"NO I'M STRONGER!"
"NO I AM!" So began the 'stronger than you war' between Merix and Roxas; in turn they wrestled about to prove who was stronger, and Jack, the ever curious and exhausted parent, walked in to it. Jamie just shook his head as the two boys wrestled about the living room. Jamie looked over at Jack when he came in.
"Hey hun, you look like you could use a nap."
"No, I'm f-fine." His eyelids drooped, trying to close; he duct taped them up so they wouldn't though but the stickiness wasn't sticking very well. Jamie got up and went over to Jack, picking him up despite any protests and carrying him off to the bedroom to sleep. He moaned in protest.
"MM!" Merix paused in his tussle with Roxas and watched both curiously as Jamie carried Jack upstairs.
"Nope. You're going to bed. You need it whether you want it or not." Jamie replies to the protest and tucked Jack into the bed.
"If you try and get up I will freeze you to the bed, got it?" There was no anger or anything in his words, but he was serious nonetheless and he left Jack to sleep as he went back to the boys. He glared at Jamie but the simple gesture made him even more exhausted.
"MM!" He whimpered, fighting off sleepiness.
Go to sleep. Jamie said gently over the bond while he settled in a chair, looking at the two boys.
"So, you had fun with Bunny huh?" Jack screamed into the pillow and finally headed towards the window to escape, to fight the sleepiness with fresh air. Jamie sighed and went to the bedroom, he didn't really want to do this but Jack wasn't giving him a choice and he asked the wind to help, she complied, knocking Jack onto the bed long enough for Jamie to freeze him to it. Jack gasped out at the feeling of being trapped, he screamed and arched; howling in protest at it. The wind tried to whisper her lullaby to calm him down but that wasn't working either.
"Jack, stop." Jamie said gently but firmly. Jack panted heavily the wind whispered to Jamie: If you sing him a lullaby he might calm down.
Jamie nodded and settled down on the bed next to Jack, softly humming a lullaby he often hummed to Roxas to get him to sleep.
"MM!" He tossed his head, struggling against the unmoving ice; he panted heavily and started to calm down.
"Mmm..." was the calmest response he'd made all day. He continued to hum, gently threading his fingers through Jack's hair. Jack yawned, slowly closing his eyes and sleep entered his mind and filled it with dreams. Jamie retracted the ice once he was sure Jack was asleep and went back to the two boys who had continued their wrestling match. Jamie put an ice barrier around them so they didn't run into any of the furniture and hurt themselves. He smiled a little, boys would be boys... Merix pinned Roxas to the floor.
"See, I win." He had a mischievous smile on his face one Jamie'd seen on Jack many times just before Jack kissed him. Roxas huffs.
"Fine." He managed, winded from all the wrestling.
"Boys, you hungry?" Jamie interrupted before this could go further. Merix seemed to stare at Roxas a little more, after all they were growing and they'd quite learned customs to love very early, it was present in Merix's eyes that he wanted Roxas as more than a friend. Roxas stared up at his young friend, it wasn't until Jamie repeated the question that he shifted his gaze away. Feeling nervous.
"Um, a little." He replied, almost glad for the interruption. He wasn't sure he knew what he was seeing in his friend in that moment and it unnerved him a little as he pushed Merix off him gently. Unable to meet his friend's gaze. He had no idea what to make of this. Merix blushed furiously.
"Ehh let's g-get lunch." He walked away and called himself stupid repeatedly in his mind. Roxas could only wonder about it a moment before dismissing it as Jamie came back with a couple of plates for the two of the boys. He watched them thoughtfully... was that what he'd thought it was or was his mind playing tricks on him? Merix smiled and blushed, watching Roxas with a crush so badly it hurt his heart, but he turned away when Roxas looked back. Jack moaned in protest fisting the bed, pain started and spread from his abdomen to his heart; it hurt so much it jolted him out of his sleep.
"MM!" He held his chest as if he could hold his heart.
"S-stop." Jamie handed the boys their food before going to check on Jack... what heck? Jack panted, screaming out; it hurt, whatever it was it hurt Jack. His heart was pumping a bit faster than normal; Merix felt very embarrassed. Jamie settled next to Jack, confused concern on his face. What was wrong? He gently checked Jack over... but it wasn't something obvious. Jack gasped.
"AH AHHH!" He screamed, clutching and scratching at the clothes covering his skin and heart.
