Chapter Text
His dumb head was hurting, now more than ever, he didn’t even know heads could hurt that much and that wasn’t even the whole problem!
He felt like some kind of mopey block of ice, cold and wet but all his muscles were flaccid and weak making him topple over. Now being on his knees panting against the wall, only staying upright because of his trembling arm propping him up against the wall.
He didn’t fight the whimpers he mouthed this time, alone and in pain, trying to crawl his way back to his room he now questioned what had been so great about keeping this much secrecy.
‘Your dignity’ his mind replied
He remembered how curious the others were about the tiny, sad and Pitiful sound as they called it. He couldn’t help but tremble, maybe because it was so absurdly cold or maybe because he couldn’t stand the idea of his friends finding out about his sickness and by consequence his weakness and by sequence his shameful whimpers…
Would they think badly of him? Would they laugh? Normally he wouldn’t mind their teasing, but now he couldn’t help but feel sensitive about it, he never wanted to seem weak or incapable to them. He relinquished in being their clever, cunning and attentive leader! Always ready, always alert, always reliable.
But then again… they weren’t mere work colleagues, they’ve been pass that for a long time now and Wolf can genuinely say he trusts them… so maybe.. maybe he was overthinking it?
He was definitely overdoing something, because he wasn’t much closer to his room when his arms buckled and made him fall into a panting mess on the cold floor, the pain from his headache became too much, the sounds hurt his ears and the light blinded his eyes. So he curled up right there as best as he could and closed his eyes, giving up whatever movement towards comfort.
…
The rest of the crew was following the water trail with their eyes unnecessarily focused downward when they saw him there on the ground and the effect was immediate. None of them knew exactly what they expected but it surely wasn’t this, their friend completely down and miserable made them stop in shock as it made way for panic to set in.
“WOLF!!!” They all yelled before rushing to his side
His only response was to grunt, his ears pushing back against his head and body recoiling tightly into itself. Ms.Tarantula got close to his face, putting a hand in his dry nose and waiting for him to open his tightly shut eyes. But when it became clear he wasn’t going to do it she asked softly “Wolf?…”
They all eyed him with worry, using the moment to take in his state. He was all curled up, shivering in a puddle of water with his ears and tail tucked in and his face scrunched up in a pained expression. It was clear he needed help, Snake couldn’t think of anything else, he soon began barking orders
“SHARK! THERMOMETER! WEBS! WATER BOWL! PIRANA! YOU NEED TO-“
While he ordered aloud the others took notice of the way Wolf flinched every time his volume spiked, the discomfort was already too much, they turned around and stoped the reptile right there with harsh whispers “snake!!” He looked at their angry faces with surprise “WHAT!?”
*whimper*
No one dared move. Webs, Shark and Pirana having their backs to Wolf stood still with wide eyes but Snake wasn’t so lucky, his wide eyes were locked on his friend and he couldn’t stand seeing how he recoiled and held his ears, clearly uncomfortable… Snake could only stare in a loss for words.
And the others, at the uncharacteristic silence from the reptile, slowly turned around just in time to see the canine let out a long, suffering whimper that tore through their hearts. Suddenly the early morning events came to memory, had that been Wolf too? Why did he-
“We gotta help him” came the stiff whisper through a forked tongue as if just now, like the others, he realized they’ve been just standing there in shock looking over their helpless friend.
Shark nodded “Okay, what do we do?” He turned to the lock-cracking expert, diligently waiting for orders. Snake didn’t think twice before giving them
“New plan, you are helping me get him to his room, Webs can get the thermometer and Pirana gets the bowl of water..carefully”
They nodded and Snake went to grab Wolf with Shark following suit, he poked his friend in between the eyes twice, earning him a mumble (which was better than a whimper in his opinion)
“C’mon Wolfy, time to wake up you brickhead” his words didn’t match the softness of his voice, but they did coax Wolf to try and open his eyes “Sssnake?” Came the slurred response “tha’ you?” The slid opened eyes searched numbly for the guy right in front of him.
“Yeah, Im Mr.Snake” he stated, still whispering “And you are Mr.Im-in-big-trouble-because-Im-too-stubborn-for-my-own-good” he huffed as Wolf’s unfocused eyes finally landed on him “I knoooow” he whined “M’sorry” he plopped even more into his puddle.
Shark looked tearful “D’aww we know man! We know” he put his arms under him to pick him up “We’ll help ya out-“ when he jostled him up tho, it was too hasty for the pain littered canine and he let out a surprised sound mixed with yet another pained whimper.
