Title: Links
Summary: Sharing a body between two souls will always have conflict, worse when neither is fighting for it. Drabbles about Lambda and Asbel's relationship during and after the game.
Beta'd by WhiteAngel128 and Ankou13
Chapter 19
Cough.
Cough.
Asbel grumbled and sighed heavily as he felt his throat drying up. His entire body felt horrible. He rolled around in his bed and placed a hand over his head in an attempt to apply pressure to his forehead. His head throbbed painfully and he closed his eyes as he looked out the window, despising the light that was shining so brightly. It wasn't helping his headache. No, instead it just made it worse by burning his retinas.
He coughed once more and tossed the covers over his head in frustration, taking the light away from his face. He didn't want to see it. With the darkness underneath, his headache lightened up but didn't disappear and he buried his forehead into the pillow for comfort. The softness felt nice against his burning face and he sighed blissfully in contentment. That was, until there was a knock on the door.
"Lord Asbel?"
The redhead grumbled gently under his breath, not wanting to get up from his spot, and tightened the bed sheets around his body – almost like a cocoon. He gave another cough and squeezed his eyes shut, ignoring the person outside and new set of knocks. He knew who it was, that voice was easy to identify after all these years.
'So this is what being sick feels like…' Lambda commented from within their mindscape, adding to Asbel's throbbing headache. Since they shared the same body, there was no doubt they both felt the effects the same affliction. 'I don't like it…'
'You're not the only one.' Asbel sighed again, curling his body up to return to the land of dreams. He didn't want to do anything else but sleep.
However, the knocks echoed throughout the room once more. Only this time, the door opened, revealing Frederic. The old man peeked inside cautiously, not wanting to intrude, and immediately spotted the bundle nestled in the bed. He chuckled fondly and pushed the door wider to slip inside. Apparently it had been a long time since he had last seen his master acting in such a way. It was like the adult wanted to act like a child for once. "Lord Asbel, you must get up."
"Don't want to…" The redhead grumbled from underneath the sheets, his voice cracking and he shifted deeper into the blankets to hide. He didn't even bother to open his eyes much less poke his head out from underneath.
Frederic shook his head at the sound of his master's voice and stepped closer. "Are you, by any chance, sick? You don't sound very good."
"I think so." Finally, Asbel reluctantly sat up, the covers falling off his body, and peered up at the older man with a frown. He coughed twice, his right hand going up to cover his mouth, before collapsing back onto the bed as if he had been defeated. He hadn't noticed before but his cheeks were fiery red like his hair and his headache throbbed painfully from the movement he made. A warm hand touched his forehead and he peered up to see Frederic leaning over him, feeling for a temperature. He closed his eyes to break away from the light, taking a deep breath.
The butler looked a little surprised as he pulled his hand away. "My, you're running a fever. You are most definitely sick," He examined the Lord of Lhant and sighed heavily. "You shouldn't get out of bed today; instead take that time to recover. For now I'll handle your paperwork as best as I can and I'll ask the maids to get you something to eat. You are not allowed to stress your body lest you make your illness worse."
"I see. Thank you, Frederic," Asbel sighed heavily, grateful for the other doing so much. "If there is anything you don't understand or you believe only I should sign it, put it to the side or you can bring it up to me later today. I might feel better after getting some food in me."
'Or worse…' Lambda commented, shifting from within.
'Stop that, Lambda…' The human almost wanted to pout but resisted so that he didn't look too odd in front of Frederic. "Is there any way you could get someone to give me some medicine? But make sure you don't put too much stress or duties on your shoulders either, Frederic."
"Oh ho ho, don't worry about me. I may be old, but I can still work just fine." Frederic just bowed his upper body and slipped out the bedroom door, closing it behind him with a sharp click. This left the redhead alone in bed, all by himself with Lambda. Asbel sighed depressingly, not at being alone, but at knowing very well that his paperwork was about to double by tomorrow or maybe more if things don't go too well. Slowly, he rose up, all the while ignoring the pounding in his head to swing his feet over the edge. He coughed softly as he stood up and slowly made his way towards his windows, shutting the curtains to block out the cursed sun. The room instantly went dark from the lack of light, making the setting perfect to sleep in.
'Never thought I'd hate the sun like this…'
Asbel chuckled weakly. 'You're not the only one,' With some struggling he managed to get everything shut tight and slipped away towards his bed. He didn't want to be standing any longer than necessary, not when everything was starting to spin around. Collapsing back into bed, he bounced gently from the mattress before lazily crawling up towards his pillow to bury his face into the softness. With a few lethargic movements, he was back under the sheets, about to close his eyes. 'I hate getting sick.'
'I hate it, too. You humans are too vulnerable to sickness.'
Asbel chuckled lightly. 'But being human isn't too bad, right?'
At first, Lambda didn't answer before finally sighing from within their shared mindscape. 'Yes, you're right. Being human now and then isn't too bad.'
With a smile, the redhead closed his eyes, desiring to fall asleep as quickly as possible. He wanted to sleep his illness off so he buried his face deeper into the pillow, hoping that everyone would leave him and Lambda alone to recover. Well, he could hope. His household wasn't exactly normal after all.
Next chapter is the last. Hopefully I'll go out in a bang? Maybe?