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It’s Tai’s first week on the Strength SMP since his ban. Of course, nothing goes his way.
Tai didn’t get sick often.
So when it hit, it hit hard.
He woke up to a pounding headache, like a hammer constantly hitting the inside of his head.
One moment he was cold, pulling the blanket closer, shoulders tensing from a chill that didn’t make sense. The next, he felt too warm, skin flushed, the air around him suddenly suffocating.
His throat was dry, voice rough, every word coming out quieter than usual. Talking felt like effort. He fantasised about digging his hands into his mouth and scratching the inside of his throat. Even breathing felt… noticeable.
Safe to say he was not well.
The room was suffocating. Tai sat up from the bed, taking off his armour, sounds of netherite clanking and dropping to the floor filling the room.
He lays back in the bed, bringing the blanket up to his nose.
A single glistening tear dropping from his pupil-less eyes. He didn’t even know he was crying until he felt the pillow beneath him form a small puddle. He didn’t know why he was crying in the first place. Maybe anger? Frustration? Who’s to tell?
He hears footsteps rapidly approaching the room. Fuck. What does he even do? He’s completely defenceless, movements too sluggish to fight, armour still on the floor. He gives up right then and there. He lays on his back, holding his blanket as tight as humanly possible, waiting for the player to immediately stab a sword into his chest.
The door creaks open.
Tai opens his eyes. A tall, slender figure with long blonde hair frozen at the doorframe. Rejoice, his ex teammate, who’d betrayed him right before his ban, taking his mace and breaking a heart along with it.
“Dude,” Rejoice started. “You look like shit.”
“Thanks, I couldn’t tell.” Tai’s voice came out hoarse and raspy, cracking at the end of the sentence. He turned away from Rejoice, now facing the wall as he closed his eyes.
Rejoice studied the figure lying before him. It was weird to see Tai like this, armour off, eyes watery, vulnerable.
“If you wanna kill me just do it already” Tai spat. He didn’t want to talk to Rejoice right now. The memory of the betrayal still fresh in his mind.
“I have no reason to” Rejoice slowly made his way to the bed, stopping and sitting down at the edge. The back of his hand reaching towards Tai’s forehead, making Tai furrow his eyebrows slightly at the feeling of Rejoice’s cold hand.
As much as he hated Rejoice right now, he still leaned into the touch. Almost whining when Rejoice pulled away.
“You’re burning up.” Rejoice murmured quietly, scouring through his inventory for water, healing potions, anything he thought would help.
“Sit up right” Rejoice ordered, setting down his findings on the nightstand beside them. Tai obliged accordingly, the pounding headache getting worse, reaching a hand up to massage his head. Rejoice handed Tai a bottle of bright red liquid. Tai hesitated to reach out and grab the potion.
‘Relax, it’s just a potion of healing.” Rejoice reassured, Tai only hummed in response, shaking hands finally reaching out to the glass bottle, almost dropping it if not for Rejoice steadying his hands.
Tai looked at Rejoice, like really looked at him. His usual smug grin wiped off into a slight frown. Eyes looking right into his with a tint of concern. Maybe he did care. Why did he care? Neither of them wanted the answer to that question.
Rejoice took the bottle back from Tai, not aggressively but slowly moving it out of Tai’s reach. Tai’s eyes widened as Rejoice started moving the bottle to his lips, tipping it slightly, the liquid slowly pouring into Tai’s mouth. The sweetness of the potion practically burning his taste buds. Rejoice tipped the bottle more, letting the rest of the liquid pour into tai’s mouth.
Tai choked slightly as the last of the potion slid down his throat, the sweetness clinging unpleasantly to his tongue.
“Slow down,” he rasped, turning his head away weakly.
Rejoice pulled the bottle back immediately, setting it aside. “You were barely holding it. You would’ve dropped it.”
“I wouldn’t-” Tai started, but the words fell apart into a cough. His chest tightened, head pounding harder with every breath.
