So since I've gotten several requests for sick Carlos so I've decided to see what I could come up with and since the last chapter was with Mal and Carlos I've decided that this time it would be with Evie and Jay but at two separate times (it makes more since once you read the story). Like always, hope you guys enjoy and remember to review and tell me what you want to see. Until then, have a day.
Three months before they were all forced to go to school, Carlos got sick. Really sick, one that he was half-convinced that this was the end. He was going to die.
To no one's surprise, Cruella didn't care. She didn't even notice as her only son laid half-conscious on his mattress in the closet, so sick he could hardly move. And he knew he was in trouble when it became a chore to breath- something, he found, he couldn't go very long without doing.
So it came as a shock when he woke up, delirious and hotter than hot only to find Evie perched at the side of his mattress. Her perfectly groomed eyebrows were wrinkled with concern, a small bowl settled in her lap as she seemed to bend over and dab at his forehead.
"What are you doing?" he managed, voice raspy from underuse as he struggled to prop himself up.
"You're ill," Evie replied reaching over to push him back against the mattress as she added almost like it was obvious, "You need someone to care for you and heaven knows your mother won't."
Carlos frowned because through his sick-haze he could've sworn he had detected a hint of bitterness from the girl, but that was impossible. No one on the isle was really bitter with each other, everyone too busy directing all that hate towards the mainland.
"You need your sleep," Evie whispered to him before he had a chance to reply as she pressed something thick and wet against his forehead, over his eyes, "You're burning up."
He already knew that. What he didn't know was why Evie cared. It wasn't like they were friends, having gone on only one mission together. Did that make them friends? He can't remember.
"Evie," he groaned going to sit back up but found he was too weak, collapsing back on the mattress without her assistance that time. A low groan escaped his throat as he felt sleep pull at his eyelids, threatening to take him back under.
"Carlos I'm serious," she informed him, voice hard and serious as she narrowed dark eyes down on him like she would a naughty child.
"So am I," Carlos bit back but it didn't come out very impressive considering his voice was raw from coughing, "Why are you really here? I can't get you in my mother's coat room."
Evie frowned, the words seeming to make her uncomfortable and he half-expected for her to get up and leave him there. It probably would've been better that way, let him rot alone like everyone said he would. What was that phrase his mother was so fond of saying?
'You came into this world alone and that's how you're going out.'
Yeah. That was it.
His eyelids dropped, Evie bending over to press the cloth back against his forehead. Gently. Delicately. He snapped both his eyes back open to stare at her face.
"Evie," he growled before it broke off in a hacking cough so bad he had to roll over so he wouldn't suffocate. Evie's small hand laid gently against his shoulder in a supportive manner.
"Stop talking so much you stubborn brat," Evie growled at him and he didn't have to look to know she was glaring at him, "You need rest."
No duh.
"I was resting," Carlos informed as he rolled back on the mattress to blink at her like it was obvious, "but now I'm more concerned on why you're still here."
"Because I'm your friend and that's what friends do," she told him simply, dipping the cloth back in the bowl before trailing it over his arms cooling his skin.
Carlos blinked at the conviction in her words before he narrowed his eyes and asked, "Are we?"
"We are," she assured simply not meeting his eyes this time, "Now sleep before I make you."
Carlos snorted, his lips twitching up in whatever served as a smile on the isle as he coughed once more before rasping, "I'd like to see you try."
He doesn't know if she responded or not, allowing himself to slip into the sweet beckoning of sleep.
The next time he fell ill it was several weeks after the defeat of Maleficent, it striking him so suddenly.
It had been during practice, he remembered, when he suddenly grew real dizzy and confused. He had to stop so he wouldn't topple over, and unfortunately had missed the person sprinting towards him until they had collided head on.
He fell back, vision momentarily blackening out but it couldn't have been for very long because when it cleared back out he was staring up at the bright blue sky that differed so much than back on the isle. Somewhere above him he could hear Jay and Chad's laughter as the team crowded around the two of them.
It wasn't very often someone got tackled during practice so the few times it did happen usually supplied as entertainment.
"Where's your head at de vil?" the coach demanded but it sounded far off and he twisted his head to try and catch sight of him.
