Work Text:
“—yan.”
Bryan feels hot. He hears someone calling him, so he forces himself to open his eyes even though his head ached terribly. He sees a figure, but can’t make out who it was clearly. Bryan wants, at the very least, to answer “yes,” but his throat feels raw. Instead, he rolls over and buries his face in the pillow. He’s feeling so many things. Why did everything feel so heavy right now? Has his infection flared up again? Why did his back feel more sensitive than usual? Then he sensed something soothing. This time, his vision clears, and it turns out to be Michelle. And she looked very worried.
She furrows her brow, but isn't angry or anything. She immediately grabs her phone and seems to be calling someone. Bryan can’t hear her clearly, even though his senses have become more acute thanks to that damn virus. Everything feels hot, overwhelming, and muffled. It took a moment, but eventually Bryan is able to hear and feel everything much more—well, comfortably—in whatever situation he’s currently in.
“—fever. Yeah, I can ask for permission to be late, yeah. Thanks a lot, Luis, I really appreciate it. I’m sorry—yeah, okay, see you.”
“Miche?” Bryan asks, but his voice sounds hoarse. He wants to take her hand, but he stops when he sees the scar. Michelle, however, holds Bryan’s infected arm and strokes it gently, trying to calm him down. “What—?”
“You got a fever,” Michelle says, her voice so calm and soft. She then smiles and there's a teasing spark in her eyes. She raises her other arm, and a tentacle wraps around her wrist. “Mutated or not, you’re still clingy as ever, Bry, and your tentacle feels so cold but your body is hot.”
“Oh,” Bryan sighs in embarrassment. His eyebrow frowns as he tries to control his extra limbs and it lets go off her wrist. “Sorry. I don’t know what’s happening to me. It’s hot, but also, not? My head feels heavy and—”
“Yeah, a fever,” Michelle says as she gets out of bed and grabs a thermometer. Without being asked, Bryan takes the thermometer and lets it measure his body temperature. While they wait, Michelle goes to the kitchen to get some cold water for her fiancé. She sets the glass on the nightstand and takes the thermometer from Bryan to check the reading. “Hmm, yeah. It’s not too bad, but it’s still a fever. I’m not very experienced at taking care of you, so I already called Luis earlier.”
“You gotta work?,” he whines.
Michelle smiles and gently places her hand on Bryan’s scarred cheek. “It’s just a few hours, Bry. I already called late. Just until Luis arrived here.” Ah, right. Michelle’s a nurse, a senior one even. She may be highly trained for treating regular patients, but she’s still learning how to care for Bryan and his condition. She can’t exactly take a day off so suddenly either—screw that stupid hospital. “I also called Leon to let him know you couldn't make it because you're sick. He's coming over too once his meeting is over.”
“Okay, ugh—” he groans when his tentacles crept across the cold tile. He hates how sensitive they are when he’s vulnerable. He’s not actually, he just didn’t understand his body anymore.
Michelle chuckles. “You can stay here, I’ll bring you breakfast.”
“No,” he says as he tries to sit up. “No food on the bed—”
“You’re sick.”
“It’s jus’ fever, babe, I had it worse.” He raises two of his eight appendages and Michelle just smiles.
Bryan is now sitting in their living room, holding a cup of warm chamomile tea to soothe his throat. He’s wondering what was wrong and how he could have a fever, even though he’d already been infected with a far more dangerous virus. It wasn’t that the damn virus had flared up again; rather, this illness felt like a common fever—the kind that usually sets in when someone spends too much time in the cold without wearing appropriate winter clothes. Bryan shifts his body, trying to find a comfortable position under the thick blanket because now he’s feeling chilly. His seven appendages instinctively wrap around his body and try to warm him up, while the eighth scrolled through YouTube looking for a video he can watch since both of his hands are busy holding a cup of tea that had now gone cold.