Rejoice didn’t argue this time, hands fumbling to grab the other glass bottle with water in it. Tipping it towards Tai’s mouth, slower this time.
The water washed down the lingering sweetness in Tai’s throat, cool and grounding. He swallowed slowly, breathing a little easier now.
“Better?” Rejoice asked.
Tai gave a small nod. His shoulders dropped, the tension easing out of him bit by bit.
Rejoice watched him for a moment, then stood. “You need real food. Potions aren’t enough.”
Tai let out a weak breath. “Since when do you do things properly?”
Rejoice paused, then said, “Just don’t fall asleep yet,” and walked out.
The room felt too quiet after he left.
Tai stared at the ceiling, blinking slowly. His head still hurt, his body still too warm, but it was less overwhelming now. The blanket felt heavy, but he held onto it anyway.
A few minutes later, the door opened again.
Rejoice walked in with a bowl in his hand. Steam rose from it, and the smell reached Tai a second later. Something warm and simple.
Soup.
“You actually cooked?” Tai asked, voice rough.
Rejoice rolled his eyes. “Sit up.”
Tai stayed still.
Rejoice stepped closer. “Don’t make me do it for you.”
“…Fine.”
Tai pushed himself up slowly. The room spun for a second, and he stopped, breathing through it. Rejoice stayed close, not touching him but ready.
Once Tai steadied, Rejoice handed him the spoon.
“Careful. It’s hot.”
Tai took it, fingers brushing Rejoice’s hand for a second. He ignored it and scooped a small amount, blowing on it before eating.
The warmth spread through him almost immediately.
“…It’s good,” Tai said quietly.
“Of course it is.”
Tai ate slowly, taking his time. Rejoice sat at the edge of the bed, watching but not saying anything.
After a while, Tai’s hands started shaking again. The spoon rattled slightly.
Rejoice reached out. “Give it.”
Tai hesitated, then handed it over.
Rejoice scooped another spoonful and held it out. Tai looked at him for a second, then leaned forward and took it.
“Don’t make this a habit,” Tai muttered.
“Then stop being useless,” Rejoice replied, but his tone was softer now.
They stayed like that until the bowl was empty.
Rejoice set it aside. “You should sleep.”
Tai nodded and lay back down, pulling the blanket up again.
Rejoice stood. “I’ll go.”
“Wait.”
Rejoice stopped.
Tai looked at the blanket instead of him. His fingers tightened around the fabric.
“…Can you stay?”
Rejoice frowned slightly. “Why?”
Tai swallowed. “Just stay. For a bit.”
There was a short silence.
“Okay,” Rejoice said, sitting back down.
Tai let out a quiet breath. He shifted slightly, making space without really thinking about it.
“…It’s cold,” he added.
Rejoice glanced at him. “You’re literally burning.”
“Just stay,” Tai muttered.
Rejoice shook his head a little, then lay down beside him, at first on top of the blanket.
Tai turned slightly, closing the space between them without hesitation this time. His head ended up near Rejoice’s shoulder.
Rejoice stayed still, then slowly pulled the blanket over both of them.
The warmth settled around them.
Tai let out a quiet breath, his body relaxing. He leaned closer, not even trying to hide it now.
Rejoice hesitated, then rested a hand lightly on Tai’s arm.
Tai did not pull away. He leaned in a bit more.
“…Don’t leave,” Tai murmured, voice already fading.
“I won’t,” Rejoice said.
Tai’s breathing slowly evened out. The tension left his body as he fell asleep.
Rejoice stayed where he was, watching him for a moment.
Tai looked different like this. No anger, no guard up. Just tired.
Rejoice adjusted slightly, making sure Tai was comfortable. His hand stayed where it was, a little firmer now.
“…You’re a mess,” he muttered quietly.
Tai shifted in his sleep, curling closer.
Rejoice did not move away.
He stayed there, letting Tai rest against him, the room quiet except for soft breathing.