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Noob felt awful.
One moment, they were doing perfectly fine. They had just won a round and everything was peachy, but then they got the worst kind of pain in their stomach.
It couldn’t be a relapse. Those were different. Those came from shame.
This was their body actively hating them.
“I thought we couldn’t get sick here?” They thought.
After all the years of being trapped in the Hell they were in, no one had caught a cold or even a fever.
So why them?
Was this a punishment for not relapsing? Was this just another sick punishment by their captor?
They had been able to make it to the spot they chose to always get sick, but this wasn’t forceful. This was disgusting.
They felt they were done, but they also felt just as sick as they were beforehand.
How would they explain to the other survivors? Would they think that they’re just trying to get out of the rounds?
They hated this feeling. When they did it on purpose, they at least had agency, but this wasn’t forceful involuntary.
“Would have been so much easier to explain if it was just a relapse…” They hated the thought, but at least he would understand.
Before they knew it, their partner was rounding the corner, already suspecting something was wrong. They saw her beloved, curled up on the ground, bile in front of them.
He could tell it wasn’t just another relapse. They knew the signs unlike anyone else. Hell, her partner hadn’t even eaten yet that day outside of the snacks during the rounds, and those did nothing.
He bent down and put their hand to their back, reaching for their hand to comfort them. She didn’t think it was a relapse, but the comfort was always appreciated.
”I-i-I d-d-do-don’t know w-w-w-why…” the sick blond started. “I-I-I-I wa-was d-d-doing fine… I d-d-d-d-didn’t eat… The-the-there wa-was-was nothing t-t-to spark it…” they stuttered through almost every word, showing even more to Taph that something was seriously wrong.
They had never gotten to the point of vomiting bile. It was clear to him that their partner had somehow gotten sick. Most days, she would question it and go ask someone like 07 or Jane, but it was not the time.
Taph tapped them on the shoulder to get their full attention. “Let’s get you to your cabin” he signed.
As the two walked to Noob’s shared cabin with Two Time, they held on to Taph while they clutched their stomach.
Taph didn’t bother to ask anything. They saw her partner in pain, and that pain was unusual, even for them.
He opened Noob’s bedroom door and laid them on their bed. They took off her glove and check his sick partner’s temperature. They felt slightly warm, and with all the other symptoms, plus the aching in their limbs that they were complaining about, Taph was able to tell it was some stupid stomach bug.
Noob could barely keep their eyes open. They felt they could vomit at any moment and they were in too much pain to do anything but groan and shed tears.
They had gotten used to making themself sick. They had gotten used to being mauled to death on the daily. How could they not handle something so much less painful than the mentioned?
Taph never had taken care of anyone sick outside of their mother, and even then that was taken care of by hospital staff. She had comforted Noob thousands of times, especially after relapses, but this wasn’t a relapse. This wasn’t any self harming behavior. This was his partner sick, and they hated the idea of having to leave them alone, but she knew he needed to get some advice to help them before he could stay and hold them.
Tapping on their shaking shoulder, Taph signed. “I’m going to figure something out to make you feel better. Until I come back, I’ll make sure Two Time ensures you are safe.”
Two Time was honored with the role of caretaker until their return, but while Noob didn’t voice it, they definitely thought being left alone would be better than their insane friend watching them.
Taph thought of all the times her mother took care of him when they were sick, but her memory could only recall medicines. The only medicine around here he could think of was Elliot’s pizza, but that was a horrible idea.
Then they had an idea.
She went to the main cabin and found Elliot cooking as he usually would.
”Taph!” Elliot exclaimed. “I was wondering where you were! I saw Noob leave earlier, and they usually don’t leave before dinner. Do you know what’s up?”
”I think they somehow got the stomach bug.”
”How would they get that? We don’t get sick here?”
”Listen, I don’t know, but they’re sick. I was wondering if you had any idea of there is any medicine around here? Med kits?”
”Even if we did have med kits here, all those have are bandages. Maybe ask one of the admins or… 07… Those guys might have something.”
“Thank you!”
Taph then goes to 07, but he can’t spawn anything with his C00lgui. Dusekkar and Builderman were unable to help, but the CEO had an idea.
”Try askin’ Veeronica. She was made to help people out!”
And so, the demolitionist went to find his found sister. It didn’t take long to find her as she usually spent her time talking to the NPCs that were all shoved into the small cabin across from the main one.
”Taph!:D” She exclaimed. “What’s up :>?”
“Noob somehow got the stomach bug and I don’t know what to do. BuilderFather told me you might have an idea on what to do?”
”The stomach bug D:! That’s awful ;( ! There isn’t any medicine around here, but there are always some bread, water, and clear Bloxy Colas :D! Those should help some! Grab an ice pack if they have a fever! I’ll put their name in the clock so they don’t have to get up!”
Taph thanked and hugged their found sister, quickly going to the kitchen to find the items that she had said about.
Taph, after acquiring all the items needed, quickly ran back to Noob’s cabin.
”And that’s how Amarah found out about Azure! Always great to have a “doctor” around!” Two Time had been telling the sickly artist the same story they had told everyone hundreds of times, and while Noob would usually be fine with it and tell similar stories on a good day, this was not a good day.
”Ah! Taph!” Two Time said after finishing their story. “Thank you for trusting me to watch over my dear friend! Spawn blesses you both and hopes for a quick recovery!” The cultist then walked out of the cabin to do who knows what.
“I’m sorry for abandoning you my darling,” Taph signed. “I’ve gotten you some food and drinks that should settle your stomach when you feel good enough to take a sip or nibble. I wish I could have acquired medicine, but there isn’t any around.”
”I-I-I’m sorry, Dove…” Noob spoke quietly as tears already were falling down their face again.
”Don’t apologize. It truly isn’t a bother. I want you to feel better as soon as possible.”
Taph climbed onto the bed and put the ice pack on her partner’s head, brushing their hair back and cupping their cheek.
”Wha-wha-what if yo-you get si-si-si-si-sick…?” The poor artist could barely speak through their pain.
“I couldn’t care less about my health right now, just your’s. Don’t speak, just close your eyes and breathe.”
Taph covered his partner up with the blankets better than they had done themself. He got under the covers and pulled Noob to their chest, wrapping both her arms around them to ensure the sick one felt as safe as possible. Taph ran his hand through their hair, hoping their partner would feel better soon.
Noob wrapped their trembling arms across their lover as their pain felt bearable with Taph holding them as close as she was. They wished they could mutter one last “I love you” before they could drift off to sleep, but they had no energy to do so.
The two of them fell asleep like that, holding one another like Noob’s life depended on it. They didn’t feel much better in the morning and while the vomiting wasn’t over, Taph stayed by their side no matter how much torment they were going through.
Just as they always did for one another.