“It’s still weird to see you with that tentacle, Dad,” Bryanna says as she steps down the stairs. It had been a while since Bryan told her about everything that had happened in that city, she’s still afraid of him—he can tell, but now she begins to accept all the weirdness about her father.
“Morning, sweetheart,” Bryan greets and Anna winces when she hears her dad’s rough voice. “Are you going to your campus now?”
Bryanna walks closer and lets her dad ruffle her dark hair. “Nah, my class was canceled," she says. “You got a fever?”
“Guess my trip to Europe got me sick,” he shrugs. He switches his mug to his iPad as he doesn’t feel the warmth from the mug. “I feel really cold right now, and I was hot before.”
“Yeah, it’s really nasty, isn’t it? Did Mom call Uncle Luis?” Bryanna smiles. “Let me refill your mug.”
“Thank you, Ann.” He hands her his mug. “And yes, she called him earlier. He should be here anytime soon.”
Luis arrives a few moments later and immediately examines him. He takes his body temperature, blood, his blood pressure, and even checks each of his appendages. Michelle then comes with his breakfast, already in her green nurse’s uniform. Michelle tells Luis about Bryan’s condition earlier this morning and the biologist listens while taking some notes. Michelle grabs her bag and kisses Bryan goodbye, only one of his appendages wraps around her waist as if he’s begging her not to leave.
“It’ll be back before sunset,I promise,” she says, gently patting that limb, reassuring him, until it finally lets go of her. “Sorry, he’s very clingy when he’s sick.”
“Don’t tell me,” Luis laughs and Bryan blushes. “Have a nice day, mamacita—Ow! What was that for!?”
“Don’t flirt with her,” Bryan growls and Luis raises his hand in surrender. “Or I’ll tell your fiancé you’re cheating on him.”
While waiting for Luis’s analysis, Bryan eats his breakfast with his daughter. Ever since the incident in Raccoon City, he rarely eats meat. The sight and thought of red flesh with flowing blood frightens him—especially since he’d once undergone severe mutation and was mindless for days. He always orders his meat well-done; he rather faces puzzled stares from people than have to look at raw meat. Michelle made him warm oatmeal with slices of banana and honey, along with pieces of fruits and scrambled egg on the side. She also prepared a thermos of chamomile tea. He doesn’t complain about such a simple meal, but Michelle understood how to treat sick patients more than he did.
Bryanna sits beside him, eating a grilled cheese sandwich she made for herself. She was reading a medical journal. Ever since the biohazard incident at her university and Bryan opened up about his condition, Bryanna suddenly switched her major to biology and also gone on to medical school. Both Bryan and Michelle were surprised by her sudden decision. Not that they can’t afford the school tuition fee, but why so suddenly? She told them that she was impressed by her parents, how both handled each emergency situation differently yet remained in the same field—Bryan in military-style paramedic and his mom in ER. She was also impressed by how viruses mutate quickly, why each person had different infection rates, and so on. Bryan was horrified by this thought, afraid that she’ll be that ignorant, selfish scientist he met on Raccoon City General, but then her final answer gave her his approval. She wanted to help to find a cure, so that the other students and children won’t experience what she and her father experienced back then. That gave her his approval to switch majors as well as two letters of recommendation from Luis and Rebecca. And right now, she’s in her second year of her master’s program and also an intern in DSO’s Laboratories, Science, and Research Department.
“Interesante,” says Luis and Bryanna immediately moves closer to Luis to see what’s going on. “You were assigned to a rescue mission with Chris in Europe like two months ago, right?”
“Leon was the one they asked for but he couldn’t make it, so I took his place,” Bryan replies. His voice is softer now than before. “Why?”
“Were you injured during the mission?”
“What kind of question is that?” Bryan asks and Luis gives him a look. “You know our job, dude. Injury is always on the list.”
“I mean, were you injured by whatever happened there? The place was plagued by some kind of mold or something, right?” Bryan sets down his spoon and thinks about it. “Were you impaled, scratched, bitten, or suffered any kind of injuries by whatever creature present there?”
