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Gunshots and screams rang out throughout the N109 zone. Normally the noise of the zone didn’t bother Sylus, as he was more often than not the reason the carnage was happening. But today was different. His head hurt so badly. The base of his skull throbbed and every noise was magnified to an excruciating degree. He’d ordered the twins and Mephisto to take care of his business for the day while he was holed up in his room, curtains shut and every light off. He tried to play a soothing record, but even the soft music was enough to make his head worse.
But of course, right when he was finally comfortable enough to slightly doze off. “Dad…” Sylus groaned, looking up from his bed to see Scooter standing at the door, light pouring into the dark room. “I threw up.” Sylus’ eye twitched. “I don’t feel good.”
“…give me a couple minutes,” Sylus groaned, forcing himself to get up and ignore the percussion band that was his head ache. To give himself a semblance of a break, Sylus put on a pair of very dark sunglasses. “Come here,” he murmured, pressing the back of his hand against Scooter's forehead. “You're burning up. Alright, come on. Your mother will will me if I don't do anything.”
“Which one?” Scooter tiredly joked.
“Both,” Sylus sighed, picking Scooter up and ignoring her protests. “Hush, little one. You're sick and stumbling around.” As much as Sylus had initially denied being a father to the twins and Scooter, now he’d embraced the title and all the responsibilities that came with it. Even if it meant driving to see Zayne (the only doctor Sylus had complete trust in) to make sure his child was okay while battling a major headache.
The drive from the N109 zone to Akso Hospital wasn’t that long with Sylus breaking many traffic laws. It probably wasn’t the best idea to drive, but he wasn’t going to risk using his evol on him and Scooter when he wasn’t feeling well. Teleportation evols were dangerous when the user was sick or overwhelmed. Scooter laid in the back seat, grumbling about her stomach hurting. Her cheeks were getting more flushed.
Sylus didn’t want to wait in the waiting room with Scooter for Zayne, but of course the doctor was in the middle of a surgery. Sylus, being the stubborn dragon he was, wouldn’t let anyone else check Scooter. He demanded Zayne. While Greyson was Zayne’s colleague, Sylus wasn’t taking any chances. He had enemies that wouldn’t hesitate to use his family against him. He shuddered remembering the auction and gently ran his fingers through Scooter’s hair. She leaned against Sylus, shivering and whining. Her breathing picked up and her flush was a concerning red.
“Zayne will be here soon,” Sylus murmured as they sat in a small examination room. The bright florescent lights burned his eyes and the base of his skull throbbed. His vision blurred, and he used a little of his evol to relieve some of the pain.
As if on cue, Zayne walked into the room, raising an eyebrow. He saw Sylus sitting there, brows furrowed and a pair of sunglasses on, and Scooter next to him shivering and flushed. “How are you feeling, Scooter?” he asked gently, sitting on the wheeled stool in front of her.
“Hurts,” Scooter groaned, clutching her stomach. “I don’t…” she blanched, “I haven’t eaten anything out of the ordinary.” She sucked in a sharp breath and gripped Sylus’ arm. “I don’t feel good at all.” She buried her head into Sylus’ side.
Sylus closed his eyes as Zayne did a check-up on Scooter, and the pain was only getting worse. He took a deep breath, leaning his head back against the wall. Painful memories flashed through his mind, cruel laughter and heart breaking cries echoed.
“I am human! See? I don’t have horns. I’m just like you! I’m not a monster! I’m not!”
“Are you okay, Sylus?” Zayne raised an eyebrow as he scrutinized Sylus. He’d noticed way his jaw ticked, the way he rubbed his temple, and the dark sunglasses. He took Scooter’s temperature and sighed. “She has a mild fever. She might have eaten something or caught something. I’ll have a couple tests done to be sure of what she has before I think about prescribing antibiotics.”
“I’m fine, my dear doctor,” Sylus drawled, lying through his teeth. “I’ll help you with…the tests.” He knew most of these tests involved blood draws, and Scooter, the poor thing, was terrified of needles. “Seal pup, look at me,” he murmured, using his evol to distract Scooter. She whimpered when Zayne pushed the needle under her skin and draw a few blood samples.
Zayne sent the samples to be tested and let Scooter rest on the couch in his office. He turned his attention to Sylus. “Speak. Something is clearly bothering you.” He raised an eyebrow as if daring Sylus to lie again. “I would refrain from lying to me again.”
“If you insist, I have a headache,” Sylus replied simply. “A migraine that these obnoxious lights are making worse.” He winced again as his head throbbed. “I get them from time to time.” He looked at Zayne.
“I have just the solution. Come here,” Zayne hummed, gesturing for Sylus to sit next to him. Sylus raised an eyebrow and sat next to Zayne. “Cold can help with a migraine.” He placed his hands on Sylus’s forehead and the back of his neck. “Just relax, and tell me if it gets too cold.”
“Mm,” Sylus hummed, feeling relief. “I might just have to take this treatment home if it works too well,” he teased, leaning against Zayne.
“It’s a very expensive treatment,” Zayne said dryly. “First dose is free, however.”
Finally, finally, the pain in his head subsided. Sylus’ entire body relaxed, and he curled into Zayne. The cardiologist could have sworn he heard Sylus purring. He had many secrets, and Zayne didn’t feel pressed to ask why his partner was purring like a machine. It had taken months before he’d learned about Rafayel and Scooter being Lemurians. If Sylus wasn’t human, then Zayne wasn’t going to push for an answer.
An hour later, Yvonne had returned with the lab results. She saw Sylus practically sleeping on top of Zayne and just handed the doctor the files with a knowing smile. Scooter had a fever from a bad reaction to the drugs the auction house had used on her. The drugs had entered her system where the muzzle had broken her skin. He frowned, knowing the dosage was too much for a teenager to handle. Rafayel had gotten mildly sick, but he was much older than Scooter.
“Yvonne,” he said quietly as to not wake Sylus or Scooter. “Call the pharmacy with this script, and make sure to speed it up. I don’t want her to keep fighting this without medical help.” Yvonne left with the signed script and Zayne fondly ran his fingers through Sylus’ white hair.