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iliterallyjustlivehere · 12 days ago

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Carsick - Nico #1

I'm finally back, I had exams so it took me SO LONG to write this fic 😭 It was also too long, so I decided to just split it in half and what happened after the bus ride will be in a different fic! I also had to put some lore inside, so it may get a little angsty at some points. I also tried to make the paragraphs longer this time instead of starting a new one like every 2 sentences!

Fic is under the cut, have fun!

One thing Nico loved more than anything was driving. He would definitely fight someone just to get behind the wheel — or at least rather walk than sit anywhere else. Sure, he liked cars and driving was fun, but mostly, it was about his motion sickness.He couldn’t handle it unless he was the one driving or asleep. He had never managed more than a few hours as a passenger without feeling awful, and he didn’t expect that to change anytime soon. That was part of why he saved money instead of buying any carsickness medicine. It might sound silly, but in Nico’s mind, it made perfect sense. Besides, he did study law, so his ideas had to be at least somewhat reasonable.

Right... No.

“Now, again… unless you’re dying, attendance at this match is mandatory for everyone,” Courtney said firmly, shooting a sharp glance at Lucien as she spoke. The blond rolled his eyes.

“We’re meeting Friday, 2 PM, in the parking lot in front of the gym, got it?” Nico sighed, swallowing the knot in his stomach. Of course. The first match of the season, his first match ever, was in a city six, maybe seven hours away. And of course, the entire team would take that cramped bus together. He wasn’t usually nervous, his motto was mostly “it is what it is.” But now, butterflies fluttered painfully in his gut. Was it the worry about getting carsick? Or just the pressure of his first-ever match, far from home? Either way, it wasn’t good.

To calm himself, Nico told himself he had plenty of time — four whole days — to figure out a plan. That was a lot, right? Twenty-four hours a day, times four... A lot. Totally. But those days quickly passed — three, then two, then one, then suddenly it was the morning before the trip.

Nico tried to pack while brainstorming ways to survive the journey. His whole body tingled with tension and nerves. Not quite overwhelming, but definitely there, and unpleasant. Folding fresh pajamas and slipping a toothbrush into his bag, he tried to assess his capabilities. He was sure he could manage a few hours without feeling completely terrible. And the bus would stop for breaks, right? He could eat, then hopefully fall asleep, turning the long ride into a series of time skips until they reached the hotel. Even if he felt sick after arriving, the match wasn’t until the next day, so he would have time to recover.

Genius.

Grabbing socks and underwear, Nico made a mental checklist, while trying not to let admitting his motion sickness embarrass him. Especially around Lucien - that was a death wish. How could he tease the blond if Lucien had all the material to tease him right back? Rubbing his chest firmly, Nico pictured the plan like a checklist in his mind:

Find a window seat near the front of the bus

Sit FAR away from Lucien

Act normal for the first two or three hours

Eat at the first rest stop

Fall asleep

Make it to the hotel and rest before the game

The plan wasn’t perfect, but it was something.He loved sleeping. If anxiety didn’t eat him alive, he might even sleep through the whole trip. And since he planned to rely on sleep, that meant no need for any meds. Walking to the parking lot, his fear of carsickness faded almost completely. After all, he had never actually thrown up from it — just felt like he might. Now, the only thing left to worry about was the game. His first game. Ever. In another city. Nico rubbed his chest again, trying to hide the distress in his face as he stepped into the lot.

“About time,” a hoarse-sounding voice rumbled, making Nico look up. He recognized the teammate by voice, and sure enough, Lucien stood there, leaning on one leg with arms crossed and an expensive-looking dark green suitcase beside him. Nico raised an eyebrow. “A whole suitcase for one night? What’ve you got in there, your dignity?” he teased. Lucien’s eyebrows knitted briefly, but despite the bickering, the blond looked relaxed, unlike Nico. “I wish you had taken yours,” Lucien shot back, voice low and a little sharp.

Nico studied Lucien’s face. It always looked annoyed, but there was a subtle difference when he was actually upset. Nico wasn’t sure how he noticed it himself, but Lucien’s voice and eyebrows were the key. His voice was usually rough when calm but could tighten fast, especially around Nico. And if Lucien wasn’t feeling well, you’d see it in his eyebrows. They curved downward, desperate, almost pleading. Nico wished he could be that relaxed. Lucien had played matches before, even if he skipped practice a lot. The brunette rubbed his chest again and took a deep breath, still watching him.

