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If you asked Ratio what it was like to be sick, he would tell you it was uncomfortable and unlikable. If you asked Ratio what it was like to take care of someone who was sick, he’d look at you and tell you it was hell on earth. Now, it wasn’t like he didn’t like caring for people who were sick or injured, he was a doctor after all. He just didn’t like babysitting certain people who were sick. Certain people being the four of his students that never fail to give him a migraine. The damned gambler wasn’t much better.
The day started off as any normal day during the school semester would go. Ratio would wake up, get ready, go on campus, talk with his co-workers, answer questions, teach his classes, handle his own projects, and go back home. Busy was the life of a mundanite. He should have known something was off when Rivera came to class looking more flushed than usual. The second sign was the unnerving silence that followed after his first class.
No shouts, arguments, or even a thud followed by a laugh. None of the four even came up for questions after class. Come to think of it, he hadn’t even seen all of them attending class. Ratio’s brows furrowed as he frowned. Very rarely did his students skip a class without a good reason or without prior notice. Both of which he hadn’t received yet. As the class filed out of the lecture hall, Ratio cleared his throat.
“Jasper, Rivera, I need to speak with you.” The said students paused, eyes widening. Jasper nervously approached the desk followed by Rivera. A small smile appeared when Jasper noticed the duck sticker Chase had put on the stapler was still there. Ratio sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Pray tell where are the other two of your quartet?”
Rivera schooled her features. “They’re…working on a project?” She internally cursed at how unsure she sounded. ‘This is why you don’t ask me to lie for you,’ she mentally grumbled. The redhead smiled innocently.
Jasper groaned and face palmed. “You’re a horrible liar,” he mumbled.
“A project?” Ratio fought the urge to throw chalk. “I’d assume you would know how to lie better if you wanted to get one past me.” He sighed and looked from Rivera to Jasper. “What is going on? You know better than to come to class sick.” He gave Rivera a pointed look.
“Wha–how did you know?” Rivera gaped, green eyes widening in shock. She thought she had hidden her ill feelings pretty well. Though apparently not good enough.
“I’m a doctor, don’t insult me,” Ratio chided sternly. “If you’re sick, it’s fair to assume Avana and Chase are sick and that is why they did not attend classes?” His eyes narrowed on Jasper.
“It’s not that bad,” Jasper hesitated, frowning. “We woke up this morning, and they felt nauseous and looked pale, so we gave them some medicine and used the B.R.A.T diet for them to lower the chances of them getting sicker.”
Ratio nodded in approval. “Five points. However, I am going to step in and make sure they don't make themselves even more ill.” Thus, the four students found themselves at Ratio’s home.
“Don't get up, you'll fall and hurt yourself!” Ratio chided for the third time in fifteen minutes. He pinched the bridge of his nose. After Rivera and Jasper had informed him Avana and Chase were sick, he went to check up on them. Unfortunately for everyone, the two chaotic gremlins weren’t resting and instead were dead set on getting work done. Ratio had to move them to his apartment where he could keep a closer eye on them. Aeons forbid Avana trips and break something or Chase accidentally turns the room into ice.
Aventurine would arrive at Ratio’s apartment soon after. Avana and Chase were confined to Ratio’s guest room. Rivera and Jasper were in the living room catching up on homework and projects. Each student was dressed in a duck onesie. Avana wore a red one; Chase wore a blue one; Rivera wore a classic yellow one; and Jasper wore a green one.
“Well, I didn't expect to see you here,” Aventurine commented, tilting his head, smiling at Rivera and Jasper. He barely contained his laugh at seeing them in duck onesies. “Why are you here?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Ah, Gambler, I did not expect you to arrive so soon.” Ratio walked out from the kitchen. “Two of my students are sick. They are in the guest bedroom resting.”
“Firecracker and Frosty are sick?” Aventurine blinked in surprise. Concern etched his face. “How bad is it?” He immediately walked into the kitchen to see what Ratio was preparing. The doctor had been cooking some chicken and rice soup. Aventurine glanced back out into the living room.
“It appears to just be a fever,” Ratio told Aventurine. “Neither have shown any more severe symptoms other than coughing, high temperatures, fatigue, nausea, and nasal congestion. Can you turn off the heat?” Aventurine nodded and turned off the stove, the soup steaming. He partially worried if it would be too hot for Avana and Chase.
“Have they been alone all day?” Aventurine wondered, looking around the kitchen for some other comfort foods. He grabbed some saltine crackers, and a bottle of mints caught his eye. He knew Ratio would protest, but he was used to being yelled at by the good doctor. He grabbed the bottle of Tic Tacs and grinned.
