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Today was supposed to be typical. Repetitive in the way his schedule was. Maybe “easy” to some, considering the repetition, but freeing trash from hurtful anima wasn’t typically simple.
Getting out of bed should have been, though.
When Rudo woke up, he was greeted with a throat sore and grimy, like someone had made him swallow sand and grains of the disintegrated rock had clung to the tissue of his esophagus. The first sign something was off.
He shrugged it off thinking water would fix it, starting to pull his core up in an attempt to sit upright. As he did, his head swam in a wave of dizziness, vision spinning and slipping sideways. When he was up he paused, taking a moment for his vision to fix itself, which it did shortly.
He just needed water. Right?
Right?
Shakily and tenderly, his feet touched the cool ground, sending a sensitive shiver catapulting up his spine. Not wanting to set off his vision again, he shuffled to the bathroom, though he noted he seemed fine again. He carefully avoided his piles of trash to be fixed or used and entered his bathroom that was undecorated. He had tried to place fixed items on the shelves, but Zanka had snapped at him about how “disgusting” and “unhygienic” it was. The pestering was enough for him to move it, even sneakily hiding one of his fixes in Zanka’s room (who had found it without Rudo’s knowledge and kept it in its spot).
He made his way to the sink, grabbing a cup nearby and filling it up to the top. He threw his head back and started to chug like some animal dying of thirst.
The soreness soothed for the moment he was chugging, but just as he was done, the feeling came back in full throttle, terrorizing the organ that should have been moisturized.
Rudo, still, paid little to no attention to it. He probably forgot to drink water or something yesterday. Probably.
…
Rudo scrambled out of the way of a trash beast’s bite, scrapping around in his bag as he stumbled away from the conflict.
He, Zanka, and Gris had been called in for a short mission nearby. Two large trash beasts had been seen close by a town, and out of fear the people had contacted them to take care of it. It would be short and quick and the only thing they would need to do that day, and Rudo had found a coat hanger he wanted to fix and place in the cafeteria considering he knew it would be used. It was just going to be him and Gris, but Zanka tagged along last minute when he saw his apprentice leaving with the familiar supporter, taking shotgun to Rudo’s anger. He never got shotgun in a car unless he was with one other person, and he loved the spot as it allowed him to get good glances at passing trash. If he saw something particularly interesting he’d memorize the spot and make them pull over there or on the ride back. Of course he could do that in the back, but it was much easier in the front.
Alas, it was no use against the older teen; the ride was quick, though.
They found the trash beasts pretty quickly as well, Zanka and Gris being occupied with the first one that appeared and charged them, Rudo left with the other lingering nearby.
Now he was being chased, realizing dumbly that he forgot to bring items with him. That was another thing to add onto his list of things that were wrong with him this morning.
He ran farther from Zanka and Gris, not wanting to make them divert from the beast they had.
A clawed paw came slamming down by his feet, swiping at him and sending him flying into another pile of trash with an angry rasp that filtered through his mask. He slammed into a pile of broken goods, right arm twinging as he landed on it, although it felt movable. The beast roared, making its way to Rudo.
He felt so sore all of a sudden; not just his arm, but also his joints and muscles. He pulled himself up with a groan, grabbing the nearest piece of trash to find an old perfume bottle.
Activating his Jinki, the bottle was enwrapped in a black-red energy, turning it into a larger glass with a red liquid inside, the same perfume topper to pump it out, but modified to that more akin to a fire hydrant flow instead of the measured squirts of a perfume bottle.
Rudo found this out when he pointed his weapon at the beast and the liquid went streaming out, anima acid marring the trash beasts face. It roared and hissed, rearing back as its face dissolved. The acid wore out, and Rudo growled, not wanting to let it go quite yet, so he used another charge of 3R to keep it going. More acid created into the upgraded bottle, and he kept spraying, finally pointing his gaze back at the trash beast that was encroaching on him quicker than he expected. He threw the bottle at it, the glass shattering on impact, and bolted farther away to find another weapon.
He reached his gloved hand into a bank of trash, hissing at the radiating pain that ran through his fingers and danced along his ulna and radius. He ignored it nonetheless, scooping out an old, frayed rope. Using his last charge, it transformed into a make-shift ball and chain with sharp and enlarged spikes at the end. He whipped it towards the trash beast, slapping it across its already dissolved and malformed face.