Lucien suddenly spoke, breaking the silence. “...Can you breathe okay?” Nico blinked, startled. His hand was still on his chest, fingers curled over his shoulder. He thought maybe Lucien was worried for once. But the blond’s posture and voice said something else. His tone wasn’t rough anymore; it was anxious, but Nico felt like it wasn't solely because of worry for him.

“Oh, no, yeah, I’m fine,” Nico said quickly. Lucien sighed, looking away. Nico briefly hoped maybe, just maybe, he could get on Lucien’s good side instead of being the usual target. But Lucien’s mood shifted so fast, Nico decided to just roll with it.

“I know you probably wish I was dead, but sorry, I’ve gotta show you I can play better first,” Nico said, trying to sound confident. That was, of course, a complete lie — he wasn’t sure he could even hit the ball. Lucien’s eyebrows shot up, snapping his gaze back.

He opened his mouth to say something but furrowed his brow instead. “Wa—” he started breathlessly, one hand on his suitcase handle, the other raised like he was measuring how offended he was. “Want you dead? Are you crazy?” His voice rose sharply. Nico took a step back as Lucien stepped forward.

“Obviously I don’t want you dead. Don’t- dont't say that.” Nico hesitated, a groan escaping him. Lucien’s stare sharpened, and Nico wasn’t ready for any serious talk. He wanted the mood light, teasing, not pity or heavy feelings. Lucien took advantage of the silence, locking eyes with Nico. “Don’t even dare to think like that,” he said firmly.

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry,” Nico gave in, shifting uncomfortably. He did dislike Lucien, but not enough to ignore how much those words clearly affected him. Nico avoided his eyes, sighing.

“I really wish you guys could maybe, just maybe, not argue every time,” a higher voice interrupted. Courtney, of course. Nico didn’t mind her, but he knew she didn’t care about petty fights — she came only because Lucien was involved. He wasn’t sure if they were childhood friends or best friends yet, but Lucien definitely let his guard down around her. Courtney wrapped an arm around Lucien’s shoulder, gripping his upper arm tightly enough to make him groan and step back. She smirked at him, then turned to Nico.

“Come on, don’t be so mean. What if he cries?” she teased. Nico rubbed his chest, feeling a twitch of anxiety as the word hung in the air.

“The last time I saw him cry was when I was actually being nice,” Nico shot back, referring to the tofu incident. Lucien’s eyebrows drew together sharply. “I didn’t cry because of you. Don’t give yourself too much credit,” he scoffed, but his voice was tighter than usual. Nico thought about asking Courtney for a window seat at the front of the bus, but stopped himself. She would probably see right through that it wasn't just a preference, but a survival tactic.

Soon, the bus pulled up. From the outside, it looked pretty fancy - tall, dark blue, with darkened windows and curtains at every window.

“Okay, everyone, listen up!” Courtney’s voice rang out as she dropped her luggage next to Lucien and stepped in front of the bus entrance. “The luggage compartments on the outside will open soon. Put your bags in there quickly and come inside. If you think you need something for the ride, take it with you. But nothing too big.”

Did she really have to explain this to a bunch of grown adults?

“Then, once you’re inside, walk all the way to the back and take a seat there so we can board fast and get going. It’s already 2:30. Oh— and coach is driving, so…”

Great. A bumpy ride ahead. If Nico wanted a window seat up front, he just had to be slow and walk in last. He set his bag down, pulled out a water bottle, headphones, phone, and wallet. Then he casually walked around the group, making sure he was one of the last to put his luggage away. When he finally climbed the narrow steps into the bus, he looked around. Luxurious from outside, sure, but inside, the seats were packed tight, barely any legroom or space for bags. Two seats were free near the front, but neither by the window. Nico chose the one on the right, and then his breath caught.

“Hey, so... uh, could I maybe have your seat? You could sit... over there?” he asked awkwardly, pointing to the other free seat. Lucien looked up slowly, one eyebrow raised. “No, thanks.”

“You know, I’d really appreciate that window seat.”

“You should’ve been faster,” Lucien shrugged.

“No, listen—why are you being such an ass?” Nico clicked his tongue, irritated. Was this because of earlier?

“I’m not being an ass,” Lucien said firmly. “I just want you sitting far away from me — and not in my seat.”

Nico took that as a challenge. He plopped down right next to Lucien, stretching out to press against him. Lucien slid closer to the window.