“SORRY! SORRY!” *whine* “OH!…sorry…” he whispered, carrying Wolf bridal style in the most comfortable way possible, Snake sighing by his side as they made way to the bedrooms hall.
…
Getting there Shark put Wolf down to sit at the edge of the bed while Snake messed around in the wardrobe in search of dry clothes “Damn it Wolf, theres only so many white suits a person can own before it looks weird”
Wolf just groaned swaying and fighting to keep upright, having to rely on Shark to keep him from toppling over.
“Grr, what should he even wear anyway?” Snake grumbled throwing all sorts of clothing all around him “He’s trembling like a leaf in the wind but sweating like a guinea pig at a barbecue”
“Ain’t the saying ‘Like a pig at a barbecue’?”
“I know what I said”
They settled for some funny pijamas they’ve found with little moons and stars embroidered all over the long sleeves and pants. Maybe if Wolf had been coherent enough to be embarrassed they would have had more laughs about it… eh, they would save it for later. For now Shark gently let Wolf lay down to tuck him in the warmest, fluffiest blanket he could find in hopes that those bone chilling shivers would finally stop.
Right then, Webs appeared through the door running like a bullet holding above her head a thermometer almost her size “Found it! Where’s Wolf?”
The other two pointed at the bed to the shivering ball hiding under the heavy blanket. She jumped on the bed and walked over to the headboard “Heey Wolfy, you can come out now” she smiled watching the bundle move around until finally a snout got out and started sniffing, to her curiosity, she wasn’t really expecting that
“Uuuh what’s he doing?”
Shark walked over “pfft I think he’s trying to smell ya!” It only made her more confused “Why? I don’t smell do I?” She checked under her armpits
Snake only took one look at the still sniffing snout when, with an unimpressed voice, he said “Nah that’s not it, the airhead is just trying to figure out who you are by your scent so he doesn’t have to hurt his eyes” he rolled his eyes and slid to the dimmer switch, turning down the lights of the room while Ms.Tarantula looked back at Wolf “Ya think so?” She reached out and gently rubbed the top of his muzzle “Hey buddy?” She said in an overly sweet tone, sounding almost childish she continued “It’s me! Your friend Webs! You can come out now”
Snake rolled his eyes once more but before he could call her out on it, as prompted, Wolf slowly got his head out with his eyes in slits trying to adjust to the light and his raspy voice called “Webs?”
They smiled at the better response and Webs chuckled “You got it!” His ears flattened at her volume and even if he tried to be discreet about it she lowered her loudness “Now you just put this in your mouth for me” without waiting for a response she shoved the thermometer in his mouth.
“And we just wait for that beep” Shark sighed “Man we are killing it in this nursing thing” he bragged cheerfully
Antagonizing his positive energy Snake huffed “Yeah yeah, if only pirana hurried up with that water” he slammed the tip of his tail on the ground “I asked for a bowl not the whole water supply!”
Tarantula agreed “Yeah the guy’s taking a while and Wolf sure looks like he’s melting” she analyzed “…Are we sure he needs that heavy blanket?”
“How should I know? I’m not a doctor” the eldest grumbled
“He just seemed so cold with all that trembling I figured he’d like it” Shark shrugged
*beep beep*
“Well here’s our verdict” the spider plucked the thermometer out to check the numbers.
Almost immediately she let out a yelp, dropping the device and scampering to rip the covers away from the wolf
“What!?”
“What is it?!”
The others panicked and she responded with a panicked reply of her own “A 104°FAHRENHEIT FEVER!! HE’S BURNING UP HELP ME GET THIS OFF!” She creamed in one breath
(104°F = 40°C)
The panic was at a high, Shark yanked off the blanket roughly and Snake put his tail over the confused Wolf’s forehead, feeling the heat and letting out a hiss “We need that water!”
“I’m gonna see whats taking so-bah!“ before webs was over speaking, halfway through the doorway she got face to face with the fish they were looking for.
Pirana appeared with eyes trained on the ground, a rag wrapped around his neck and a half full bowl of water in his hands, walking in slowly with wide steps, biting his tongue in extreme concentration “I-I did it?” He whispered incredulous “I made it! Hahae” he smiled proudly, lifting up the bowl.
“Was about time!” Snake yelled harshly picking up the bowl and rag to tend to their friend while Shark turned to the smaller fish “Yeah man, what gives? What took ya so long?” Tarantula backed him up with a fiery “Yeah! Wolf’s been melting over here!”
In response he took a couple steps back and took on a defensive posture “Ey ey ey! Easier said than done!”
“What?! Carrying a bowl of water!?”
“Yeah! It’s tough work! Took me 5 trips!”
“It isn’t even full man!?”