That seemed to do it, as it crumpled as his last weapon finalized its attack, and they both crumbled to dust.
Rudo felt dizzy once more, tripping over his feet and falling sideways into piles of trash. He knew he had a nosebleed; earlier on in owning the ability to use 3R to its full potential, he’d get very depleted after the full three uses and would need breaks. He thought he worked out of it.
Man, something was off with him today.
He kept trying to breathe through the sudden exhaustion, but catching his breath didn’t seem to help. He didn’t even think about getting up and finding Zanka and Gris. Maybe if he just closed his eyes for a second…
”…ey… hey!” Came a snapping voice, hand shaking his shoulder. Rudo groaned, eyes blinking open blearily. Was it always this bright?
A frame was leaning over his line of sight, mask on his face, light blue eyes barring into his own with a fierceness that wasn’t necessarily unfamiliar but unusual. Zanka seemed concerned.
”You good?” The older Cleaner asked. More rattling followed, and Rudo turned his head towards the commotion to see Gris running through the garbage, panic lacing his frame. “Rudo.” His red gaze snapped back to Zanka’s blue, before he nodded.
”Fine. Just… tired.” He mumbled, trying desperately for his voice to not crackle or come out hoarsely. Zanka looked down at him as Gris came over, panting. Zanka eventually offered Rudo a hand he would have refused if he had felt better, and he weakly yelped as Zanka yanked him up with a grunt. Gris helped as Rudo stumbled from the momentum, a strong hand finding his way into his shoulder.
”You sure bud?” Gris asks gently, hand still hovering nearby as Rudo shrugs it off. Rudo once more nods, the action wobbly. Gris spares a look at Zanka, concern etched into their brows. Rudo doesn’t attempt to glance up, his brain in a fog his thoughts can’t seem to crawl through easily. They don’t pry further though, Gris gently guiding the disassociated boy back towards the car.
At least he gets shotgun this time.
…
“Rudo. Hey. Buddy.” Gris murmurs gently, shaking the boy’s shoulder. Zanka stands nearby, Lovely Assistaff twirling nervously between his palms. The kid had fallen asleep on the ride back, head bouncing as it rested on the side door.
Rudo groans weakly, a gentle rumble in his throat proving he was waking up. Sleepy, glassy eyes look back up at Gris, who cringes.
”Yer not lookin’ too good, kid.” Zanka mutters before Gris could say anything, standing behind the supporter. Rudo mumbles something, sitting up and moving to get out. He stumbles, Gris catching him as Zanka tenses.
”Rudo, maybe we should go visit Eishia.” Gris suggests, a hand still on the white-haired boy’s back. Rudo shakes his head.
”…mm… no need. Jus’ tired.” He slurred out, exhaustion seeping into the corners of his words. Gris pursed his lips in disagreement, thinking this was way too odd, but didn’t make a comment.
”I can get ‘em to his room, Gris. You go on ‘n report to Semiu.” Came Zanka’s gentle offer to the adult, who swallows and nods, patting Rudo’s shoulder and finally walking off. Rudo’s eyes slowly follow Gris as his warm hand leaves his back, Zanka nudging him forwards with his staff with gentle pokes. “Back to your room, Sleepy.” He sighs, and Rudo grumbles in agitation from the action.
Once they’re at Rudo’s room, the boy, already on autopilot, flops into his bed, shoes still on. Zanka swears under his breath, hissing out insults as he undoes the kid’s black combat boots, noting he’s already out cold.
That’s especially odd. Rudo never sleeps.
Maybe he really did just crash from exhaustion, but still. It’s odd.
Zanka finagles him under the covers, getting little whimpers and whines of discomfort, but he still doesn’t wake.
He slips Rudo’s jacket off, throwing it on a nearby desk. Zanka huffs, messing with Rudo’s white hair before slipping out of the room.
No harm in telling Enjin, right?
…
Rudo groans, a sweetly cold hand greeting his forehead as he once more wakes up.
His head feels heavy with a fuzzy feeling, and he has to beg and drag his eyelids open.
Blonde hair and a concerned face greet his eyes, though a dimpled smile shows through gingerly as he wakes.
”Hey bud. I think you’re sick.” Enjin said gently, brushing his hair back. Rudo realizes he’s sweaty beyond belief, and feels bad Enjin was touching his musty forehead. He feels cold yet hot, shivering despite the heat he knows he has. Nothing makes sense.