“Can you not?” he muttered, popping his earphones in. Nico shoved his bag under the seat and leaned back. It wouldn’t be so bad, right? It couldn’t be. Not with his foolproof plan. Besides, Lucien wasn’t cruel. Surely if Nico felt bad, the blond wouldn’t just watch. That was, of course, assuming Nico told him. At first, he didn’t feel sick. He even poked and pressed against Lucien’s arm or legs just to annoy him, but the blond ignored it completely. Thank God for his wired earphones. Nico smirked, tugged the cord, and yanked Lucien’s earbuds right out of his ears.

“God— do you mind? I’m not bothering you, so keep it down,” Lucien scoffed, pulling the cord free. “Well, I’m flattered, but I’m no deity,” Nico teased, watching Lucien roll his eyes.

“You’re more like a ghost. Stop haunting me.”

“I’m looking forward to dying before you so I can haunt you,” Nico shot back with a grin. Lucien clicked his tongue sharply. “I told you to stop saying things like that.”

He shoved his earphones back in. Nico reached up to yank them out again, but suddenly, a wet burp rose in his throat. He froze, leaning back and glancing at Lucien, who wasn’t looking. Quickly, Nico pressed a hand to his stomach. They had been driving for about two hours, and until now, he had been holding it together. So why now? He rubbed his stomach gently, closing his eyes as another burp fought its way up. He bit it back hard. The burps were starting to sting his chest, but there was no other option. Not when he didn’t want anyone to know he got motion sick. Not when he couldn’t show weakness, especially not around Lucien. There was no way he would hand him blackmail material. Nico kept flicking his eyes open, making sure Lucien wasn’t watching. Just as he was about to pull out his own headphones-

“People, listen!” Courtney called from the front.

“We’ll be stopping for food in about ten minutes. We don’t have all day, so be ready to get off immediately. Don’t wait till we stop to start packing up.”

Nico sighed quietly, pressing a hand into his side. The movement coaxed out another burp, which he swallowed down fast. Maybe… eating would help? He loved resting after a good meal, it always lulled him to sleep. Maybe if he ate now, he could just sleep through the bus ride. And besides, he hadn’t eaten all day to avoid making his motion sickness worse.

The bus stopped outside a fast food place. Nico braced himself mentally. Eat enough to feel full, but not so much that he’d feel sick from the start. And maybe choose foods that weren’t too greasy and—

“Move,” Lucien’s sharp voice cut through, breaking Nico’s thoughts. The bus doors swung open, and Nico still hadn’t gotten up. The brunette smirked, turning to face him.

“Oh yeah? Is someone hungry? Aw.” Lucien physically recoiled.

“Sorry, just my heart shattering from second-hand embarrassment.” Nico rolled his eyes. “Now get out.” Nico’s stomach churned unpredictably, he couldn’t tell if he was full or empty. Staying seated felt so much better.

“Oh my, Lucy,” Nico teased, a fake shocked expression on his face. “Are you one of those people whose mood depends on how hungry they are? Are you- what is it called- hangry?”

Lucien raised an eyebrow. “Oh no, don’t devour me whole!” Nico grinned. The blond just rolled his eyes.

“Fine,” Lucien said, turning to face the aisle. He started to climb over Nico. Nico raised both eyebrows and patted his back. “Oh wow, if you want a hug that badly, just say so.” Lucien groaned as he tried to get his leg through the tight space.

“As if I’d ever want one from—”Nico pushed Lucien’s leg down just as the blond’s knee landed heavily on his stomach. A wet, audible burp slipped out. Nico’s face flushed as he grabbed Lucien’s hip to steady him, afraid he’d fall. Lucien glanced at him, cheeks slightly pink.

“You stepped on my stomach,” Nico whispered. Lucien looked away. “Sorry, didn’t mean to.”

Nico sighed and unbuckled his seatbelt. Keeping them both sitting wasn’t helping if his stomach kept revolting. The team went into the restaurant, grabbing one big table. Nico studied the menu, eyeing the easiest foods to digest. Mostly burgers, fried chicken, and nuggets. Fried chicken was out — too greasy. Fries, sure, they were fried but usually not dripping with oil. Between the burger and nuggets… The nuggets were fried, but the burger had dairy, which might make things worse. He settled on nuggets and fries. The lady behind the counter promised to bring the food to the table, and Nico thanked her, heading to sit next to Courtney — the only free spot.