“Now that you mention it,” Bryan sighs. “I—yeah. Piers and I went to a village area that was full of werewolf-y creatures? Piers shot most of them but he missed one and I got the blow, it bit and scratched my back. It healed instantly like usual, if you’re asking, then I stabbed it, and we didn’t think much of it after that. Why?”
“Your virus is fighting off the infection from that blow, dad,” Bryanna concludes and Luis nods, looking very impressed by her conclusion. “That’s why you got a fever-like!”
“She’s amazing, wanna work with us after you graduate, señorita? I can be your inside man and make sure Leon and the board of directors accept you as one of us?” Luis asks and Bryan slaps his back with his tentacle, a reminder to not flirt with her. “Ow! Stop being so possessive! Anyway, yes. Your virus acts like an antibody now, it fights off any invasion like normal antibodies. That blow made the mold enter your body and it meant to attack you. It settled in your system for some time before it ‘bloomed’ and wanted to spread the infection, but instead it got blocked by your mutated antibody.”
“So, I’m a freak, inside out?”
“A good freak, let me remind you,” Luis puts down his iPad and steals one of his fruits to eat it. “We don’t need any medication or stabilizer for you, just trust and let the biological process run its course. Or if you’re so anxious, we can give you a vitamin shot so your normal antibody can fight with your mutated one?”
“For how long?” Bryan suddenly grew anxious like Luis just said. “And yes, I’ll take that vitamin shot.”
“A day or two, give or take. Sancho’s already gives you permission to take some day-off, so don’t worry about that and the higher ups.” Luis rummages through his bag and finds the syringe. He fills it with a vitamin mixture made specifically for him and then injects it on Bryan’s normal arm. “All done, now finish your breakfast and take some good rest, Bry. We got you.”
Bryan slumps back to the sofa after he finished his breakfast, he let his appendages roam lazily on the chair. One of them brushes Bryanna's arm and she strokes it gently; the sense of security from his daughter lullies him. A day or two off isn’t bad, he just worries about himself. Everything feels raw and it sets off his emotion, he’s afraid he might accidentally hurt Michelle or Bryanna. He can go back to his own apartment near Leon’s in case he’s losing control. But deep down he knew Michelle won’t allow that, especially when she just got him back.
Bryan listens to Luis and Bryanna discusses his condition and the virus he’s infected with—one of Bryanna’s research projects that Luis supervises. He doesn’t fully understand it, he should have because it’s about him, but he just couldn’t because everything around him was hazy. He puts down his tablet on his thigh as drowsiness begins to overtake him. He used to feel like this whenever his virus flared up, draining his energy, leaving him tired and sleepy. He sighs and closes his eyes; maybe a good, couple of hours nap won’t hurt.
He roared as the helicopter opened fire.
He felt nothing but rage and hunger.
His tentacle struck the helicopter mid air and slammed it to the wall of the right building, it exploded on impact.
The remaining human—A TASTY HUMAN EAT EAT EAT WE WILL HAVE FEAST BE STRONGER EAT EAT CONSUME—jumped out right before it slammed but his other tentacles caught them and devoured them.
He leaped down. There are more humans to be consumed.
As he landed, the landscape changed. It was no longer the hospital’s courtyard. Bryan raised his hand and saw both of his healthy and infected arms were covered in blood. No, every part of his body was covered in blood. And there was an unusual taste in his mouth.
He realizes that he’s gasping and he starts to heave. What happen—did he actually kill—
He turns his body and sees the disremembered body of his fiancé, his daughter, as well as Leon, Luis, and—the weird, unusual taste in his mouth must’ve be—
Oh God, oh God, he’s done it, he—please someone kill him please please kill me please PLEASE KILL M—
“—ME!” Bryan screams and tries to escape from someone who’s holding him down, anchoring him. Bryan soon realises he’s been crying. As his vision starts to clear, he sees Leon is holding his shoulder and he’s dead worried. “Please, Lee, kill me. Please—”
“Bry, you’re having a nightmare, please—” Leon pushes Bryan more to the sofa. Bryan tries to control his appendages to push Leon away, but he can’t. Why won't his body listen to him?! “Please take a deep breath.”