”N…no…” Rudo mumbles, trying to turn away, but Enjin’s touch is just so deliciously comfortable he selfishly can’t seem to do it. Enjin chuckles, pulling his hand away cruelly. Rudo whimpers unconsciously, his mind is too clouded to realize he did it.
”Dude, you’re running a fever and passed out today. You’re ill. Congratulations. It happens to all of us.” His team leader sighed, standing up straight. Rudo grumbles at the loss of Enjin, trying to watch his frame as he gets up.
Enjin saunters to Rudo’s bathroom, digging around in his cupboards for over the counter pain medication of any sorts, which he could not find. Not totally unsurprising; Rudo didn’t like to ask for things, but he did have that arm pain, so Enjin didn’t really know what to expect. The blonde sighs, making his way out of Rudo’s rest room to lay eyes on the kid who is leaning over his bed and turning green.
”Shit!” Enjin panicked, grabbing the nearest trash can and making a mad dash to Rudo’s side. A hand met Rudo’s slouched over back, rubbing, trying to coax whatever was in his stomach out. It came shortly, chunks of what he assumed was left of his large dinner—as Enjin knew he hadn’t eaten breakfast or lunch yet—spewed out. Rudo coughed and gagged, panicking.
”Shh, it’s ok Rudo. It’s ok. It’ll be over soon.” Enjin tried gently, still rubbing his quivering back. Rudo eventually stopped throwing up, his vomit turning into dry heaving and then to nothing, just the shaky husk of a kid who didn’t feel so great. Enjin grabbed a nearby tissue from his pocket that he kept on standby, wiping the boy’s face before depositing it in the trash can. He continued to move his knuckles gently back and fourth on Rudo’s back, applying enough pressure to where Enjin could feel the slight indent of his joint in Rudo’s skin. “We gotta take you to Eishia’s, bud.” Enjin murmured after some time, which earned a horrified whine. Rudo tried to shuffle away, crawling towards the wall and further away from Enjin. His large tattooed hand was left behind in the air before Enjin let it fall gently to the bed, watching as the kid battled with the covers to hide from him.
Enjin bit his lip. He couldn’t leave Rudo alone like this, but he didn’t want to see Eishia. A sigh rattled through his frame, and he got up from his seated position on Rudo’s bed. “How about this,” he began softly, trying to carefully pry the covers away from the shivering Rudo. “We go to my room instead, where I got my own fever reducers, considering you have none.” Enjin suggested, taking the blanket from the boy and throwing it to the ground. Rudo glared at him, his normal “if looks could kill you’d be dead” face dulled by the illness-provided red cheeks and glassy eyes.
”..no Eishia?” Rudo mumbled slowly after a moment, his brain struggling to move through the molasses that occupied it. Enjin nodded, vocally humming in agreement. Rudo grumbled some more, weakly crawling back to the edge of the bed where Enjin was in defeat.
Rudo is helped by Enjin out of the bed, who is barely able stay on his two feet by himself. When did it get this bad? His mind offered weakly as he swayed, Enjin having one hand on his shoulder as he bends over to grab the discarded blanket that he tucks under his free arm.
Enjin loops the arm helping Rudo around his back, holding onto the kid’s lower chest as they slowly walk out of the room and down the hallway. Rudo is tripping over his own feet, and Enjin has to stop more than once to check on him. He’s bringing the blanket with him due to the fact Rudo is shivering up a storm; he’s acting like he just took a plunge into a lake by the North Ward and can’t fight off the chilling waters, and Enjin doesn’t want to not have enough blankets.
Luckily for Rudo, no one is in the hallways to tattle on him to Eishia that he’s ill. It’s just past lunch, so most Cleaners are socializing or on jobs. Enjin’s room isn’t that far away either, considering they’re on the same team and all, therefore in the same area of the building. Luckily for Rudo, they’re on the same floor, too.
Enjin comes to a halt, Rudo slumping against him further, exhausted from being dragged along the hallways. Unlocking the door, Enjin maneuvers the white-haired boy inside and towards his bed. He makes Rudo sit up for now, slouched against the wall and pillows, wrapping him in his blanket, and Enjin disappears once more into his own bathroom this time.