No sooner had he sat down than he heard a groan. Of course it was Lucien, annoyed to be sitting across from him.

“I know my sex appeal might be distracting you from eating. I’m very understanding,” Nico teased. “If you’re that bothered, just turn around.”

Courtney chuckled nearby. Lucien rolled his eyes. “Sex appeal? I think quite the opposite.”

“Okay, that’s enough arguing for now. You’ve still got the whole bus ride to be childish,” Courtney said. “Don’t start a divorce-level argument, you’ll be playing doubles.”

Lucien sighed. “Yeah, now he’s close enough to actually break my shoulder, not just dislocate it.” At first, Nico barely registered it. Then the weight of the upcoming game hit him again.

He wasn’t scared of hurting Lucien or just losing. He was terrified of being embarrassed — mocked by the team, by Lucien, by the opponents. He couldn’t be the weak link. If they lost because of both of them, or better, because of Lucien, that’d be fine. But never because of him. Sure, Lucien skipped training sometimes. A lot, actually. But Nico figured the blond came from a rich family, so he probably had the best gear, trainers, personalized schedules. Or maybe Lucien wasn’t as good as he looked… but if Nico thought that, the universe definitely wouldn’t let things go his way. And Lucien wouldn’t get picked if he was bad and—

Nico blinked as a tray slammed down on the table, jolting him out of his thoughts. He looked up just as a worker walked away, leaving food for him and Lucien. Courtney’s order didn't arrive yet. He stared at the meal, leaning back uncomfortably. The worry took the last bit of appetite out of him; his stomach felt fuller than ever.

No, he wasn’t worried… right?

If he could just convince himself not to be, maybe the tight knot in his gut would loosen.

“Waiting for something?” Courtney asked softly. Nico froze, avoiding her gaze. “Or is something wrong?” Her voice softened, and a hand rested gently on his back. He put his hands on the table, shifting uneasily. “No, no, it’s fine.”

A sharp stab of pain shot through his abdomen. Suddenly, the urgent need for the bathroom overwhelmed him. He stood quickly, squeezing between Courtney’s seat and the wall. “Sorry, I’ll be right back.”

Inside the tiny restroom, only two stalls stood, both empty and marked green. Nico chose the inner one and closed the door behind him. He sat down on the toilet, pressing a hand over his now bloated belly. He hadn’t eaten much, but stress was clearly getting to him. Gas bubbles rolled and churned inside him, causing uncomfortable aches. He rubbed his stomach in big circles, hoping to coax some relief. Only a couple of airy burps and a quiet fart escaped. He felt desperate to relieve himself properly, but nothing more came. After what felt like forever, he gave up, washed his hands, and returned to the table.

Everyone was watching, he could feel it as he sat down again. Courtney had eaten about half her meal. Lucien was still going slow, probably by choice. Courtney rubbed Nico’s shoulder gently. “You know, if your stomach is bothering you, you can say that.”

Nico shook his head, looking down at his lap like a kid.

“Worried about tomorrow’s game?” Lucien asked softly, an unexpected kindness in his voice. Nico frowned, suddenly defensive.

“So what if I am?”

“Because you can’t avoid it. No matter how much you want to, it’ll happen. Then it’s over. Doesn’t it make more sense to stop panicking and just accept it?” Courtney chuckled dryly.

“Wow, so harsh. Aren’t you going to coddle him like you did with Yuan?”

Lucien stiffened. “No. I don’t treat teammates like friends.”

“You don’t even treat your friends like you treated Yuan. What is that, friend discrimination?”

Though Nico knew Courtney was joking, Lucien stood, fists clenched.

“No. My other friends didn’t try to take—” He froze, eyes darting to Nico and back to Courtney. “Can we not? At least not here.”

“I don’t want to argue. I just thought maybe it was enough in the past—”

“You know damn well it’ll never be past. Not for me, not for him. Not when he’s actively—” Lucien’s voice cracked. “Fuck…” He snatched up his tablet, and Nico could swear his eyes were teary.

Courtney sighed, rubbing his back. “Come on. Eat. Maybe it’ll help.”

Nico nodded, still feeling full but forcing himself to eat. Big bites, just to get it over with. He swallowed and asked quietly, “Who’s Yuan?” Courtney shifted, chewing some fries. “A childhood friend of mine and Lucien’s. He used to be on the team.”

Nico held back a burp, sipping water to help the food slide down. “Why isn’t he anymore? Injury?” Courtney nodded. “Yeah. Back injury. Doctor said no heavy pressure for months.” Nico frowned. A back injury from tennis?