Roxas ate his food slowly, his mind turning over the events... what the heck? He wasn't sure he could figure any of this out... what he felt from his dad... and then there was the odd look Merix had given him a moment ago... why couldn't he just get his thoughts together? Merix swallowed hard and left the room, crying; for one he was so very embarrassed with his behavior and two he had developed a crush on his best friend.
"Merix?" Roxas watched his friend, worried now. Merix stayed in the room, crying out his confusion and worries.
Jamie gently shook Jack.
"Sweetheart?" He had no idea what was going on but this was more than just unusual... Jack held his stomach, it was repeatedly hurting.
"IT HUURRTS!" He moaned, turning to ease the pain but it would not relieve itself; he cried more.
"I know, calm down hun." Jamie said gently, he closed his eyes, reaching along the bond to see if he could discern that way what the problem was that was causing the pain. A parasite, it was inside him; sucking on his heart and there was more than one, the other in his stomach. Jamie sighed a little and decided the boys would be okay if he asked Emma to watch them... he just hoped she was home. He flew out to quickly knock on her door rather hard, he winced a little when he realized this but she opened the door quickly.
"Jamie?"
"Can you babysit at the cavern? I need to take Jack to the pole."
"Of course." She followed him back while he grabbed Jack.
Worried, Roxas went after Merix, leaving the half-eaten food. Merix continued to cry. Roxas went into the other room, why was Merix upset? Was he missing his family?
"Merix?" He stopped crying at once, but no answer returned; he was hiding in a cupboard. Roxas searched the room until he found Merix.
"What are you doing in there?" Merix sniffled.
"Nothing."
"Hey... what's wrong?" Roxas asked, concern flickering over his features.
Jack shrieked, his heart and stomach both hurt but he didn't know why and shrieked all the more. Jamie gathered Jack up and flew off to the pole while Emma looked about for Roxas, unaware of the other boy. Jack screamed even as they entered the pole as the other parasite decide to join the stomach one. Jamie landed in the infirmary and quickly told the yeti there what was going on. It called for help and soon they had Jack sedated, numbed, and asleep; though the last one took help from Sandy to manage. Jack gasped in pain in sleep as they immediately got to cutting out whatever it was. It was a grotesque worm like creature; it was huge and it hissed at all who looked at it, it had many teeth and was trying to get to the brain but it became apart of Jack's stomach instead. Its veins sunk into the tissue of Jack's body like it was apart of it whilst the other one was laying eggs. The yetis removed both parasites and the eggs, though they had to cut the one that hissed at them to bits to do so... Jamie paced outside the room as they did the operation. Jack panted, having been taken off Sandy's sand, and morphine only worked so well, as they had sewn his stomach back together; tears streamed down his face from the pain alone.
Merix shook.
"I'm embarrassing."
"What are you talking about?" Roxas asked, giving Merix a confused look.
"I... uh... Nevermind."
"Why don't you come out then?" Roxas asked, backing off a little even as Emma came into the room.
"There you are Roxas."
"Roxas?" He glanced over his shoulder.
"Hi Auntie Emma."
"Who's that?"
"My friend Merix... he doesn't want to come out?"
"Why not?" Roxas shrugs and moves so that she can get to him.
"Hey there... why don't you tell me why you don't want to come out?" Merix whimpered, that voice wasn't very recognizable to him.
"S-secret." He said and continued crying but softer. She glanced over at Roxas.
"Why don't you go finish your lunch while I talk with Merix huh?" Roxas nodded and left the room. She turned back to Merix.
"I promise to keep your secret if you tell me."
"Really? You promise... swear on your life you'll promise so if you do you die!" He cried. She nodded, promising not to tell before he told her his secret. He told her all about how he wanted so much to share his feelings with Roxas and kiss him and even had a fantasy of kissing him and Roxas loving him back.
"Well, that is quite the secret little one. I guess you haven't told him yet have you?" He shook his head, wings drooping.
"W-What if he doesn't love me back!"
"Well... it's a chance we all have to take in life Merix. It's a risk. One that's worth taking when you find someone you really love. Though I think you're a little young to really know what that kind of love is. Don't worry so much."
"Okay." He said tiredly.
"Mmm sleepy, I miss mommy." He whispered as began to fall asleep.
The yetis allowed Jamie into the room seconds later after having been told what happened within Jack's body. Jamie wondered how this had happened, but didn't ask any questions as he slipped into the room to settle next to Jack. He panted heavily on a life support system as his wound could kill him, possibly, and he'd been told not to move at all. Jamie gently threaded his fingers through Jack's hair. He didn't say anything. Jack slowly closed his eyes, exhausted from it all. Jamie stayed close to Jack.