The room smells of faint smoke, the bad habit becoming too unbearable at times for the man, leading to smoke clinging to the walls from the meager times he lights a cigarette inside. His coat is strung up on a door, and he has a shelf he got from somewhere holding a few photos and books and odd trinkets, some gifts from Rudo and whatever he managed to scavenge and save. Enjin also has an old red rug on the floor, slightly muddied from his boots which are abandoned by the shelf. The window is left annoyingly open and uncovered, allowing all the sunlight to seep in.
Enjin comes back with little white tablets cradled in his one hand, a cup of water in the other. He grunts as he sits next to Rudo, handing him the pills. Rudo stares blankly at them, uncomprehending.
”Rudo, you gotta eat ‘em.” Enjin murmurs, nudging his shoulder. “Like. Get them into your mouth.” Rudo turns to stare at him blankly instead, red pools dazedly meeting his gaze. Rudo eventually does as asked, but before Enjin can hand him the glass, he starts chewing, making a sour face. “No—don’t actually eat them,” Enjin panics, exasperated. Rudo looks back over at him confused, and Enjin gives up and hands him the water. “You have to swallow it, dude. Have you never had pills before?” He asks. Rudo hums.
”Not… not many…” he murmurs tiredly. Enjin just shakes his head, not feeling ready to explain pills to Rudo in this state he’s found himself in, so he doesn’t.
Enjin sighs and wraps the blanket snugly against Rudo, trying to prevent the little shivers that wrack through his frame. He still has to take care of the vomit in Rudo’s room, not wanting it to stink up the place. Was he going to be an adult about it? Probably not.
He tapped the red choker at his neck, swapping to a line he knew had one of the best chances of “helping him”.
”Hey Zanka?” Enjin asked the collar, a hum of questioning appearing on the other side of the line. “Mind taking out the trash can in Rudo’s room?”
”Why?” Came the suspicious reply, yet Enjin could hear the boy was already moving.
”Rudo’s sick. I’m sure you can piece together the rest. Thanks!” He ended the call before pretty boy could get another response in. He turned back to the sick kid, his eyes half closed with drowsiness, but still shivering with a fever. Enjin placed his hand back on the kid’s forehead, not expecting it to be better, but trying again just to be sure. It wasn’t better, and he convinced himself it was worse ever so slightly. Enjin grabbed his own folded blanket at the foot of the bed and draped it across Rudo, trying to get the boy to lay down and sleep. His jittering seemed to keep him up and in his sleepy state, teeth chattering and whimpering. Something primal and protective cried out at every little whimper, and Enjin wanted to do anything to get it to stop.
He grabbed a bowl and filled it up with chilled water. Kept the medication on standby for when it was time for Rudo to have some more. Helped Rudo lay down and curl into a tired ball of a boy who was shivering against his warmth. Scrounged up another old and thin blanket to throw on top of the growing pile of blankets. Nothing seemed to help; the kid continued to not find rest against the fever’s shivers.
Enjin was messing with Rudo’s fluffy hair in hopes he would find some comfort in the action, sitting on the side of his bed. He seemed to be slipping further into a feverish delirium as he grew even more exhausted, eyes glazed with the sickness and half lidded, mouth and tongue slurring unintelligent words and names. His chest seemed to be working harder than it should, too; Enjin could see his diaphragm harshly inhaling and exhaling from under the blankets
”Shh…” Enjin tried gently, earning him more garbles from the ill kid. Enjin bit his lip in contemplation; Rudo was just getting worse. He didn’t know what to do but wait or grab Eishia, which he already promised not to do the most logical one.
So he waited.
Rudo continued to whine weakly as Enjin sat next to him on the older man’s bed, not wanting to be horribly invasive. Which was new for a change; normally Enjin was more than content with being in people’s spaces, but he wanted to be considerate about how Rudo feels. Normally the kid didn’t hate physical touch as much as the others; well, to clarify, he didn’t push back. Zanka and Riyo verbalized annoyance when Rnjin would pat their hair or lean onto them. Rudo just complied, even when Enjin would use him like he would a hand rest on a couch.
Something about the way Rudo was currently gripping an extra pillow, though, told Enjin that maybe he didn’t comply because he liked the touch. It was easy to assume he might have hated it with that nasty temper and how he would flinch, but right now, the feather pillow was clutched to his chest, his chin on top as he shivered and glanced weakly at Enjin before his eyes would fall shut again, repeating the cycle.
