Chapter Text
“Ugh. I have decided that I am sick of- bleugh!”
Sypha tisked gently and patted Trevor’s back. “Sick of being sick? I think that would only compound your problem.”
Trevor tried to speak again but wretched as soon as he opened his mouth. He decided on a far less dangerous nod as a reply, cheeks warm with embarrassment.
The hunter had been sick for almost three days now. When he had first vomited (right after assuring Sypha he was fine) the trio had booked a hotel for the night, being far better for their friend’s health than sleeping on the ground. Seeing Trevor’s sickly face the following morning, Alucard had suggested that they stay over for one more night. But of course, Trevor refused, and they reluctantly continued their journey.
Alucard was good at many things, and one of his smaller talents was his ability to keep track of people’s natural habits- how often they ate, drank, slept… aware of how odd it was, the dhampire had tried to stop himself many times over the years before eventually giving up and turning the ability into a time passing habit.
Since the three of them were traveling, Alucard had ample time to observe Trevor’s habits in particular, and the emerging pattern worried him: Trevor was only keeping food and water down an average of once out of every five times Sypha convinced him to eat. That wasn’t nearly enough to sustain a man.
Now Trevor had scrambled out of the wagon yet again to be sick. Sypha was barely managing to hold the large man up out of his own vomit, and Alucard jumped down to help. “We are making so little progress that we might as well make camp for the night and allow you to rest.”
Trevor hiccuped and burped into his hand, his face turning a violent shade of green. Then it eased somewhat and Trevor shook his head. “We’re out in the middle of nowhere right now. I want to at least get to the next town. It can’t be more than a day’s ride- gah!”
The hunter suddenly bent over, hands pressed against his stomach. Trevor sank to his knees, and Alucard managed to steer him away from his puddle of sick before he collapsed entirely, facial features contorted with agony.
Sypha waited until Trevor’s trembling body was mostly still before speaking, running her fingers through his hair in a soothing motion. “We have supplies, we can stay here until you are better.” Trevor opened his mouth to argue but Sypha interrupted, “No arguments. Our destination won’t disappear before we get there.”
After coughing up bile, Trevor tried and failed to get to his feet. It was terrifying to see him this way, a man who seemed to bounce back from whatever was thrown at him.
Ignoring his weak protests, Alucard easily scooped Trevor into his arms bridal style and deposited him into a warm bedroll, next to which Sypha quickly made a fire. “You are slowing us down” Alucard hissed when Trevor continued to sulk, “Sypha and I need you at full strength. What if we are attacked when we reach town? Sypha could get hurt while I’m protecting you.”
Alucard expected a rude reply in the form of a crude gesture, or perhaps a muttered insult. To his shock, all he got was a quiet, “I’m sorry.” The dhampir didn’t know quite what to make of it, so he simply gave Trevor’s shoulder an awkward pat and walked away.
When Alucard climbed up into the wagon to fetch water, Sypha handed him a glass to put it in, one which contained a layer of power at the bottom. “It contains some medicine that will help stop the vomiting and hopefully ease his pain.” Sypha explained.
Trevor was already half asleep at this point and accepted the water without question. He downed it all in just a few gulps, then curled up in his blankets, whispering his thanks.
At first, when Sypha heard Trevor’s groans in the middle of the night, she sat up, blinking in the firelight. Then he cried out her name and she squirmed out of her own bed to his.
Trevor was crying.
Honestly, Sypha hadn’t thought she would ever see such a thing from Trevor. But here he was, sobbing in his tangled sheets with both hands pressed against his middle. “I- it hurts. It hurts! I can’t make it stop.” Alucard was awake by this point, and after a nod from Sypha he used his supernatural strength to pry Trevor’s hands away from his middle and hold him down.
The young speaker pushed up Trevor’s shirt and gasped. Trevor’s abdomen was flushed red and slightly swollen. “Oh…” Sypha whispered, heart hurting for her friend. “I’m sorry Trevor, but I’m going to have to touch you and it will probably hurt.” Trevor simply groaned. “Do whatever you need to.” Alucard tightened his grip, and Sypha carefully placed her hands on Trevor’s skin.
Pressing down a little on the left side, Sypha looked at Trevor’s face. His eyes were still full of pain, but it didn’t significantly increase. So, probably not his stomach then. Sypha moved her hands to his right side, noting how he flinched. She paused, then lowered her palms into his flesh.
“Aaaahhhh!” Trevor screamed and arched his back away from the ground, then slammed back down, convulsing in agony. The next thing Sypha knew, Alucard had pulled Trevor into his arms and had him laying against his chest, face tucked against his throat.
“Shhhh. It’s alright.” Alucard began to gently rock his friend, helping to ease some of his pain away. “You’re going to be just fine. Why don’t you lay down… that’s right… just rest here for a moment.”
Sypha already knew that Alucard had a softer side, she was just surprised to see him show it, especially for Trevor. She smiled at Alucard before placing two fingertips on Trevor’s temples, using a small bit of magic to help him sleep.
“That was sweet of you. I think he needed it, even if he will never admit it.”
Alucard shrugged. If he was embarrassed, his fine features never betrayed it. “It’s what my mother used to do for the sick children she treated. I thought it might help.”
At Sypha’s direction, Alucard lifted Trevor into the back of the wagon, which was now parked some ways off of the main trail. The magician looked worried, biting her lip as she stared at Trevor’s unconscious form. “I know a little bit of healing magic, but I think his appendix has burst. I don’t know if we can get him to a surgeon in time…”
Alucard raised an eyebrow at her, lips curling in a small smile. “Have you forgotten that I was raised by a doctor?”
“I can operate on Trevor.”