaving..?"

"Just going to bed. I'll see you tomorrow, Cry." Russ ushered the red head to the guest bedroom with a hand on her waist, watching as she gazed over her shoulder at Cry before the door closed. She willingly leaned against him, disturbingly sober now after the previous half hour, but content that Cry had fallen into a state of mild rest...albeit restless. She was certain Jund and Pewds would be fine.

Pewdie looking worn out. His hair was messy and there were bags under his blue eyes, but he stayed sitting up with his brunette friend wrapped up in a sheet in his arms, squeezing him gently each time his whimpers started to turn into cries again. Jund turned to look at Snake. Unappreciative of each others company, Snake said his goodnights and helped set up makeshift beds on the recliner and couch, and a cot on the floor for himself. Jund had one guest bedroom and Red and Russ had the other, while the rest either went down a few blocks to a hotel or slept in the living room. Zutara quickly sat down beside Snake and dove into her questioning, obviously startled, and confused. "Is he okay?" She whispered, watching Ken from the corners of her eyes as he went around the house, turning off everything and putting away what he could.

Jund sat down om the edge of Cry's bed and touched the top of his exhausted friend's head gently. Despite the flinch he felt under his palm, he felt the smaller brunette, still somewhat feverish, squirm and heard him whisper, "Thank you, Jund."

"Get some sleep. loser." Jund replied. Cry laughed slightly, his eyes never once opening. "I'm sleepy..." He slurred in response, a lopsided grin flickering across his face. Pewdie looked up at Jund, sligtly enterained. Scott started laughing. "Yeah, well, you're drunk as hell." He chuckled. "See you in the morning, drinky."

Cry stopped responding almost imstantly and Scott looked over at Pewds. Cry was definately asleep this time.

"Do you want to sleep in here with him?" Pewdie offered, following Jund to the bedroom door with his eyes. The American shook his head. "I can tell you want to keep an eye on him, Pewds. Stay here. See you tomorrow. We'll all talk about what happened then."

Scott cleaned up the remaining party mess and curled up to sleep, exhausted and tipsy. The combination put him to sleep quickly.

Felix looked over to the bedside table and sighed as he saw the time on the clock, lifting his friend off of him and laying him on the mattress carefully, moving to di through his own bags and changing into his pajamas before locating some for Cry out of the closet across the room. An old hoodie and character sweats would be fine, according to what he remembered the other man wearing om any usual sleepover.

Which reminded him to find Cry's glasses...

Pewds was lucky enough to find them quickly, on the floor beside the bed where Cry had originally flopped down, saving him time that he usually would have spent the following morning searching the house high and low for them because Cry was as blind as a bat.

Felix was too tired to bother showering or even brushing his teeth before bed, the alcohol making the room spin. After changing his clothes, he untangled Cry from the blanket he was wrapped up in and shuffled around, wondering if he should just leave him in his street clothes until morning. The obvious reponse was, no, Cry already felt like shit and would wake up feeling worse if he was in jeans all night...the blonde sat down on the end of the bed and took a deep breath, realizing that he hadn't really tought this through on his own end.

He was going to have to take off Cry's pants, after all...he took a deep breath and sighed, leaning over and fumbling with the button and zipper of Cry's jeans, wondering to himself if maybe Jund should have stayed with Cry after all. He would cerainly handle this a lot better than Pewds was. He quickly felt bad for thinking that and frowned.

He lifted the sleeping brunette's hips and wiggled his jeans off, quickly helping him into his pajamas pants as he stirred and, half awake, Cry was able to help Felix get his own jacket and shirt off and slide into the comfortable overside hoodie he had been offered. He drowsily mumbled his thanks and hummed his comfort, squirming around on the bed as he adjusted, falling asleep face down in the pillow with his hands tucked underneath him.

The Swede couldn't help but laugh. Cry was finally comfortable and asleep in his own, warm bed, and he didn't seem to have a fever or be suffering from those horrible nightmares anymore. Infact, he was talking about Clemetine now, from the Walking dead game he had loved, and giggling into the pillow.

Felix laughed, covering his mouth to muffle the sound to prevent him from waking Cry up-he was awar that his laugh was horridly loud-and turned off the bedside lamp, lifting up the comforter and tucking both himself and Cry in, who rolled onto his side and stretched, licking his lips. Warm and comfy, Pewdie granted himself the privilage of rolling over to face Cry's back, draping his arm over the small of his waist and pushing one under his shoulders, nuzzling his nose into the hair at the nape of his neck, taking a deep breath of his warm, familiar scent.

Cry seemed to calm down, albeit Pewd's warmth and scent or the sweet dreams tangled up in the thick blankets that caused him to relax the foreigner wasn't sure, but soon Cry fell silent, given the soft sleepy exhales and soft snoring, proof of his exhaustion. The warm light of the red christmas tree lights hanging on the wall above the window gave just enough light that Felix watched Cry's slow, even breathing until he himself fell asleep, comforted by the calm rest and familiar scent of his friend.