rwfanficrw

[rwfanficrw]

Breaking Up - Black Armor

Rowen X Cye

Cye’s POTS has gotten worse but after the battle with the black armor and the fight he had with the guys over it, he doesn’t tell them why and breaks it off with Rowen.

Sayako tries to help him as best she can.

——

Sayako sits quietly in the chair by the hospital bed as she flicked through the magazine she'd brought. The beeping of the heart monitor reminded her why she was here. Even though she had heard it every 30 to 45 minutes, it still unnerved her. She sighs lowering her magazine to look at her younger brother.

He was unconscious having fainted just a few minutes ago.

The doctors were doing test after test to find out why his POTS had gone insane the past couple of months. She hated to be the one here to go through it with him. Not that she minded, but the one who needed to be here wasn't.

And for some reason, Cye didn't want him here even though it was obvious he needed him.

She hears a moan and puts her magazine down before scooting closer to the bed. She reaches out holding one of her brother's cold hands, "Welcome back."

"….Ro…?"

She felt her heart drop as she shakes her head forcing a smile, "Nope! Just me."

"Say?"

"Hey there. It's okay, you weren't out but a few minutes this time."

She shivered looking into his dull green eyes as they went in and out of focus. She felt him weakly squeeze her hand as he moved onto his back. She could tell he was trying to hide how upset he was that he wasn't there. "I can go call him, Cye. He'll come right away."

"No. I can't. I-I stupidly broke up with him over the black armor. There is no way he'll take me back after how I acted." He answers weakly. "…and I don't blame him."

"Cye, you were exhausted and had just left the hospital. If you had told them, they could have excused most of your behavior."

"I don't want them to worry a-and its…" He swallows nervously clenching his eyes shut as he turns his head away from her. "i-it's better this way. Now he can live his life without following me around."

"What made you think he would want that though? I'm confused." Sayako moves to sit on the edge of the bed holding his hand tightly. "He was so smitten and had fallen heads over heels…this doesn't like how Rowen at all."

"He was supposed to go on vacation a month or so before that black armor attacked. He cancled his plans for me because I got sick. I was in the hospital and he wouldn't leave. Kento and Ryo even offered to stay with me, so did Sage but he refused."

"That's called love." She replies smiling. "Please let me call him. You need your friends. You need Rowen." Her eyes widen nervously as the heart monitor starts to go off again, "Cye?! Cye can you hear me?!"

Cye started to respond but his head dropped to the side as he blacked out again.

The doctor knocked on the door before entering, "Did he pass out again?"

She nods getting up, "Have you found anything?!"

"He needs to relax and that is obviously not happening. I can't get his heart rate down low enough to do any other tests. His blood work is coming back fine." She crosses her arms as she explains it all. "Sadly, he's going to continue doing this until we can get it handled."

Sayako turns back to her brother before sighing, "…I may have a way to help him relax. I need to go make a phone call."

*~*

"Sage? Have you seen Rowen?" Ryo calls as he steps into the large kitchen where Sage and Mia were making dinner.

"Probably up on the roof."

"Again?"

"It's where he goes to get some alone time."

"Well yeah but he's been up there for the most of the day for almost a month now. Aren't you worried?"

Halo sighs turning around, "Of course I am but this is something he and Cye have to work out."

Mia smiles sadly, "I really didn't think the break up would last this long. I expected it to cool off and they would be back together before we knew it." Her eyes narrow, "I just hope Cye is ok. He hasn't responded to any of our messages, not even Kento can reach him."

The telephone started ringing and Sage wiped his hands off on the apron he was borrowing and walked over picking it up, "Koiji residence." His eyes widened, "Sayako? Ok, calm down and walk me through it."

Everyone turned to look at him. "Sayako?" Ryo whispers.

"Cye's older sister." Mia replied quietly. She bites her lip looking up at the ceiling. "…go get Rowen."

"But Mia."

"Go. My instinct says something's happened."

Ryo nods and runs out of the kitchen calling for the bearer of Strata.

*~*

He uncurled gasping for air as his body came back. The pins and needles physically hurt as the sensation moved up and down his arms and legs. He tried to open his eyes expecting to see him hovering over him. He waited for the reassuringly hand on his head that he always got when he woke up laying down.

It never came and neither did the reassuring voice he was used to speaking to him.

The room spun in his vision as he looked around, he couldn't see him. The book on the table by the bed didn't look familiar, neither did the jacket hanging off the back of the chair. He saw a girls purse instead.

His heart dropped as memories started to come back on what had happened. Why had he hid it from everyone? From him? How could he go back to them after the way he acted? It didn't feel right to go back and just drop this on everyone.

He had to do this himself somehow. Tears welled up in his eyes at the feeling of loneliness and the weight of it all grew heavier. He couldn't stay awake long enough to ask the doctor on how the tests were going, when he was told he'd faint and then he'd forget.

His sister was doing her best but she wasn't good at this.

He clenched his eyes shut trying to squeeze the tears out so no more would come. He felt so sick to his stomach, so dizzy with the thought that he truly was alone.

What had he done?

Was this really what he wanted?

"…S-Sayako?" He calls out hoarsely just wanting someone else there.

At getting no response, his hands go over his eyes as he breaks down. First the armor, then the breakup, then the POTS flare up. Why was all of this happening to him? Why did he have to break off a good thing?

His heart hurt so much.

He heard the heart monitor start to beep at the same time he could hear his heart beat in his ears. He didn't fight it this time only welcoming the darkness, hoping it would take some of the hurt away.

*~*

"Kento, let me go. I was fine up on the roof. I just readin'. I ain't hurting no one." Rowen grumbled as he was manhandled into the kitchen. Books were his safe escape for right now, the deeper he was into them the less worried he was about the obvious and the less it hurt knowing he was dumped.

He looks up confused as to why everyone was gathered in the kitchen. He was starting to get an uneasy feeling.

"Rowen, it's Sayako." Mia explains. "She wants to talk to you."

He freezes looking over nervously. "Why me?"

"Yeah, he's right here." Sage hands the phone over to his friend watching carefully.

Rowen takes it, holding it to his ear. "Hello?"

"There you are! Look, I need you here at the hospital! He's not resting. He's not relaxing and-"

"Say, I can't do anything to help. He made it clear that he didn't want me around anymore… any of us around anymore." He sighs hunching over.

"You don't understand, he's fainting every 15 minutes."

"H-He what..?"

"He's been in the hospital for the past month and a half. They can't get him to stay awake long enough to do any tests. The doctor thinks he needs to relax but he can't."

"What does this have to do with us?"

"With you."

"..with me."

"Every time he wakes up, he asks for you Rowen. When he sees it's not you, he gets upset and passes out again soon after." She rocks back and forth on her heels. "Please Rowen… I'll hit him later. I don't know what went on with this Black Armor b-but he doesn't want to worry you all a-and he doesn't think he deserves your friendship because of it."

"Of course we're still his friends, we never weren't but-"

"So you'll come visit?"

"Sayako, stop, listen to me. He doesn't want to see us."

"No, you listen. My baby brother maybe dying from this POTS thing and if seeing you will keep him from going, you're going to come. You two can have a lovers spat. It may have to be time constrained to less than 15 minutes.. But he needs you. He won't out right say it, so I'm saying it. Cye needs you Rowen. He needs all of you."

Rowen looks up at everyone who were listening intently. He sighs, "Which hospital?"

*~*

"Mia, Kento, and Ryo, are you three ok sitting out here until we know what's going on?" Sage asks as he wraps an arm around Rowen's shoulder keeping him from chickening out. "I'm hoping if we keep it to just the two of us, like normal, we won't overwhelm him."

"But Cye's my best buddy and-"

"Sage is right, Kento." Mia reaches out and pulls him to her. "Come on, let's go sit and wait."

The main door opens and a girl with reddish brown hair walks out looking around. Her eyes widen as she sees them. She runs over hugging Rowen tightly, "Y-You're here! P-Please," She whispers. "Help him. I know you can."

"S-Say.." The other blinks before he hugs her. He swallows nervously. "I-It's okay Sayako. We're here now."

She pulls back and grabs his hand tugging him, "This way. His room is down here." She nods to Sage to come down as well. "He was still out when I got back and he hasn't moved."

As they got closer they could hear the familiar heart rate monitor beeping, letting them know the other warrior's blood pressure was too high.

"Rowen, you and Say check on Cye. I'm going to talk to the doctor. Are we still labeled under the medical contacts?" The blonde asks.

"Yes. I made sure to add all of you when I came in."

"Great. I'll go get the full update."

Rowen watches him leave then turns to look into the room. The room wasn't as inviting as it usually was. Even though it was a hospital room, he and Sage always tried to add color into it via blankets and a pillow and a stuffed animal or two to make it not as depressing.

The only colored thing in this room was Cye's jacket that was laying over the chair. He walks in and stands quietly watching. Cye was unconscious on his side and wasn't laid out properly. The way he was curled up was making it worse. He sits his bag down and hurries over, "Here is part of your problem. His legs are crossed and he's fallen to the side with his arm bent. You'll mess up his blood flow." He reaches out to help move him around but stops and hovers for a few seconds.

"Rowen, please, don't stop. He won't be angry. I think he's realized what he did but he's too weak to fix it." She offers smiling.

He takes a deep breath before nodding. He eases his friend's smaller body into his arms and repositions him on the bed with ease as he knew what to do. "Get me those pillows. We need to prop his legs up." He takes them from her and he props them up before bending one of the legs in and out.

They both look up as they hear a moan. Sayako sighs relieved, she squeezes Rowen's shoulder.

"…ro..?"

Rowen looks up at hearing the familiar groggy call of his name. He didn't like to admit how good it felt to hear the other speak and not be angry at him. He takes a deep breath and reaches out placing a hand on the other's head, "Easy, take it slow. Sounds like you've been out for a bit."

Cye's eyes struggled to open, he had to be dreaming. He reached out groggily and feels a hand take his. His eyes finally open and as his vision focuses for a few seconds, "…rowen..? You're here..?" His voice shook as he tried to not show how relieved he was.

"I'm here, buddy. We all are. Say called us. W-Woah. No need to move so fast - are ya nuts?" Rowen exclaims as he reaches out catching the younger warrior as he forced himself to sit up.

The other fell into him and hugged him as tightly as he can. Strata blinks not expecting any of this. "..C-Cye?"

"I'm sorry. I-I don't … I don't know what happened… I-I didn't mean to… all of what I said…p-please.. Forgive me.."

It wasn't every day that he got hear Cye trip and stumble over his words. He sighs and smiles hugging him to him. "All you had to do was tell you felt like shit, buddy. We would have given you energy to call the White Armor."

He felt the other nod and felt his shoulders shake. "I'm here, Cye. It's okay."

"…I feel so stupid…I nearly lost you f-for good…please don't leave. I don't ever want to wake up with you not there again…I-I mean if you're alright with that." The other rambled slightly going in and out of english and japanese.

Rowen just smiles and pulls him back, "Hey look at me. I told ya when all of this started.. I'm not leaving your side. As long as you'll have me, I'll be here to do whatever is needed." He reaches up and brushes back some of the red hair. "I meant it." He pulls him down and kisses him gently getting a weak one in return before he was hugged tightly as Cye collapsed against him. "Hey, it's over.. I'm here now. I'm here."

Sayako sits back quietly on the bed her hands over her mouth as she tried to hold in her own emotions. She was so relieved. She gives Rowen a wet smile as she wipes her eyes. It hurt so much to see her little brother in so much pain and suffering so badly.

She looks up as the heart monitor starts to beep but Rowen is calm about it. "Go on buddy. I'm here. I'll be here when you wake up." She watches as Cye goes limp against Rowen, his arms dangle as his head slides.

Rowen just sits back holding the younger one up against his body. "I've got him."

[rwfanficrw]

Realization

Summary: Sage finally figures out where the POTS came from. It was as he feared.

Rowen sat up groggily trying to figure out what all the movement was about. He reached for the one curled up next to him expecting for Cye to be trying to get up and get to the bathroom without getting sick first. His hand dropped to the other's head and he gently strokes the soft hair trying to see if he was awake or not, "Cye?" His voice was soft as he blinked his eyes a few times trying to get his eyes used to the darkness so he could focus.

Once his eyes focused, he looked down and saw Cye was still fast asleep. He got a slight moan from the smaller one and tried to put him back to sleep, "Shh it's okay. Just go back to sleep…" He trails off looking around the room, he knew he heard something move.

His Ronin Warrior instincts were kicking in as hair stood up on his arms, he took a deep breath closing his eyes and his armor orb appeared in his hand. He clenched it tightly before uncurling and pulling himself to the edge of the bed as carefully as he could.

With one hand he unwound Cye's arms from his waist and stuck a pillow between them instead. He got up and walked around the room silently before hearing more movement.

His eyes narrowed as he followed the noise into the hallway. He closed the door behind him before calling his subarmor in a dull blue flash. "Alright - whatevah you are, you bettah make yerself known before I blow you back to where ya came from."

He walks into the living room and stares wide eyed.

A green hue had engulfed the room and the halo armor orb floated projecting thoughts visually as if he were experiencing it at the same time. There were scenes from the final battle with Talpa and scenes that he'd never seen before, they must have been Sage's memories.

Talpa's face appeared on one of them, "Once we drain your power and energy, you will be unable to fight. I look forward to seeing you unable to fight back, Ronin Warriors. Once the spirit's spell reaches your souls, your life force will begin to dwindle and little by little it will put out your life."

Rowen shivers at hearing the evil emperors voice and had to remind himself that it wasn't real that Talpa was dead. He swallows nervously glancing over at his friend.

Sage was on the floor in a meditative pose, eyes closed as he concentrated. Rowen glanced back to the scenes watching some of them replay over and over again.

"Your life force will begin to dwindle and little by little it will put out your life."

Another scene appeared, "Even if you escape, you may never have the power to call your armors again. The armors will be mine in the end."

"Torrent has no more strength, he has no more will to fight. Look at your friend and how he gave into my spirits, the armor of Torrent is now mine. You two will follow suit then I will take Strata and Wildfire next."

The point of view had to be from Sage, Cye was in the corner of his eye and didn't look ok. He hung limp from his arms, head hanging, he was pale and seemed to have no life in him.

Rowen felt sick to his stomach before he shakes his head pulling his attention away from the visions and scenes. Why was Sage doing this to himself? He takes a deep breath before walking over and kneeling beside his friend, he reaches out nervously and places a hand on the other's shoulder, "H-Hey buddy…Sage?"

He winced at the movement expecting to get hit or shoved aside. It was always a gamble on how Halo came out of his meditative state and usually whether or not, he thought you were Kento.

Instead he heard heavy breathing as the blonde pulled himself out of it. The green hue in the room disappeared leaving them in silence and darkness.

Rowen sat back breathing hard as well, "…w-what the hell was that?"

"I know where his POTS came from."

"Yeah, his mom?"

"NO. No. It's not his mother. I mean it could have made it worse.. But …Rowen, it's not that. He was FINE before the battles with Talpa right?! Even after Sarenbo and the White Armor, he was just tired but he was fine. It only hit after the final battle with Talpa, right?"

"Well yeah Sage but…"

"Don't you get it?! Did you see the visions?"

"It was kinda hard not too, buddy.. It was just there."

"What Talpa said. He stole Cye's life force. What if Cye never got it back."

Rowen blinks before laughing nervously, "Sage what are you talkin' about? Look it's late, you had a nightmare about being held captive.. i-it's all over and-"

"Rowen, Cye's POTS came from Talpa. It came from the torture Talpa put us through."

"No, that's not …it can't be…"

"It all makes sense. You're right, I had a nightmare about being held captive but what my memories told me started to make sense… his body viewed the aftermath of being tortured as an auto immune response. That's why there is no proof or solid pathway to how he got this bad. He never had it, his body didn't make it worse."

"But Cye's mother has POTS. It's an official diagnosis."

"Right, but he never showed any symptoms before that, right? Even Sayako said that Cye usually followed their father health wise. Their father didn't have any autoimmune disorder."

"S-Sage, you're reachin'…" Rowen's heart was beating quickly even if he said this. The other warrior had a point and he didn't want to think about it. He sits back, his hand gripping his shirt as his mind started to race. "I-If that's true… w-we could have…have prevented it… if we could have not been kidnapped or saved you guys faster…if Ryo hadn't of called the White Armor while we were in the Dynasty…"

[rwfanficrw]

Ryo’s Birthday: Setting Up

This universe practically exists in Gaiden so naturally I had to all but rewrite the OVA. There are several parts to his birthday.

This is when they are setting up.

Kento has learned what Cye is going through and is a bit jealous that his best buddy is relying on Rowen instead of him for it all.

Rowen x Cye

*~*

“I’m going to have a little bit of fun, it’s Ryo’s birthday after all. I’ve rested for three days and I’ve only fainted a few times.” Cye argued frustrated as he picked his clothes out of his closet. “You talked me out of the suit.”

“I had to, buddy. Even the button down is making me nervous but let’s see how it goes, ok?” Rowen sighs smiling as he reaches out steadying the other. “And you know you shouldn’t be drinking… but. Since you’re going to have supervision you can have a little bit. Once you start feeling tipsy, we’re going to cut ya off though.”

“You sound like Sage.”

The other grins sheepishly, “Hey, we’ve all but been living together for several months. He’s sure to rub off on me somehow.” He then tilts his head, “You ok?”

“I just hope the food and decorations are alright…” Cye looks down a little nervous. “What if I faint at the party? Ryo and Yuli will be there a-and I’d rather them not know.”

“You just stick close to Kento or I. If you start to go down, we’ll make up some kind of excuse.”

The water bearer looks up smiling weakly, “Thanks. You don’t think they’ll be able to tell?”

“Tell what?” Strata asks reaching out to take the clothes out of the shaking hands. He walks over and lays them out on the bed. He could see Cye was almost scared to do this.

“That I have POTS? The phamplets keep saying it’s an invisible illness…” He sighs before hanging his head. “But so far, it doesn’t feel invisible at all. It feels like a bloody spotlight on me at all times.”

They both stood there in silence before Rowen forces a smile, “Nah, you still look like Cye to me.” In reality, it was obvious something was wrong. The dark circles under the green eyes were no longer as prominent but they were still there. Cye had lost some weight from not being able to keep everything down and looked exhausted. Most of his clothes were a little too big, but with him being bedridden most of the time recently, they hadn’t been able to go shopping for more. The only new clothing he had gotten was the outfit for the party.

Rowen hoped with the smaller clothes that it wouldn’t look so obvious. He can tell the other didn’t believe him. “Hey, don’t panic. We’ll ask Sage for some help.”

“What kind of help?”

“Or Mia. You know that stuff girls use to fix they’re under eye?”

“…you mean concealer?”

“..uh. yeah. That. All you need is some of that then you’ll be golden!” Still the other didn’t budge. Rowen sighed walking over and hugs the smaller warrior. “Cye, just be yourself. It’s just the guys. We know each other and we’ve seen each other literally through the end of the world twice. If for whatever reason Ryo does find out, he won’t be mad. He’ll just be worried about you like the rest of us are.” He feels the other hug him back then pulls back. “Deep breaths. Lets get you dressed then I’ll go get dressed. We’re meeting Kento there early so we can decorate.”