"I'm sure she misses you too. Why don't you take a nap for a little while?" She gently pulled him from the cabinet, humming the lullaby her mother had sang to her and Jack to help them sleep. Merix slept in her arms, exhausted. She smiled a little, tucking him in and then going back to the other room where Roxas finished his meal. She put up the other one for later in case Merix was hungry later.
"What's wrong with him?"
"Nothing sweetie. He just had something he wanted to get off his chest that he was afraid you'd judge him for."
"What?"
"Sorry, I promised not to tell. He'll tell you when he's ready for you to know, you'll just have to be patient with him okay?" Roxas frowned, but nodded anyway. Emma watched Roxas, wondering what the other boy's feelings were about his friend... did he suspect? Roxas looked down, distraught; why would he keep a secret like that what was so bad that he had to hide it from him?
"Roxas?" Emma asked a little concerned at the boy's expression. He seemed bothered and she was concerned, he was too young for this.
"Yes Aunt Em?" He said very sweetly with great manners as usual.
"What's wrong? Don't tell me nothing because I could see it on your face just a moment ago."
"Merix is so emotional these days, I'm afraid he hates me."
"He doesn't hate you sweetheart. I can promise you that much."
"H-He doesn't?" He sniffled.
"No, he doesn't." Emma reassures him.
"He's just having a tough time right now. He's homesick, you have to give him a little space hmm?"
Jack awoke for lunch but needed to be fed delicate, soft foods. Jamie made Jack some lunch, but figuring he'd need softer foods he purees the food so that Jack can actually have the meat his body will want to repair itself. It makes for a very bizarre red drink that Jamie dyes into blue just so the yetis don't lose their lunch seeing it. Jack groaned and nearly puked himself; he was so not hungry at the moment and his expression of protest proved that when Jamie put it in the feeding tube. Jamie fed it in small doses. Figuring his system needed a little time to adjust first. He barely gave him a couple tablespoons worth the first time. Saving the rest for later.
"Easy does it love. I promise I won't give you too much, but you're going to need it to heal." Jack started to "mm" in approval when eating after that. Jamie took it slow, as per instructions from a yeti and only fed Jack as much as was needed for the moment so that Jack would heal as quickly as possible without becoming sick. He wanted more but Jack knew he'd get sick if he ate anymore; he pouted behind the oxygen mask. Jamie smiled a little.
"I know, I know, but they told me just how much I could give you. Little steps love. Soon you'll be eating all you want again, but it takes a little time." Jack looked outside and then to the TV and weakly reach out for the remote; TV would get this off his mind. Jamie handed Jack the remote. His head started swimming, things growing blurry.
"Mmm..." He looked at Jamie dazedly and clicked the on button, but trying to watch it was like trying not to get a headache. Jamie kept Jack company as best he could.
"AUGH!" He held his head it just from the headache alone, it hurt that much. Jamie ended up getting Jack something for the pain, he's not allowed to use magic, but the pill would numb the pain a little. He whined and swallowed the pill, nearly throwing up several times but he didn't.
"Mmm." Jamie smiled a little.
"It should kick in soon."
"W-what?" He gasped, the pain was gone almost instantly; he held his head in shock from it but slowly calmed down. He was too tired to protest when the yetis came in to look at his healing stitches.
"As I said, it would kick in shortly. Get some rest love." Jack nodded, he dreamt of being a wolf away from the pain.
Roxas looked around for Merix, again he avoided him, hiding.
"Merix, sweetie, you can't keep hiding like this." Emma said, having found him while Roxas was still searching in the other room.
"NO! Mr. Jamie and Mr. Jack won't like it, they'll say I'm too young!" He cried, which was the other reason he outright didn't wanna say it.
"They don't have to know yet. I promised I wouldn't tell and I haven't told Roxas. I'm not going to tell his fathers or anyone else okay?"
Jack awoke not to long ago it was dinner time now.
"Mmm..." He was really hungry but knew Jamie would have to cut half his portion.
Merix nodded.
"Okay t-then, but I'm scared to t-tell him."
"I know the feeling. I was scared my first time too." She smiled a little.
"But if you don't tell him then you can't know how he feels." He nodded.
"Y-you know whats, I'll tells him now!" Emma smiled reassuringly and followed him back to the other room.
