Chapter Text
Magnus can’t help but worry.
It’s a part of his nature, no matter how many times Taako tells him not to. That’s their dynamic. He’s the worrywart, and Merle’s the one with common sense.
Well on this particular morning, he immediately gets the feeling something is wrong. Taako hasn’t come out of his room yet, which can mean a number of things and none of them good.
“It’s only noon.” Merle says. “He’s probably just sleeping in.”
Magnus nods. “You’re probably right.”
His Taako-sense starts really freaking out when three p.m. rolls around and there’s still no sign of their resident flip wizard.
“He likes to sleep.” Merle tries to reason, but Magnus is already out of his chair and heading for Taako’s door. It’s a mutual trust between them all to never keep their doors locked. With Taako’s night terrors, among a number of other things, it just makes sense to have all their rooms open to any kiddos that might pop up in the middle of the night.
He knocks once, gently rapping his knuckles against the door. It barely makes a sound, but Taako’s always been a light sleeper. It’ll be enough to make him stir.
Magnus waits, hearing no sound of movement from the other side of the door. Usually Taako will at least roll over or—if he’s feeling particularly regressed—whine a bit.
Something is wrong.
Magnus knocks once more, mainly out of courtesy than anything else, and pushes inside. The room is quiet, the air stale with sick. A Taako-sized lump sits underneath the blankets.
“Taako?” Magnus calls. “It’s time to wake up, honey.”
The lump still doesn’t move.
Dread coiling in his stomach, Magnus makes his way over to Taako’s bed. The smell of sick only intensifies as he peels back the covers, to find Taako a shivering, sweating mess. His eyes are half-open but extremely unfocused, and his nose is running. The curves of his mouth are pulled down in an almost permanent grimace. He’s wearing a New Elfington State hoodie, but his hands are cold to the touch. In contrast, his forehead is burning.
Taako whines at the sudden disruption to his environment. It’s too much cold and light and touch at once, and the only way he can voice his protests is by whining, which unfortunately sets off a powerful coughing fit.
“Oh, this can’t be good.” Magnus tries to shush him, to no avail.
Taako sniffs. He still hasn’t said anything, and from the way he’s rubbing his throat, he probably won’t say anything anytime soon. Another shiver rattles his frame, and he gropes blindly for the blanket.
With a sigh, Magnus tucks him back in. Taako shies away from the touch, venturing another whine of discomfort that only incites another round of coughing.
“I’ll call the doctor.”
Dr. Alaina Malva is the Bureau of Balance’s head physician. Not only is she extremely competent, but she’s had her fair amount of experience with Taako’s regressed side, so she’s the immediate choice.
Magnus calls her while Merle calls Lucretia, hoping to get their bases covered as quickly as possible. Sickness spreads pretty easily in such tight quarters, so any illnesses have to be reported immediately in case of a quarantine. That, and they’re sure Lulu would like to do a little bit of spoiling when she hears how bad off Taako is.
Magnus doesn’t need any second opinion to know Taako’s doing awful. He always employs a bit of dramatics when he’s not feeling well, from dramatic crocodile tears all the way up to writing his last will and testament. No, it’s when he goes quiet, when he stays curled up under the covers and doesn’t even have the energy to stand up, that lets Magnus know he’s deeply unwell.
The dark elf rushes through the door. Her hair is pulled in a tight bun, and she’s carrying a medical bag filled to bursting. Ever focused on her goal, she offers Magnus and Merle simple hellos before making a beeline for Taako’s room.
A soft coo of sympathy slips from her lips. It’s a sorry sight. Taako isn’t letting anyone touching him, whining and squirming and subsequently coughing whenever anyone tries, so he’s curled up askew against a mountain of pillows, sniffling sadly as he clutches Chester in a feeble hold. From what Magnus can tell, he’s pretty achy too, making it even harder for him to get comfortable and sleep.
Dr. Malva kneels by the bed, making sure she’s eye level with Taako while still keeping her space. Unfortunately (and Magnus and Lucretia have tried to make it up to her many times over), being a doctor, she’s borne the brunt of Taako’s fussiest behavior, so she knows better than to get too close right away. “Hi there, honey. How are you feeling?”