“Lee—”
“That’s just a memory, it’s not real. You’re cured 20 years ago, all of this just an extra,” says Leon; slowly releases his hold and Bryan sobs. “You’re okay, we’re okay. We’re here.”
“I got him water!” Bryanna says and puts the glass on the table. “And ice!”
Leon guides Bryan to control his breath and grounds him. Both of them suffered from PTSD and anxiety—especially Bryan, thanks to Raccoon City and were in therapy for years. They knew grounding technique but right now Bryan is incapable of remembering one because of the nightmare and he’s sick. It takes him some time and a full tray of ice but he’s grounded enough to talk. Bryan asks when Leon arrived and the man replies not long before he starts screaming asking to kill him. He still feels foggy, but he doesn’t want to tell Leon. He hears a faint, distant argument. Instead, he focuses on listening to what the bickers about. Bryan soon realizes Piers, Sherry and her fiancé (thanks for their constant screams) are coming along with Leon and is cooking lunch for him—Jake and Piers are never friendly to one another and always find a topic for their stupid arguments. Piers even comes with complementary and get-well goods from Chris and his squad, a bouquet of flowers and snacks. Why’s so many people here? Did Michelle ask them to accompany him?
“Sorry for using your kitchen, Bry,” Sherry says and she puts down a tray full of lunch—a bowl of soup with the rice on a separate plate, chopped fruits, and tea. All is covered with a sheet of plastic wraps as if the food comes from the hospital. “Michelle instructed me to cook these for you earlier. I hope the taste is to your liking?”
“I just had breakfast?” Bryan slightly rises up from his position.
“You ate your breakfast 5 hours ago, amigo,” Luis states. “You have to eat now, you’re still recovering.”
“I don’t think I’m ready to eat now,” Bryan weakly says but his eyes are still glued to the tray. “I’m sorry, Sher.”
Sherry gives him an understandable look and smiles. “It’s okay, Bry. We can reheat it later”
“Maybe—” Bryan says as Sherry takes the tray. “Actually, can you leave the fruits and tea? I—I don’t wanna waste it.”
She nods and leaves the fruits and the tea on the desk. Bryan takes some bites because he doesn’t want them to worry why he doesn’t want to eat. He doesn’t understand why everyone is here, but he doesn’t complain anyway. As much as he wants to be alone after the nightmare and his abyssal fear of hurting his loved ones, he’s glad that they've accompanied him. After endless bickering between Piers and Jake, Luis and Leon separate them both and ask if they can play any tabletop game. Sherry reminds him that Bryan is sick and they can’t bother him much, but Bryan insists.
“Just play, I'd rather watch you all play than sleep anyway,” Bryan says. “
“You guys up for Jenga?” Luis smirks, seeing a Jenga on Bryan's cabinet.
“What’s the catch?” Jake asks defiantly.
“What, are we kids or something?” Piers snarky comments, and Jake just about to respond when he’s cut off by Sherry.
“Whoever loses will treat us all for next week's luncheon!” Sherry suggests.
“That’s boring,” Leon says.
“Whatever the bet is, leave Anna alone from your stupid ass bet,” Bryan interrupts, taking some bite from his fruit bowl.
“Yes, dad!”
Eventually, they agree what their bet is: the one who accumulates the most losses has to cook dinner for today. Luis and Sherry build the blocks while the rest clean the desk. They also play truth or dare using the block they choose—each has either dares or truth, and when they place the block, they have to answer the truth or do the dare. They sit circling the desk and Bryan decides to join, he’s bored anyway. Everyone, except Bryanna of course, trained to be focused and calm as their job demands. They can easily take one block and stack it upwards.