Enjin, once more, let out a sigh. He was preparing himself for the inevitable illness he was going to get and braved the bed.
Enjin flung the ratty thin blanket he had found off and onto the floor, Rudo’s eyes snapping open with a whine. “Hold on, hold on.” He murmured, getting underneath Rudo’s second blanket, or Enjin’s, and lying down on his side to face Rudo with a groan. Rudo hazily recognized what was going on, and curled into the man, his face buried in Enjin’s upper chest. So he was a cuddle bug. Good to know for later.
”…mmmh… don’ feel good…” Rudo slurred out weakly, hands spasming slightly before going limp. Rudo’s eyes were closed but he still was awake, made clear with the mumbling.
”I know, kid. I know.” Enjin murmured back, one hand acting as a pillow for Rudo’s head, the other moving through his hair still. “I know.”
”don’… don’t leave me Regto…” Rudo whined, tensing and curling as close as he could to Enjin.
Oh.
A little something inside of the blonde broke off, shattering in grief for the child in front of him. This poor, poor kid just wanted his father back, the one person who managed to love him in the world he was familiar with. Yet here he was with some oaf pretending to be a mentor and a society that hated him regardless of the effort he put into protecting them.
Enjin couldn’t do anything more but rest his cheek on the crown of Rudo’s head, closing his own eyes.
”I won’t leave, bud.” He promised. “I won’t.”
…
Enjin awakes from his nap to knocking. He quickly examines Rudo who’s out cold, his shirt clutched in one of his gloves.
”Yeah?” He calls out to the door. He can hear shuffling outside, the light that seeps in from the hallway adjusting as the two pairs of feet do, too.
”We can’t find Rudo and he hasn’t eaten anythin’ all day.” Zanka replies in a shout. Enjin hums, before realizing they can’t hear him through the iron door.
”Come in real quick,” Enjin shouts back, Rudo cringing and curling up more in his sleep. Enjin brushes back his hair gently.
Zanka pushes his way in first, fear and horror encasing the teens frame. Riyo follows after, concern for both of her friends prominent. Enjin raises his pointer finger to his lips to signal for them to be quiet before pointing at the skinny frame that is hidden under him and his blanket.
Zanka deflates like a balloon, relief pushing his shoulders down. Riyo lets out a sigh, hands going to her hips as she smiles gently.
“Isn’t that adorable.” Riyo coos quietly, making her way over. Rudo is next to the wall, blocked by Enjin, so she can’t touch him without clambering over the twenty-eight year old of muscle, forcing her to settle with just watching. Enjin hums tiredly, yawning from being awoken from his nap before he starts to pet Rudo’s hair gently. Zanka files over, too, standing in line with his red-haired team member.
”He don’t look too good.” Zanka mutters out, and Enjin sighs in agreement.
”Maybe some food would help. What time is it?” Enjin tries.
”It’s four, though I’m sure we could get Gris to make some soup or whatever. It’s a pizza night tonight and I don’t think he’s holding that down.” Riyo assumes, most likely correctly.
”I think Eishia would help more.” Zanka grumbles, and Enjin cringes.
“He was pretty certain he didn’t want to see her.” The blonde clarifies. He earns looks of concern and scolding from his teens.
”’m pretty certain he’s extremely sick.” Zanka pressures. Riyo nods in agreement.
”He won’t even remember it. He’s not doing good, Enjin.” Riyo chimes in. Enjin looks away.
”Let’s just try some broth first. Please.” He mumbles, looking down at the white-haired Spherite. That rewards him with a sigh from Riyo, who shuffles out, and the awkward steps of Zanka who follows.
Enjin relaxes, slowly letting his head fall back down onto the pillow. Poor Rudo is still emitting heat like a furnace, but the chills have calmed down. Enjin feels uncomfortably warm, but he isn’t going to comment on it, as Rudo probably feels a whole lot worse.
His eyes slip shut again, and he wakes up to the rattling of his door knob and the entering of the two other teens. They have four plates with them, three with solid food, and the last a bowl of what is likely soup.
”Pizza came early. Figured we could just do dinner in here.” Riyo says, handing Enjin a plate of some loaded kind of the popular dish, and he grins, sitting up. Rudo whimpers, eyes not flickering open yet. Zanka sets the bowl of broth down on the nightstand next to Enjin’s bed, and Enjin does the same with his own plate. Zanka sits on the floor to Riyo’s dissatisfaction. Zanka scowls back.