“Sage will be there right?”

“He promised he was coming back from New York just in time for the party.” The archer helps the water bearer pull of his hoodie. “Ok, the rest of you it, you can do. But sit down on the floor and take your time. We have six hours before the party starts. You’ve got time to do it slowly.”

“Oh alright…”

“I’m going to be watchin’ ya. So don’t try and cheat. The more you sit now, the least likely you’ll faint on Ryo later.” He walks to the doorway that led the hallway listening carefully, he hears rustling and turns around relieved to see that Cye had listened and was on the floor. “Ok, I’ll be right down the hallway. Call if you need help.”

*~*

“Alright, now you just stick close to me. I’ll keep ya from fainting!” Kento says happily as he helps Cye put out the food the other had made. He was fighting himself from grabbing a bite here and there knowing the youngest warrior would beat him over the head if he did. That would only cause Cye to get excited then possibly faint.

He didn’t know how they were going to pull this off, but Cye was adamant about Ryo not finding out. Given the lack of response from Rowen, the archer didn’t have a clue either.

“Now Kento, hands off until it’s time to eat. Ryo will get first dibs.” Cye hands Kento the last platter from the back of the jeep. He wobbles unsteadily as his body tried to level it’s self out. He had stood up too fast. His hand reached out to grab the side of the jeep or Kento’s arm but only gets air as his vision goes dark.

“Yeah yeah.. don’t worry… I won’t-“ Hardrock sets the platter on the rolling cart then turns around just in time to catch his best friend as he fell to the side. His friend wasn’t heavy but it was awkward in how he had caught him. He wraps his arm around the small waist holding the dead weight up, his other hand up leaning on the jeep, “Ok, easy. Easy.” He looks up, “Rowen!?”

“I’m coming!”

A few seconds later the bearer of strata ran out from the lobby of the club they were trying to set up the party in. His eyes widen at seeing Torrent limp against Hardrock. “Here, see if we can lift him into the back of the jeep. He’ll never forgive us if we let him get his clothes dirty.”

Together they lifted the smaller limp body into the back of the jeep. Kento pulled away once Cye was sitting as well as he can while being unconscious. He watches as Rowen braces the smaller Ronin up against his side as if he’d done this before. One of Rowen’s hands was holding Cye’s head up right by his forehead.

“Surprised he lasted this long.” Kento comments waiting nervously. Cye didn’t look asleep, he didn’t look peaceful… he just looked ….lifeless. He swallows scared before shaking his head. He couldn’t panic.

“Kento, don’t be nervous. Just give him a minute or so and he’ll be back.” Rowen smiles down at unconscious one he was holding up. “I made sure he didn’t over exhert himself today, so he wouldn’t faint as much tonight but POTS doesn’t care what your plans are.”

They both quiet as they hear a sharp inhale and gasp followed by a groggy moan. Kento was going to speak but the other beat him to it, “Hey buddy, you fainted on Kento. None of the food was ruined and he caught you before you hit the ground. We’re outside sitting in the back of Mia’s jeep. You weren’t out but for a few minutes.”

Slowly the water bearer looked around his surroundings as best he could. His body still felt heavy and lethargic, his arms were limp. He could feel his legs but had no energy to move them. He felt a hand holding him up by his forehead and was grateful it didn’t leave.

“Go on and get that food inside. Once he’s back, we’ll carry the streamers in hats in.”

“But Rowen I-“

“It’s okay, Kento. He just has to come back.”

“I know.. b-but…” He couldn’t explain it, but he was scared to leave his best buddy behind. He didn’t like seeing him so dazed and disoriented. He reached out to touch his friend but held his hand back before nodding. “If you’re not in within 15 minutes, I’m coming back out.”

Rowen sighs but nods watching him head inside pushing the cart. Once the other is gone he smiles and kneels down slightly, “Do you know where you are?” Even though he had just told the other exactly what was going on he had a feeling the other wasn’t coherent enough to hear it or if he did, comprehend it. He watches as green eyes search for an answer.

His hand reaches out and he pulls out one of the streamers Cye had made. “Here, we’re decorating for Ryo’s birthday.” He looks down relieved that the small pale hands were feeling the streamer. “You made these and the food? Kento took it in but I don’t know if he’ll eat it or not.”

This got some sort of reaction as the eyes fluttered again. “…h-he better..n-not…”

Rowen blinks at hearing the response come out in English. He laughs, “I told him not to but ya know how well he listens.” He responds back in English. He slowly releases his grip on the other’s forehead as the younger warrior starts to move properly and hold himself up. “There we go. Anything still feel off?”

“I-I can’t move my arms very well… they are tingly.”

Without saying another word, the bearer of Strata reached out and gently started to massage one of the offending arms, he gets a wince in return, “The pins and needles? Just let me work you through it. Is it moving up or down?”

“…d-down.” Cye turns his head embarrassed as he bites his lip. Before POTS Pins and needles rarely actually hurt.. now they were a painful after affect of a fainting spell if he had been clenched up before it happened.

“I know.. I’m tryin’.” He gently massages the arm moving from his shoulder down to his elbow then finally his hand. He knows he was doing something right when he felt the arm relax and the fingers move.

*~*

Mia walks over to where Kento was standing and staring out the window. “You’re worried?”

“How can I not be? Cye hasn’t been here more than an hour and he already passed out on us.” He sighs frustrated. “How are we supposed to keep this from Ryo if he can’t stay conscious? I don’t like lying to him either. Ryo deserves to know. He’s one of our best friends.”

She smiles sadly, “I know, I agree. I think Cye’s trying to protect him… you know how much it tore Ryo up to think he’d hurt you all with the White Armor.”

“Yeah but it’s not the white armor… right?”

“We don’t know. Sage has been trying his best to connect with the ancient and Torrent to figure out what is going on. For all we know, all of this is the armor.”

“And if it’s not?”

“Then Cye has POTS and needs to come to terms with it, just like we all do. I know it’s terrifying watching him faint. I’ve been there numerous times.” She offers trying to make him feel better. “But it takes 30 minutes maybe less and he’s back to normal. Usually, you can’t tell a difference.”

“I should be the one out there right now. Man, he’s my best friend and all I did was pass this over to Rowen and Sage.” Kento groaned clenching his hands into fists. “I didn’t know it would lead to anything.. I just thought he needed to rest. H-He never rests. He’s worse than Ryo. He will just keep pushing himself until he passes out. Then you force him to rest and he’s back on his feet only to repeat it…” He presses his forehead against the cool glass window clenching his eyes shut, “T-that’s all I thought it was…he had been really busy and I thought he was over doing it again…I just dropped a call to Sage on my way to the airport like it was nothing… I should have canceled the flight to China and checked on him myself.”

“Kento!”

“No Mia, I did this… what a friend I turned out to be. I hate not being the one he trusts with this stuff.”

“Rowen has been there from the beginning, it makes sense that Cye would feel more comfortable with him after he faints.”

“He didn’t want me there.. I could tell.” He heaves a sigh groaning. “I mean, I knew it… b-but…”

“Stop that. From what Sage and Rowen have told me about him coming back, he probably didn’t know you were even there or even Rowen. Did Rowen raise his voice a bit when he spoke to him?”

“Well yeah… just figured he was trying to talk over me.”

“You have to talk a bit loudly at first for Cye to hear you. His heart is racing and all he can hear is his heart beat at first, then all of his senses come back… it’s not very pleasant. Rowen probably sent you in here so Cye wouldn’t be overwhelmed.”

Kento sighs again turning to look at her, he looks past her smiling, “Welcome back dude!” He hurries over as Cye walks into the lobby a bit unsteadily but coherent. His friend was holding the streamers in his arms. He stops tilting his head, his friend’s green eyes didn’t look right.

Rowen walked in immediately after wrapping an arm around the smaller shoulders. “Let’s get up to the bar we’re renting.”

“B-But… Cye are you…?”

“I’m alright. I just need to rest and catch my breath.” The younger warrior smiles as best he can kicking himself for doing too much to unload. “Rowen said I didn’t mess up any of the food so I’m doing fine.”

“Kento caught you in mid faint as well. It was impressive.” Rowen says grinning. He walks over and presses the button for the elevator. “How long do we have the room for?”

“I rented it for five hours.” Mia explained as she walked in beside him. She watched as he got into position to help Cye on. She reached out and pulled Kento close to her, when he started to gripe she held his hand squeezing it telling him to be quiet.

Kento tilts his head as the door shuts and they head up to the top floor. He felt a different hand grab the back of his dress coat. When he turned to look the elevator shook and he felt his stomach do that drop feeling. What he didn’t expect was Cye barely conscious leaning heavily against Rowen. “C-Cye?”

“Mia, can you get him a glass of water?” Rowen asks not fazed by any of this. He turns, “Kento, help me. We’re going to walk him out and help him sit on the ground until his heart rate returns to normal.”

“S-Stop.. I’m …I’m alright…”

“You are not.” Kento started wide eyed. “Dude, you’re not entirely conscious.”

“Cye, don’t work yourself up. It’s just a blood pressure fluctuation. The elevator caused it. You just need to catch your breath.”

The water bearer sighs nodding as he stumbles out of the elevator. He sits back relieved to feel the cold floor underneath him. He leans back breathless and so frustrated with himself. “B-Bloody elevators..."

Mia comes out with a glass of water and a compress she had made from one of the napkins. “Here, try this. Kento, come help me. We’ll hang these streamers.”

“I-It was just an elevator..”

“The elevator levels itself each time it reaches the floor right? That’s the “dropping” feeling you get in your stomach?” Rowen explains gently as he kneels beside the other. He looks up at Kento, “That can cause a blood pressure fluctuation and THAT will cause him get to light headed at the very least.” He takes the compress and rests it on the other’s forehead then helps him drink the water.

“I didn’t expect this to be a POTS 101…” The youngest grumbles moaning.

“You’ve still got 2 hours before Ryo is supposed to show up. Do you need to elevate your feet?”

“In the hallway?”

“You feel sick to your stomach, I can tell. If we don’t reset your blood pressure, you’re going to be getting sick out in the hallway.” Rowen sighs then smiles as he shrugs his dress coat off, “Come on, you know the drill. A leg on either shoulder then bend them at the knee.”

The youngest was too dazed otherwise a slew of phrases would have come out of his mouth. Most of them about how lewd this was and that he was doing it in public and not to get any bright ideas, etc..

“No one else is here, just us. Otherwise I wouldn’t have offered.”

“Fine…” The other grumbles as he lays back onto the floor, the vertigo got bad when he did that but he knew Rowen was right. If they could reset his blood pressure all of this would die down. He feels hands lift his legs up and prop them on the other’s shoulder. “This is embarrassing.”

“That maybe but the color is returning in your face. It’s working.”

[rwfanficrw]

POTS Nightmares

Summary: Cye still can’t stop the nightmares from when they were captured by Talpa. It’s been two years and he can’t shake them. Sage is the one who finally helps him break through.

Sickeningly sweet fic. Actually a lot of Sage x Cye vibes.

I know I probably give Sage more power than he actually has with Halo. Old fandom canon was that with Halo he could heal everyone, talk to their armors and in turn talk to the guys. Kind of like a priest of some sort or something.

Cye is the youngest in my universe.

Sage sits up in a panic as he looks around the room. The den was dark except for the streetlights outside. The clock on the tv stand said 3am. That’s right he was sleeping at Cye’s apartment until further notice.

The dream he just had… that wasn’t his. The scene had been familiar and while he had been there to experience it as well this wasn’t what he saw.

To be fair it wasn’t a dream, it was a nightmare.

He hunches over trying to get the visions out of his head and block Talpa’s laugh from his ears. It had been two years and it still haunted them. Some of them more than others.

He gets to his feet not bothering with his slippers or robe. If he was having this nightmare, then it was projecting from someone else.

He didn’t need to be having this nightmare, it would just make everything worse.

Sage stumbles down the dark hallway feeling the walls as he does. As he gets closer to the bedroom he’s pushed back by the power of the nightmare.

The fear, the sickening feeling of failure, the weight of knowing they could be the one who sealed the fate of their friends.. that man’s evil laugh and the sound the spirits made as they stole their armor’s power. The sickening scent of decay and burn of the sulfur water beneath where they had been hanging.

He couldn’t breathe.

It was coming back to him as well.

He leaned against the doorframe shivering, a cold sweat coming on. He had done his best to hide his memories so he wouldn’t ever feel that way again. He thought he had succeeded but right now, he wasn’t so sure.

He had to get past this so he could pull the other out of this nightmare world. He closed his eyes concentrating as hard as he could to put a barrier around himself so he could think properly.

He finally made his way to the bed and hovered over it trying to figure out which side Cye was on. He was half annoyed that Rowen was sleeping so soundly through all of this.

It didn’t surprise him that Rowen wasn’t feeling it or wasn’t awake. The bearer of strata slept hard, and he also wasn’t sensitive to this kind of thing.

The blonde stops and listens… he could hear crying and soft sobs coming from the other side of the bed. He carefully makes his way over to the other side and kneels down. He reaches out placing his hand Torrent’s head. “Cye?” He whispers. “Wake up. It’s okay, it’s just a dream..”

The smaller one in the bed turns on his side reaching out for whoever had spoken to him as if they could save him from the world, he was stuck in.

He reaches out and holds one of the outstretched hands holding it tightly. The horrors that Cye was seeing in his dream knocked him back again. He has to let go briefly to bring himself back to reality.

He finally reaches up and slowly pulls the younger warrior out of the bed and onto the ground holding him tightly. It broke his heart to hear the cries to terror knowing he was reliving it. “Cye,” He whispers again, this time in the other’s ear as he held him close. “It’s over. Talpa’s dead. We killed him. Everyone is safe.”

He feels the smaller hands grip his nightshirt. “I know,” He says softly. “I know. It’s scary. It was awful…”

The next vision he got was new. His hands drop from his friend’s back as he steadied himself. His eyes widened as he was forced to listen to everything Talpa had told the young warrior. He finally pulls himself out of it, his own tears streaming.

No. No no no.

This was why Cye thought all of this? This is where all of that self-doubt came from? The talk about being weak, about not being a good warrior…

The blonde looks down at the one leaning against him. That was changing starting immediately. He was going to have let the guys know about this one.

First he had to get Torrent out of this hellscape. Halo hugs him again before pulling him back enough to where he could press his forehead against the other. He closed his eyes and gently pushed happier memories over the dark ones.

They both glowed a soft green as he tried to change the energy and darkness in the dreams. The green light woke up Rowen. He sat up groggily watching as Sage did something.

He saw Wisdom appear on the blonde’s forehead, then Trust appeared on Cye’s under his bangs.

From what he could tell, Cye was having some kind of nightmare? He runs his hand through his blue hair yawning before he scoots to the edge of the bed leaning over. He didn’t want to scare them, but it looked like they may need his help.

Cye was having trouble figuring out what was going on in his dream.

It started off the usual nightmare of when Talpa had caught them. Though because he was so tired, the nightmare turned dark really fast and he was so deep into it, he didn’t know what reality was and what was in his head.

Now different visuals were being played over the bad ones.

He felt sick to his stomach as he reeled from the two of them.

He started wretching at seeing that damn sword of their powers kill Ryo and then Rowen. There was nothing he could do to help or protect them. He was stuck hanging there.

However, a different memory came next.. he and Rowen in New York on their first “date”. Then the flight back when he and Kento got into a tug a war over the blanket with Ryo sitting in the middle.

Each time his mind replayed one of the bad scenes another good one was put in its place. At the end of one he saw Sage in his mind. He was calling him to follow him, kept saying it was all ok?

The two sides still felt like they were fighting each other as he was suddenly no longer hanging by his arms. He ran towards his friend wanting to get out.

“Cye!?” Sage asks out of breath. “A-Are you awake?”

“…I-I think s-so.” He sits back looking at his shaking hands. He felt tears streaming and didn’t have the energy to wipe them away. Somehow, he knew whatever tears he wiped away more would be coming.

The blonde sits back sighing relieved, he looks up startling to see Rowen watching the two of them. He shakes his head telling him to keep quiet for now. “…how often do you have that dream?”

“…you mean, nightmare.” The youngest hangs his head clenching his hands into fists. “…e-every night? It only really gets bad if I’m tired b-before bed… I fainted trying to get ready earlier…so I was tired..”

Sage sighs, “Why didn’t you tell us, Cye? We could have helped.”

“Helped with what?”

“For starters, Rowen could have been here for the worst part of it. You’ve told him, haven’t you?”

“I-I haven’t told anyone anything… I don’t want to worry them a-and its silly after all.. it’s just a dream.” Cye moves off of Sage’s legs onto the ground pulling his knees up. He presses his face into them. “An awful terrible nightmare.”

“A nightmare that you, Kento, and I lived through. It’s not silly. It’s terrifying. It took me months to get mine sealed away and even then… I learned the hard way tonight, mine isn’t gone either.”

“What does that say about me then? It’s been two years and I’m still not over it.” He lifts his head nervously. “…h-he’s ok isn’t he?”

“Why don’t you ask him?” Sage nods towards the bed.

“Hey buddy, what is this dream you keep having? If it’s this bad, you need to tell us. I can’t help unless I know…I’m guessing i-its from when Talpa had you three held captive?” Rowen reaches down offering a hand. He smiles as the bearer of torrent takes the offered hand. He reaches out with his other to stabilize him as he pulls him to his feet. He rests a hand on the small hips keeping him steady.

The three of them go silent as they wait to see if Cye had moved too fast or not. Sage got to his knees nervously ready to catch him but the other just hugs Rowen tightly.

Through panicking sobs Cye finally tells what he’s been dreaming since he can remember. He didn’t let go of the bearer of strata only hugging him tighter, “….t-the sword killed you and Ryo…s-straight through… he said my power was the strongest a-and it was me who killed you both… I’m sorry.. I couldn’t stop Talpa from taking my power…”

“No Cye, it’s ok.. shh.. it’s over. It’s all over. Ryo and I are fine.” He sits back and takes one of the other’s hands placing it on his chest where he was told he got stabbed. “See? There isn’t any injury or scar…” He presses his hand on top of the pale one feeling it shake. “He never got to use it against us. We were able to call the white armor that day,” He smiles wiping some of the tears away. “Your powers, the three of you, were so in sync with us that without the ancient’s power we were able to call it. Ryo burned the crap out of that sword.”

“W-What..”

“That’s right and let me tell you… the color that was the brightest? A beautiful sky blue.” He pushes some of the auburn hair back behind the other’s ear as he leans into kiss him. “Talpa didn’t know what hit him.”

“I was wondering what happened to that thing… we never heard about it again after he taunted us that day.” Sage mused out loud as he sits on the bed beside the other two. “Nice to know he never got a chance to use it.”

“Yeah, Ryo toasted it with the inferno rage.” Rowen explains keeping an arm around his lover’s shoulders holding him close. “Before that, we were having to use the ancient staff to call on the white armor… but that was the day we didn’t need too.”