“He won’t answer.” Magnus says. “I think it hurts him to talk.”
“Is that true, honey?”
Taako nods.
Dr. Malva offers a sympathy pout. “Poor thing. I’ll try to make this as quick as possible.” She pulls out a tongue depressor and an otoscope from her bag. “Open up, little one.”
Taako whines and shakes his head, which only works to set off yet another round of coughing. The force of which has him doubling over his knees, Chester slipping from his grasp.
“Oh, honey, I know it hurts.” Dr. Malva coos. “I’m sorry. But the sooner we figure out what’s wrong, the sooner we can help you feel better, yeah?”
Taako fixes her with a hard stare, saying nothing.
“And,” she adds, her voice turning conspiratorial, “I may just have a nice popsicle with your name on it. You like popsicles, don’t you, dear?”
Taako nods at that.
“Think you can let me look around the inside of your mouth, then?”
Half-resigned, half-exhausted, Taako does as she asks.
“He really isn’t feeling well if he’s listening this well.” Dr. Malva jokes.
But even with that on her side, she doesn’t get more than a minute until Taako grimaces, pulls away, and snaps his mouth shut.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” She turns to Magnus and Merle, who are admittedly hovering. “Infection and swelling, probably a weaker strain of strep. All the drainage isn’t helping either.”
She takes her wand from her pocket, which has Taako scooting backward.
“Oh, it’s okay, honey. No need to fuss. I can take your temperature just like this.” She taps the tip of her wand on his forehead, causing it to glow a soft red. After a few seconds, it spits out a set of glowing numbers, 102.
“Is that good for elves?” Magnus asks.
Dr. Malva shakes her head. “102 is just as bad for humans as it is for elves. Just out of curiosity, where were you adventuring around before he got sick?”
“Round’s Rock Isles?”
Dr. Malva sighs. “That’ll do it. Looks like our guy’s come down with a case of Lon Gulch Fever.”
Magnus furrows his brow. “But we were there too, we ate all the same foods. Why aren’t we sick?”
“It only affects elves.”
Magnus’s eyes widen. “Taako’s one of those!”
“It’s not…life-threatening or anything, right?” Merle asks. Now that Dr. Malva has moved back, he’s taken her place at Taako’s bedside. His hands are raised, halfway in the middle of casting a minor healing spell to ease some of Taako’s discomfort.
“No, Lon Gulch Fever usually blows over within a week. It’ll just be a very unpleasant week for everyone involved. He should be under quarantine just in case, but you two should be fine to take care of him without risking infection.”
“So what’s the prognosis?”
“Dr. Malva prescribes bedrest and fluids. Maybe something minor to help with the aches and pains, probably a sleep aid at night, because his body needs rest now more than ever. Miss Alaina prescribes cuddles and popsicles. Also, and this is going to sound weird, but a television in his room. Just something to play in the background while he dozes so he doesn’t get too restless. I want him out of that bed as little as possible.”
She wipes a disinfectant cloth over the tip of her wand and otoscope.
“Does he have a medicinal paci?”
Magnus makes a face. “He’s too old for pacis.” Not to mention too prideful. He can only imagine the hell Taako would raise if that was even suggested to him, especially now, when he’s fussy and hurting and doesn’t want anyone touching him.
Dr. Malva casts a sidelong glance at Taako, who at some point in their conversation, drifted off with his thumb in his mouth. “Maybe try bringing it up. It’ll be an easy way to get him cough syrup, especially if he’s dozing. I don’t think I need to tell you how unsanitary that is.”
Magnus opts not to tell her how Taako regressed for a few minutes on their adventure, during which he definitely had his thumb in his mouth at one point.
She pulls out two pacifiers from her bag, both sized for babies, and taps her wand against them. They puff up to appropriate Taako size. “Once his fever breaks, disinfect everything as soon as you can. Wash his sheets and get him to shower. The steam should help. Other than that, maybe try a couple healing spells every few hours, maybe get him a bell so he can call you without speaking, and, uh, good luck.”
“Good luck?” Magnus echoes.
Dr. Malva offers a sympathetic smile. “I’ve seen that kid when he doesn’t wanna take a nap. You’re gonna need it.”