“From playing?” Courtney’s face tightened. “No. Lucien would get mad if I told you. Just eat. We need to get going.”

Nico did as told, finishing most of his meal. The ache in his stomach deepened and nausea twisted through him. Back on the bus, Nico sat beside Lucien again. The blond stared out the window, earphones in. Normally Nico would tease him, but all he wanted now was to sleep away the pain. He leaned back, scoffing at losing the window seat. He pulled his headphones out of his bag. Normally grateful they were wireless, but with zero battery left, he wished he had wired ones instead. Sleeping without headphones couldn’t be that bad, right? Except… the music usually helped distract him from the swirling storm of worries. Now, without it, Nico’s mind was a mess of fears of embarrassing himself, of failing, of all the worst things he could imagine. His chest tingled again, tight and heavy.

He pressed a hand to it, rubbing in slow circles. I can breathe. I can breathe. I can breathe.

But then a low, guttural belch bubbled up, escaping before he could stop it. His hand slid down to his swollen belly, rubbing it gently, hoping it would settle. Another belch, wetter this time, pushed its way out. Nico closed his eyes, digging his fingers deeper into his stomach, trying to hold it together. The burps kept coming, wetter and heavier.

Until finally a chunky one slipped out, forcing him to swallow hard against the bitter taste of half-digested food rising up. His body curled forward instinctively, arms wrapping around his belly in a protective hug. He really just wanted to say it out loud. "I don’t feel good".

He hated being alone like this. Couldn’t he just tell Lucien? Surely it wouldn’t be so bad. Without thinking, Nico reached out blindly and grabbed Lucien’s thigh. The blond jumped.

“Lucy, I don’t—” A watery belch interrupted him, making him straighten up, clutching his own stomach with both hands. Nico exhaled heavily, his breath shaky.

“Yeah, so… can you let me get up for a second…?” The blond asked awkwardly. But standing felt impossible, he was sure he’d puke everywhere if he tried. Lucien sighed and turned to face him.

“Okay, then I’ll climb over you again. I’ll watch not to touch your stomach this time.” He started squeezing through the narrow gap between seats, getting as close as physically possible. Honestly, Nico didn’t mind. All he craved right now was some kind of physical contact, something real to comfort him from the feelings of sickness and stress.

“I—urp—where are you go—going?” He tugged at Lucien’s shirt, desperate to hold onto him a little longer.

“You’ll see,” came the calm reply. Nico let go and pressed his hands hard into his aching stomach, releasing another deep, guttural belch that shook his whole body. God, it felt like his stomach was about to jump out of his throat. His belly gurgled wetly, each rumble echoing uncomfortably in his chest. Suddenly, a gentle warmth brushed through his hair, a hand smoothing it with unexpected care.

“My stomach— uh— urp— really hurts,” Nico admitted, the words slipping out before he could stop them. He could no longer deny how badly he needed some comfort.

“I know it does... Just hang in there a little longer. It’ll stop eventually,” Lucien said softly, his voice low and steady. The same calm tone that had surprised Nico before. With a quiet squeeze through the cramped seats, Lucien disappeared toward the back of the bus, leaving Nico alone with his growing queasiness. He tried to focus on the ambient noises around him, hoping to drown out the churning inside. But maybe that wasn’t the smartest choice.

“Court, you’ve got to get him away from me. I’m not about to get puked on,” a familiar voice grumbled from the front.

“Don’t be so cruel. He helped you last time,” Courtney shot back, trying to be fair.

“Ugh— don’t remind me. I didn’t ask for help. Just sit him somewhere else.”

Nico’s stomach growled loudly, the sound wet and sickly. A burp escaped before he could stop it. Then another came, this one turning into a sharp gag that made his whole body lurch forward before he could catch himself against the seat. A firm hand landed on his shoulder. Nico looked up to see Courtney’s face, her voice dropping to a quiet whisper, as if to keep it from the others.

“Hey, man... Are the nerves getting to you that bad?” Nico shook his head weakly.

“...Carsickness.”

“Okay, that’s fine. Where are your meds?” His heart froze. Admitting he skipped them felt too embarrassing. “I forgot... I’m—urp—I’m sorry,” he muttered, exhaling heavily. He shifted his weight, tilting to his right hip and propping himself up with one arm, the other clutching his middle. His stomach gurgled sharply, loud enough that he was certain Courtney heard it.