“They have been quarantined all day, yes,” Ratio nodded, raising an eyebrow. “It’s safer to quarantine the sick so others do not get ill.” Back in the kitchen, he poured the soup into two bowls. “Why do you ask?”
“Sure, it’s better to be quarantined when sick, but it’s not good to be alone all the time,” Aventurine pointed out, opening the saltine crackers and putting them on small saucers. “Plus, I’m sure they are bored of being in one room all day with no one else. I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to kill each other,” he joked.
Ratio raised an eyebrow. “I understand where you are coming from,” he contemplated. “If they aren’t sleeping after they’ve eaten I will consider letting them out and maybe watching a movie or some other activity.” He grabbed both bowls of soup and carefully walked into the guest room where his two ducklings were sick.
Aventurine rolled his eyes and followed. “You make it sound like they are prisoners, doctor.” He wasn’t prepared to see both students curled up on the bed, all flushed and sweaty. Avana was sweating profusely and Chase was shivering uncontrollably. Aventurine felt sympathy and pity for them. “I will stay here with them,” he decided.
“Gambler, you will risk getting sick!” Ratio protested, frowning as he set the bowls of soup down.
“Then I’ll have to push my luck,” Aventurine smirked proudly, knowing his luck would keep him from getting sick now. He sat on the edge of the bed. He and Ratio ended up having to spoon feed both of the sick students as they were too shaky and weak to eat the soup themselves. When the soup was gone, Aventurine didn’t hesitate to get in between the two students and get comfortable.
Ratio looked at the three of them with soft eyes. “If you need anything, gambler, call me instead of doing it yourself.” He grabbed the empty bowls and left the room, the door cracked open. Aventurine quickly realized his mistake of trying to comfort the students because now one side was freezing because of Chase and the other was close to overheating because of Avana.
But it was worth it because both were smiling. Aventurine would suffer in silence if it meant Ratio’s children were happy. Soon enough he got used to it and he smiled softly. It took a long time for him to earn their trust, and now he was going to do his best to take care of them.
Avana and Chase had difficulty trusting people, so when they found people they could trust they had a habit of being clingy. Avana was the clingier one while Chase tried to act aloof. Aventurine didn't know their full background, but he knew enough. His thoughts were broken by The three cake cats Aventurine had gotten from the…incident. They made their way into the room, meowing and chattering as they clambered onto the bed.
Aventurine grunted as one of them settled on his chest. The other two curled up in between Chase and Avana, closer to Avana as she was warmer. Aventurine shifted to make room and get everyone comfortable. Chase sniffled and sneezed into a tissue, coughing up flem and mucus.
“Gross,” Avana groaned, glowering at her brother. “Keep it to yourself.”
Chase shot Avana a weak glare. “Don’t start. You were just puking earlier,” he grumbled, rolling over and resting his head on Aventurine’s arm.
“Come now, you two ducklings,” Aventurine spoke softly, not wanting to be too loud and trigger any headaches. “Stop arguing and rest. The sooner you rest, the sooner you get better.” Both students frowned and grumbled before Aventurine held up the bottle. “Don’t tell the Doctor I gave you this. He’d kill me.”
Avana and Chase lit up, both reaching for the Tic Tacs. Aventurine ‘oompfh’d and chuckled. “Alright! Alright, I get it.” He opened the bottle and let them eat the mints. “Don’t go overboard. You’re still sick.”
Aventurine wouldn’t call Ratio wrong for keeping the two separate from the others, but Aventurine knew they didn’t like it. Seeing them smile made him happier. Sometimes, positive attitudes helped speed up the healing process. That’s why he was so adamant on staying with them, giving them comfort through physical contact while Ratio gave comfort with making soups, giving them medicine, and focusing on getting them back to good health.
True to Ratio's words, since Chase and Avana were awake (barely, mind you), he brought Rivera and Jasper into the room to watch a movie together. Aventurine somehow found himself in the middle of the cuddle pile. Ratio was trying to find the perfect position where he could be holding all five of them. This proved to be difficult and near impossible. Ratio would be lying if he said he didn't like the cuddle piles. Being with Aventurine and the students always made the dark thoughts go away.
One movie turned into two movies and two turned into three. Before anyone knew it, they had a full on marathon. Even though the two sick students fell asleep for most of it, everyone had a good time. Ratio and Aventurine got to take care of their ducklings, and their ducklings got to spend time with them.
If you asked Ratio what it was like to be sick, he'd tell you being sick was miserable and horrible but bearable if spent with those you care about.