“I was wondering why Talpa went quiet for the rest of the day. He didn’t come back in to taunt us anymore.”

“That was also the day that I kicked Kayura’s ass finally.” Strata grins smirking. “I finally got an arrow through her defenses. She was mad. It was great.”

“You’re never going to let that go are you?”

“Why should I? It took me forever to get through her. God, I’ve never hated someone so much.. she was close. Let me tell ya.”

Torrent sighs smiling as he listens to the other two and curls up against his lover resting his head on his shoulder.

Halo rolls his eyes as the other continues to gloat. He then looks down and sees Torrent has finally calmed down properly. “Cye, please don’t hide this from us anymore. No one should have to live through that alone. It’s why we have each other..”

“How did you know he was having the dream?”

“When a person has a nightmare, it’s very easy to “escape” the mind. When that happens any person sensitive enough to receive the visions gets gobsmacked.” The blonde explains.

“…s-so you saw my dream as well?”

“Very vividly.”

“Sage, I’m sorry, I didn’-“

“I’m glad I did though, I had no idea you were still having that one.” He reaches out wiping some of the last few tears away before he smiles warmly. “Are you feeling better?” He gets a silent nod in response. “Good..” he finds himself yawning as his own aderline starts to die down.

“Come on buddy, you need to get some sleep. If you’re too tired tomorrow, you’ll have a hard time.” Rowen says as he pulls the covers down getting them rearranged. He watches as Sage gets to his feet and starts to head to the door. “Hey, where are you going?”

“Back to bed. It’s late.”

Cye looks down nervously unsure if it was right to ask or not, “…y-you’re welcome to stay in here.”

The blonde turns back around. “Three adults in that bed?” He laughs shaking his head.

“Please? If it happens again and I wake up from it, I’ll know I’m safe if you both are here.” The youngest pleads. “J-Just for tonight. If you don’t like it, then you can go back to the bed in the den.”

“Bed? He’s sleepin’ on the couch.”

Cye looked over mortified. “You didn’t pull the couch out or anything?”

“Why? Your couch is actually really comfortable.” Rowen tilts his head. “Is it a sleeper sofa?”

“Yes.” The bearer of torrent was starting to panic a bit. He didn’t realize one of his friends was sleeping like that and for that long? He wavers unsteadily as his mind starts racing through the several nights in a row they had stayed over. “I-I’ll go get the sheets and the blankets and-“

“Cye. Cye. Stop panicking. It’s ok. We didn’t know. Look, Sage is going to come sleep with us tonight. Right?”

Halo sighs frustrated as he runs a hand through his blonde hair. “Yes.” He lets out another sigh at seeing Torrent’s nervous look. He lets his shoulders drop and forces the smile he had learned to put on so as not to scare the youngest. “I’ll sleep in here.”

“Then tomorrow we’ll figure out that sleeper sofa.” Strata yawns dramatically falling onto the bed before sitting up as he catches the third pillow be thrown at him. He lays it between the other two and reaches up gently tugging Torrent down beside him. He starts to feel groggy at feeling the familiar weight and warmth beside him as Cye curls up on his side.

Sage lays down on the other side unsure how much space to take then he realizes that the guys weren’t joking. Cye was small. A genuine smile crosses his features as he gets comfortable. He rolls over to where he can see Rowen… they both lay silently watching as the youngest drifted off finally feeling safe.

The blonde pulls the covers up tucking them in around the smaller body, he watches as Rowen pulls Cye to him wrapping his arms around him. He drifts off in a different sleep, one hadn’t felt in a long time… the feeling of keeping the one who mattered the most, safe.

They had done this during the war with Talpa and everyone would sleep together, each of them in a position to protect Torrent.

He finally fell asleep, one of his hands holding onto one of Cye’s.

[rwfanficrw]

Cherry Blossoms

By Robin Gurl

Summary: cherry blossom festival in the POTS Universe. Protective White Blaze, overly sweet Rowen boy friend, Sage appears in a fancy 80s dress suit and over coat, Ryo and Mia are there, lots of food because Cye made way too much and more!

“I can’t believe I let you cook this much food…” Rowen grumbles as he carries the large bento box and the usual tote bag that came with them when they left to go anywhere. “It’s just going to be the three of us… well 2 and half of us. You can’t even eat over half of what you made.”

“You and I both know that your appetite rivals Kento.”

“Yeah but I have something called self control, which Kento lacks.” He rolls his eyes grinning. Then he turns back watching the other stagger a bit. He lifts his arm to catch a glimpse of the watch on his wrist… they had just rested 15 minutes ago. If Cye already needed to take a break then things were starting to go down hill. He stops and turns around, “Are you sure you can carry those drinks? Here, let’s switch. You can carry the tote bag.”

“No. I made the lemonade and the tea. I’m carrying it.”

“Cye, drinks are really heavy. You put them both in heavy thermos’. You don’t want to faint before we even get there do you?”

The other warrior groans frustrated, “I’m not weak, Rowen. I can carry things.”

“I never said you were, but you have POTS and the last thing you want to do is faint out here. You just have to find things you can carry. And this isn’t one of them, unless you want to face plant and be down for the count before, we can even dig into the lovely meal you made us.” The archer sat the tote bag and bento box down then reaches out steadying the water bearer. “Hand ‘em over.”

Torrent grumbles before handing them over. He then watches as Rowen re-arranges things. To his surprise a few bottled drinks came out of the totebag, then out of the other bag where the drinks were the other pulled out the big blanket and silverware and plates.

“There. Now. You can carry other important things.” Strata stands back up to his full height and hands Torrent the blue tote bag. “And I’ll carry the heavy stuff.”

He sighs taking the offered back unable to hold in the relief that it was no longer heavy in his hands. His shoulders dropped as he relaxes. “…Thanks. I just feel awful, I’m the one that cooked it all.”

“Nah, don’t.. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to it. Besides,” Rowen smiles nodding his head down to where they were meeting. “It looks like Mia and Ryo came so we’ll have plenty of food.”

Cye’s eyes light up happily as he smiles, “Too bad Kento went back to China… he would rather be with us then babysitting all 18 of his cousins….”

“I’m surprised he missed this. He always brags about your Cherry Blossom picnics.”

“Well, his aunt was having a hard time after her recent child. She wasn’t able to leave the hospital like she had wanted to. So, he volunteered to go watch her children while she recovered. He sounded disappointed on the phone earlier but reassured me several times that his Aunt was doing better.”

“That’s good.” Rowen then stops as they get closer realizing that they would have to go on an incline to get to the others. “Ok, stop here. Let me go drop things off.”

“Rowen, I’ll be fine.” He looks past him to see Mia already coming to meet him, “See? You already have Mia worrying.”

“Hey there! We’ve been waiting. I think Ryo and I found a good spot. Sage is on his way.” She explains happily, she takes Cye’s bag from him and the bento box before turning her head, “Ryo!? Come over here and help!”

“I can’t believe ya got the tiger in here for the festival.”

“That was Ryo’s doing.”

“Hey guys! Happy to see you made it!” Blue eyes light up at seeing the usual bento box. “ALRIGHT! Cye made lunch and Kento isn’t here to steal it all!” He takes the bento box carefully like it was made of gold and carried it up the small hill towards where White Blaze was laying.

Mia takes the other bag from Rowen before hurrying to put hers down as well. She turns as she sets hers down. “Ryo, do you want to go help Cye up?”

“It’s not that big of a hill.”

“It’s how steep it is. For us it’s a slight workout… for him, it could cause him to faint.” She explains smiling. “And I don’t want him to faint before we’re even set up. He looked so happy to see everyone and how excited you were over the food.”

Ryo starts to move when White Blaze gets up as well, “You want to help as well? Okay but don’t knock him over.” He walks down unsure how he was going to help. Rowen and Sage were better at it then he was.

He feels the tiger brush up against his side before letting out a chuff and walking towards the other two down the hill.

“White Blaze?” Rowen looks past him to see Ryo standing there watching. “Hey boy.. want to help Cye up?” He runs his hands down the long back scratching him.

Cye looks down smiling as his hands run through the coarse fur scratching the large ears. “I’m happy to see you too!”

White Blaze was gentle with the youngest warrior like always. He made sure not to push him over or nudge him too hard. He chuffs nudging his head further into the hug when he felt hands grip the fur around his neck and shoulders. He then started to back up the hill pulling Cye with him, he seemed to know when to stop and let the other catch his breath and when to keep going.

Rowen followed closely ready to help and catch if the water bearer started to go down. “You’re doing great, buddy… do you need to take a break?”

“I-I’m a-alright…” Cye responded breathless as his blood pressure started to rise. He made it to the top when he was forced to take a break as he slid to his knees falling into the tiger who caught him holding him up. He pants feeling dizzy. “….R-Rowen….?”

“I’m here. Deep breaths. If you feel faint go on.” The other kneels down rubbing the smaller back then looks up past the tiger to Ryo and Mia who were watching. “I can feel your heart beat, it’s still high…”

White Blaze chuffs growling a bit to give Rowen a warning before Cye fainted into him. He stood strong then gently went down to rest on the ground, the smaller warrior falling with him. He looks up at the bearer of Strata chuffing again, getting a relieved sigh in return.

“Good job, boy…” He reaches out and turns Cye onto his side making sure he’s supported against the tiger’s body before getting to his feet.

“Rowen?” A voice called from where they had been.

His eyes lit up, “Sage! Perfect timing – we just got up here.”

“Cye fainted?”

White Blaze made a noise answering him. The blonde blinked before laughing, “Alright, alright. I’m coming.”

“What did he say?”

“He chastised me for not being here earlier.”

“I forget you can speak tiger.”

“I can speak to most animals.” He kneels down and carefully gathers the water bearer into his arms holding him close. “Did he faint at all on the way?”

“No, but we stopped every 30 minutes to catch our breath.” Rowen explains watching as Cye is lifted into the other’s arms. He walks over, reaching out to feel for a pulse. “…it’s still goin’ pretty fast.”

“To be expected if you walked the entire way here.” He steps up carefully making sure to not stumble himself as well. “Did Cye make any food?”

“…oh yes.” The other sighs shaking his head, “He made a lot.”

The blonde turns to look ahead to where Mia is taking the bento box apart, there were at least 8 layers. He blinks as each one reveals more food. “….woah.”

“Woah is right.”

“He managed to stay awake during all of that?”

“Not exactly.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I honestly lost count of how many fainting spells… he’ll crash tonight for sure.”

Sage sighs as he walks over easing the smaller warrior down to the blanket just as White Blaze was getting comfortable on the ground. He leaned him back against the tiger before taking off his outer wear and laying the dress coat over the small body.

He and Rowen both take their shoes off before crawling onto the blanket. Ryo looks over worried to see Cye not awake. “S-Should we wait for him to wake up? I feel bad starting on all of this when he’s not awake to join us.”

Sage looked to Rowen before he smiles weakly, “I’m not sure how much of this Cye can actually eat. A lot of this would upset his stomach and he would be miserable the next day but we’ll see what he would like.”

Ryo looks down at the food unsure what to grab before looking to Sage, “You make a lot of his food right?”

“W-Well uh… yes I do. When he’s not feeling well, he trusts me to make it. Why?”

Wildfire picks up a plate and hands it over as well as a clean pair of chop sticks, “Pick what he will eat and then we’ll eat the rest!”

Halo blinks a few times before he sighs smiling, “Alright, that’s a good idea. We’ll keep it in the bento box with the top on until he wakes up.” He then turns his head, “What time is it?”

“Oh.. uh.. almost noon why? Late for a meeting?” The other jokes. “’Cause your date is right here.”

Mia blushes before rolling her eyes. She takes the plate from Sage and carefully places it in the bento box before putting the lid over it. “Will he be alright? He didn’t faint again did he?”

“Who? Cye? I think he fell asleep after fainting. If what Rowen told me was true, he worked hard today making all of this. He’s worn out.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll wake him up in a bit. He won’t miss all of it. He’d never forgive us if we let that happen.”

*~*

Cye shivered letting out a tired moan as he uncurls from where he had fallen asleep. His eyes flutter as his vision blurs again, he had been clenched up for too long.

“There he is. Welcome back, buddy!” Rowen reached out helping him sit up slowly. He saw Sage put his own plate down to help. “Take it slow. You passed out on us earlier and fell asleep before you could come back. We just let you sleep it off.”

He looks around groggily trying to remember where he was. He was surprised and a little confused to see Ryo and Mia there with White Blaze. His gaze dropped to the food on the blanket.

“You’re at the cherry blossom festival. You made us all a big dinner.” The blonde explains gently realizing the confusion and brain fog was still present. “We met Mia, Ryo and White Blaze. You and Rowen came by yourselves. I came from my afternoon class and Mia, Ryo and Whiteblaze came together.”

Ryo watches worried unsure how to help. For some reason the brain fog was what bothered him the most out of all the POTS symptoms. His friend was so sharp mentally and to see him struggle, even temporarily, threw him off a bit. He smiles at him waving a bit, “Here, Sage put together a plate for you… and there is some tea left.”

Rowen finishes off his plate then sets it to the side before he gets up on his knees and crawls over. He lifts the over coat holding it up to hide the two of them briefly, “It’s overwhelming isn’t it?”

The other nods groggily.

“Come here. Just curl up against me and take your time. It’s cold enough out here that if you want to bury yourself under this coat, you wouldn’t over heat.” He smiles as the youngest takes the offer. He feels him curl up and rest his head on his chest.

He sat back steadying himself before dropping the coat over the smaller body hiding him from the world for a short amount of time. He then drops his hand onto the small back rubbing it gently. “Cover his food up will ya? We’ll try again in a bit.”

Ryo nods unsure how else to help. He looks over to Mia and Sage who had gone back to eating.

[rwfanficrw]

Update: June 11, 2025:

I’ll be adding more stories and saw a comment I haven’t responded to.

After seeing the new trailer and had a slight panic attack thinking they replaced my boys, I dove back in and went back “home” to the anime. They are a safe space and a comfort anime.

Well last night I reread all the stories on this account thinking they’d be a little “cringe” and I’d need to rewrite or pull them out from public eye.. I was impressed with myself 😅 they weren’t that bad.

I’ll start posting the rest.

Thank you to my followers and comments, they mean a lot 🥰 it helps knowing you’re not posting into the void.

[rwfanficrw]

Sicktember Day 2 - Too Much of a Good Thing/Overindulgence

Here is day 2. Everyone is in it. POTS universe. Cye's birthday. Just yes. Feel good, sick fic that goes on way too long but I love it so much.

Too Much of a Good Thing/Overindulgence

"What do you mean Cye can't come to dinner? We have a giant birthday bash for him! We've had it kinda planned and all that." Kento's voice was heard over the phone.

Sage winced at the volume of other's voice as he quickly made his way into the small kitchen of Cye's apartment, "Quiet hard head. I warned you and Ryo, so did Mia, that wearing Cye out and taking him to the aquarium would leave him in bed for a few days. I'm sorry, but that's just the way it is."

"Yeah but… it's his actual birthday… man this is messed up."

"It's why I wanted to hold off and do one or the other."

"Sage, is there anything we can do?" This time it was Ryo.

The blonde sighed backing up to see if there was any movement in the bedroom down the hallway, "At this very moment, no. He just needs to rest. Look, IF he feels better tonight maybe you can bring take out. I don't know how he's going to be feeling but I'll let you know." He hung up and sat the phone on the counter before opening up the refrigerator door.

Kento and Ryo weren't the only ones who planned for Cye's birthday. There was a cake that he had made himself with Rowen's help sitting on the shelf waiting to be eaten. He was proud of the orca made of icing that he had made.

He shuts the door shaking his head. No time to think on that now. He turns his attention on to more important things… electroyltes and salt.

*~*

"….who was on the phone?"

Rowen startled a bit at hearing the heavily accented voice from his side. He lowered his arm and then the blanket, "You awake?"

"..I guess…. Who was it?"

"Do you remember where you are?" The other countered closing his book. He sat up more and turned to face the smaller figure under the blankets.

"My bed..?" Cye's eyes were only partially opened and glazed over. His hand dropped onto one of the new orca plushie's he'd gotten and he weakly ran his hand over the fur confused. His eyes widened slightly, "….the aquarium.."

"There ya go. Yeah Kento took you to the aquarium for your birthday. You ran off and we had to keep up. It was almost impressive." Rowen explains relieved the other was at least a little conscious. "You over did it though and crashed once we got home."

"did I at least make it to bed?"

"Nah, ya fainted in the shower."

The other groaned embarrassed pulling the blankets up over his face.  He feels hands go over his and the blankets are lowered down. He feels a quick kiss on his lips before the feeling goes away. His cheeks flush red as he turns on his side.

"I think it was Kento on the phone." Rowen smirked patting the other warrior's side knowing he'd worked him up a bit. "And don't be embarrassed, I was there with ya. You wanted to take a bath but I knew you couldn't do it by yourself."

"Rowen, you're not helping at all."

"Aw, I thought I was a good boy friend."

"ROWEN!"

"I was clothed, I'll have you know. What kind of person do you take me for?"

Cye finally lowered the pillow and glared at him, "Someone who can't keep his hands to himself."

"Would you two quit. You're going to make him faint again. We need to help him relax not wind him up." Sage entered the room carrying a small tray with snacks and drinks. He elbowed Rowen hard as he sat down on the bed.

"What did Kento want?" Cye finally asked as he was helped into a sitting position. Though he was still "mad" at Rowen, he curled up against him to stay up right.

"Well… he and Ryo want to give you a birthday dinner. I told them I wasn't sure because of how you're doing today." The blonde explained holding out the electrolyte drink that had a straw in it for the younger warrior to drink out of.

He waits patiently for Rowen to take it and hold it properly. He was relieved to see Cye getting some of it down. Earlier liquids and solids were a no go.

Cye glanced over at the clock on his nightstand and saw the date. It was his actual birthday. "I-I'm flattered but…I-I just don't…" Tears burned in his eyes as he lowered his gaze.

The other two saw them and shared a glance. "Hey buddy, it's ok. Birthdays can go over several days… if Sage hadn't been in New York, Ryo's birthday was going to be a week. Remember? You had made reservations at the hot spring and other places?"

Sage reached out and quietly placed his hand on the others head. He knew why.

Cye was upset not because he couldn't go but that he hadn't even thought of going out.

"If you want it to be, it's just another day.. It can be your birthday whenever you're ready." He reassured speaking softly. "I'll shut Kento up with a phone call and we can move on. If you'd still like to celebrate and think you can, then we will come up with something. But don't force yourself. We're your friends, we'll do what you need to do."

*~*

"Kento, I'm not sure this is a good idea.. Shouldn't we at least call and let them know we're on our way?" Ryo asked trying to keep up with the other as they rushed to catch the next train heading towards Cye's apartment.

"If we did we'd just be talked out of it." Kento lifted his arm, the bento box raising with it not getting hit. "My bestest buddy is going to get his birthday… and if he can't go out, we can go to him."

The train came to a stop and the heavy set warrior climbed on, their leader right behind. The door slid shut leaving the two of them to find a seat. It was surprisingly quiet but then it was 8pm.

