Chapter Text
The stream gurgled softly near Lapis's tattered boots. He kneeled, placing his basket beside him. He took his small cutters for delicate plants and threaded the stems of the angelica through his fingers in a gentle hold. He snipped them cleanly, taking just enough and putting them in his basket.
He mimicked this with a few other water-bound herbs nearby and soon, he was back on his feet. He sighed, feeling quite content with his supply.
The midday sun started to heat his dark hair, he rubbed the sweat off of his temple with the base of his palm. The days were hot but made the meadows ripe with sun-hungry herbs and other goods.
Trunks had urged him to bring along his sunhat but Lapis shooed the thought away. He didn't think it'd be this hot, he'd bring it next time.
He unlocked the door to his cottage, happy to feel the coolness great him as he walked through the doorway.
Trunks were making lunch in the kitchen as Lapis came to set his baskets and jars on the rough table.
"Hello love." He looked over from the stove. He chuckled.
"Were you hot?" He added as he saw Lapis fan himself with a paper fan. Lapis grinned.
"No. Why would you ask such a thing?" He left his basket and went to Trunks, laying his head tiredly on his shoulder. Trunks wrapped his arm around his waist and kissed his warm head.
"Just curious seeing as you look a little overheated."
"Never." They smiled at each other. Lapis felt the soft cotton underneath his cheek and closed his eyes, listening to the sound of sizzling in a skillet. He sighed.
"Go clean yourself up, lunch will be ready soon." Trunks nuzzled him. Seventeen nodded, slightly longing to keep his head there on Trunks's shoulder.
He changed and came back down the stairs just as Trunks was starting to set up the table. He was fresher now, smelling less like sweat and more like flowers from the lavender he rubbed into his hair and clothes. He helped Trunks, who had made sandwiches for the two of them.
They sat down to eat. Seventeen took hungry bites out of the sandwich. He heard Trunks laugh softly, and he blushed. By then he finished and cleaned up.
"That was really good..thank you," Lapis said, his belly full. He was still tired but he knew he had to sort through his herbs first.
"Of course." Trunks told him as he came back from putting his plate away.
He sat at the table again with Lapis to help him with the herbs. Trunks opened the jars and sorted them into little groups on the table. Lapis worked on the others. They sorted through tansy and marshmallow, chickweed, angelica, and various other plant sprigs.
"Once fall comes, I'll be able to collect a couple of seeds and we can plant them in the garden," Lapis told Trunks. He had been monitoring which blooms had been spent and when they would give seeds. He saw Trunks smile fondly at him, nodding his head in agreement. Trunks' gentle smiles at him made him feel so smitten, his cheeks went rosy.
Skipping along the day, Lapis was now tying new sprigs of dried rosemary to the middle of the back bedboard with some thin twine. He still hadn't changed into his nightclothes like had Trunks as he was still doing things to close out his day. He felt a hand touch his shoulder.
"I think that's enough for today, love." Trunks told him softly.
Seventeen sat back on his knees and looked up to face Trunks. Trunks pet his head, persuading him easily into settling down for the night. He let Lapis go change and sat in the bed waiting for him. He came back in a linen button-down and some pants. He crawled over Trunks, grinning cheekily at him. Trunks pulled him down beside him.
"Settle down.." He told Lapis. Even though it was dim in the room with only the moon and a lamp to give light, he could see the slightly embarrassed pinkness of Lapis cheeks. It made him feel childish when Trunks had to remind him that he had to go to bed and stop being rowdy.
Lapis curled into Trunks' hold like a pill bug, hugging his lover tightly. They shared a kiss and Trunks tucked Lapis' head under his. Under the sheets, he was calm now, closing his eyes. His breathing slowed, and there he was, sound asleep in Trunks' arms
...
Lapis' head felt light. Was it the sun that made him so dizzy? He placed his hands on the grass to stable himself. His mind whorled with incoherent and unclear thoughts that he couldn't make out at all.
Then, he felt it. A gurgle in his stomach. He held himself now as the pain began to stab him. He started to worry now. He had begun to pant, his heart racing, it felt as it would burst out of his chest. He heard it in his head along with all the other horrible things already there. He tried to yell, but only a small, miserable squeak came out. His throat was parched, his eyes stung as if he planted his face into a cactus.
It came now. A sludge almost, up his throat and out his mouth. He fought for feeble breaths, gagging and throwing up whatever churned in his stomach. It was blurry through his tears, he couldn't make anything out. He held himself steady as best as he could.
And then he saw it. Wriggling through that heavy puddle were little creatures of all sorts. He screamed, pushing himself back as far as he could in one go. Out came more, he couldn't hold it in. Staining his clothes with muck and minuscule bugs. It dripped down his mouth and through his teeth. Little bugs slipping through and falling onto the grass. He collapsed, panting heavily..it was all a blur to him. The scuttling of those things crawled into his ears and mind, drowning out anything, including himself.
...
Lapis shot up from bed with a jolt. His heart thumped as he panted. It wasn't long until his realization settled in. His eyes started to bay with tears before rolling down his cheeks as he shook Trunks frantically. Trunks took a second to wake up before he caught onto Lapis' terrified sobs.
"Lapis! My dear, what happened? Are you okay?!" He took Lapis into his hold protectively. He held Lapis' crying face, smothering him kisses and trying to calm him. Lapis wailed and buried his face into Trunks's soft blouse, trying to breathe in the scent through his stuffy nose.
"I'm here..breathe." Trunks stroked his hair, soothing Lapis into paltry hiccups and sniffles. He held him close. Then, after another minute, Lapis finally lifted his head.
"I-I..Trunks.." Lapis searched for his words through stammers. Trunks rubbed his cheek free of tears with his thumb, pressing his forehead against his...
"It was horrible Trunks, so horrible.."