He coughed in reply, barely able to support himself on his elbows as he attempted to climb back to his feet. His head spun, making him dizzy, and he knew he was seconds from passing out in front of everyone on the team.
"Carlos?" Ben's gentle voice asked suddenly right next to his ear, surprising him enough that he started to topple back over.
Ben's hand latched onto his arm, preventing him from making another complete fool of himself and it was only because they were so close that Carlos was able to hear the older boy's small hiss.
"Carlos, you're burning up," he told him and Carlos frowned because he didn't feel particularly hot- in fact, if anything, he felt slightly chilly.
"I'm fine," he managed going to jerk his arm away but was too weak.
Ben guided him to a sitting position, removing his helmet from his head so he could now peer into the other boy's concerned eyes. Behind him several of the other boys on the team were also peering down on him in worry.
It wasn't often anybody went down and when they did it was never Jay or Carlos, unless they were attacking each other which never happened.
Ben set his hand against Carlos's forehead, keeping it there long enough to cause him to squirm back as he reassured that he was fine. He wasn't hot or sick or whatever he was worried that he was.
"Whoa man, have you always been that pale?" someone that sounded suspiciously like Chad demanded causing Carlos to frown because of course someone would take the time to make a jab towards him.
"Carlos," Ben spoke before Carlos got a chance to, drawing his attention back to him as he spoke in a lowered tone, "you need to go see the nurse."
He opened his mouth to reassure yet again that he was fine and that he needed to stop worrying when a pair of hands grabbed him by his armpits and jerked him back to his feet so fast he stumbled. Luckily, whoever grabbed him didn't move so he could lean against them for support.
"I'll take him," and that was Jay's voice.
Carlos frowned, spinning around to protest when the world tilted and he nearly ended up back on the grass. Thankfully Jay was there to catch him, dark eyes narrowed with concern as he glanced over at the coach for permission. The man sighed, taking one glance at Carlos and seemed to come to the same conclusion as everyone else as he crossed his arms and nodded.
"Alright. The rest of you, back in positions," he snapped and Carlos missed the rest as Jay grabbed him by his arm and lead him off the field.
"Are you insane?" Jay demanded a little too loudly as he continued pacing back and forth in front of him, shoulders hunched over in barely concealed concern.
Carlos flinched- more so because of the volume than the actual words- as he replied simply, "I didn't think it was that bad-"
Jay glared at him, cutting off the rest of the response because it had been that bad. Worst actually, considering his temperature had been reaching the high point of 104 and he ducked his expression again. His hands twisted around the comforter on his bed, not even remembering the trip from the nurse's office to their room which he probably should be concerned about.
"Carlos," Jay spoke and his voice was soft, friendly as he sat at the edge of his bed and whispered in a low tone, "If you left this untreated you could've ended up hospitalized. Or worst."
Carlos swallowed, still not meeting his friend's gaze as he thought back to how worried the nurse had been after taking his temperature. He also remembered how she had filled in to Jay exactly how bad Carlos was and he couldn't help thinking back to that one time on the isle when he was certain he was going to die.
"I'm sorry," he apologized, "I've just always dealt with these things by myself before I met you guys."
"That's not the point," Jay replied and he still sounded angry but less so as he sighed again, reaching out to set his hand against Carlos's forehead as he continued, "The point is that you have us now and you need to tell someone when you're not feeling good. I don't care if it turns out to be nothing," he paused as he pulled away before he asked rising to his feet, "Have you drank anything today?"
Carlos shook his head sheepishly, ducking his expression again.
"See, this is exactly what I mean," Jay replied and he threw both his arms in the air as he walked over to their fridge and pulled out a bottle of water before returning to his side and forcing it in his hands, "You're sick and dehydrated and you felt the need to keep it to yourself."
"Sorry Jay," Carlos murmured opening the bottle and taking several cautious sips.
"Good. You should be," Jay confirmed with a nod of the head before his face softened again and he added, "Just tell someone next time buddy. Alright?"
"Okay," Carlos reassured past several tentative sips of water. It wasn't much but it was a start.
It was also enough for the older boy as he nodded, taking the bottle from his hands and lying him back against the mattress with some command to go to sleep.
It didn't take very long for Carlos to obey, drifting off peacefully at the knowledge that he now had friends to take care of him.