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Something was wrong. It was already half past ten and Acronix still hadn't come out of his room. Krux knew his brother was a late sleeper, but he was usually awake at this time.
Krux sighed and decided to check on him. After all, he couldn't sleep through the whole day. When he got to his door, he knocked. "Acronix? Are you still asleep?" He waited a moment and when he didn't get an answer he just walked into his room.
In fact, his brother was still sleeping, buried under the covers. "It's half past ten! Get up, you lazy bastard!" Acronix just let out a grunt. "Jesus christ! Do i have to do everything myself?" He ripped the blanket off him.
His brother made a face. "Hey!" he whimpered and sat up outraged. "Give that back!" Krux paused when he realized how pale he was. His hair was tousled and stuck to his forehead.
"You don't look good."
"I'm not feeling good either!" Acronix wailed, ripping the blanket out of his hands and wrapping himself in it. Krux put his hand on his brother's forehead. It was blazing hot. "You have a fever."
Acronix groaned in agony. "Lemme sleep!" His voice sounded raspy. The older one sighed heavily. Today's gonna be a long day.
A few minutes later, Krux returned with a cup of tea. He placed it on Acronix's bedside table. "Drink," he prompted. His brother lifted his head weakly. "What is that?"
"Tea." He took the cup in his hands, sipped it and made a face.
"That's herbal tea! I don't like it!" The older one breathed in and out deeply. "It helps with a sore throat."
"How do you know that I-"
"Drink. It."
Acronix winced at his brother's intimidating look. He dutifully took a long gulp and shook himself in disgust. "Yuck!" Krux ran his hand over his face. Like a child...
"Drink it up. I'll bring you medicine later."
Acronix drank all the tea and then swallowed the pill that helped with the fever. "Good boy," Krux teased him. His younger twin pouted and lay back down. "I still feel miserable."
"The medicine doesn't work immediately. You have to wait."
"I hate waiting..." he murmured and then dozed off. Krux tucked him in and left his room.
A little later he checked on him again because it was unusually quiet. "How are you?" he asked as he walked towards his brother. "Dunno..." Acronix mumbled absently. Only then did Krux realize he was typing on his phone. "Put the phone away, it'll only give you a headache."
"But I'm so bored!" he complained. "What else am I supposed to do?" Krux raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Hm, apparently you're not that sick after all."
"Yes I am!" Acronix replied quickly. "Then you don't need your stupid phone!"
He stretched out his hand. "Give it to me." His brother hesitated before reluctantly handing over the device. Krux put it in his pocket. "Very well." Acronix grumbled indignantly. "You treat me like a child!"
"Well, then maybe you should stop acting like a child," the older one countered. "Now rest. You need to get better." His twin sighed and sank into his pillow. "Sure..."
Acronix managed to eat a little throughout the day, even if it was just some soup. For the rest of the afternoon he just lay in bed while being plagued by a cough. "Krux, I'm dying..." he whined when his brother entered his room.
"That's why you called me?" Krux asked sullenly. "Are you serious? How often do you want to distract me from my work?" Acronix blinked sadly. "You said to call you if I need anything."
"Yes, I did," the older man admitted. "But only if it's important. And in this case, it's not." The younger one made a pouty face. "Why are you so mean to me?"
"I'm not mean. You're just being childish."
Acronix coughed. "Help me..." Krux sighed. "I'll make you another cup of tea."
Shortly after, he returned with a steaming mug. Acronix was still coughing. "Here." His older brother handed him the tea. "Thanks." He drank and grimaced again. Krux turned to go. "Do you need anything else?"
Acronix considered, but then shook his head. The elder nodded. "Good." Before he could leave the room, his brother asked, "Can I have my phone back?"
"No."
Finally, Krux could go about his work without being interrupted again. Acronix was annoying in general, but when he was sick he was insufferable.
An hour passed when he suddenly heard a sound. Krux listened more closely, it sounded like a gagging and it seemed to be coming from the bathroom. "Oh dear..." Sighing, he got up, stretched his stiff limbs and padded towards the bathroom.