"I'll get you two a snack okay?" She said as an excuse to go to the kitchen to give them some "alone" time without being outside of earshot. Roxas turned around when he saw Merix, he smiled a little.
"There you are!" He blushed and thought, God he is gorgeous, but he had to hide that a bit.
"Roxas c-can I ask you something?"
"Of course. What is it?" Roxas seemed confused, why was his friend blushing like that? Why was his best friend avoiding him?
"I.. I... uh. l-l-l-l... I.. L-L-LOVE YOU!" He finally burst out.
"I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. I WANT YOU TO BE MINE FOREVER!" Roxas stared for a moment. That... wasn't really a question... He opened his mouth but nothing came out... he just ended up looking like a fish for a moment as he tried saying something only to find he really couldn't. His brain just sort of stopped working... his mouth too.
"Oh god y-you don't like me back, I never should have said anything!" He cried and started to take off. Roxas snatched his wrist before he could do more than take a single step.
"I... n-never said that!" Merix closed his eyes, but opened into shock at what he'd said.
"W-well?" He said turning to him, hoping that he would at least think about it.
"I... um..." Roxas flushed like a tomato...
"I... t-think I..." He stuttered horribly. Roxas flushed deeply.
"I... t-think I l-love you t-too..." He blurted out in a rush, his face felt like it was on fire. Merix gasped.
"Y-You do?" He hugged Roxas close in happiness, but blushed hard from doing that. Roxas held him close.
"I... t-think so... I... d-dad n-never pr-properly explained t-to me w-what l-love feels like."
"Well, maybe because it's different for everyone." Emma said after a moment, having been watching the two for the last few minutes, a tray of snacks and juice for them in one hand. Merix nearly jumped out of his skin at her voice.
"W-whens your dad coming home?" He asked Roxas even as he smiled and blushed more, happy at the news
Jack moaned in pain.
"JAMIE!" He gasped, his heart rate increased suddenly.
"Calm down Jack." Jamie said soothingly, gently touching the bond, but he couldn't ease the pain... that's what the painkillers were for. He groaned, he'd already taken three; anymore and he'd be in peril.
Roxas nearly did the same but only shrugged.
"Something was wrong... so papa took him to the pole... all I know now is that he's resting... it's... hard to sense them from this far off." Merix hugged Roxas close.
"Let's go watch wow wow woobzi." Roxas nodded and followed his friend happily. Merix laughed as woibzi's house did most craziest things. Emma provided the two boys with snacks while they watched the TV show. Roxas smiled, munching happily on the snacks. He'd been a tiny bit afraid that things would change, but nothing really had... he smiled a little, his heart filled with joy that his friend was enjoying himself.
"HAHA!" He laughed, rolling off the couch laughing.
"Oof!" Roxas giggled and offered him a hand up, grinning the whole while. He smiled and took his hand helping up. Roxas just smiles as he helps his friend back up on the couch.
Jack moaned in protest as the yetis drew blood from him to see how he was doing on terms of healing and possible infection. Jamie held one of Jack's hands.
"I wish my mommy wasn't hurt."
"Me too." Roxas hugged his friend The next day Emma was surprised by a bigger creature like Merix.
"Who are you? " He asked.
"Emma. Jack's my brother. Who are you? "
"Kry, Merix's father. Is he here? "
"Of course. Merix!" She called over one shoulder. Merix gasped.
"DADDY!" He cried and ran into him clinging to him as he cried a little, having missed him.
"Hey, there you are, my little angel." Kry scooped the boy up. He had a fading scar over his left eye but other than that he seemed just as well as normal. He looked over at Emma.
"Thanks for looking after my boy."
"Of course."
"You ready to come home champ?" He asked Merix. Merix nodded happily hugging, tightly, but stopped and looking back over at Roxas he smiled and whispered in his father's ear of the development while he was gone. Kry jerked back, startled by the news.
"Are you sure about that angel?" He asked after a long moment of silence. He looked back at Roxas and then his father with a big smile.
"Yes, forever and ever." Roxas looked at Merix and flushed while Emma chuckled.
Kry chuckled a little.
"Alright then son, we'll discuss this with yer mum too. She'll want to know." He set Merix down.
"Go say your goodbyes to Roxas."
"Okay dad." Before Roxas could answer he was tackled in a hug and kissed on the cheek.
"Love you Roxy." He left then. Roxas only had time to blush while Emma just smiled a little.