“Don’t worry about it. Is there anything I can do to help? Like maybe... switching seats?” she asked gently. Nico almost rolled his eyes. It was hard to tell if this was genuine concern or just following Lucien’s orders.

“Anyone you want to sit next to? Or a certain seat?” His lower lip trembled, and his whole body felt like it was about to betray him right then. “A win—” He cut off with a painful belch, his body lurching forward again. “Ex—excuse me… A window seat.” Courtney nodded patiently. “Any seatmate you’d prefer?”

Of course. Nico wouldn’t let this slip by easily. He groaned softly. “…Lucy.” He glanced up at Courtney, watching her glance toward the front of the bus and shrug. “Alright, then. Just switch places with him. You take the window seat, and he can sit here.”

Nico nodded quickly and shuffled over to the window seat, desperate for any kind of relief. He grabbed what he thought was his hoodie and curled into the corner, awkwardly leaning his back between the cold glass and the seat edge. His hands trembled as he clutched the fabric tight against his swollen belly, a shaky, wet burp escaping before he could stop it. The pressure inside him churned violently, and he flinched as the seat beside him trembled. A leg bumped his knee - too close, too much— but Nico barely registered it. All he wanted was to disappear, to shut his eyes, to escape this gnawing panic clawing at his chest. Then, a sharp, stabbing pain clenched his abdomen, forcing him upright with a gasp. God, it hurt so much. His face scrunched with the effort, and he strained, pushing out a small, forced fart. His cheeks flushed deep red.

“ ’M sorry…” he whispered, barely daring to meet Lucien’s eyes. The blond sighed, but there was something softer beneath his breath. “You look like you’ve been cursed. So I guess it’s okay.” The faint humor couldn’t mask the sympathy behind it. Nico lowered himself again, curling diagonally in the seat, rubbing his stomach under the hoodie as if he could soothe the turmoil inside. Another small, wet burp slipped out, and he closed his eyes tight, trying to just stop thinking. To shut off his brain. But it was no use. The match. The pressure. The dread of humiliating himself so badly no one would ever forget. His heart hammered painfully against his ribs, suffocating him. Every breath felt like swallowing shards of glass. He peeked at Lucien, who was scrolling through his phone with easy calm. Nico’s voice barely rose above a whisper, soaked in desperation. “I— urp— I can’t do it… I really, really can’t…”

Lucien glanced up, concern flickering across his features. “Is it that bad? You gonna vomit?” Nico shook his head, voice cracking. “No, not just that. I mean— urp— tomorrow.” Lucien hesitated, then reached out, placing a steady hand on Nico’s trembling shoulder. The touch was gentle, grounding. Something shifted inside Nico.

“Why not?” The words hit him harder than he expected. His body trembled, and he wanted nothing more than to break down completely. He needed comfort. Needed to let go. “That I—I’ll fuck it up and— urk— and it’ll be embarrassing and people will— will— urp—laugh at me and then— and—” His words tumbled out frantically, breath hitching, panic rising like a tide that wouldn’t stop. Suddenly, he gasped, struggling for air. His hands clutched his chest, then moved shakily to his throat as if trying to hold himself together. “Okay, okay, relax.” Lucien’s voice was softer now, awkward but sincere. “First, even if we lose, no one would laugh at you. And… we’re just not gonna lose. It won’t be embarrassing. You won’t screw up. So… no need to worry.”

Nico wanted to laugh at how bad Lucien was at comforting. He wanted to believe it, but before he could, a violent coughing fit wracked his body. He gagged uncontrollably and then vomited right onto the hoodie in his lap. Lucien was quick, shoving a plastic bag under Nico’s chin and urging him to grab it while taking the hoodie away and sealing it in another bag. “Eugh, okay, great, thanks - that was mine,” Lucien grimaced, but Nico barely heard him through the wet, trembling heaves. His whole body trembled, a low, shaky moan escaping him every few seconds. The relief of emptying out the sickness was mixed with fresh waves of panic and exhaustion. Lucien’s hands were firm against his back, rubbing steady circles that somehow calmed Nico just enough to stop shaking completely.

But then, without warning, his body lurched again, vomiting more bitter, half-digested chunks into the bag. Lucien winced but didn’t stop. He shifted his hand lower to Nico’s waist, offering silent support while Nico burped and gagged again, more weakly now. Eventually, Nico slumped back, weak and drained, tying off the bag. Lucien held out another plastic one for extra safety. When it was done, Nico leaned back heavily, his hands shaking uncontrollably. He wanted nothing more than to close his eyes and sleep.