“Cuz it kept spilling over the bowl!! And Snake said to be careful!”
“So now it’s Snake’s fault!?”
It only ensued a screaming match that was by no means unusual for them and naturally dissolved into a scuffle. With a right to bitting, pinching and of course… loudness.
Wolf just kept groaning while his ears flopped to the back of his head with such force they seemed to want to phase into his skull and Snake, while putting the cold wet rag on his forehead, asked with an irked tone that failed to hide his worry “It isn’t that bad, right?…is i-“
A loud clang in the background was soon followed by a loud whimper, so long it could almost be a howl of pain. The interrupted snake turned around ready to yell at them for it (which wouldn’t have been the best idea when yelling was the problem but ugh he was frustrated)
He didn’t have to tho, seemed like Wolf had managed to shut them up on his own, they looked like they had been slapped with their big eyes full of shock and regret. Snake just turned his back to them with a sigh “Alright” he whispered “I guess it is that bad…”
The others silently huddled in closer, all with wobbly lips and big sorry eyes looking at their friend slowly opening his pained eyes again.
Mr. Snake couldn’t hold yet another sigh of frustration, as it felt like it was the hundredth time he did that just today. But he had a delicate situation and no hands to handle it with, so he went straight for the question.
“Wolf, why did you hide you were sick?”
If it had been quiet then it was silent now with all their breaths seeming to halt, but the question remained in the air and the reptile would keep it there until he got his answers.
“I ain’t got all day” he grumbled impatiently at the suddenly skittish canine
“I-I” Wolf swallowed “I didn’t mean to! I just-“ he cleared his throat, the whispers sounding weak and tired “I didn’t wanna let this take me down” he groaned “I am Wolf! The big bad wolf! The villain of every story! Not the-“ He coughed due to the sudden strain of vocals “Not the ‘on his deathbed wolf’ nor the damsel in distress who needs help all the time” he lays flat on his belly, crosses his arms in front of him and moodily buries his face in them.
He could practically feel their eyes on him and for once, the super confident wolf didn’t want to be the center of attention he wants to bury his snout so deep into the fabric that he just fazes through with purely the strength of his embarrassment.
“You aren’t”
His ears perk up towards the tarantula “huh?”
She crossed her arms and sat down on her spot at Shark’s shoulder, with one eyebrow raised she said confidently “You aren’t dying! So stop talking like we’d think any of that stuff! Sheesh”
Shark took a step forward “And..really? A damsel in distress? Puh-lease!” He smuggled “you don’t have half the artistic streak for that” He snickered with Webs and Pirana while Wolf halfheartedly grumbled at the shallow jab.
With the atmosphere more comfortable they all settled around their bedridden friend as he finally rolled over and stopped hiding his face, which they were all happy to see was reassured.
They sinked into the mattress with a relaxed sigh, all around Wolf as he curled into himself in a familiar way with his legs tucked in and arms crossed to pillow his head.
Moments like this were few and far between, when everyone of their chaotic team members was willing to just relax and bask in the silence of the hideout for a change. Despite the oddity of it and their trademark craziness, Snake could admit to himself he enjoyed these moments were he could just appreciate these weird people he managed to get in his life.
Wolf shifted around letting out little coughs
Pirana kicked his legs by the side of the bed
Webs twitched her legs
Shark took big, long breaths with loud sighs every 5 seconds…
Hm, yeah, for now he’d only admit that to himself while telling them “Okay you’re annoying” making sure to add a grumble “what do you guys want?”
Webs mumbled “Now it’s too quiet”
The aquatic duo was quick to agree “mhm” “yup” and to their surprise even Wolf nodded along. Snake turned to face him with a raised eyebrow “What happened to that killer headache of yours?”
“Still killing, thank you very much” he groaned “but it’s weird not hearing you guys” he gently closed his eyes and his ears rotated around while he mumbled “t’s kinda unsettling…”
Pirana perked up “Ooh I know!” And began cheering whispers of “Heist! Heist! Heist!” Pumping his fists up in energy while the others quickly raised an eyebrow at him “What? I’m sure Wolf will feel better after a lil wild run” he arguments
Wolf smiled with amusement “I’m not so sure about that big guy” woozy as he still was he even winced at the idea of driving a car with all his friends inside “I think this time I’ll pass”
Snake snickered “Only your brain half melting for you to turn down a car chase” they laughed along, dissolving into a quiet but lively conversation about this fun little passion of theirs that is heisting.
Even if at some point Wolf fell asleep, stopping mid talk.
But that’s ok
Because soon enough he’d also stop coughing, groaning and whimpering. They’d make sure of it.
Yeah, now the dog days are over.