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There were a few times in his life when Hop got sick, and honestly they were some of the most miserable times in his life.
He felt drained, achey, in pain, could typically hardly breathe, and felt so completely and utterly awful he felt like it’d be easier if he would pass out instead of being awake. That was why he usually slept off his illnesses at home.
Lay in bed, have a bowl of soup, sleep it off. That was it, nothing more, nothing less. Being sick felt absolutely awful, but it was one of those times he didn’t mind to a degree. It meant he got to sleep as long as he wanted and soon enough he’d be better.
That was why the moment he opened his eyes and he felt himself wince from the sun hitting his face Hop knew what he needed to do.
‘Just go back to sleep…’ He closed his eyes and attempted to do just that. A little hard when it felt like as if he was essentially breathing through a straw, but if he ignored it and just laid there long enough…
Hop inwardly groaned in disappointment as he felt his brother begin to shift, waking up and yawning. Maybe Lee would let him sleep in if he saw he needed it?
“Mm… morning Hop…” Leon yawned, before Hop was pulled snug against his chest and his brother nuzzled his cheek against his head. In less than a second his brother suddenly stiffened,
“Hoppy you’re burning up…” Leon gasped softly as he pulled back.
Hop winced as he felt his brother’s calloused hand press against his forehead to be sure, only to pull back as if he had been burned.
“Raihan!” Leon’s voice was twinged with panic and worry. “Raihan!”
“What? What is it?! What?!” The man’s shouts followed by footsteps pounding into the room. “Leon wha…?”
“Hop feels warm…” Leon muttered, voice shaky as Hop felt his fingers gently comb through his hair. He leaned into it, reveling in the comfort from the touch and coolness from his digits.
“Too warm…”
“Shoot.” Raihan hissed and footsteps thudded out. There was a sound of rustling and shifting things around before Raihan came back. “Here Leon…”
“Cheers…” His brother muttered distractedly. “Hopscotch I need you to open your mouth for me a tad okay? Just for a moment…”
Hop let out a soft groan but did as he was asked. He shivered as he felt something cold go under his tongue and by instinct he closed his mouth. He knew a thermometer when he felt it. Before long it was pulled back and he faintly heard his brother choke.
“105…”
“Shoot that’s high…” Raihan muttered. “Hang on kiddo we’ll get you something to cool you off…”
As Raihan walked away Hop felt Leon curl around him. A worried whine escaped his brother’s chest and Hop squirmed in dismay.
“M’fine…” He murmured weakly.
“No Hoppy you’re not… you’re really sick…” His hand brushed his bangs out of his face and stayed there for a moment. His brother let out another whine. “How did I not notice you were coming down with something sooner…? I should be better than this…”
Oh no, his brother was blaming himself?
“Lee… s’not your fault…” Hop murmured, wincing at how much it hurt his throat.
“No Hop… I used to be able to tell if you were even close to catching something.” Leon muttered, sounding cross with himself. “I used to be able to tell even without seeing you that you weren't feeling well I… I…”
His voice fell into a pained whine and Hop felt even worse.
“Lee…”
“M’so sorry Hop…” Leon whispered and his hand went back to rubbing his head. Hop relaxed from the touch. “I’m so sorry… I… I’m going to do better.” His voice turned determined. “I’m going to do better by you, I promise. Starting with helping you get through this sickness…”
Hop scrunched his nose. This certainly wasn't how he thought this morning would go. Leon wasn't doing this right, he was supposed to leave Hop alone. He’s not supposed to stay here, especially if his brother could get sick too.
“No… Lee you’ll get… sick.” Hop wheezed weakly.
Leon chuckled sadly. “I hardly care about that… What I care about is getting you back to your energetic, happy self. I call you my Hophip for a reason.” His voice turned warm and nostalgic as he continued to rub his head.
“That’s why…?” Hop murmured, curious despite his exhaustion and feeling horrid.
“Mmhm… well, besides I thought you were as cute as one.” His brother chuckled and Hop scrunched his nose as he gave his a playful poke. “Still do~” He hummed warmly.
“Lee…” He grumbled grumpily.
“Okay, okay….” Leon chuckled. “I’ll tease you when you’re feeling better, sorry.”
Leon continued to rub his head and Hop had to admit it felt really, really good. It was a nice soothing motion and his hand being big and cool helped basically cover most of his head and help take away some of the heat.
“Okay, got a wet wrap here.” Raihan’s mutter pulled him from drifting off and Hop mentally grumbled in frustration.