Ryo sat down in one of the free chairs and started to offer to take the bento box and set it down between his legs but stopped when he realized his friend would kill anyone who got close.

He didn't know much of the plan.

He had decided to sleep at Kento's Family Restaurant for the night before making the trek back to Mia's house expecting a few hours of rest before hitting the road again. However, he got exactly 12.3 minutes of sleep before he was shaken awake by Kento telling him to get his shoes on and get moving.

He looked down at the two gift bags at his feet sighing. He didn’t even know what was in these. He just prayed it was something quiet and not something that Rowen and Sage would kill them for.

Ryo glanced back up at saw Kento staring blankly out the window. He didn't have the heart to try and talk his friend out of whatever this was. He was just worried it wasn't going to help.

Kento was loud and his big personality could be pushy. Cye used to be able to take it but even then he'd watched the other two (even he had made a comment or two) get on the bearer of Hardrock to be gentle and not beat the crap out of the younger warrior.. And that was before now.

Now it was all different.

Before the POTS, Ryo had never seen Kento stumble over his best friend. Anything Cye needed or wanted, Kento was there to deliver. Even if his way caused a slight detour, random explosion, and/or broken things in the process.. It was still complete.

Now Kento was having to be more careful, be more quiet, more gentle.. None of this was within his personality.

*~*

"Ok, so in a bit, I'll call the guys and tell them we can hang out tomorrow night." Rowen reassures Cye as he gets him settled on the couch laying the heated blanket over the smaller lap. "And you get me for your birthday."

"Each day that passes I feel more and more like the third wheel." Sage said only half mocking. He rolled his eyes getting a snicker from Cye.

"He keeps acting like this is a gift." Cye jokes giving a tired smile.

"For that I'm sitting beside Sage."

"Sage doesn't want you either." The blonde retorted pushing the other off his chair. "Go. Shoo."

Rowen starts to pick Cye up and move him to the side when a knock on the door is heard. He stops and glances back at the other two. "…Sayako or Mia?"

"If it's Sayako you better pray she didn't see you hovering over me like this… she smacked Kento with her purse last time he was caught with hands on me."

"She won't smack her brother's favorite care taker."

"Don't be so sure- Say hang on!" Cye called as best he could, his voice broke as he did. He was tired. He tried to push Rowen off knowing there was a difference in what he was doing currently vs normal.

"Probably Mia. She offered to pick up the antinausea, remember?" Sage gets to his feet to go answer.

The knock came again but it was heavier than how either of other two would knock. Cye got up slowly wanting to know himself. He prayed it wasn't the land lady. He'd been so sick he hadn't explained any of this to her.

"Cye, I've got it." The blonde reached out and pulled the heavy door back to his surprise Cye bent down underneath him to look out before he could.

A pop and then confetti went shooting in the air.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

The popper going off startled Cye enough that he was wavering unsteadily, his heart beating in his ears.

It took Sage two seconds too long to come back to his senses. He reaches down and steady's Cye worried he was going to faint. Worry turned to anger as he saw Kento hovering in their faces excited.

"Rowen - help Cye inside. He-" Eyes widened as the youngest warrior passed out on them. He caught him leaning on the door frame. "ROWEN."

"I'm here, I got him… what the hell was that?" Rowen asked gathering Cye into his arms. He was gentle with the limp body hoping he'd come back quickly.

"Kento. I'm killing him." Sage stepped outside ready to smack the bearer of Hardrock upside the head but was surprised to see Ryo standing there. "Ryo… you allowed this..?"

"Yeah man, it's a happy birthday surprise!" Kento grins happily. "Since you missed the popper's on Ryo's birthday, figured I'd shoot off the last so you could see them."

"Rock head, I thought you knew that if you startled Cye too bad, he'd faint."

"Well yeah but I planned for that…well sorta. See the plan was for you to answer the door because my lil buddy never answers.. Except for tonight.. And yeah.. I was going to scare you, not him."

"I didn't even know he had them until it was too late! Honest!!" Wildfire all but pleaded realizing he was going to get the same punishment as Kento. "W-We brought food."

"You what? Kento, I thought I told you he had over done it today."

"I-I know that but Sage it's his BIRTHDAY." Kento peers into the apartment hoping Cye would be coming back and getting ready to get angry at him. "NOW! Where is the birthday …"

Instead there was silence. All he saw was Rowen helping Cye stay propped up against the wall. His friend was still unconscious, the hand on his forehead the only thing keeping him up right.

"..boy.." He swallowed nervously, his smile dropping.

Sage heaved a sigh glancing back, "Is it a normal one?"

"As far as I can tell… just need to get his blood pressure leveled out. After all he's gone through today, we got lucky. Usually when he over does it, his fainting spells are bad."

"….What does that mean?"

"It means you got lucky. He'll be back in a few minutes. If he weren't coming back so fast, I'd kick you out. But - I know he'll just be upset if you're not here when he does, so come on in."

"I thought we told you two to call before making your way over. What if he had needed an IV and had been at the hospital?" Rowen looked up at the two of them.

"You would have said no if I had! A-And Mama Faun made Cye some food. She said she catered it to him with higher sodium and stuff… no one can turn down her food…" Kento shrunk away slightly at seeing the two glares from Rowen and Sage. "A-At least not after you try it. Cye loves her food! And I brought more peace offerings."

"Peace Offerings?"

"Yeah, uh Rowen I picked you up a book and Sage, green tea - lots of it. Ryo hand them the green bag… before Sage uses Halo to kill me. Come on, man."

Ryo fumbled before handing it over.

Before Sage could respond they heard a groan come from the one on the ground. The blonde turns to the others, "Go onto the living room. We'll get him up and in there."

"But I can help-"

"Kento, you heard him. Let's go." Ryo knew better than to test both Sage and Rowen twice tonight.

"But my lil bud-"

"He'll be in here soon."

*~*

"…a party popper." Sage shook his head in disgust picking up the pieces. "What a mess."

"Hey buddy, can you hear me?" Rowen asked Cye hearing another groan. "You're on the floor. You fainted when Kento set a party popper off in your face."

"….from Ryo's birthday…?"

"Yeah, he wanted to scare Sage and got you instead apparently." He moved closer relieved to see both eyes were heavily lidded but open and for once already focused.

"Of all the s-stupid things-" Cye tries to get to his feet but his legs give out.

"Woah, are ya nuts. You know it takes ya a bit to come back. What are you doing?" Rowen reached out catching the smaller warrior mid fall. "Don't ignore your health just because rock head and Ryo are here, you hear me?"

"I-I hear you…"

"Now sit back and take some deep breaths." The bearer of Strata insisted taking a deep breath with him. "There ya go."

A minute or so later and he could tell Cye's breathing had leveled out. He reached forward and placed two fingers on the other's neck pressing gently, his blood pressure was down as well.

"Now, you can get up - slowly."

*~*

"Kento…"

Kento startled and looked up from holding (and petting) the stuffed orca he'd found on the couch. He throws it but catches it and gets to his feet setting the orca gently back on the couch. "Cye! You're-" He watches his friend wince at the loudness of his voice and clears his throat dropping his volume a bit. "You're awake!"

"What are you doing here so late at night? I-Its not that I don't want to see you but…"

"I couldn't just let ya not celebrate your birthday. Best friends don't let their best friends do that!"

"While I'm grateful, I can't do anything I'm afraid. Sage and Rowen are right, I over did it and-"

"Who said we had to do anything?" Kento smiles happily showing the several tiered bento box, "Mama made you a special birthday dinner. You have your own tier. The top! She made you some dishes that Uncle Chin made you in New York. Would you believe she loved the dumplings I came up for you when we were over there? And don't worry, it can all be reheated. We just eat as needed."

Cye stares at it trying to comprehend it all. "…she.. She didn't have to-"

"Annnnd I gotcha some CDs, the new age stuff? Its like 10 hours of ocean sounds. There was even one dedicated to orca's! My sisters helped me pick out some slippers.. They found you some dolphin ones… oh! Annnd for the finale, I pulled some strings and got The Little Mermaid in English for ya. No subtitles, just like you wanted."

Kento watched nervously as tears filled his best friend's eyes. He approached slowly reaching out to wipe some of them away, "I told ya, Cye. We don't have to go crazy. If you can't go out and party, then we'll just chill here and party. Besides, I'd rather have a night in your apartment with good food, a disney movie and friends any day over a loud club and karaoke bar."

Cye reached out and hugged his friend as tight as he could. "T-Thank you Kento.. For every thing.."

"Kento Rei Faun, I believe I warned you that if you ever touched my brother like that again, I'd kick you down the curb." Sayako's voice bounces off the walls.

Kento's arms went straight out and off his friend's waist. "It was just a friendly hug!! I Swear!!"

Sayako stood there arms crossed, "That better be."

"Man, why aren't you ever getting on Rowen for it?!" Kento grumbles loudly. "And who invited you anyway?"

"I invited myself. I couldn't let my little brother not celebrate his birthday." She smiles towards him, "I'm relieved to see I wasn't the only one. Mia and I met up down the street." She then turns to look at Rowen, "As for Ro.. He knows I'll let him have it if he hurts my brother."

"Would you both quit." Cye was bright red. "You are too over protective and-"

The lights dimmed slightly as Mia appeared in the doorway carrying a cake that had candles lit on it. To his surprise his friends started to sing in half English half Japanese "Happy Birthday". He was shocked that Sage was even attempting.

Rowen walked over , "Go on. Blow 'em out."

Cye rolled his eyes and leans over blowing his own candles out. "…whats this then?"

"Sage and Rowen baked you a birthday cake. He made the orca by hand."

"It took him like 17 times. His first looked like dead blobs.. We couldn't put a dead whale on the cake so he kept trying.."

Sage blushes clearing his throat, "Well hopefully it looks ok."

"Its lovely! A-All of this is ..is so nice.. Thank you all."

*~*

Sage pulled himself out of the meditative state he'd finally been able to put himself in to relax at hearing the clock chime midnight. The TV was playing the movie, looked like a wedding scene… possibly the end. Cye was curled up on the couch in between Kento and Rowen comfortably asleep wearing his new dolphin slippers.

Mia and Sayako were sharing a blanket on the love seat passed out. Ryo had fallen asleep on the floor. He sighed but smiled relieved that Cye had managed to have a Happy Birthday.

[rwfanficrw]

Sage’s Car Breaks Down

Rich boy’s (said with love) car breaks down and he has to use the pay phone (le gasp) and Mia has to come pick him up. The POTS acts up, Cye’s not having a good day.. cute Sage x Mia. Snarky Rowen for the win.

Mia lifts her head at hearing her main house phone ring. She pushes her chair out from her desk and heads into the hallway picking it up, “Koiji residence?” Only a handful of people actually used this line, the rest used her work line in her office.

“Mia?”

The connection was full of static as she put a finger to her other ear, “S-Sage? Where are you?”

“Down town Toyama.” She heard him sigh, “Look, I need …I need a lift. The battery in my car is dead dead, Halo couldn’t even resurrect it.”

“Are you on a pay phone?” She asks slightly amused.

“What else was I supposed to call on? I barely had enough yen to use it. I don’t carry that kind of cash around.” The other grumbled.

She held in a laugh at his discomfort. It wasn’t a secret that the bearer of Halo wasn’t used to using “commoner” items, so this was amusing.

“No, do not tell Kento. I’ll never live it down.”

“I wouldn’t dare. What were you doing in town anyway?”

“I was on my way to pick up Cye and Rowen. Cye has a doctor’s appointment in a few hours. I’m sorry about this Mia. I know you were busy with the university and-”

“Don’t worry about it, I’ll come get you and we’ll take him together. Where exactly are you?” She turns and pulls a pad out from the drawer and jots down what he said. “Hang tight, I’ll be there in an hour or so.”

“Call Rowen first. They are at Cye’s apartment. They need to know.”

“I’ll take care of it!” She hangs up before hurrying back into her office to get her bag put together.

*~*

“Ok, sit down to get dressed, please. You’ve fainted three times on me.” Rowen begged as he helped the smaller warrior down to the floor. He doesn’t miss how breathless the other is as he kneels beside him. Carefully, he helps him lean back against the side of the bed. “Cye? Are you still with me?”

“..I’m here..”

The archer sits back completely on the ground before sighing, “Buddy, I think we need to call the doctor and let them know we need to reschedule.” He reaches out pressing one of his hands against one of the pale cheeks.

“N-No.. no. I-I need to go.. I want to try their new anti-nausea.” The water bearer gives a tired smile, his eyes growing heavy. “Just so tired for some reason.”

“Buddy, you have a fever.”

“I always have a fever, ever since I caught that cold a few weeks ago.”

“That’s not normal, even for you.” He sighs again shaking his head, “Okay, look. We’re going but only because Sage is driving us. We’re going to ask them what to do about …about this.” He motions at him. “Because you haven’t recovered completely from the cold on top of the nausea.”

Cye nods slightly unable to fight him. It was all he could do to not fall asleep. If he didn’t have any pride left, he would have happily gone to the doctor wearing his dolphin print pajamas, as it was however, he wouldn’t be caught dead in public wearing them. “….warm clothes?”

Rowen lifts his gaze and smiles, “Yeah. Fleece leggings and a sweater sound ok?” He got a slight nod before he gets to his feet, his hand patting the red hair as he did. He walks over to the drawers and starts to dig through it.

Cye had been complaining that everything hurt and ached, so he wanted something soft for him to wear. He knew Sage had bought him some nice pull overs that Cye liked to wear when he felt like this. “Ah hah. Blue or purple, buddy?”

He turns his head at getting no response, “Cye?”

The younger warrior was curled up on his side asleep. Not limp like he usually was after fainting. He turns back and pulls the blue one out and a pair of the fleece black leggings. He’d bring jeans “just in case” so Cye would think he planned it for him.

A pair of sweats, slipper socks, an extra hoodie and two t-shirts were thrown to the floor as well. He wanted to be prepared if the doctor asked them to stay a few days, especially with Cye’s fever and lack of healing after the cold.

He lifts his arm to look at his watch. It wasn’t like Sage to be this late. Given, they had several hours before the actual appointment, he and Sage liked to leave at least two hours early incase the POTS symptoms flared up on the way.

He hears the phone ring and walks over to the nightstand beside the bed, “Mori Residence?” His eyes widened, “Mia! Whats up?”

*~*

Sage paced by his car watching as the tow company hooked it up. He hands them a business card from the front of his jacket pocket, “This is my grandfather’s office. Let him know what is wrong with it and the cost. They will know how to get in touch with me.”

He looks over their heads to see Mia pulling up. He bows slightly before excusing himself to hurry over. He waits as she rolls the window down, “Thank you. Did you call Rowen and Cye?”

“I did. Rowen says that Cye’s having a rough morning. Something about a fever that is still present?”

The one visible violet eye widened, “…wait still?” He sighs. “Ok, hang on just a second.”

She puts the car in park and watches as he goes through the trunk picking up a good number of things. He stuffed them all into a green duffle bag before bringing them over, then a smaller yellow duffle was filled as well. That looked like a lot for just himself.

“Back seat or trunk?” She calls out getting ready to unbuckle.

“Trunk, please.” He answers her.

She undoes herself and gets out going to undo the trunk for him, “What is all of this?”

“What we normally take to the hospital for Cye. I originally wasn’t going to worry about it, but if he still has a fever they may want to keep him over night.”

“S-Sage is he sick? I-I mean, I knew about the POTS but..”

“He caught a cold two weeks go and honestly hasn’t gotten any better. We read that healing could take longer with his POTS but I didn’t think it would be this bad. He’s been having a really hard time getting to his feet and walking around. It reminds me of the days after the White Armor when it first appeared.” The blonde explained as he closed the back of the jeep. He turns to her and smiles, “I’m sure we just missed something when nursing the cold away.”

“I hope so.”

“Me too.” He hugs her briefly kissing her cheek. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.”

She smiles hugging him back, “Any time. Come on, let’s go pick them up.”

He climbs into the front passenger seat buckling himself in then leans back into it crossing his arms, “How careful of a driver are you?”

“You tell me. You’ve driven all over Japan with me and you never had any complaints.” She snaps slightly. “I may not drive a sports car but none of you have complained about my jeep yet.”

He blinks then smirks, “Did I hit a nerve?”

She blushes grumbling as she fumbles with her keys, “Maybe.”

“I’m asking for Cye.” He laughs slightly reaching out to place his hand on hers. “He gets motion sick really easily and I didn’t think you’d want him getting sick in your jeep. I think you’re driving is fine.”

She turns to look at him before her shoulders drop, “…o-oh. I-I uh…I think I can?”

“Don’t apologize. We did kind of drive you crazy fighting Talpa.”

“Kind of!? KIND OF?!”

“Ok, so we drove you crazy a lot.” Sage dodged a hit to his head laughing. “Cye’s innocent in this one.”

“Yes but you’re not.” She shakes her head as she looks up into the rearview mirror before sighing, “If you need to, you can drive. You know him better than I do, Sage. Especially when it comes to this.”

“You know I’d be asking the guys and the cab driver the exact same question, right?”

“Really?”

“Of course. I’m not joking, Mia. We usually have to pull over 3 to 4 times to let him catch his breath. This time, I may use Halo to help keep him out of his misery.” He looks out the window. “It’s scary how much has changed, trust me.”

She glances over briefly before nodding quietly and turning the music up to fill the quiet void.

*~*

“Here, just lean against me. They should be here in a minute or so.” Rowen kept an arm around the smaller shoulders keeping them both steady. He glances over and sees the face mask has come down over the other’s face, he smiles and pulls it back up with one hand. As he did he realized it didn’t look right, “Hey, look at me.”

“I don’t want to inconvience Mia, it’s not right to pull her away from what she’s working on.” Cye turned towards him not fighting the other as the mask is fixed. His hands were in the front pocket of his hoodie.

“She said that Sage’s car broke down.”

“What?”

“Yeah, that’s why she’s comin’. She’s pickin’ up Sage then will be coming to us.” He explained gently as he rearranges the skyblue face mask over the pale features. He pushes the straps back around the other’s ears and rearranges the hair slightly so it wasn’t stuck. “There. That better? It doesn’t hurt? You can breathe ok?”

“I’m alright..” He looks to the side seeing the familiar red jeep pulling by his apartment. “Rowen, do I have to wear this? I don’t want to scare her.”

“You’re immune system is still low, so yeah. Sorry buddy but it’s for your own good.” Rowen lifts his hand waving to Mia and Sage as she pulls right in front of them. He walks over pulling Cye with him. “Well hello there.. fancy seeing you two here.”

Sage gets out of the passenger seat onto the side of the street. “Do you want the front seat like usual?”

Cye looks to him then to Mia unable to hide the shame and embarrassment that he now had trouble riding in a car. His hand went out and clenched Rowen’s arm nervously, “…I-I don’t….”

“It doesn’t matter, Cye.” She offers calling from the front of the jeep. “Sage brought a blanket and a few pillows from the back of his car.”