They trust each other so each truth honestly surprises Bryan more than the dares. Jake once saw friendship as a weakness until Piers blindly once saved him during their joint mission and he admits that he and Piers keep in touch despite their endless bickering and fights. Sherry admits he still has a nightmare of her father and she’s been silently going to a therapist once a while—which makes Leon worried. Leon admits he had a crush on Bryan—which makes the man choke on his fruits. Bryan doesn’t know how to react to that truth but Leon tells him that it was just the past and he had Luis now. All Leon asks is never strain their friendship despite all the truths. The game, despite how stupid it is, makes Bryan more relaxed than early this morning. He forgets his nightmare and anxiety. He places a truth block and replies to Piers' questions. He admits he admires Leon so much he thought it was a crush. Bryan is so charmed by how Leon is dedicated to his work despite how hellish the situation is, how he can handle every emergency perfectly. Bryan apologizes to Luis because how stupid is his replies are and everyone agrees that Leon is a badass—which makes Leon blush, and at some points everyone has a crush on him. Everyone, except Jake of course..
The tower collapses for the first time after Luis tries to take a dare block, marking him the first loss. They build the block again and it collapses again after Jake puts a block right after Bryan’s turn. They soon realize Bryan is not even getting up from the sofa and plays with two of his appendages, his hands busy with eating his lunch which Sherry reheats between the game. It takes them another two rounds—Piers and Sherry cause the tower falls—and it starts to frustrate Jake.
“What!? How!?” Jake yells in disbelief as the tower falls when he puts a block.
“Part of Bryan’s core physical therapy is to control his tentacles and playing Jenga is one of the activities,” Luis replies in defeat, he loses one more time. “Afterall, the game requires focus and patience, it’s perfect for his therapy.”
Bryan smirks in victory as he, once again, wins the game. “Y’all sucks,” he says, not even leaving the sofa to play the game and letting two of his appendages play. “I win.”
“Alright, we need to ban this Squidward from this game, those who agree please raise your hand,” says Leon as he raises his hand first. Everyone raises their hand then. “You’re banned.”
“Fine by me,” Bryan shrugs as he retracts his appendages from the table and munching his fruits.
The games continue even when they are having lunch. Bryan lazily watches the game become more chaotic as they add a new rule to scribble the loser face with a marker. Piers and Jake both get so much scribble on their faces because of how competitive they are, followed by Luis, Sherry, Bryanna, and then Leon. Bryan takes a sip of his tea and smiles. It’s fun having such a casual, calm time with friends—despite everything that happened today. Bryanna sits beside him and leans towards him, her face covered by a single streak of marker on her cheek. He figures playing the game gets her tired. Bryan softly strokes her dark hair and she yawns. He gets herself comfortable and closes her eyes. One of his appendages sits itself on her thigh and she touches it. Maybe this time, he can finally rest.
It’s 7PM, the sun barely sets, but the sky looks dark because the rain just stopped. There are cars on her driveaway, Michelle assumes it’s Leon’s and Luis’, but she doesn’t recognize the other car.
“Babe, I’m sorry, the clinic was so crowded today and—” Michelle says as he opens the door, only to see how quiet her house is. “Bry?”
She walks to the living room only to realize Bryan and their daughter sleep on the sofa, leaning on each other, one of his appendages sitting protectively on her thigh. Sherry and her fiancé, Jake, sleep on the smaller sofa. Leon sits with his arm crossed and his eyes closed beside Bryan. Luis sits on the floor and buries his head on the table. And another guest she doesn’t recognise also sleep beside Luis. There are no traces of alcohol beverages—she’s breathing out a relief, but the desk is messy with Jenga blocks and she then realises their face is covered in marker. There are some empty bowls and three empty pizza boxes around the fallen Jenga blocks. Bryan’s remaining appendages wrap around each of their ankles as if he’s protected them even when they’re asleep. All of them look so serene.
Michelle smiles. She lets them take a nap for another hour.