”What. The kid’s sick. I’m not goin’ on that thing.” Zanka scoffs, and Riyo, still standing, shakes her head.
”I doubt Enjin would be cuddling with him if it were contagious.” She replies, before realizing that was likely a very weak argument. Enjin cringes in sympathy for her, and Zanka gains a new level of confidence.
”Listen…” Enjin started, but Riyo held a hand up before plopping on the ground next to Zanka.
”I don’t want to hear it. Traitor.” She scoffed out, eating angrily. Zanka ate smugly, and Enjin rolled his eyes as he sat up further. Rudo whined quietly in protest, unknowing he was next.
”Rudo, come on bud.” Enjin murmured patting his flushed cheek gently. The kid tried to shift his head away, but there was no escaping Enjin now. “Rudo.” He said louder, and the boy’s eyes finally started to flicker open. They were still dazed and glassy, causing Enjin to pause and chew his lip anxiously. “Come on, sit up for me here. You gotta eat something.” Enjin hauled up the skinny teen as he made weak progress with doing it himself, leaning him against the wall as he dazedly blinked and tried to gather himself, or what was left in his hazy mind.
Enjin grabbed his bowl, giving Rudo a minute to try and gather his bearings again. It didn’t seem to be going well, and the other teenagers looked at him in concern. He didn’t even seem to notice that they were there. “Don’t mind your audience down there,” Enjin murmured, pointing them out subtly to Rudo, who blinked and looked down at them. Riyo waved happily, Zanka looking away shyly. Rudo stared at them for another moment before slowly looking at the bowl of food. “Let’s try to eat something, yeah?” Enjin grinned, wanting to lighten the mood. Rudo nodded stiffly, and Enjin gave him the spoon and bowl. The hungry man then grabbed his own plate and sat next to the kid, facing Zanka and Riyo who were teasing each other under their breath. Enjin glanced back over at Rudo when he heard the rattle of metal against porcelain, noting that his hands may be too shaky to eat it without help.
Enjin (with a great sadness) set his warm plate down and offered his hand to Rudo. The boy glanced over at him, and Enjin expected him to refuse—Rudo may not hate attention, but being hand fed was a different subject altogether—but the boy easily handed over his spoon. The three healthy people blinked in surprise, but Enjin wasted no time in trying to feed him. Enjin’s hand, unlike Rudo’s, was kind and steady. Gently, Enjin would let it float in the air by his mouth, waiting for whenever Rudo was ready to take another bite, before retreating to the bowl with a klink to try again.
“Man, you really must not be feelin’ good, huh?” Zanka murmured, and everyone looked over at him. The teen blushed, trying to defend his “uncaring” persona. “Well—I mean—psh, it doesn’t matter.” Zanka growled out. Riyo laughed, and Enjin snickered.
“What he meant is that you can tell us if you don’t fell well. Or about anything, really.” Enjin rephrased, trying to save whatever scraps of like Rudo had for Zanka. “You don’t gotta wait until you get like this for help. We won’t do anything you don’t want us to, unless you’re on the brink of death.” Rudo blinked hazily at him, slowly processing. Enjin kept feeding him spoonfuls as he thought, the action of eating seemingly on autopilot for Rudo, and therefore meant that Enjin had to stuff him as much as possible before he realized what he was doing.
Enjin got a good two-thirds of the bowl in before refused to eat more. He was happy with that; that was more food than he was expecting anyways. Riyo chattered on endlessly to keep Rudo up longer, Zanka butting in without remorse that they could tell. Enjin finally was able to start eating his food, watching as the two older teens tried to interact with the delirious younger one.
Riyo grabbed Enjin’s stashed away deck of cards, dealing out ten cards to each person to play Garbage. Rudo went along sluggishly, some thinking power returning as he stayed awake. Enjin was finishing up his food, offering Rudo his crusts as if he were a dog, earning a glare from the kid. Not back to its full power, but not bad nonetheless.
They let Riyo go first, then Rudo, followed by Enjin, and finally Zanka. Riyo picked out her order by “favorites of the night”. Enjin didn’t need to help Rudo count out the cards and lay them down correctly, meaning a missed opportunity to cheat.