“Hey, ya see? You’ll be comfy regardless. C’mon. You always wanted to ride shot gun in the jeep but everyone kept beatin’ ya to it.”

Mia leans forward watching as the bearer of Strata walks Torrent over. She did her best to hide the look of shock at seeing the face mask and how rough he looked. She smiles as best she can, “I’m afraid I don’t have seat warmers like Sage…”

“No body does.” Rowen confirmed, he held an arm out for Cye to lean onto as he was helped to sit into the seat.

As Cye starts to sit, he falls forward unconscious. Rowen reaches out and catches him mid fall. His hand pressing against his forehead as he gently pushes him back to a sitting position. He sighs panting. “O-Ok. Nearly face planted into the dashboard.” He turns to look at Sage, “Mia doesn’t need to be messin’ with this. Unless you’re going to use Halo, we need to move him to the back.”

“Messing with what?”

“Cye will faint while riding regardless of whether he’s feeling sick or not. It’s one of the hazards of driving with him as a passenger. If you take a turn too hard or down a hill that his body views as steep, he’s out.” Strata explains as he shifts on his knee that he was leaning against. He hears the usual sharp inhale that tells the others Cye is coming back and gently lets go of the other’s forehead. “Hey buddy, take it easy. You fainted but you were only out for a few minutes.”

“…I-I’m afraid I don’t feel very good…”

Rowen’s eyes narrow worried as the smaller warrior shivered as he looked around groggily. He reached out and felt for a fever placing his hand against the pale forehead. “Sage.”

The blonde looks up from making a comfortable spot in the backseat. He had already made the decision of where Torrent was going to sit after seeing him faint on Rowen. Mia didn’t need to worry about that when driving.

The tone the archer used stopped him in his tracks. He steps out from the backseat and joins him at the door to the passenger front seat. “…his fever is spiking.”

“…n-no I’m…I’m alright…” Cye tried to reassure them as he was picked up in a cradle carry by Sage and moved to the backseat. His head dropped onto Halo’s shoulder as his strength faded. “J-Just…tired..s-so tired…”

“Do we need to cancel?” Mia asked worried as she moved in her seat undoing the seat belt to reach into the back trying to help.

Rowen appeared on the other side and together the three of them got the younger warrior into the seat. He pulled down the arm rest and placed a pillow between it and the smaller body. Then held Cye towards him as Sage buckled him in and laid the blanket over the small frame tucking him in. “I’m here buddy, just try to rest.”

Mia held back and watched as the other two did their thing. Their movements were fluid as they got the youngest Ronin settled in his seat. She watches as Sage closes the door, then Rowen helps Cye lean to the side placing the last two pillows: one under his head and the other under his arm.

“Cye? Do you want Sage to use Halo?”

She didn’t catch the response but there must have been one because Rowen backed out of the other seat briefly only for Sage to crawl in. The familiar green orb hovered out of his hand and it moved in front of Cye glowing green slowly.

She had to look away before she was unintentionally pulled into it as well. She heard a breathless sigh then she heard Sage pull out of his own trance. “Did it work?”

“I think so.” He sighed reaching out and tucking him in again. “He’s not unconscious, I want to keep an eye on the fever, but he’s drowsy and groggy.”

“I’ll ride back here with him. You sit up front.” Rowen switched places with Sage as he buckled himself in. “Hey do we have any of those cool strips left over? We could use them as a temporary compress.”

“We should. Check the side pocket of the green duffle.” Sage buckled himself back in and nodded to Mia, “Go on. We can drive and do the rest.”

She takes a deep breath before nodding and pulls out getting onto the road.

*~*

Cye let out a groggy hissing moan as something cold was placed under his bangs. He reached up unsteadily to try and pull it away but a hand stopped it. “…c-cold…”

“I know buddy, but you’re fever is high. This is going to help lower it.”

He turned his head slowly, his eyes closing from being so heavy before he forced them re-open, a green hue surrounding everything. “…halo..”

“Yeah, Sage used Halo to keep ya groggy. I put one of those cooling strips on your forehead. I know it’s not comfortable but we need to do something.” Rowen smiles reaching out to brush some of the red hair out of his eyes. His smile drops as the other shivers even though his cheeks are flushed.

He squeezes the hand that had been freed gently before tucking it back into the blanket then he reaches up and guides Cye’s head back to the pillow. “Go on, Cye. Just rest. Sleep this fever off.”

“B-But Rowen…”

“Go on, you’re tired aren’t you? I’ll be right here. I’m not goin’ anywhere.”

Cye’s eyes drooped before closing, his head going limp on the pillow. Rowen smiles weakly, “That’s it, buddy. Just rest.”

*~*

Sage turns in his seat as Mia pulls the jeep up, “What do you think?”

Rowen looks up, “…I can’t see him walkin’ in right now. I-I mean he fell asleep and hasn’t woken up once. I know Halo was influencing him but its still..”

“I know. I agree.”

“Agree to what? Where do you want me to park?” She asked confused by their responses. She didn’t get a verbal answer as Sage opened the passenger door, he unbuckled himself and started to make his way to the entrance. “SAGE! Wait a second-“

“He’s going to get a wheel chair.”

Her gaze turned back to the two in the backseat. For some reason hearing that caused a pit to grow in her stomach. She had experienced most of this POTS and the symptoms but so far she hadn’t experienced this.

As she looked the younger warrior over, she realized the other two were right. There was no way they were letting Cye walk into the hospital like this. If Kento had been here, he’d have carried him in.

“Mia, it’s ok. He’ll be annoyed at us when he does wake up. He hates using them.” Rowen sighs shaking his head, “But we don’t have a choice. I really want the doctor look at him.”

“Sage told me.. the cold?”

“It hasn’t gone anywhere for almost two months. Even for him that can’t be right.”

“I-I’m sure the doctor can help. Maybe he just needs heavier antibiotics.”

“Maybe.”

Mia turns her head back at hearing Sage come back with the chair. She unbuckled herself and got out hurrying over to help if she could but quickly realized they had this under control. She steps back watching as they got Cye into the wheel chair in under 5 minutes. “…wow. That was-“

“Impressive?” Rowen grins as he shoulders the yellow duffle bag and picks up the green one so Sage could push him in. “Amazing?”

She rolls her eyes. Sage just shook his head, “Ignore him. I’m going to push him up there and see if we can get things rolling.”

The blue haired warrior looked like he was about to make a snide comment when the blonde glanced over his shoulder, “I can pretend you’re Kento right now and just give you a bit of a spark if you keep it up.”

The other shuts up grinning, “No thanks. Save that for him.” His smile then drops at seeing Cye unconscious in the chair. “He was sleeping earlier, did he faint?”

They stop moving and Sage leans over slightly feeling for a pulse. “….I think he did. I’ve removed Halo’s influence as well.”

“Good idea. We don’t want to have to explain why he’s glowing green.” Rowen holds the door open then hurries in front of them to the nurses station.

*~*

“Mr. Mouri, do you feel any different, better or worse since all of this started?” The doctor asked standing by the edge of the hospital bed.

Cye was currently hooked up to a fluids IV as well as the new antinausea. He was so exhausted though it was hard to stay awake. He just wanted to sleep. “…I feel so tired.” His eyes grow heavy then his body jerks, his eyes going back to normal for a brief second before the heart rate monitor starts to beep and he sags forward.

“I’ve got him.” She states as he pushes him back against the pillow.

Rowen appeared by her side regardless and sat on the edge of the bed holding the other warrior upright. “…that’s what I was talkin’ about.. what is that?!”

“I-It’s not a seizure is it?” Mia asked worried.

“No, far from it. It’s a hypnic jerk… his body is trying to wake itself up each time it falls asleep. It will naturally cause a blood pressure spike-“

“Which leads to a fainting spell.” Sage finished. He sighs joining Rowen. “How do we stop it? It’s going to make his POTS worse. He still has flare ups if he passes out too many times in a row.”

She sighs crossing her arms as she watches them in thought, “If he truly hasn’t gotten any better after his cold, then it could just be exhaustion. We could keep him here until he’s gotten enough rest.”

“How would that help? Wouldn’t he rest just as well at home, in his own bed?” Mia asked.

“Not necessarily. While his bed is obviously more comfortable, at home you three have to help keep the POTS symptoms under control. He’s worried about what medicine to take, if he does start coughing when will he pass out, he can’t sleep too long for fear of messing with the POTS…if we keep him here and keep his symptoms as stable as they can be then maybe he can kick this cold.”

Rowen looks back to Sage, “What do ya think?”

“We don’t have much of a choice in the matter. It’s whatever’s best for him. The rest of us will make do.” The blonde looks to the doctor ready to take mental notes. “How long do you predict it will take and what paperwork needs to be filled out?”

“The usual paperwork. I know that you,” She nods to Rowen. “Now have the ability to sign as his other guardian and I just need one. As for how long, that depends on his symptoms and how much his body needs to rest.”

“I’ll call Sayako anyway and just let her know what’s going on.” Mia pushes past them heading out towards the phone.

*~*

Rowen looks up from his book at hearing a half moan from the one in the bed. He watches seeing how coherent the other would be and starts to close the book, “Cye?”

It had been a few hours since they had gotten here. The paperwork had been signed and Sayako had been called. Sage and Mia had stayed long enough to make sure everything was okay, then left to pick up Sage’s car and pick up food.

He had stayed behind willingly not wanting to leave the other’s side.

He turns to watch the blood pressure monitor hoping the other warrior wouldn’t panic and faint because of it. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees a hand reach out feeling around, then the second hand tries to move but it’s held by the IVs in it.

He turns around just in time to see a hand trying to pull the air tubes out of his nose. He reaches out catching the hand sitting on the edge of the bed, “Nah, don’t do that buddy. You need that.”

“…ro…?”

“Yeah, that’s me. Do you know where you are?”

A groggy sigh answered him as the other started to force his eyes open. They were dull and unfocused as he did his best to look around. He tilts his head looking down at the hand that wasn’t able to move earlier and sees a blob that looked like an IV. “…hosp-ital..?”

“That’s right. Your cold hasn’t gone away, so you’re going to be here for awhile.” Rowen explains as carefully as he can. He smiles relieved that Cye was at least conscious. “You got here and fainted on us…did one of those weird faintin’ spells.”

“…t-the fall asleep and w-wake up then faint..?”

“Yeah. The nurse said it’s a hypnotic jerk? Basically yer body thought it was dying when you fell asleep so fast, so it jerked you back to life annnd caused ya to faint.”

“…lovely.”

The archer leans forward grinning at the half humor kissing the other’s forehead, “At least we have an explanation. Can you breathe better with that thing up your nose?”

“…I-I guess so. It feels weird.”

“Well don’t tug at it. There is an alarm attached. We found that out the hardway. The nurse came running in earlier thinking you were without air.”

Cye starts to push himself to a sitting position but his arms give out. He feels hands catch him and left him up properly.

“Easy, don’t move too fast. It’s what I’m here for. Just use me.” Gently Rowen leans him back against the pillows. “There. How do you feel?”

“..d-dizzy… but ok.” The younger of the two smiles weakly. “Thank you for coming with me a-and staying.”

“Well, Sage and Mia will be back. They went to get food and pick up Sage’s car.” Strata tucks the covers in around the smaller frame before sitting back in his chair. “You have orders to rest and get better.”

“I-I’ll do my best.”

*~*

Mia steps outside into the cold weather to meet the black sports car as it rolled up. She pulled her sweater closed with one hand, pushing her hair back behind her ear with her other hurrying over.

Sage parks the car and gets out greeting her with a short kiss, “Thank you. You’re closer than his apartment.”

“Probably warmer as well. I have the fire going.” She steps beside him looking into the backseat. "How is he?"

"He's exhausted but his fever has broken and he can breathe normally.” The blonde explained as he leans into the passenger back seat. He unbuckles the smaller one as Rowen gets out on the other end and hurries over to join him. “He’s asleep though and I don’t want to wake him.”

“I got him.”

Sage backed up out of the way so Rowen could step in and pick the youngest warrior up. Mia smiles sadly as Cye was picked up with ease. She drapes the blanket from the backseat over his smaller body and watches as Rowen hurries inside.

“Thanks again, Mia. It’s been a long month. He got an email that power was out at his apartment complex. So we came here.” Sage checks his watch. “Once he’s comfortable, I’m going to check on the fish in the tanks.”

“I guess it has been a month since he went into the hospital.” She leads him inside holding the door open for him.

The two of them walk into the living room right as Rowen eased the water bearer onto the couch in front of the fireplace covering him up with the blanket that was on the back of the couch.

He then sat down on the floor beside it and reached out running a finger down one of the pale cheeks checking on him. He wanted to make sure that Cye stayed asleep.

[rwfanficrw]

Meeting Cye’s Mom for Lunch

Depending how you view Mrs. Mouri, this will either be OOC or in character. Their relationship is complicated in my stories. After her husband died, she blamed Cye for it and it just went downhill.

“Well, I see someone left his manners at home.”

Rowen lifted his eyes off his plate to see Cye’s mother directing the comment to Cye. He clenched his other hand tightly into a fist doing his best not to react. Cye told him he could handle his mother and so he was going to let him.

“Mother, I already told you. I can’t eat as much as I used to. You understand how it is-“

“We don’t have the same affliction. Men don’t fall for things like this. Women are like delicate flowers, one wrong gust of wind and we fall apart.”

It was hard for Rowen not to roll his eyes at that one. From what he’d seen and who he met, none of the Mouri Clan women were “fragile” or “delicate flowers”.

“Regardless, I can’t eat right now. I promised you that I’d come sit with you during lunch and talk a bit. You wanted to meet Rowen and so I brought him.” Cye did his best to keep the annoyance out of his voice. “We’re here now and we’re having lunch.”

“He’s having lunch.” She stated glaring at him. “You are just sitting here. I offered to host you and pay for your meal and-“

“Mrs. Mouri, he can’t eat right now. If he does, he’ll just throw it back up.” Rowen interjected getting glares from both sides.

“Hmph.” She shook her head still not pleased. Her hand shook as she reached out for her drink.

Rowen tilted his eyes watching her then silently pushes her the salt, “You’re low on Sodium.” It wasn’t a question, it was a statement. His voice didn’t waver as she glared sharply at him. “I can shake some on a spoon but you gotta eat some. Cye gets like this several times a day.”

“You dare to tell me about my own body?!”

“Am I wrong? That tea ain’t helpin’ either. You need one of the electrolyte drink things. They don’t taste the best but they help.”

Cye just hung his head slightly embarrassed but he didn’t know why. What Rowen said wasn’t a lie.. it just.. now it came across like he couldn’t’ take care of himself. He secretly wet oen of his fingers before swiping the edge of his plate where he had poured some salt for himself and licked it off unable to look up.

“Young man, you do not tell a sick old lady what she should or shouldn’t do. I don’t even know you.”

“Rowen Hashiba. I’m from Osaka but born in New York.” He said dryly grinning as he sits back in his chair crossing his arms. “I’m dating your lovely son over here.”

“ROWEN!!” Cye sat up straight shoving the other in the arm as best he could. “M-Mother I …” He was mortified that she knew until he met eyes with Rowen then smiled weakly. “…t-that is no lie..just-“

Sitting up that fast had left him dizzy. His blood pressure had already been high with the nervousness of eating with his mother and being unable to eat. His vision started to go dark and he wanted to warn Rowen but his body wouldn’t move.

He was going to faint right here in front of his mother.

“Yeah we’ve been datin’ for about six months and-“

Cye fell to the side going limp, the chair tipping slightly. Rowen’s eyes widened and he reached out steadying the chair then caught the smaller body as it pitched forward. He sighed looking around nervously as he supported Cye’s head against his shoulder. “W-Woah, okay buddy, I gotcha.. I gotcha…”

He couldn’t tell whether Cye’s mother was upset, shocked, angry, worried.. she was emotionless. “Hey can you wet a napkin and hand it over?”

The old lady just stared at him not moving.

“Look lady, I know you’re just bein’ stubborn over there. Your son needs a wet compress if you want him to come back faster. Otherwise, there is no tellin’ how long we’ll be waitin’ it out. Would you rather him wake up now or wait and possibly cause a scene.”

This time she huffed but followed directions before handing it over. He took his gratefully then pressed it on Cye’s collarbone, “Come on buddy…now is not the place to fall asleep.”

A few seconds later a moan is heard and Cye’s eyes fluttered but didn’t open. “There we go, we’ve got movement.” Rowen let out a sigh of relief but didn’t move. He could feel Cye trying to move his body and reached down guiding one of the wandering hands to his shirt and the other to his arm. “I’m here. You’re at a restaurant with me and your mom.”

Mrs. Mouri only looked annoyed at the scene in front of her she was forced to be apart of. She looked down at her food, “I believe I’ve had enough of this. Cye stop making a scene and sit up straight or I’ll make you do it.”

“Over my dead body.”

“Then you hurry it up. This is embarrassing. I can’t very well call for the check if he is like this. What will people think?” She hisses.

“The same thing I am of why you aren’t helpin’.”

“I refuse to encourage this behavior. He has no reason to do this except to make a scene and I’ve had enough.” She starts to stand.

“He has a fucking medical condition, what more do you want lady!? He’s been doing his best to hide this from you but there is only so much he can do before his body gives out.”

“You’re very vulgar.”

“You don’t know the half of it. Where are you going?”

“Leaving. Since he doesn’t want to spend time with me.”

“HE FAINTED. He doesn’t have control over this what don’t you understand?!” Rowen’s voice raised a bit louder and started to get the attention of a few other people in the restaurant.

“Yes, your party is over here.” A waitress walked a familiar face over.

“Oh Sayako, thank goodness can you talk some sense into your brother, he-“

Sayako pushed past her mother dropping her purse at her feet before kneeling where Rowen was holding Cye up. “How long has he been out?”

“Way too long. I tried to cold compress on his collar bone.”

“Have you tried his wrists?”

“Don’t have enough hands. Someone wouldn’t help.”

Sayako stands glaring at her mother before pulling her hair into a low pony tail. She then picks up her purse and cleans her hands with antibacterial then reaches into her mothers water pulling out two ice cubes.

“SAYAKO!”

“You’re not drinking it. If I’m not mistaken you’re leaving.” She turns and presses each ice cube against her brother’s wrists watching worried. “Come on, Cye… you can do it.” She encourages slightly hoping to get two unfocused eyes looking at her and Rowen.

The hands that were gripping randomly started to get an actual grip and Rowen sighed relieved, “He’s comin’ back for real this time.” He looked up and saw Cye’s mother had disappeared leaving them behind. “She really left..”

Sayako shook her head, “Don’t worry about her right now. If you do, she’s won. That’s what she wants. Let’s focus on Cye.”

Rowen let his hand drop from Cye’s head but hovered nervously, he was relieved Cye could hold it up on his own now. “Hey.. welcome back.” He picked up the glass of water Cye had been nursing the entire meal and held the straw for him. “Sip at it slowly.”

Sayako watches hovering over the both of them. She sees his eyes move to her and she smiles, “Why hello there.”

“When did you?”