"Nix, everything alright?" he asked cautiously as he stood in front of the door. A low whimper was the answer. Krux entered and found Acronix lying in a hunched posture on the floor in front of the toilet.
The older one rushed over to him and squatted down. "Acronix, what's wrong you?" He tried to keep the panic out of his voice. "Did you throw up?"
"Yes..." he croaked weakly.
"Can you stand up?"
"No. My legs aren't working anymore..." Krux felt sorry for him. He seemed so small and pitiful. "I'll carry you." The older one picked him up and carried him back to his room.
"There," he said as he laid his little brother on the bed and covered him with the blanket. Acronix whimpered plaintively. "Thank you..." He rubbed his hand over his face. "I think there was something in the tea."
"Unlikely."
"Probably poison."
"Nonsense."
"Did you try to poison me, brother?"
Krux snorted in amusement. "I can't believe you think that of me." Acronix gave him a tired look. "Did you?"
"No," he replied. "Sleep now."
"Mhm..." He closed his eyes and turned onto his side.
The rest of the day his brother kept quiet, which was a relief to Krux. Nevertheless, he checked on him regularly to see if he was feeling a little better.
As night fell, Krux decided to go to sleep as well. At least he tried, because as he lay in bed he stared at the ceiling again. Sighing, he tossed and turned, but he just couldn't get any rest.
This was nothing unusual for him, however. He has suffered from insomnia from time to time since he was a child. And after losing Acronix, things got even worse. He usually only slept two to three hours. He lay there for the rest of the night, staring into the darkness, as unpleasant thoughts and worries swirl in his head. Now that his brother was with him again, he could sleep better. But unfortunately that wasn't the case every night.
Krux was so distracted by his thoughts that he was shocked when a figure appeared in front of his bed. A second look turned out to be just his brother. "Jesus, you startled me...!", he breathed and sat up. "What do you want?"
Acronix hesitated and looked down shyly. "I...can't sleep..." Krux blinked. "And what should I do about it now?"
"Can I...sleep in your bed?"
The older one looked at him in silence for a few seconds. "You're not serious, are you?" Acronix looked innocent. "Um... actually i am?" Krux took a deep breath. "Acronix, you're acting like a five-year-old again..."
"Oh, come on!" the younger one whined. "Is it that bad to share a bed with your brother? When we were kids, we did that too!"
"Yes, when we were kids," Krux repeated irritated. "But we're grown up now!"
"Please..."
"No, go to sleep."
"But I can't sleep," Acronix mumbled. "I'm not feeling well. I think my fever has gone up."
"Another reason why you should sleep in your own bed," Krux said grumpily. "I don't want to be infected by you!" He lay down again. "Now please go." Yet Acronix stayed put like a lost puppy.
The older one sighed heavily. "Acronix..."
"I promise I won't be annoying!" he swore, staring at him with a pleading look. Sure, of course...
Acronix would probably stand here all night begging him if Krux didn't back down. And then neither of them would get any sleep. He groaned in annoyance. "All right. You won."
Acronix's eyes lit up. "Really now?!"
"Go ahead before I change my mind!" The younger threw his hands in the air. "Slumber party!"
"No, this isn't a slumber party!" Krux growled.
Acronix giggled silly as he crawled into bed and snuggled up to his big brother. "Hey! What are you doing?" he hissed. "Stop this nonsense!" He tried to push him away, but Acronix held him tight and laughed.
"Oh, Acronix! You're not a baby anymore," Krux said, slightly amused. "So much for that you wouldn't be annoying."
"Can't your little brother hug you anymore?" Krux snorted. "Tch, fine..." He put an arm around him. He would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy Acronix's company.
"Softie," his brother whispered sleepily. "Shut up and sleep," Krux murmured in an affectionate tone. "Mhmm..." Quite quickly, Acronix's body relaxed and he fell into a peaceful sleep.
Krux was about to fall asleep too. His twin's familiar warmth made him tired. Maybe letting Acronix sleep here once in a while wasn't a bad idea after all. Knowing his brother was safe with him made him fall asleep better and he wouldn't lie wide awake all night.
Krux closed his eyes and was overcome by tiredness in a few seconds.