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As soon as Sapnap managed to find his fiancés after the fight, he felt a flood of relief rush through him.
Almost collapsing, he dropped down into the grass by Karl’s side. Quackity moved to Sapnap’s other side, threw a wing over him and rested his head on Sapnap’s shoulders. “Hey.” The winged man mumbled. Swallowing, he let out a pained groan.
“Hey.” There was a pause. For a while, they all laid there underneath the warm sunlight streaming between the smoke clouds that were fading away. Sapnap took a breath. Under his armor and his clothes, he could feel something hot and wet on his ribs. Probably just a mild injury. If it was more severe, though, he would be alright. He was fine. He’d survived much worse in the past. Groaning, he looked up at the clouds, traced a few of them with his eyes. “You know we have to head back home at some point, right?” Karl and Quackity both groaned at the same time. Smiling, Sapnap slowly pushed himself up. Then, he scooped Karl up. Shifted Quackity onto his back and held his hands in front of him.
And then he started walking.
Well, really, it was more of stumbling along. Weakly. Definitely not well, in all honesty. It was just because he was trying not to accidentally hurt Quackity and Karl. He was fine. He was totally fine, nothing was wrong with him at all.
As they got up to their house, their dogs jogged out to them, tongues lolling from their mouths as they panted happily. Some of them moved around and nudged at Sapnap’s legs, licked Karl’s fingers or Quackity’s boots. Sapnap shouldered the door open and then made his way inside. Then, he went to their bedroom after kicking the door back closed. Then, he settled both of his fiancés down on the bed. Quackity was out, so was Karl. Gently, Sapnap shifted both of them, moved Quackity’s wings out from beneath him. Then, he went to Karl’s side, shifted his head onto the pillow. There was a soft hum. Even asleep, Karl smiled lightly, grabbed onto Sapnap’s hand for a moment. Smiling, Sapnap brushed some of his bangs out of his eyes. Then, he turned back to Quackity.
Alright, Sap. Let’s do this. Turning, he went to grab their medical kit and some sleep clothes for his boys. As he bent down, pain split through his ribs again. He paused, stood up. Pulled his shirt away after checking that Karl and Quackity were still asleep.
A deep slash cut across his ribs.
Wincing, Sapnap dropped the shirt again. He’d be fine. He’d be totally fine, actually. He knew he would be. Besides, the last thing he wanted was to stress Quackity and Karl out.
Carefully, he started working on the others’ wounds. They weren’t too bad, thankfully. Not something that would need a health potion or urgent care. Bandages and some salves, in the meantime, would help plenty, and they could check in with Ponk in the morning. When there wasn’t as much stress or injured people for the poor doctor to worry over.
Once he had finished, he gently woke both of them. “Hmmm, what do you want?” Quackity asked, rolling over and trying to bury his face in the pillow.
“Come on, you need to wake up and change.” Quackity let out another groan. Crossing his arms, Sapnap poked his shoulder again.
“Stop it.”
“Then change your clothes. I won’t leave until you do.” Quackity rolled over slowly, groaned the whole time. Then, he sat up, took the clothes that Sapnap offered. “Do you want me to help?”
“Just with the shirt.” He sighed. Nodding, Sapnap helped him with the ties at the back, both to get the old shirt off and the new one on. Then, he went to Karl, did the same process with him. Took the bloodied clothes and retreated to set them in the laundry. Then, he wandered back to the room. Dropping down on the bed, he kicked off his shoes.
Lying back, he closed his eyes. Ignored the strike of pain in his side.
I’ll be fine.
+++
Quackity woke up to labored breathing.
Raising his head, he opened his eyes blearily. Next to him, Sapnap was curled on his side and wheezing. He raised his head, looked down at his fiancé. Turning, Sapnap groaned weakly, almost in pain. Then he moved. Which was normal for Sapnap. But…not like this. This wasn’t normal, at all.
“Sapnap?” Softly, Quackity whispered again, “Sapnap. Come on, wake up.” He reached over. Then, gently, he shook Sapnap’s shoulder. Still, the young man didn’t stir. There was a thin sheen of sweat on his face, his skin was paler than normal. That’s not right. That’s not normal. Quackity leaned forwards, kissed his fiancé’s forehead. Instantly, he knew Sapnap had a fever. That’s not good. Reaching over, Quackity nudged Karl. “Karl, wake up.”
Humming, Karl opened his eyes part of the way. “What is it, Quackity? I’m trying to sleep.”
“It’s Sapnap, I think he’s sick or something.” Immediately, Karl’s eyes opened. It was like the time when Quackity and Sapnap both woke up sick right after Karl had gone back in time. Rather than just take them to Ponk, or tiredly suggest it, Karl was up within a second and trying to fix things himself.
Rolling over, he looked at Quackity. “What is it?”
“Something’s up with Sapnap, that’s what.” Immediately, Quackity started checking for any blood stains on his legs. Karl went for his head and chest. In the end, Quackity found the long, bloodied slash across his middle. It was already infected, and beginning to get worse. “Shit.”
“Quackity, get me the bandages.” Karl ordered. Nodding, Quackity jumped up from bed, limped over to the first aid kit on one foot with his wings for balance. Then, when he got there, he found an empty kit.
“Damnit, Sapnap!” Turning back, he met Karl’s gaze. “He used all the bandages on us. Give him to me, I’ll fly him to Ponk.”
“Let me help.” Grimacing, Karl turned and threw his arm out, palm facing the wall and all his fingers extended. Then, a portal opened up on the wall, and Quackity glanced over at his fiancé. “Just take him, I can’t keep this open for long.”
Nodding, Quackity scooped up Sapnap, extended his wings. Then, he shot through the portal.
+++
By the time Karl managed to make his way to Ponk’s house, about an hour had passed.
On the bed, Sapnap was lying under the blankets. His shirt was gone, replaced by the normal white cotton one that Ponk used for all the patients after a surgery. Which wasn’t a good sign. Beside him, Quackity was curled up on one of the round chairs, head tucked underneath his wings. Still, he wasn’t crying. Sapnap was breathing. That was something. That was almost enough. Almost.
Walking over, he took a slow breath and moved over. “Quackity?” He asked softly, sitting down on the bench beside him. Reaching over, he gently touched Sapnap’s hand. Then, he turned over to Quackity and reached over. Brushed his fiancé’s feathers down a little bit, smiled when the wings relaxed a bit. “Alright. Just sleep, sweetheart. Get some rest.” Slowly, he started preening the feathers as delicately as he could, until Quackity had unfolded them all the way and then was lying against him. Slowly, he eased Quackity back in the chair.
On the bed, Sapnap hummed. His fingers twitched, moved towards them just a little bit. Karl stopped preening Quackity’s wings, reached over and took Sapnap’s hand again. Then, he heard a soft groan, watched Sapnap’s eyes twitch a few times. Then, they opened blearily. Looked over to him.
“Karl?” Looking around, Sapnap paused. Frowned at the sight of where they were. “I’m guessing I wasn’t okay.” Laughing, Karl shook his head.
“No. No, you weren’t.” Sapnap huffed out a light laugh, then looked over at him.
“Oops?”