“About 5 minutes ago.” She takes a seat at the other end of the table, his gaze followed her. She saw his face drop. “No, don’t you dare blame yourself. You did nothing wrong.”

“I-I couldn’t stop it from happening.. I tried a-and..” His hands started to shake as he blinked tears out of his eyes. He felt hands go over his and his glass of water was removed and sat down before a warm hand held his.

“Cye look at me.” Rowen moved his face until he met up with Cye. “You can’t control how often or when you faint. You know this. You can’t always predict it. The doctor has confirmed this.”

“But I scared my mother away and she wanted to have lunch and-“

“You didn’t scare anyone away. If she left because she was scared, she’s a coward. You’re her son, Cye. She’s a mom, she faces scary things all the time when it comes to you and Sayako. A real mother would have stayed.”

“D-Don’t say that … she is a real mother.. s-she just…” He trails off biting his lip. He falls back into his chair, Rowen not letting him fall back too hard. “…doesn’t believe me. She thinks I’m bloody faking it.”

Sayako sighs, “I honestly don’t think she’s ready to admit it, Cye. Until she is, it won’t matter. That’s why I was hesitant for you to meet her for lunch to begin with.”

Rowen scoots his chair closer and pulls Cye into a slow hug. “Come here. You did your best. She was just trying to get you to have a fight with her. I was proud of you for not givin’ in.”

“You certainly didn’t.. you and she started to just go off.”

Rowen grins proudly, “What can I say? I was raised in America, we don’t take a lot of that crap sitting down. Besides, it got the attention off of you and onto me.”

[rwfanficrw]

I saw on TikTok that sometimes you can get infusions for POTS but they aren’t always a quick fix. So an after math of Cye getting one.

Writing pissed off Sage is so much fun.

Oh and the Rowen x Cye is sickeningly sweet. 😅😏

“You said the infusions would help.”

“Mr. Date, I told you that they may help. We won’t know for certain and the pain he’s feeling could just be from traveling. You told me that traveling wears him out. The infusions do take time to work and take affect. You will know for sure by next week.”

“And if this flare up isn’t a normal one and he’s been in agony because we’ve been “waiting it out”?”

“We won’t know until after the waiting period. Go through the normal procedures and do your best to act normal. Panicking my patient will do you no good and I won’t be happy.”

“Right.” He then hung up without another word all but slamming the receiver down. He knew he needed to go back in and help Rowen and Cye.

Rowen claimed to have it under control but in reality one person couldn’t handle a flare up this bad on their own.

It’s why Cye needed help to begin with.

He sighed trying to calm down. She was right about one thing, panicking Cye wouldn’t help and would only make the symptoms worse. He just felt responsible for all of this. He had been the one to convince Cye to trek out to the furthest end of Japan for a week and get the treatment.

They went with the hope it would be an instant fix and it was anything but.

He knew there would be some sort of flare up after Cye traveled, there always was. He just didn’t expect it to be this bad.

“Sage? Buddy, we need that ice pack.”

“On it.” The blonde shook his head trying to clear his thoughts and hurries to the small kitchen. He opens the freezer and pulls out two ice packs wrapping them up in tea towels then opens the refridgerator and pulls out a bottle of water and a sports drink. He placed it all on a tray before digging through the bag that was always carried outside of the house.

He pulls out a packet of liquid IV and pours it into the water bottle. Screwing the cap back on it he then shakes it to get it mixed before hurrying into the other room. “Cye? Did you unpack the anti-nausea already?”

“He says no.”

“Ok, here take this.” Sage hands off the full tray sparing a look into the room. He wasn’t surprised to see Cye on the floor sitting up as best he could leaning against the edge of the bed barely staying up right. “Down the salt and sip at the liquid IV at the very least.”

Rowen takes the offered tray, “Alright ya heard the man.”

Cye silently reaches out waiting for the salt packet. His eyes were barely open as he held the salt packet to his mouth trying to open it that way. He didn’t want his other hand to leave the ground, it was helping the dizziness. His hands were shaking too badly to hold it.

It fell into his lap and he hunched over trying not to give into the frustration and pain of it all. “t-this is bloody ridiculous… i-I can’t do a-anything…”

He heard movement and knew Rowen was coming to help. It was a relief but at the same time just cemented the fact that he was all but helpless right now.

“Easy buddy. You just do your best to survive ok? We can’t take the pain away but we can help give you things to make it better.” Rowen smiles weakly trying to keep the others spirits up. He picks up the discarded salt packet and tears it open. “Here, open.”

Relucantly the other obeys and the salt is poured into his mouth. A slight face is made as it’s swallowed.

“There ya go. Liquid IV comin’ up.” Rowen shakes the water bottle again before opening it up and helps Cye hold it. “Just sip at it, no need to throw it up… your puke was blue last time. Like you ate smurfs.”

He could tell the other was over heating. He gently pressed the back of his hand to the flushed cheeks biting his lip worried. Slowly he pulls the water bottle away before picking up one of the ice packs. He presses it gently to the younger warriors collar bone getting a hiss of pain. “I know, but you’re over heated. We need to cool ya down.”

He gently tugs Cye forward so the other is resting his face against his shoulder. He hugs him trying to help, “I know buddy, I know… this is plain awful right now. Sage spoke to the doc, surely she had good news. Don’t worry I ain’t leavin’. Neither is Sage. We’ll ride this out together just like we always do.”

Cye nodded but didn’t say anything. He didn’t have much hope at this point. He sat up slightly a few seconds later massaging one of his hands. The pins and needles were back and they were getting worse.

“Uncross your legs and flex your feet and hands.”

They both look up to see Sage coming in with the desired anti nausea. The blonde joined them on the floor reaching out to gently flex one of the socked feet being as gentle as he could. He gets a moan of discomfort, “I know. It’s not the best but we need to get blood flowing. If I thought you could stand, we’d do that but you can’t.”

“Maybe if he props his feet up it’ll help?”

“Good idea. Want to try?”

The younger warrior nods trying to hold the emotions inside. He felt useless and a burden at the same time. “I-I apologize about this and-“ He was cut off by a short kiss from Rowen on the lips.

“Don’t think twice. Like I said, we’re here and we’re not going anywhere. I promised I wouldn’t leave your side and I meant it. I’ll keep remindin’ ya until you remember. Now come on, lean into me.”

“But I’ll faint.”

“Won’t be the first time or the last.” He reassured him. “Just breathe through your nose.”

Together the other two manuevered Cye to where he was laying on his back then Sage bent the legs at the knee and propped them up on the bed.

It would either make Cye feel better or it would cause him to faint. They would know almost immediately.

They waited hoping for the better of the two but Cye went limp against Rowen, his head falling to the side. The blue haired warrior caught his head and moved it to his lap.

“Blast it all. He just came back before I made the phone call.” Sage sat back down holding the legs in place.

[rwfanficrw]

An AU of how Ryo finds out about the POTS. People wanted a Ryo fic so I delivered 😅 however looking at it, only the beginning and the end has been written.. sooo there is an actual story that was supposed to happen. This must have been one of the late night fanfic vomit. It’s 12 pages.

Ryo looked around his friends apartment a bit nervous as he stood in the doorway. He had taken his shoes off and was ready to step in but he and Sage had come in at a bad time? He had caught something about a fainting spell in the shower and was told to stay where he was.

So he did.

He shifts uncomfortably on his socked feet before stepping into the hallway. He stops at seeing the sitting room and tilts his head grinning as he sees the giant stuffed killer whale. He walks over and kneels down petting it’s head.

He looks around the room relaxing a bit more at seeing the fish tanks and plants, then his eyes stop on the familiar skyblue hoodie.

“I’ll get it. Hang on. No, yer not goin’ anywhere. Stay with Sage. Are you sure you need THAT hoodie? Alright alright…if I were a skyblue hoodie where would I-”

He lifts his head and stands back up properly. “Maybe, check the couch?”

Rowen startles not expecting to see Ryo in Cye’s living room. He takes the saught after hoodie trying to figure out, “…when…how..”

“Sage. He said that I could join when you guys took Cye out to lunch and to find him a new jacket?”

“Ah you’re going to be the heater.”

“Huh.”

“Long story. Look, uh, take a seat. Somethin’ happened and we just need to take care of it, ok? I’m not sure if Cye wants ya back there…” He sighs heavily as Ryo’s expression drops. “Look, its not just you. Kento wouldn’t be allowed back there either.”

“I-Is he okay at least?”

“Cye? Yeah. He’s lucky he’s got Torrent. Without it… we maybe in the hospital.”

“Wait what?!”

“Stay here Ryo.”

“Rowen are you crazy!? Where is he?” Ryo pushes past him running down the hallway, “Cye?!”

Rowen groans before chasing after him, “Ryo!”

The bearer of Wildire skidded to a stop in the doorway to the bedroom. His eyes widened nervously at seeing his friend all but naked on the side of the bed, Sage was beside him holding a towel to his head. “C-Cye? Dude are you okay?!”

Cye startles moving quickly to try and cover himself but is held fast by Sage. “R-Ryo…I-I…”

“He’ll be fine Ryo. He fainted in the shower.” The blonde states carefully. He looked past Ryo to see a frustrated Rowen standing behind him. “Did you get the hoodie?”

“Yeah, I got it. Buddy, are you sure you want to put it on? If your head is bleedin’, it’ll mess it up.”

“B-Bleeding..”

“The armor will heal it in a few hours.” Sage reassured Ryo and Cye.

Cye blushes bright red mortified at Ryo seeing him like this. Ryo blinked before turning around so he wouldn’t see. “Uh sorry, bud. Just got worried when Rowen said you were hurt.”

“..it was my fault. I stood up in the shower. I shouldn’t have.” The younger one admitted.

“Shouldn’t have what? Did you trip?” He asked.

He looked up from where his back was turned and saw Rowen’s eyes narrow, “Yeah, dunno about trippin’”

“Oh alright, I tried to stand and get something that I should have had already down on the ground with me.” Cye muttered obviously caught by the tone of his voice. “Then the blood rushed to my head and I woke up on the ground with Rowen screaming for Sage. Sorry Ryo, I bet it was a bloody racket earlier.”

Ryo heard Cye wince and then heard rustling. He stole a peak and saw Cye had his hoodie on and was having help getting the rest on. He turned back around at seeing Sage shake his head.

“Bloody was one word for it. Are you going to let me use Halo to heal it faster or are you going to be stubborn and go out shopping with a head injury?” The blonde holds his arms out on either side of the youngest warrior ready to catch him or steady him if a blood pressure drop or spike happened while pulling his jeans on.

“Should he even be out shoppin’? What if he has a concussion an’ we just don’t know about it.” Rowen asks taking the bloodied towel out into the laundry room.

“Halo will tell me if anything like that happened.”

“Ok, Ryo.. you can turn a-around..” Cye leans on Sage’s arms hanging his head slightly as he does his best to catch his breath. He was light headed. His hand weakly grasped at his friend’s arm to stay up right.

Ryo moved closer not liking how unsteady the other was, “Woah, dude. You ok?”

“You need to sit.” Sage stated not giving the other another option.

“Not here. T-The couch.”

“Are you going to make it to the couch?”

The water bearer nodded determined.

The other just sighed heavily, “Ok, lean on me. Ryo stay close, I may need your help.”

*~*

Rowen stepped out of the laundry room finally confident that the stain would more than likely come out of the towel and walked back to the bed room, it was empty.

“We’re in here.” Ryo called from the den.

He walked into the sitting area and saw Cye was laying on the couch, a compress over his eyes. Sage was kneeling beside him meditating. By the green glow of both of them he knew Halo was being used.

“Everything ok?”

“Uh I think so… Cye said he felt sick to his stomach and his eyes hurt. So I helped him lay down and I got a warm compress… I think he fell asleep. Then Sage started to heal him with Halo.” Ryo explained watching as Rowen walks to the couch and leans over the side gently lifted the compress temporarily.

“Yeah he’s asleep. Good. He needs to rest.” Rowen looks up to the other. “Don’t worry. Once he wakes up and eats somethin’ we’ll be on the road.”

*~*

Ryo stumbles up the stairs holding one of Cye’s arms over one of his shoulders. He looks to Rowen smiling nervously as the younger warrior hung limply between them. “…i-is this normal?”

“Ryo, I don’t know what normal is anymore. He can faint at any given moment, you just get used to making do. I am upset that the elevator is out. While it would have caused him to faint, he wouldn’t be having to do this. I put several requests in this week to have it fixed.” The archer grumbled as he pushed the door open to the fifth floor. “And before you say anythin’ yeah, Sage and I have spoken about him possibly changing apartments.”

“But Rowen who-”

“I know. I know.” The unasked question hung heavily in silence as Rowen pulled the totebag off of Cye’s shoulder gently, “Here. Take this and find the key. I’ve got him.” He manuevers himself in a familiar stance catching all of Cye’s weight against himself. He moves his shoulder in a way that gently catches the other’s head as it drops. “Should be on an orca keychain.”

The bearer of Wildfire drops to his knees as he digs through the skyblue totebag. “You know if you give this to Mia, she could organize it…her purse has like all of these pockets and small bags…its’ weird but efficient.”

Rowen smirks, “So you’ve been into her purse, have you?”

“Well, when I forget my house key and hers is at the bottom of her bag, yeah?” Ryo tilts his head confused missing the joke.

They go quiet as Cye moans groggily. The one holding him up sighs relieved, “Easy buddy. Take your time. I’ve got ya. Ryo’s unlockin’ the door and Sage is parkin’ the car.”

“Got it!” Ryo grins happily as he opens the door and holds it open. “Uh need help?”

Rowen looks the youngest warrior over trying to gauge how fast he was waking up. He looks into the half focused eyes and smiles, “Cye? How many heads do I have?”

“…t-too many.”

“Ok, yep. I’ll need yer help.”

Ryo holds the door open with his foot as he turns holding an arm out. He tries not to act shocked as an ice cold hand weakly grips it. “D-Dude, you’re freezing…”

“…sorry Ryo..” Cye leans most of his weight into Rowen as they help him inside. His legs were still numb and about gave out once inside. “R-Ro!”

“Alright, enough of this game. Up and at ‘em.” The other picks up the smaller warrior in a cradle carry in one swoop and holds him in his arms. “To the couch we go.”

“..but my tea. Sage promised-”

“Ryo can put the kettle on the stove. Besides, you need electrolytes and sodium first.”

Ryo lifts his head at hearing a heavy grumbling sigh and familiar “..fine…” smiling slightly at hearing his friend sound somewhat back to normal.

*~*

“Ryo? Can you hold the door open for me?” Sage calls from the otherside.

“You got it-“ Ryo pulls the door open again and moves out of the way. “I still can’t believe we got all of this at the same time.”

“This is nothing. What I can’t believe is that we have to carry it up to the fifth floor.” The blonde sighs as he sets the first armful down. “However, he’s needed this. Thank you for going. Kento is too loud about things and would have made a big deal out of it all.”

“Out of what? Clothes?”

Sage nods, “He still can’t wrap his mind around everything happening with the POTS and the changes it’s causing…mainly all of this. He would have gotten Cye worked up.”

This time Wildfire’s eyes widened, “…he’s lost weight…I thought he looked smaller b-but Cye’s already so small…”

“Yeah. I know. He doesn’t know the extent of it but he’s not blind. We basically got him a new wardrobe. What I want your help with though this is.” He pulls out a new bedding set. “Can you go remake his bed. I need all five layers on it and this heating blanket on high under the top.”

“Uh sure.” Ryo grins. “I think I can manage that!”

“How is he?”

“Cye fainted halfway up the first flight of stairs. Ro and I carried him up the rest. When he woke up, he said Rowen had too many heads and I think he about collapsed on us. Rowen just carried him to the den after that.”

Sage sighed pulling his coat off hanging it by the door. “I was afraid of that.”

“I put water on the stove but Rowen mentioned electroyltes and sodium?”

“I’ll get that together. Go make the bed. Going out wears him out, so he’ll be in bed in a few hours I’m sure.”

“…i-in bed?”

“The POTS takes his energy away a lot faster. He’ll be in bed at least for tomorrow if not the next day before he’s up on his feet again. Go on and make the bed.”

Ryo looks down at the new flannel sheets and soft but heavy blankets, “…s-sure.”

Sage watches him go down the hallway before he picks up another one of the new blankets and shakes it out. It was a second heated blanket. “Cye? Rowen?” His voice dropped in volume slightly knowing the younger warrior would more than likely have a headache.

“In here.” Rowen answered. He looks up grinning, “Alright! Cye, he pulled out one of those fancy heated blankets.” His hand dropped back down onto the red hair as gently as he can. The other warrior was curled up on his side, head in Rowen’s lap as he dozed in and out peacefully.

“He’s asleep.”

“Good. Better than earlier.”

“I heard he was dizzy when he woke up.” The blonde reaches around the couch to plug the blanket in then lays it over the smaller frame tucking it in. “Ryo is remaking the bed with everything we got.”

“How is Ryo doing?”

“What do you mean?”

“Sage, this is his first time dealin’ with all of this. You forget that we’re used to it by now.” Rowen shakes his head sighing. “And it’s not something we should be used to…”

“I’ll go check on Ryo. Just let him rest for a bit. Will you be ok?”

“Just hand me that book and I’ll be fine.”

Sage turns and looks to where the other is visually pointing with his head and picks it up handing it over. “Ok, I’ll be back. Call if anything happens. We’re right down the hallway.”

*~*

Ryo’s hands shake as he pulls on the bottom sheet onto his friend’s bed. He used his armors power and put a little bit of heat on the cloth each time he touched it leaving it comfortably warm once he was done.

His mind was racing on how he had missed all of this during the war with Talpa and even after. When they were in New York it wasn’t this bad… or was it? Rowen and Kento stuck so close to Cye it was hard to really get a word in edge wise. That one time they were alone, Cye had stayed away almost guarded against him knowing anything.

He had taken that as that it was handled and to not stick his nose in it. But now… he was always there when Mia was on the phone with Sage getting updates. He saw her features drop with each call and could hear the concern in her voice as she tried to help.

It was always a speciality doctor and a hospital trip or something about the symptoms that got worse. He had been relieved when Sage asked him if he wanted to help Cye find a winter coat. He didn’t know it would mean all of this.

He was thankful to be apart of it but … that wasn’t his friend that he’d faught Talpa with. It was Cye but … he shakes his head.

“It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it?”

He turns and sees Sage in the doorway. “How do you do it?”

“When you’re forced into the situation and have someone who depends on you to figure it out so he doesn’t accidentally kill himself when fainting… you figure it out really fast.” Sage sighs walking over to help Ryo finish making the bed. “He needs Rowen and I to help him wade through all of this.”

“You don’t blink an eye at any of it though. Cye faints on Rowen and he just catches him like it’s nothing and –“

“Ryo, Cye faints at least twenty times a day. The shock factor wears off pretty quickly. What you saw today was a good day. He only fainted eight times. Yesterday, he went down on us at least 30-35 times before he was forced to the couch. That’s just what his POTS does.” He shrugs. “I’m not saying that to scare you…it just is what it is… we haven’t had time to be scared. It all happened so fast.”

