And PLOT COMMENCES. Terrible plot. Horrible, whiny plot.

[starofchaos]

[There is a Liquid wandering the halls. Usually, Liquids are full of zest. This one... not so much. Odd, really. He's been feeling drained all day. His throat is scratchy and it's difficult to breathe properly. Worse, even his reflexes seem to be dulled! His head aches and his body is shaking with the cold. Why is he suddenly feeling the cold? He doesn't know! He's pale as death. He makes a quick call-]

Ocelooooot, where are you? I need you right now.

[-and hangs up. He can't help the rare whininess in his (particularly shaken and scratchy) voice. Liquid has never been sick a day in his life, excluding some of his imprisonment - and the less said about that the better. He leans against the wall, looking miserable, and sinks down to sit on the floor.]

This is a really rotten week... first the gray hair and now this...

DOES THE UNIVERSE JUST HATE ME LATELY?!

[His words break down into a fit of coughing and he buries his face in his hand for a moment as if that will hide his identity.]

(Long story short, Liquid is sick. It's not serious, even though he looks like hell, but prepare for whiny bitch syndrome if you approach him! He's not used to feeling this rotten.)

Comments

[fancy-shooting.livejournal.com]

[Ocelot just watches his attempts for awhile before taking action. He climbs into the bed with him and wriggles close enough to tug the man's shoulders up over his lap, then holds the tea in front of him.]

I don't think I've ever seen anyone in your family get ill before.

[starofchaos]

[Liquid grumbles and sips at the tea gratefully.]

Thank you... And that's because illness doesn't strike often in this family. Although that one me with the stupid ponytail said he'd gotten sick a few times. Called me an idiot.

[He scowls and sips it more.]

[fancy-shooting.livejournal.com]

[Ocelot smiles down at him, keeping one hand over Liquid's hand to help steady the teacup, and runs the fingers of his other hand through his hair.]

It doesn't look like anything severe. But I'll go out and get some pills for you anyway soon.

[starofchaos]

[He grouches and pushes the tea away.] What the bloody hell do you mean, it's nothing severe?! THIS IS THE MOST TERRIBLE STATE A MAN COULD EVER BE IN! It is terrible!

[fancy-shooting.livejournal.com]

[Ocelot expertly balances the cup in his hand so that none of it spills onto the mattress, and leans aside to put it on the nightstand.]

You're obviously not dying, or you wouldn't be complaining so much.

[His hands work their way down the sides of Liquid's face, down to his shoulders and against his arms.]

You'll be fine.

[starofchaos]

I'm not complaining! But don't I have a right to complain?! This is the worst catastrophe that has ever happened to me.

[He barely waits for the cup to leave Ocelot's fingers before he twists in his arms to bury his face against Ocelot's stomach, ignoring the pain from the many adornments he has.]

How do you know I'll be fine?! I could be dying! I could sicken and worsen in the night! You never know! The fever could get so much worse! Or I could go into delerium or cause FOXDIE to go off of- or- I want to be fine NOW!

[fancy-shooting.livejournal.com]

[After Liquid turns around, Ocelot moves his hands to his back, rubbing him soothingly and loosely hugging him.]

If you're that worried, we can go up to the hospital room together.

[starofchaos]

No. No hospitals. To hell with them all. Never suggest that to me again.

[The words come out a little muffled and squeaky due to both his position and his illness.]

[fancy-shooting.livejournal.com]

Guess I'll have to play doctor, then...

[He starts playing with Liquid's hair again, combing it back behind his head.]

I'll get some soup for you while I'm out getting medications. How does that sound?

[starofchaos]

Mm... Sounds good. Don't be long, though. I don't want to be alone right now...

[He closes his eyes, relaxing at the ministrations with a slight smile on his lips. Even his pain can't remove that delight. Oh misery and woe, how offset be ye by the gentleness of bitter love! Hark, how even the harsh bite of agony and despair cannot yet drown out that gentle pleasure! Oh love, oh blessed love- OWOWOWOWOW OH GOD-]

[Liquid throws himself off the bed with shocking speed and grabs an empty bag to be sick in.]