“Thought you wouldn't mind if I grabbed one of your cooling rags Leon. I know you use them to help cool you off when you’re working out but…”
“It’s perfect…” Leon murmured warmly, His brother shifted before he was once again curled around him.
“Okay Hopscotch, let’s get you cooled off…”
Hop jumped as he felt a suddenly icy coldness on his forehead, only to practically melt with a sigh from the comforting chill. Warm chuckles echoed from both men.
“That feel good?” Leon crooned softly as his hand went back to rubbing his head. Hop smiled weakly and nodded.
“Next thing we need is to get you some food so you can have some medicine to help battle that illness.” Raihan stated. “What do you want to eat? Your choice!”
Hop scrunched his nose in dismay. “M’not hungry…”
Leon’s cheek gently nuzzled the top of his head. “I’m sure you're not, but you need to have something so the medicine will go down easier.” He gently rumbled. “How about some soup? Toast?”
“…soup…” Hop conceded because he’s sure if he didn’t agree to something his brother was just going to keep listing things off. He really didn't want to hear about food he didn't want right now.
“Alright! I make some soup!” Raihan grunted brightly. “You keep it up keeping your hatchling cozy while I do that yeah?”
Leon let out a chuckle. “You don't even need to ask me to do that.” He murmured, and Hop was snuggled closer against him.
Raihan chuckled back. “Yeah I know.”
With that he was gone and Hop was left with his brother gently rubbing his head once more. He could hear purrs rumbling from his chest as Hop leaned against his touch. It felt really… nice. It felt nice having this doting attention on him, this warm care. He wasn’t used to it, though he supposes he had started to become so the longer he spent with his brother now.
“You’re smiling…” Leon purred and Hop could feel his other hand gently poke his cheek. “Good, at least you’re feeling well enough to do that…”
Hop merely yawned sleepily. “Wanna go back… to sleep…” He mumbled.
“I know… but why don’t you stay up a little longer with me.” Leon whispered gently. “You can sleep after you had medicine and had a good meal.”
Hop groaned in dismay. “Then stop rubbing my head…” He whined.
“Oops, am I making you sleepy Hopscotch?” Leon chuckled weakly and paused the motion.
“Yes…” Hop pouted. “Your purring s’not helping…”
Leon let out a soft laugh. “Sorry but that’s something I can’t stop. You’ll just have to bear with me…”
“You can’t control it?” That was news to Hop. He had assumed all this time his brother could.
His brother let out a hum. “I can to a degree…” Leon murmured thoughtfully. “I can push myself to do it, but I cant exactly stop it if I tried.”
“Really?” Hop blinked his eyes open blearily, closing them quick as they ached from dryness.
“Mmhm…” Leon curled around him more. “… It comes out naturally when I feel a lot of different things really. Like if I’m so happy I feel it within every single cell of me, or if I just feel so comfortable and content that I can feel… at home.” He went on. Hop then felt him rub his head again.
“…Then there’s when I feel like I have so much love in my heart that it feels like it’s dynamaxing and then the purrs just tumble out of me.” Leon murmured and as if on cue his purring became even louder. “Speaking of which…”
Hop mentally frowned softly. He didn't know what he meant by that really, or maybe it was just his tired, blegh feeling mind right now that couldn’t exactly think at all.
“Ah, ah… stay awake Hopscotch.” Leon gently nudged him and Hop let out a grumble.
“Then stop purring…”
“That’s essentially asking me to stop loving you, and we’ve already gone through that is not something that’s ever happening Hoppy.” Leon’s tone was slightly teasing, but the warmth in it was strongest of all.
Hop grumbled again, but he couldn't hold back the smile of joy and relief hearing those words. Leon purred even harder in joy and Hop suddenly realized how much harder this was going to be.
“Okay soup is ready!” Raihan chimed as Hop heard him step into the room.
“Perfect timing, he can barely keep his head up.” Leon chuckled and slowly began to help him sit up.
“Who’s fault is that?” Hop mumbled grumpily. Leon let out a soft snicker in response.
“Hm, maybe I should double check on Gloria after we get Hop settled. She’s been sleeping away even when I was making this.” Rain’s voice was casual but Hop could hear the soft twinge of concern for the girl.
“She… sleeps late like me…” Hop rasped softly. He knew his friend better than anyone after all, and he knew that she, much like him, was a late sleeper. The only reason he’s been getting up earlier as of late is Lee’s sleep schedule and Hop’s attempts to help his brother. The added pressure to try and figure out how to have his brother’s dream come true may have been the tipping point for his body to finally declare it was done.