“Cye’s really grateful you’re here.”

The blonde glanced over at him before smiling, “I’m not sure about that. I nag him about eating right and I refuse him his tea most of the time.”

“How did it happen?”

“Ryo, you really don’t need to know-“

“Sage, don’t hide it from me. I can take it.”

Halo tucked the blankets in one at a time before he stands up. “Hand me Wildfire then I’ll tell you.”

“What? Why!?”

“Do it.”

Ryo holds his hand out and his armor orb appeared in his hand. It glowed red before “virtue” appeared on it. The other reaches out and takes it turning the light down, the power going with it. “Sage, what is going on?”

“Talpa did it.”

Ryo’s blue eyes narrowed, “W-What?!”

“Shh. Don’t be so loud. This is why you weren’t told.” Sage closed the door behind them. “And why I took Wildfire. Cye would never forgive you if you toasted his room.”

“What do you mean Talpa did this?”

“Talpa took our life forces when he captured us. He kept threatening that we’d never be the same afterwards. Apparently he somehow got more of Cye’s than he got of Kento and I. I-It sadly came back as an auto immune response.”

“….what?” The color drained from the other warriors face as he sat down on the edge of the bed. “i-if Rowen and I had gotten out there faster and …and rescued you guys we could have-“

“Ryo, we don’t know that. Cye was the first one to be captured by Talpa. It could have happened at any time from that point onward.”

“No, Sage. It’s not ..this isn’t….Cye is that way because of us?! Because of Rowen and I?!”

The blond watches as the other paces a bit, “Calm down. Cye doesn’t need to hear any of this. He was adamanet about you not knowing because of this.” He sighs realizing that the other wasn’t going to calm down that easily. “Look, go outside and scream if you need to but you’re not getting Wildfire back until you’re calm. Cye needs you if you can stand it but I can’t fault you for panicking.”

Ryo pushes past Sage and all but runs down the hallway and out of the apartment complex. The other sighs and stands still holding the armor orb in his hand. Halo’s power was calming what it could of the Wildfire’s flame but it was still hot in his hands.

Nothing he could say or do would fix any of what Ryo was feeling. He, Rowen and Kento had already processed it all in their own way.

It was Ryo’s turn.

*~*

Rowen lifts his head hearing someone come almost running down the hall. He sighed and covered both of Cye’s ears as the other slept so he wouldn’t here.

“Well, I told him.”

“Went well I see.” He half jokes smiling sadly. His smile drops off at seeing the Wildfire Armor orb in Sage’s hand. It was glowing and it looked like it hurt to hold.

“As well as it could have. He didn’t “toast” the room as Kento would say. I made him give me his armor orb before he could hear what happened.” The blonde sighs shifting the ball in his hands. “He’s still mad though, I can feel it.”

“Maybe ya should get a hot mitt or something.”

Rowen watches as the other leaves wordlessly to go do just that. He sighs leaning back into the couch looking down at the youngest warrior as he slept. He smiles slightly petting the other’s head gently, “You’re lucky you’re cute, buddy…”

He couldn’t blame Ryo for being angry when he himself was still livid at himself for not being there to save everyone sooner. If he and Ryo had gotten there earlier, in theory, Cye wouldn’t have wound up like this.

“Hey Sage..”

“Yeah?”

“Here, do you mind switchin’ with me?”

Sage raised an eyebrow, Rowen had never asked that question before when with Cye like this. “Where are you going?”

“The only one who can talk to Ryo about this is someone who was there… it was just he and I. I dunno, maybe it’ll help if it’s me.” Rowen shifts slightly letting Sage hold Cye up so he can pull away then the other takes his spot. “I’ll go find him.”

He saw Sage get comfortable out of the corner of his eye and relaxed knowing Cye had someone to curl up against and wouldn’t wake up for awhile if he was lucky.

Now he just had to find Ryo.

*~*

The bearer of Wildfire lifted his head as he heard his name. He turned around and saw Rowen hurrying to meet him. “Rowen… what are you doing out here? What about Cye… is Sage with him? Is he awake?”

“Uhh out here to find you,” Rowen counts off his fingers as he answers the questions. “Cye is still fast asleep and yeah Sage is with him. You can’t really leave him alone these days without supervision… the whole fainting thing.”

“Rowen, we could have prevented all of this from happening. Cye is like this because of US. We took our time getting to the Dynasty when we should have just jumped in.”

“Ryo, don’t do this to yourself.”

“How can I not?! Rowen, it was OUR job to save the guys. They depended on US and we failed them.” Ryo groans frustrated again heaving as his usual energy isn’t gone with a rush of fire. He was pacing a bit instead. “N-Now Cye… he can barely walk without help.. he needs Supervision or he can crack his head open…”

“Ryo lis-“

“Does Cye know it was Talpa?! That we failed him!? Does Kento know as well?”

“Ryo stop. Listen to me. Cye does know. As soon as the symptoms started to appear, Sage got ahold of Kayura through Halo. She helped him figure it out.”

“How can you help Cye knowing you caused it?”

Rowen stood there staring at the other trying to come up with an answer. He didn’t have one that he could verbally answer with. He felt that pit start growing in his stomach again, the one he thought he’d gotten rid of. “Ryo..”

“I couldn’t look him in the eye.. I-I can’t…Talpa did this and we helped him do it because we were too slow. We took too much time thinking!”

“He doesn’t blame us…” He finally got out. “D-Damn it, Ryo. Cye doesn’t blame either of us. Its why he didn’t want you knowing. He took his time telling you and Kento because of this. You and I did what we had to so we could get to them. We moved as fast as we could.”

“You just act like its all okay – its not!”

“No, it’s not. You’re right. It’s fuckin’ awful in that apartment. You don’t think we know this!? Sage and I have been sole caretakers of Cye for almost a year and a half, Ryo. You’re acting like we don’t know all of this. Yes, he needs help. A lot of it. Yes, he faints a lot. He can’t control any of it, Ryo. He’s terrified of what’s happening but thankful we’re all here. It’s terrifying every time he faints on us. None of what’s happening is “ok” Ryo. But he’s alive and we’re doing the best we can.”

“But Rowen-“

“If you can’t see him again right now, that’s fine. I’ll just let him know you had somewhere to be. But do not come back in there lashing out. He doesn’t need that. He’s already so worried about what you guys are going to see if he’s not at his best. But he can’t hide this POTS like he thinks he can.”

Ryo bites back tears hanging his head. “N-No, you can both do this… I should be able to.”

“If it helps, Kento can’t do it yet either.” Rowen offers heaving a sigh. “He’s ok as long as things are normal but once it turns into,” He motions towards the apartment. “He has to bow out. Cye’s ok with it. I’m ok with it. Sage is as well. He doesn’t think you love him any less.”

Ryo stood there quietly fidgeting nervously. He wrings his hands and as he spoke this time his voice broke slightly, “…but why Cye…? Why out of all of us did..did Talpa do that to him? If it had been any of us….”

“I know.”

“…it wasn’t the white armor?” Came another weak question.

“Kayura didn’t say it was. It was Talpa’s influence on Torrent and the life force he pulled from Cye.”

Ryo swallowed nervously unable to hold back a few tears almost out of relief. Rowen tilts his head worried, “Buddy what is it?”

“….it wasn’t my fault then?”

Rowen blinks then shakes his head, “No, Ryo. It wasn’t your fault. It wasn’t any of our faults. I-It just …it happened. We can help now. Talpa is dead. Cye is alive. We need to keep him that way. Can you help us..?”

Ryo nodded more firmly than before, “Of course.. I don’t know a lot but can you teach me?”

“We’d love too and don’t worry, Cye isn’t always like this. He’s just having a hard day. Just wait until it’s a normal day and he’s nagging you about something.” Rowen grins stretching. “Sometimes you just wish he’d faint to give you a break.”

The other smiles his shoulders drop, “Kento said he’s really bad about that.”

“You don’t know the half of it. Come on, you can be there when Cye wakes up. He was nappin’.” Rowen tugs Ryo to his side giving him a half hug before leading him back inside.

[rwfanficrw]

Sicktember Day 1

Sicktember 2024

Day 1: “I’m not hungover, I’m just sick” (Or vise versa)

Notes: Still getting my feet wet but the general plot is the same as my original. I'm just trying not to write 20 pages of it XD

“You drank too much last night, I told you to be careful.”

Cye rolled his eyes turning away from the other that entered the kitchen behind him. He just sipped at his tea knowing it would help. “You drank like a fish as well if I recall.”

“Yeah well, I don’t have POTS.” Rowen walked up behind him reaching up to get a coffee cup out, his other hand pressed gently on the small of the other’s back. He sat his cup down then glances over at hearing the grumbling, “You can pout all ya want, buddy, but you know how it messes with ya.”

He looked around the kitchen and realized Cye had still made coffee that morning. They had stopped making it once Sage went to America. Rowen couldn’t (well Cye wouldn’t let him) drink the entire pot by himself. “Don’t tell me you’re drinking coffee now..”

“What? No. Mia said she was coming over and so I thought you both would enjoy it. I prefer my tea, thank you very much.” The younger warrior looks back down at his tea trying to ignore how crappy he felt. He sighs, “Rowen.”

“Hm?”

“…do you think Sage is alright? I-I mean he wasn’t at the party last night and he wasn’t back soon enough for that doctor’s appointment – the way he spoke two weeks ago, there was no way he was missing it.” Cye rambled a bit between English and Japanese. Something he did when he was nervous and worrying. “I’m probably over reacting a-and all that but..”

The blue haired warrior takes a sip of his coffee glancing over, “You remember last night?”

“What? Of course I remember… well… most of it anyway.” At Rowen’s raised eyebrow the youngest warrior sighed loudly, “The important things, Rowen!! I remember he wasn’t there and I remember that doctor’s appointment… the way he went off about it, I knew you both had something planned.”

��Easy buddy, easy.” The other laughed walking over. He reaches out and steadies Cye as he wavers. “No need to get all worked up. Sage didn’t want to miss it because it was a new doctor. With the last three being duds, he and I were both ready to go in there guns blazing. I think he was more there to stop me from causing a typhoon, but regardless… and yeah it was weird about Ryo’s birthday. I think that’s why Mia is coming over later.”

They were silent for a few seconds before Cye’s eyes widened, “Oh no. The apartment, it’s a mess.” He pushes past Rowen hurrying into the sitting area. “Come along, pick up your clothes and shoes…the plates are in here a-and..”

Rowen followed a bit slower then realized how much the apartment had gone to the wayside. Before POTS, Cye was obsessed with keeping everything clean. Once it hit though, the water bearer didn’t have the energy to keep it up.

It wasn’t a disaster by any means but it definitely looked lived in.

…minus those plates and half empty glasses.

He sighs, “Ok look, I’ll clean up if you’ll rest.”

“I can’t rest with my home looking as it is and we’re both in our pajamas. What will Mia think?”

“That we both got ourselves drunk at our Best Friend’s birthday?” Rowen picks up a plate then a glass. “Sit down before you faint.”

The other wavered unsteadily before leaning against the back of his couch taking a few deep breaths. It wasn’t that he could control the fainting, if he was going down, he’d go regardless. But sometimes he’d get lucky and breathe his way through it.

“Listen to me – just because Sage could be missin’ does not mean we let the POTS and your health go down the drain.” Rowen says as he comes back into the den. He hurries over and catches Cye as he sags to the side. “I gotcha.” He gently eases himself and Cye to the ground before helping the other sit up against the back of the couch.

Cye leaned back his breathing heavy, “…s-so you think something is wrong?”

“Well yeah. You’re about to faint, buddy.” At the half glare he sighed, “Yeah I do. But I can’t focus on finding him if I’m too worried about you falling apart.”

“I can take care of myself..”

“By drinking too much and not nursing the hang over?”

Cye’s head dropped to Rowen’s shoulder, his eyes closed as he realized he hadn’t prevented it. He feels a hand pressing against his forehead and leans into it.

“I’ll be here when you wake up.”

Rowen sits back relaxing a bit at feeling Cye go limp against him. The relief was only temporary. He was only relieved it had happened now instead of later where he couldn’t be there to catch him.

Now he was left alone with his own thoughts.

If Sage was missing how was he going to get to New York and help Cye with the POTS at the same time? The diagnosis was only a few months old and they were still figuring it out. The fact that Cye wasn’t in the hospital this morning was an accomplishment and one he was proud of.

But now what?

[rwfanficrw]

The Official Sicktember 2024 Prompts List

Event FAQ Text Post [Link to Post]

2024 Prompt-Based Resources [Link to Post]

Past Prompts Text Post [Link to Post]

How to Submit Content for promotion [Link to Post]

Sicktember 2024 AO3 Collection [Link]

Announcements [Link to #Event Notice]

** Text Version of the 2024 Prompts Can be Found Below.

“I’m not hungover, I’m just sick” (Or vise versa)

Too Much of a Good Thing/Overindulgence

Campus/Con Crud

“Great. I Got a Cold for My Birthday.”

Rogue Organ (tonsils, spleen, appendix, gall bladder ect…)

Dizziness/Vertigo

Borrowed Hoodie

“The closest doctor is probably hours away from here!”

Overdramatic Patient/Caretaker 

The Sniffles ™ 

Medieval Treatment

“You’re not fine, you’re throwing up/coughing up a lung”

Mononucleosis

Clean Sheets/Fresh Pajamas

"Who decided __ is ‘sick people food?’"

Toxin/Poison

Brain Fog/Spaced Out 

“My body is one big ache”

Hypochondriac Tendencies 

Medication Bribery

Anaphylactic Response

“You didn’t use my cup, did you?”

Under a Spell

 Tales From the Waiting Room

Summer Flu

Heart Condition/Cardiac Arrest

“This is non-negotiable"

Pulling a ‘Ferris Bueller’

Sick on a Road Trip

Past Prompt of Your Choice! 

Alts

Hospital Bed

“I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

First Aid Kit

Flushed Cheeks

Doctor's Note

[rwfanficrw]

Stuffed Animal Addiction

One of my favorite stuffed animal drabbles XD it shows up in the Gaiden plot in the main story as well. This was just a spin off of the idea.

My friend and I saw a killer whale squishmellow and it went down hill from there. We're dangerous with each other.

POTS Stuffed Animals

“Kento, do you really think that Cye is going to like this?” Rowen asked as he looked down at the stuffed animal in his arms.

“Dude, you’ve been living with him for the past year and you haven’t seen his collection?” Kento tilts his head. “Did he really hide it all?”

“All?”

The bearer of Hardrock grins placing his hands behind his head leaning back a bit, “He told me when we first met that his goal was to have a plushie for every fish in the sea. Not to mention any stuffed killer whale he sees, he immediately gets it.”

“I’ve seen the big one on the couch and Suki of course but…”

“You said he’s been feeling down right? I mean, I can’t blame him being stuck in bed most of the time…”

“It’s a flare up, Kento. Once it passes he’ll be on his feet again.”

“You need to find his stuffed animals and pull them out. He probably picked them up to clean then kept fainting and never got them back up again.” The other looks up thinking. “That closet when you first walk into his apartment is where they stay. His squishmellows should also be in there..”

“His squish what?”

Kento stops and points to the window of a shop, “Those things. They are big and soft. Ya know, I think they’d help his POTS. Especially when he’s all achy and sore.”

“I’ll have to find all of this when I get back. Are you sure you don’t want to come back and see him?”

The other shakes his head looking away, “…I know it’s selfish but I can’t see him when he’s like this. I-I know it’s still Cye but…”

“I know. Trust me, I know. Don’t start gettin’ any bad ideas in your head though. He’s fine. He’s just tired. At most Sage and I will take him in for an IV otherwise, he’ll just sleep it off and be up on his feet nagging you in no time.”

*~*

Sage was pulled out of the light meditation he had put himself into at hearing the front door open. He lowered his hands then turns his head waiting for a few seconds.

Today wasn’t a good day and that door could have been either one of them.

“Cye. Go back to bed. You’re not leaving. You have no reason to leave.” He states calmly getting to his feet ready to escort the younger warrior back to bed.

During the bad days with a flare up, the other would get easily confused and try to do things he had no strength for. He had already stopped him from trying to bake some sort of pie and put him back to bed twice.

To his relief he saw Rowen instead, “Oh, you’re back.”

“Don’t sound so excited.” The other says playfully.

“Look it’s been an interesting afternoon…. You know who keeps trying to escape.”

“Ah, that’s why you’re meditating near the door. Got it.” Rowen looks past him down the hallway, “Is he awake?”

“Doubtful. Before I helped him back to bed the last time, he got sick in the hallway and fainted.” He explained shrugging. “This flare up is freaking me out..”

“I know. It’s freaking me and Kento out as well.” Rowen sighs setting his bags down. “When do we cave and force him to the hospital?”

“I don’t know.. but I’m close to calling it.” Sage says as he walks into the kitchen leaving Rowen by the doorway.

[rwfanficrw]

POTS - After Move In/Kento Eating Cye's Food

This was an idea my friend came up with. Kento unintentionally makes Cye's POTS worse when they move back in together. He thinks Cye's not hungy and eats his food. This was part of an RP we did and this continues it.

Basically Cye was too polite to say no and the food that Sage and Mia specifically made for him and his dietary needs was eaten by Kento.

This is also the story that I swear I almost wrote Sage x Kento.

Ryo looks between Sage and Kento and then to Cye and Rowen. He sighs and tugs Kento by his arm, “Come on, lets go heat some water up.”

“We’re going to help him upstairs.” Sage calls back as they walk out. “I can carry him and-“

“Let’s go Kento.” With force Ryo pulled the other out leaving the other three behind him. The light is flicked off above their heads like Cye had requested when all of this started.

“I-I don’t want to go upstairs.. I don’t want to hide.” Cye’s voice shook as he tried to speak and fight the synscope that had come on while everyone was arguing. “…I-I just want the couch, my heating blanket…a-and…” He blushes looking down, “Rowen.”

Rowen looks over his head to Sage. They both knew a fainting spell was coming and it wouldn’t do any good to have it on the stairs.

“…tired of everyone f-fighting…”

Rowen reaches out catching him as Cye sags into him. Sage steadied the two of them as best he could before they both lowered the unconscious warrior to the floor.

He sat down gently moving Cye’s head to his lap holding it there. He hears Sage sit down as well and gently move the smaller body to where it wasn’t restricting blood flow.

“You ok?”

Sage wasn’t really asking, he knew it was a rhetorical question. Sage KNEW how he felt about people thinking Cye was weak.

He just shrugs unable to look the blonde in the eye, “…dunno. I don’t like them treating him like he’s weak just because he faints. And don’t say anythin’ Sage.”

“All I was going to say was they are still getting used to this. We know what Cye can do if given the chance and patience. They don’t.”

“Yeah? Well they need to learn real quick because it’s getting’ old. You can just see his face drop every time Kento questions if he should be doin’ somethin’.”

Sage sighs nodding. Rowen’s accent was coming out more than usual, it meant he was angry. “I know.”

“Then how do we fix it?”

“We talk to Kento outside away from him. Snapping at Kento in front of Cye is just going to cause all of this to happen more. You know how much Cye hates fighting between the five of us.”