He tried.

But the silence felt suffocating.

“…I can’t sleep without music,” he admitted, voice barely a breath. Lucien looked up, sighed, then pulled out his own earphones and handed them over. “You owe me so bad,” he muttered and Nico couldn't pinpoint whether he was actually being serious. Nico whispered thanks and plugged them into his phone, closing his eyes again. Moments later, he felt a gentle touch rubbing his arm, slow and soothing. Maybe Lucien wasn’t so bad after all.

...

"I don't think we should wake him." "Okay, so what's your plan then?" "Go out and buy him meds."

Lucien groaned at Courtney’s suggestion. He didn’t see the point in letting Nico keep sleeping. What if the guy needed the bathroom or something? Still, it had only been twenty minutes since he knocked out, and judging by how still he was now, he probably wasn't waking up anytime soon. As much as Lucien found Nico insufferably annoying most days, he wasn’t so heartless that he’d let the guy suffer like this. "Right. Let’s just go buy him meds and magically hope they work," Lucien said, voice laced with sarcasm as he stepped off the bus. "I'm sure we know his body better than he does."

Courtney followed him as they walked into a small gas station they’d stopped at for a bathroom break. Luckily, this one had an actual store attached. They slipped past the snack aisles until they found a cramped, dusty shelf that sort of looked like it held medication. Courtney immediately reached for the first box of carsickness pills she spotted. “These should be fine, right?” Lucien squinted at them. His stomach turned at the thought of Nico throwing up again, especially on him. “What if he can’t swallow pills?” he asked. “Or what if he’s allergic to something in them?” He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Is there anything here that doesn’t need to be ingested?” Courtney gave a half-hearted shrug and kept scanning the shelves. “Uh… pressure point wristbands?” she offered, pulling a small box from a cabinet and handing it to him.

Lucien raised an eyebrow, flipping it over to read the back. “These seem kinda… fake. Do they actually do anything?”

“My cousin uses some just like it. Says they work,” Courtney replied. “And since you’re all scared of feeding him something, that’s probably our best shot.” Lucien didn’t buy the whole natural pressure point stuff, but the alternative - Nico retching onto his clothes again — was worse. “Fine,” he muttered. “He’s asleep anyway. Can’t hurt to try.”

They paid for the wristbands, still undecided if Nico would owe them for this errand. Lucien was fully ready to demand his money back - the bands were way pricier than they looked. But Courtney insisted Nico hadn’t asked for anything, and besides, they both had money to spare. While Courtney headed into the bathroom, Lucien went back to the bus alone. Nico was still slumped in his seat, mouth slightly open, cheeks pale. Lucien sat beside him, carefully pulling out his earbuds and setting them aside. He wanted to keep things quiet. If Nico was still asleep, it was best he stayed that way. He opened the package, slid one of the wristbands out, and gently lifted Nico’s left arm. The fabric stretched as he slipped it over Nico’s hand and adjusted the little plastic dot over the correct spot. Carefully, he lowered Nico’s hand back into his lap.

Next came the right arm. Lucien reached for it, gently tugging it toward himself— but the moment he touched Nico’s hand, the brunette flinched violently. Startled, Lucien jerked backward.

“Oh, I’m… sorry…” Nico mumbled, voice thick with sleep and breathy discomfort. His body tensed, but he didn’t sit up fully. “What… what’re we doing?” Lucien cleared his throat, still watching Nico warily. “Just… putting on wristbands for motion sickness.” Nico blinked, brow furrowing. “And you couldn’t just wake me up?” He exhaled hard, clearly annoyed, but too groggy to really argue.

“Courtney said to let you sleep,” Lucien said simply. “Now give me your wrist.” Nico held out his hand, and Lucien slid the second band into place, adjusting it to the pressure point again. “It’s supposed to help,” Lucien muttered. “Don’t take my word for it.”

Nico nodded weakly, shifting in his seat. His stomach still felt like it was churning —bloated, sour. He unbuttoned his pants with a wince, rubbing his belly gently underneath the fabric.

“Lucy, I didn’t know you could be this nice,” he teased with a tired smile.

“Don’t get used to it,” Lucien replied, shooting him a half-glare. “I’m just making sure you don’t vomit on my clothes again.”

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