“Ah, that’s right.” Raihan chuckled, sounding breathless and Hop knew he was relieved of the reminder.
“Here Raihan hand it to me.” Leon murmured and there was a small shifting and movement. There was a small clatter of what sounded like a filled bowl against a plate.
Hop could feel a comforting warmth coming off of something hovered near his face. He couldn't smell but he was sure it was the soup.
“Okay Hop, open up.” Leon hummed.
Hop frowned and squinted his eyes open, “I can… do that myself…” He rasped. He could only see blurs and the large purple one in front of him shook its head.
“Nope, you’re too tired and too out of it.” As Hop closed his eyes and kept his mouth closed stubbornly the room went quiet. Leon spoke after a moment. His voice soft and pleading.
“C’mon Hopscotch, let me take care of you… If not for you then for me?”
Hop froze. He wasn't sure why his brother was so desperate to the point he was pleading… or maybe he did.
The memory of when Lee had gotten that Wyndon bug and Hop had felt so helpless… He hated that feeling, and knowing his brother Leon probably hated feeling helpless even more than him.
Hop opened his mouth and Leon’s purring returned full force. Slowly and carefully his brother helped spoon a bit of soup into his mouth. It was simple, soothing, comforting broth. Hop hadn't had something like it in a while and slowly he found he did have a bit of an appetite.
“That’s it…” Leon purred encouragingly. “See you were hungry.”
Hop said nothing but once again he found himself mentally sighing. Another point of being right for his big bro he supposes.
Before long Hop had his fill and Leon seemed content. As Hop felt himself begin to drift back into sleep he felt himself shifting again before he was gently shaken.
“Hang on, let’s give you this okay? Then you can sleep more.” Leon whispered.
Hop felt something small press against his mouth and he opened it automatically. He quickly gagged at the horrible taste and he felt his brother gently pat his back as water was soothingly poured into his mouth after.
“Ick….” Hop hissed in disgust as the bottle near his mouth was pulled away. “Ick, egh, ugh…”
“Sorry…” Leon chuckled weakly. “Hang on a moment…Raihan could you grab a…”
His brother’s words were starting to sound farther away and Hop struggled to stay awake to hear them. Soon enough he was gently shaken awake again and something else was held to his mouth. Hop quickly kept his mouth clamped shut.
“This doesn't taste bad I promise.” Leon chuckled fondly. “This’ll actually help get that nasty taste out of your mouth okay?
Oh, well anything to do that yeah.
Hop opened his mouth and suddenly something sweet and syrupy was placed there. Hop hummed happily in delight as he recognized the taste of honey in an instant.
Warm chuckles echoed the room again.
“I had a feeling those honey spoons would come in handy at one point.” Raihan said lightly.
Oh so that’s what this was. Hop had heard about those and always wanted to try one, good as time as any to have one now. Especially because it was delicious.
“There’s that smile…” Leon crooned contently. Hop hadn’t even realized he was smiling again, and he vaguely felt a little embarrassed. Especially since he couldn’t even hold the spoon himself and it was his brother doing so for him.
Sheesh he really was helpless huh.
Thankfully Lee didn’t seem to mind. If his purring was anything to go by, he actually seemed really happy to be doing this for him. Huh…
“All done.” Leon hummed as Hop managed to get to the stick. As he pulled it away Hop let out a tiny yawn he couldn't hold back. Leon let out a coo blending with a purr before his voice turned away from him.
“Thank you Raihan…” Lee whispered to him.
“Don’t mention it.” The other chuckled. “You just keep watching over your Hop.”
“I plan too.” Leon murmured and footsteps leaving the room followed his words. Suddenly they were alone again.
“Okay Hoppy, you kept your end of the deal so now you can go to sleep.” Leon purred affectionately.
“Yay…” Hop whispered and Leon chuckled warmly.
It didn’t take long before Hop was snuggled back against his brother’s chest, his ear pressed against his heart and like always Hop found himself falling into slumber with ease. His heartbeat and gentle purring being his comforting blanket and pillow.
The purring itself oddly felt even more comforting, because even though Hop had essentially theorized how it worked, it was nice to know that what he was hearing was his brother happy, content and filled with love where he was.
“Love you Hoppy…” Leon whispered and a pair of lips gently pressed a kiss onto his head.
“Love you too…” Hop murmured and as the purrs became louder, Hop couldn't help but smile.