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It was late evening when Jesper’s phone pinged, twice. He was about to lock up the café, waving goodbye to Matthias who usually did but couldn’t because of an errand he had to run.
Not feeling the best. Mentally? Physically? Dunno. - Wy 7:06pm
Text more in a bit, don't panic. - Wy 7:06pm
Jesper hovered over his text, fingers twitching to reply. But he didn’t
An hour later, Jesper’s ringtone for Wylan blared in the silent shop as he swept the floors. It was ‘California gurls’ obnoxiously loud, it sliced through the calming tranquility of the shop. It came from the table where he left it, Jesper glanced at it, a feeling of unease washing over him.
He shrugged it off, I’ll reply later. He thought, continuing to sweep.
Jesper clapped his hands together with a huff, setting the broom down.
“Finally done…” He muttered with a heavy exhale, slinking down on one of the chairs. He reached for his phone, turning it on. The screen lit up, artificial light casting a faint glow across his face, shining through the grounding darkness of the café.
Jesper scrolled through his messages, snorting at Nina’s sharp remarks against Kaz in their group chat. His thumb stopped over the Wylan’s contact and his heart leapt into his throat.
Jesp -Wy, 8:42
C’m home - Wy, 8:43
pleez - Wy, 8:45
He jumped into action immediately, yanking his crossbody bag and keys off the table before booking it to the door. With a click, he locked up and sprinted to his car.
--=------=--------=------=----=
Wylan’s knuckles were as white as the porcelain he was currently depositing his dinner into. He’d messaged Jesper as a frantic call for help before his stomach turned against him, and since then he'd been sitting on the cold, tiled floors retching until his throat was dry.
Wylan shakily reached up and grabbed his phone off the sink counter, fumbling his password into the keypad. He clicked on Jespers contact and held it to his mouth.
“Where are you? Help please.” His hoarse voice murmured, barely audible. Wylan coughed, his phone clattering to the floor as he hunched over the toilet again, tears streamed down his feverish cheeks as his whole body shook.
His hands dug into the porcelain once again, clutching desperately as he choked out a sob.
--=------=--------=------=----=
“Fuck!” Jesper slammed his horn, dread rising in his throat as the endless rows of cars refused to budge.
His phone went off again, a reminder of who needed him. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” He swore under his breath, his leg bouncing wildly. He frantically grabbed his phone, dialing Wylan's number. “Come on, Wy...” He pleaded into the quiet of his car.
Is Wylan okay? Jesper felt off since he got Wylan’s first message, what's going on with him? Panic rang in his ears as he spiraled, the unbearable silence of his car was eerie and so far from the grounding stillness of the cafe.
Relief blanketed him as the light turned green, he slammed his foot on the gas pedal and booked it once again.
--=------=--------=------=----=
Wylan sat, trying to steady his mind. A tremor ran through him as his stomach gurgled, the unwelcome taste of bile thick on his tongue. He shrunk into himself, arms wrapped tight around his aching middle. Was Jesper ever going to arrive?
As if he read his mind, the lock of their apartment door clicked and Jespers footsteps clambered in.
“Wy? Love?” Jesper’s voice seemed to ground him, even yelling.
“Bathroom.” He croaked out as loud as he could manage.
He soon realized that he made a mistake as his chest tightened and bile rose to his throat again. Wylan lurched forward, ducking his head into the toilet.
He felt a warm hand rub in between his shoulder blades and he leaned into the touch as much as his hunched-over body could. Wylan groggily lifted his head, groaning as the lights seemed to shine directly in his eyes and the sound of the toilet flushing was too much to bear.
The room spun and suddenly, he wasn’t in the bathroom anymore.
He was back in that dreaded room, small, frail, crying for his Mother, covered in his own sick.
“Look at you, so weak.” His father spat, towering over him. That look alone made him want to sink through the floor.
Jan Van Eck didn’t have time for illiterate nobodies. Especially not ill ones.
“Wylan, you’re okay.” Jesper’s voice was faint, as if he were underwater. “He’s not here.”
“Please.” Wylan cried, not knowing who he was begging. “Please.”
He screwed his eyes shut as he knocked his balled fists against his head,
“Make it stop. Please.” He shivered again, a cut off sob escaping from his mouth.
Gentle hands unclenched his fists, replacing them with Jespers own, rubbing soothingly at his scalp. Jesper cradled Wylan to his chest.
“Breathe.” One simple word, why did it seem so hard? “Breathe with me, Wy.”
Wylan felt the rise and fall of Jespers chest, his own body following its steady rhythm. His eyes started to flutter shut as he gradually let go of himself, trusting Jesper to keep him from falling, to hold him together.
--=------=--------=------=----=
All Jesper felt was ache, he hated seeing Wylan like this – hurting.
Wylan currently lay limp, motionless against Jesper, his breathing slow. Jesper tucked a hand underneath his knees and held his head gently, he was too hot for his liking. He cautiously rose to his feet, careful to not wake him.
Once Wylan was situated on his bed, Jesper texted Inej almost instinctively, explaining the situation and asking for her famous chicken soup, the one that Wylan asked for every time he was feeling under the weather.
Inej, being the angel she was, replied almost immediately.
Yeah of course. - Nej, 9:08
I’ll be over in a few with medicine too. - Nej, 9:08
Jesper allowed himself to breathe, gratitude pooling in his chest.
The doorbell rang almost thirty minutes later, Jesper eagerly yanked it open.
“Nej! Hey darling.” Jesper exclaimed, his grin faltering at the edges.
“Hi Jes, how are you?” She took his hand briefly before waltzing in and setting down the soup and medicine on the counter.
“I’m fine, Wy’s just resting right now.” Jesper rubbed at the back of his neck as he spoke and moved towards her, leaning on the counter. The pair fell into easy conversation.
“And so she said-” Inej paused, being interrupted by loud footsteps. In the doorframe stood a battered Wylan, the bags around his eyes more prominent on his freckled skin.
“Hi Inej.” He mumbled, managing a small wave.
To which she nodded back with a smile, “I brought you soup.”
His face seemed to light up, breaking out into a large smile.
“Really? I love your soup.”
He slurred slinking towards Jesper and practically melting onto him. Inej nodded again and went to heat the soup up so Wylan could have some.
Jesper grinned, embracing him back and everything went still for a second.
“How lucky I am.” Wylan whispered into Jespers shoulder,
“What’d you say, baby?” He looked down at him.
“How lucky I am..” He sluggishly declared, “to have you.”
“As am I darling.” He said back, pushing back his redgold curls to place a kiss on his crown.
“I think your fever has passed. That's good.” He uttered, seemingly to himself. They just sat there, in each other's arms. Until Inej called them to the kitchen so Wylan could eat something.
Wylan was the first one to finish his soup, nodding in approval with every bite and singing praises to Inej, Jesper took a deep breath, finally content with how Wylan was feeling. The red-headed boy collapsed dramatically over Jespers lap, murmuring something about sleep. He laughed, agreeing with him and twirling one of his lover’s curls around his finger.
And so, they bid farewell to Inej with many, many thank yous and hopped into bed directly after.
Once they were both settled in and wrapped around the other, Wylan spoke.
“Thank you.” He whispered, looking up at Jesper through his lashes.
“You don’t need to thank me, Wy.” He smiled.
Wylan hummed, almost immediately falling asleep. Jesper followed suit not long after, sighing deeply and nuzzling closer to him.