[Nevermind.]

[Melodrama could wait.]

[fancy-shooting.livejournal.com]

[Ocelot watches him retch and shakes his head.]

Alright. You won't be alone long. I'll just get what I need and make the soup here.

If you can pull your head out of that bag, you should get some rest before I return.

[He climbs off of the bed and heads towards the door to the halls.]

[starofchaos]

[He doesn't hear, too busy losing the contents of his stomach and pitying himself. The door shuts behind Ocelot and it takes a moment or two before his body's pitching eases and he's able to breathe again. He ties up the bag and throws it weakly towards the bin rather than get up.

Then Liquid, being too drained to get back onto the bed, simply takes his advice and curls up on the floor to fall asleep. His sleep comes quick but it is disturbed and painful and before long his dreams become sporadic and insane. He doesn't stay still - it's impossible, in that state - so it could be a little disturbing to see how violently he shifts and thrashes against the air, mumbling and shouting in his sleep.]

[fancy-shooting.livejournal.com]

[Slender arms ground themselves around Liquid's body. Soft muttering breathes over his ear. Ocelot hadn't wasted time embracing him when he saw that sickness hadn't deadened the nightmares.]

Shh...

You're not alone, Liquid.

[starofchaos]

[He wriggles and pitches against him for a moment before calming, the comfort slowly overwhelming the terror. Then, still asleep, he turns to bury his face against Ocelot's neck, clinging to him. It takes him a moment to stir and wake, for once actually deep in sleep.]

Mn... 'cewot?

[fancy-shooting.livejournal.com]

That's right.

[Ocelot stroked Liquid's head until he felt him calm. Then he pushed two tiny objects into his palm.]

Take these fever reducer pills. They should help. I'll get you some water. [He moved to pry himself from Liquid.]

[starofchaos]

[Liquid, unfortunately, wasn't so willing to let go of him. Instead, he took the pills, swallowed them dry, and returned to clinging to him like a limpet.]

Don't go. I need you. [A pause.] Forget the water.

[fancy-shooting.livejournal.com]

[Ocelot sighed into Liquid's hair.]

Just give me enough space to take some of my gear off. I don't want to sleep on top of my guns.

[He wriggled against Liquid as he tried to kick his boots off.]

[starofchaos]

Ocelot, WHAT IF I DIE WHILE YOU'RE BUSY TAKING YOUR SHOES OFF?! At least pull me up on the bed. I want to be comfortable while I die.

[Cough hack wheeze god WHY?]

What did I do to deserve this? Sure I took over a multi-million dollar secret military facility and planned to nuke a major population center if they didn't give me a corpse and money and stuff, but I DIDN'T DESERVE THIS!

[Sob. He melodramatically tugs himself away from Ocelot and slumps against the side of the bed.]

This could be my last hour! Hurry up. I might not have much time.

[fancy-shooting.livejournal.com]

Well, you might whine yourself to death.

[Whap. Both of Ocelot's hands slapped onto each cheek of Liquid's ass, then gave him a hard shove to push him up onto the bed.]

[starofchaos]

[Liquid shot him an anguished look, then rolled over to flop on the bed.]

Cruel.

[fancy-shooting.livejournal.com]

[Ocelot hopped onto the bed, climbing over him so he was hovering above Liquid.]

I've heard people call me a sadist...

[starofchaos]

...

You've "heard" it, huh? [He rolls his eyes and stares up at him, blinking.] Everyone who's ever heard your name knows that.

[fancy-shooting.livejournal.com]

[He lightly kissed the side of Liquid's face, then half-rolled to the side so he could loop his arms around him and snuggle into his side.]

You should have expected that from me by now. I'm not a nice man.

[starofchaos]

You can say that again. [He frowned and nuzzled into him.] I'm dying, and you're being a jerk.

[fancy-shooting.livejournal.com]

You're not dying. You're just sick. You'll be better in a few days.

Nothing like that is going to kill you.

[He smiled at the nuzzling, tightening his hold around Liquid.]