Hisses of accusations or comments of annoyance were tossed around the room, previous affections abandoned for the hope at the taste of sweet, sweet victory. Rudo was still curled up in his original blanket, Enjin next to him on the bed as Zanka and Riyo continued to sit (or pace in anxiety) on the floor. Enjin’s snack stash was broken into by the red-head, candies and chips tossed around in pity or frustration.
They played three whole rounds, decreasing the amount of cards each person needed to find each time they cleared a deck. Zanka ended up being the winner; it would have been Enjin if he wasn’t caught cheating by Riyo as he looked at his deck in the final few round to know which ones to look for.
Riyo was trying to push for another round, but Enjin cast one good look at Rudo who was starting to doze off sitting up and called it quits. He shook the boy awake gently, getting him to take more medicine before Rudo decided he could stay up for longer. Little did the boy know, Enjin was using pills that were more likely to knock him out, going for an older, stronger dosage he had lying around from the last time he was sick.
“Ooh! Hold on. What if Zanka and I sleep over?” Riyo suggested, and Zanka cringed.
“Have ya even looked at sicko over there? No. Get sick with Enjin without me.” Zanka scoffed, and Riyo rolled her eyes, already up on her feet.
“I’ll grab your stuff for you!” She said, giggling as she ran out of the room. Zanka scoffed and chased after her, leaving Lovely Assistaff on the floor. Enjin laughed as he shook his head, Rudo watching them as they ran out the door.
“I can… go back by now.” Rudo mumbled quietly, and Enjin looked over at him, and his head was downcast. Enjin buried his hand in his hair.
“Nah, too late. You’re staying here or we can go to Eishia’s. That was the deal.” Enjin grinned, and Rudo looked up at him. He looked exhausted but much better. That distraction seemed to work well all things considered. It seems like what he really needed was a morale boost.
“But what if I get you guys sick?” Rudo mumbled miserably, slumping into Enjin’s side with sleepy eyes. Enjin still had his hand in the kid’s hair, a small and sad smile gracing his lips as he recognized the medicine working.
“I think it’s too late to worry about that. Plus, this may just be something us Groundlings are used to that you’re not.” Enjin responded confidently. “Even so, don’t worry about it. We’d much rather be sick with you than have you suffer alone.” Enjin finalized, watching as the kid battled against drooping eyelids. He knew Rudo was going to keep that up until everyone else was settled, which wasn’t going to be long as Riyo burst back into the room, giggling devilishly, arms full of pillows and blankets from her and Zanka’s room. The blue-eyed teen followed in defeated after her, watching as she strewed their things across the floor in a nest-like formation.
Rudo’s head slumped against Enjin’s upright chest, earning a gentle laugh from Akuta’s Team leader. The poor guy was barely hanging on, drugs winning over his will to stay awake.
Riyo and Zanka quickly found a suitable blanket to curl up under, backs to each other, their feet facing Enjin’s bed. Zanka held onto Lovely Assistaff, no longer complaining about his sleeping quarters for the night. Riyo had an extra pillow to lay her hands on, her fingers tracing gentle patterns into the soft fabric.
Enjin shuffled Rudo back under his two blankets, and Enjin under only one. He let Rudo lay on the other side that wasn’t the wall so he too could keep an eye on his other team members. Enjin curled around the sleepy teen, one of his arms at Rudo’s chest, the other acting as a pillow for his head again, though this time Rudo was facing his friends and not Enjin.
Riyo and Zanka whispered out “goodnights”, Enjin following.
“Gh..gn’night…” Rudo slurred out, practically already asleep. That earned drowsy giggles from the rest.
“G’night, kiddo.” Enjin whispered back, meaning only for Rudo’s ears to let the kid know that they were still here, eventually laying his head down to rest.
It wasn’t long before other snores filled the room, content and happy with how the day had gone.
…
When morning came, Enjin was the first to wake.
His teenagers were all still fast asleep before him, and he was careful not to wake up the sick one curled into his chest again. Rudo must’ve shifted in his sleep, likely to find as much warmth as possible.
Enjin felt his forehead, relief washing over him in a giant solid wave as he felt… normal. Maybe a day or two more of rest, but he’d be fine.
Which also gave Enjin hope for himself, as this illness seemed quick, and his throat felt oddly dry.