“I know. It’s why he gave in and just gave Kento his food. I could have strangled Kento when he accepted it twice.” Rowen’s eyes were dark, he wasn’t happy.

“What? He can’t keep doing that. Cye has to eat. The results came back from the doctor, I thought it was strange but I guess its not abnormal.. since we’ve moved here he’s lost 6lb.”

“W-What?”

The bearer of Halo nods, “The paperwork is up in Mia’s office.. he has to eat properly and Kento needs to learn to back off.”

“Oh. He will. Once Cye wakes back up, we’re going to help him to the couch then I’m going to find Kento myself.”

“Rowen don’t start anything.”

“I’m going to finish it.”

A groggy moan interrupted the conversation. Rowen hunched over smiling down at the youngest warrior as a pair of unfocused green eyes stared back up at him, “Take it easy, buddy. I’m here. So is Sage.”

Sage sits back relieved that he had woken up a lot quicker than expected. “I’m here, Cye. Don’t force yourself to wake up. Just take your time.”

He looks around the dark room and sees the empty fireplace and gets an idea. He gets to his feet and leaves the room without another word.

Rowen tilts his head confused but drops his gaze back down to Cye at feeling a cold hand reach up and attempt to find where he was. He felt a slight cold touch from Cye’s hand making a very brief contact. He catches the hand and places it against the side of his face. “I’m right here. You’re on the floor in the living room.”

“…everyone was fighting..” The voice was barely audible and came out in heavily accented English.

He sighs and answers back in English, “I know. I’m sorry buddy. Kento just needs to stop taking your food and needs to chill out. We all do.” He finds himself placing a light kiss in the palm of the cold hand he was holding. “We’ll work harder on not fighting. We’re all just worried about you.”

He looks down quietly waiting. He knew he wouldn’t get a verbal response from that, not because Cye didn’t have something to say but he would still be coming back. Conversations were very one sided while he recovered from fainting. Sometimes he wouldn’t remember what they had talked about in the haze and other times he would continue the conversation an hour later without any warning.

Both were slightly terrifying.

He watched as Cye’s eyes grew heavy then shut. He waited to see if it were another fainting spell but the other just relaxed. He smiles squeezing the hand he was holding. “That’s right. Just relax.”

He looked back up wondering where Sage ran off to.

*~*

“Kento, do you want to be useful?”

Kento and Ryo turned around to see Sage coming into the kitchen. The blonde was dressed in a heavy jacket and boots. He had jackets in his hand.

Kento tilted his head, “Where are you off to?”

“Answer the question. I’m in no mood for your nonsense right now.”

“What?”

Ryo groaned sensing yet another fight starting. “Ok Sage we get it. What do you need us for?”

“We’re going to light a fire in the fireplace. Now Kento, can you help me get wood then quietly put it in the fireplace without scaring Cye or do I need to do it myself.”

Kento looked partially upset, insulted, and confused before he nods catching his jacket. “U-Uh sure, dude… lead the way.”

“I’m guessing I’m the fire starter?” Ryo asks as he follows them to the door.

“if you’re up for it.”

Wildfire grins, “Always.”

*~*

Kento follows Sage outside into the dark cold landscape, it was still snowing outside. He shrugs his jacket on looking around, “Where are we going anyway?”

“To get wood. Didn’t you chop some up earlier?”

“Yeah, its by the back door.” He leads the blonde down the snow covered walkway to the back door. “Here.. is that enough for you?”

“It’ll do. Three logs should be enough?”

“Should be. Sage what’s with the attidude, dude?”

Sage sighs heavily before looking back to Kento, “You have to stop taking Cye’s food.”

“He wasn’t hungry and-“

“He’s never hungry, Kento. It’s a side affect of the POTS. What little he does eat can upset his stomach and leave him miserable.. but if he’s not forced to eat he will have several fainting spells and be too weak to get off the couch. If he does eat but its too much at once, he’ll be in the bathroom throwing up all night.”

“Ok so I won’t do that anymore.”

“That’s not enough, Kento.”

“I don’t know what else you want me to do and-“

“Listen to what’s going on. Watch what we’re doing and try to learn so you can help. You assume so much because of how “close” you and Cye were before all of this. Now instead of helping you’re making things worse. I’m sorry its not what you want to hear but we can’t have you messing things up.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying, either back off and learn or I’ll keep you away myself. I’m barely holding Rowen back as it is. If I weren’t here, he’d have used Strata and blasted your ass back to Saturn already.”

“Ok, so it’s just food and-“

“Not “just food”. Since we’ve moved here Cye has lost six pounds.” Sage finally stated ignoring the cold snowy wind as it swirled around them. “It took us almost half a year to gain that back last time.”

Kento’s face dropped.

“Every meal I make him is specially “crafted” so he gets what nutrients he needs. Even if he doesn’t eat the full meal in one sitting, it can be warmed up for a second or third time. Just as long as he eats. If he doesn’t …well let’s just say there are some more extreme options the doctor is threatening us with. You taking his food is making all of this worse. He’s only offering it so you’ll stop bothering everyone. You know he hates us fighting with each other. Just stop making things so difficult.”

Kento had to look away and attempt to bite back tears. He was a tough guy, tough guys don’t cry…but it was hard. Especially when he’s messed up his best friend.

Sage watched him realizing what he’d done. “I’m sorry Kento…I just.. we can’t have him going backwards. You do understand that right?”

“I-I know…” The other turns back, obvious tears in his eyes that he was trying to hide. “J-Just have to be gentler with my best buddy. You guys always said I was too rough with him. I was always worried that I’d hurt him… now I did.”

“Look,” The blonde sighs realizing he’d made a mess. “Let’s get this wood inside and light the fire. He fainted on us before he could even leave the room and he was adamant about not going upstairs. Can we not argue anymore at least for tonight?”

“I-I don’t know man, I don’t want to be too loud. I’ll carry it inside but then you can put it in the fireplace. My buddy needs peace and quiet and lets’ face it, ol hard head isn’t quiet. I’m loud and clumbsy.”

Sage nods not sure what to say and follows him in. He’d wanted Kento to understand this for years but never knew he actually did. Now he had a weird pit in his stomach growing… was it regret? He actually felt bad for how he’d said it. Rowen had been warning him that words have meaning and to watch how he said things but he never really understood it until now. “Hey Kento..”

Kento stopped at the door carrying six logs in his arms like it was nothing, “Yeah?”

“I need you to carry the wood into the living room.”

“But you..”

Sage rolled his shoulder smiling as best as he can, “Threw my shoulder out trying to pick one up. Guess it’s up to you.”

The other tilted his head before smiling happily.

“Just do it quietly. As quietly as you can. I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you.” Sage followed him in relieved to see the other look normal again, not that he’d ever admit it. “QUIETLY Kento.”

“Says the one yelling “quiet”.” Kento responded in a whisper as he kicked his boots off. “You just rest you’re pretty rich boy shoulder… let the men take care of the man work.”

The blonde glared daggers, “What the-“

“Just take it easy. I’ll help ya to the couch later.”

He watched Kento go into the room and grumbles, “Like hell he will.”

“We don’t have to do this.” Rowen states as he helps Cye out of the car.

Annnd random Christmas Drabble apparently. Rowen’s a smart ass in this one:

“I do. She may dislike me, but she’s still my mother and it’s Christmas, Rowen.” Cye got out looking down the worn stone path walkway. He looks up and doesn’t see a lot of black smoke coming out, “She’s not using the kiln that I can see. I may go check that afterwards and make sure she hasn’t unintentionally caused problems with it.”

Rowen looks back to Sage as he got out as well. “Kilns. Did you hear that? He wants to go down there.”

“We’ll go as far as his body will let him.” The blonde shrugged giving the other a look that said leave it be. He had already planned for a flare up afterwards and was prepared at either Mia’s house or Cye’s apartment… and if that didn’t work, Osaka wasn’t as far away and his family offered to let them stay.

Cye took a deep breath before he started down towards the main door. He prayed she was in a good mood otherwise they were going to be kicked out. His main concern was

[rwfanficrw]

Visiting Hagi

Continuation of the story with Sayako. She and Rowen go visit the main Mori home to get her grandmother's help since their mom refuses to be of use.

POTS – Visit to Hagi

“Are you sure you’ll be ok on your own?”

Sage just smiles, “For once, I’m confident to say yes. I’ve got help here at my family’s home. They were nice enough to let us stay. It’s a large house, so we can stay away from everyone.”

Rowen looks to Sayako who hadn’t entered the Date Family home yet. “Do you want to say hello?”

“I will when we come back. He’ll just question why I’m here in the first place.” She shrugs pulling her over night bag up on her shoulder. “You told me he was confused enough when you and Sage brought him here.”

“Ok, I want to at least say hello and make sure he’s doing ok. Then I’ll be out.”

“Our train leaves in four hours so don’t take long.” She looks to Sage. “He said you had the paperwork?”

The blonde walks over handing her an envelope full of documents. “My Uncle flagged the ones that will necessary for the power transfer to happen.”

“Right. And I’ll fill them out on our way. Rowen will have to sign each one as well, right?”

“Yes but only after your grandmother does.”

“T-This feels so wrong, Sage. Just pulling this without our mother knowing.”

“Say, he needs this. The reason Cye was so confused as to what was going on – he hasn’t been awake long enough for us to explain it to him. The doctors said there were medications that could help lessen the chances of fainting this many times but we can’t try it unless we have the right signatures.”

“…and my mother refuses to help.” She hangs her head gripping the enevelope tightly. “S-She’s not the mother we grew up with, I promise.. s-something’s changed, Sage. She wasn’t always like this. When Cye was younger, she would have died for him before she’d let any harm come to him.”

“Spite can make us do evil things, Sayako. You can help give Rowen the ability to help Cye. Then if things ever do calm down between Cye and your mom, she’ll be grateful he’s alive to hear her apology.”

She nods wiping her eyes before straightening up. Sage gave a nervous smile before motioning her to the sitting room, “My sister made us tea. Kacy is still learning, but she does make good cookies.”

*~*

Rowen stood quietly in the doorway of the large bedroom they had helped Cye into. It was a more traditional room than what he was used to. He stepped in looking around for the futon before he found it.

He had to admit it actually looked comfortable. There were numerous pillows tucked around the smaller warrior’s body keeping him comfortable. And the futon comfortor was fluffy and looked warm.

He gets a small moan as the other starts to come back. Forcing a smile he hurries over and kneels beside him, catching the hand that goes into the air to figure out who was there. “Hey buddy, easy. I’m here. You fainted.”

“…Rowen..?”

“That’s me.” He sits down completely before pulling the comfortor down to the other’s waist. “Do you know where you are?”

“…the floor..?” The water bearer opened his eyes and looked around groggily. His vision was going in and out of focus as he tried to figure out exactly where he was. “..not my apartment.” He starts to sit up but only sags to the side being caught by the his friend.

“Woah, hey now. Don’ be tryin’ to sit up.” Rowen catches Cye as he sags against him hugging him to his side. “Look, I uh.. I have somethin’ I need to do for a few days.”

“What?”

“Yeah. We’re visiting Sage’s home and he’s going to stay with you, ok? I need ya to listen to him and tell him what’s goin’ on. You can’t be hidin’ stuff from him.” He gently eases the younger warrior back into the pillows getting a pained moan in response. “Can you do that for me?”

“…I-I guess so. I still don’t understand what’s going on…”

“I’ll explain it to you when I’m back, ok? Just rest and try to take care of yourself for a day.” He hated having tto leave his side and had numerous times asked the other two if Cye could come.

That was of course an impossible task right now. The trip to Osaka was way too much for him as it was and he would be bedridden for the next several hours at least.

Rowen knew it would be a happy miracle if Cye met him at the door tomorrow night when he returned. The more likely scenario would him be sitting up and standing/walking with Sage’s heavy supervision.

Cye nods slowly as he lays back into the numerous pillows and plush futon mattress, his eyes growing heavy. His hand weakly clung to Rowen’s sleeve as he didn’t want him to leave.

The other sighs as he smiles, “Go on. I’ll stay until you fall back asleep then Sage will be here when you wake up.” He reaches out placing a hand on the red hair keeping it there as he ran his hands through it gently.

It only took a few seconds with how exhausted the bearer of Torrent was. Rowen reluctantly pulled himself away from the weak grip and covered him back up before getting to his feet to go meet Sayako.

*~*

“Woah… this place is huge.”

Sayako smiles proudly, “This is where most of the Mori family live. We live at the secondary kiln that were opened around the __ period.”

Rowen tilts his head before his eyes widen, “Wait a second.. can Cye make-“

“He sure can! He’s better than I am by a lot. He’s almost as good as our mother.” She sighs pulling out the house key handing to him, “Cye made this when he was about to go into Middle School. I’ve kept it ever sense.”

“I’m surprised you were taught how to do it.”

“Oh because we’re not blood related? I am as well. I just remember when our father died that his family took us in. My mother was a mess and we were worried she wouldn’t live much longer. We all needed a distraction and my grandmother taught us how to throw clay. She stayed by us and we learned the ancient techniques that had been passed down for hundreds of years. Now, believe it or not, we run the secondary kilns. Both have been burning for centuries. The ones here have been going for 200 more years than ours. It’s fascinating.” She explains happily before taking a deep breath and knocks on the door.

A few long seconds pass before the door pulls open and an older lady stands in the doorway peering out curiously. “Ahh Sayako! It’s been so long since you visited us.” She looks past her to the young man standing on the sidewalk. He had blue hair and looked nervous. “And who did you bring with you?”

“This is Rowen. I spoke about bringing someone with me? We need your help, it’s about Cye. We think he’s sick, but Mother isn’t helping us a-and..”

The old woman’s eyes widened before moving out of their way, “Come in and tell me everything.”

*~*

“I see, what a terrible line of events. How long has this been happening?”

Sayako looks to Rowen for an answer, “I’m not sure. I was pulled in a month or so ago.”

Rowen looks up from the teacup he was drinking out of, “How much do you know of the armor that Cy- your grandson bears?”

“I know everything. His father and I were the ones who pushed him to find it.” She explained sitting back on her knees.

“After we finished our battles with that emperor from the Dynasty, we all kinda split ways for a bit. Ya know to go see family a-and stuff. Sage, our other friend who is helping with all of this, and I met up with Cye about six months ago. He fainted on us during lunch and from there it just spiraled. He woke up and seemed to be okay but fainted again less than an hour later. Sage and I took him home and it just got worse. The doctor doesn’t know whats going on and without signatures, we can’t run any tests.”

“Signatures?”

“Yes, Cye’s not legal yet in Japan. He still has two years.” Sayako explains. “It usually wouldn’t be that big of a deal. Me and mother would sign and be done with it..” Her head drops as she sniffles. “..b-but its not working out.”

“Sayako?” She asks reaching out to place her hand over her granddaughter’s, “What is going on?”

“Mother won’t sign. She won’t help. I had to drive over to the house and force her to do it a week ago. S-She said she wasn’t sure if it would help or not and refused to admit that he was even sick. Said it was going to happen because he moved out.” Sayako wipes her eyes her shoulders shaking. “I-I told her it maybe POTS. You know, like what she has? But she out right refused to believe it and just said Cye was faking it.”

“If he’s faking it, he deserves an Oscar.” Rowen adds sadly. “He’s not conscious for very long anymore and keep food down, the nausea and vertigo have gotten a lot worse… it’s gotten pretty bad.”

“Then we need to discuss this with your mother.” The older woman starts to move to get the phone when she feels hands on hers. She turns back and Sayako is crying this time. “S-Say…”

“It won’t matter. S-She doesn’t care. No matter what we say, or do, she won’t believe us.”

“I’m not sure what else I can do, my dear.”

“There is somethin’ ya can do.” Rowen sighs reaching into Sayako’s tote bag. He pulls out a document enevelope and undoes the clasp, papers come out and he hands them over. “I-It’s a little weird but we don’t know what else to do.”

She took the papers and sat back skimming over them, “….is this a form to sign over the Mori Haki stamp? Sayako, you can’t be asking this-“

“It’s just until he’s of age and it will only be used for the medical tests.”

“Where is Cye anyway? What does he think of this?”

Rowen’s eyes darkened, “He’s at Sage’s house and he’s not doin’ that great. We can try and call him if you’d like. I’m not sure he’d even be conscious.”

“He doesn’t know. But he’s not awake enough to know what’s going on most of the time. Rowen’s right, we can try and call.. but..”

“I’d like to at least try.”

Sayako looks back to Rowen, “Do you know Sage’s number?”

“Yeah.” He gets to his feet and pulls a paper out of his back pocket. “Mrs. Mori, I-I’m warnin’ ya.. it may not be pretty.”

She only nods moving to sit beside the small table the phone was on. She watches as he dials the number with shaking hands and reaches out before he can finish, “I won’t blame you if anything happens, I promise… I just need to hear him.”

Rowen glances over and nods putting the receiver to his ear. “Hey? Kacy is that you? Is Sage around? Oh? Cye’s awake? …only kind of. That’s okay. Can Sage do both?” He hears some rummaging, “Hey Sage.. yeah we’re in Hagi. His grandmother wants to talk to him. I know, I already warned her. Kacy said he was kind of awake? Okay, hang on.” He lowers the receiver and presses a button on the phone it’s self near the numbers. “There, can ya hear us? You’re on speaker.”

“I can hear you.” Sage’s voice answered him then continued but sounded softer, “Cye? Your grandmother wishes to speak to you… do you want to talk with her? I know, you don’t have to talk long. She’s worried.”

The speaker goes silent except for some rummaging before they hear a barely audible familiar voice. “…grandmother? I-Is everything alright? How did you get this number..?” He sounded dazed and exhausted, like it took a lot of energy to put words together. He was left breathless after it all came out.

“Sayako was telling me you aren’t doing very well…” She tried to contain the nervousness in her voice not expecting her grandson to sound that bad.

“…I-I’m alright..just…just dizzy a-and I keep fainting.”

“Are you seeing a doctor?”

“…not really.. I-I tried to go but they need mother’s signature a-and…” He trails off for a few seconds. “….s-she won’t sign them.” His voice broke slightly. “Says I don’t need the tests…”

“I will deal with that.” Her voice sounded angry for a split second before dropping back to normal, “Are you resting? You sound tired.”

“…exhausted. I-I can’t-“

His voice drops off and it sounds like he dropped the receiver. Rowen swallows nervously, “B-Buddy? Are you okay? …Cye?” He puts his ear close to the phone speaker trying to listen for the usual strangled gasp that came when Cye woke up from fainting. “Sage?!”

“I’m here. He fainted. I stepped away to get him a drink.” They can hear a worried sigh and grunt as something heavy is moved. “I’ve got him. Look, is that all? He really needs to be resting. I don’t mean to sound rude, but if I force him to get back on it will just get worse.”

“N-No, I apologize for bothering you when you’ve got your hands full helping my grandson out.”

“Mrs. Mori, we’re doing our best. But if you could help us with that one part, it would help immensely and we could run the tests he needs and figure out what’s going on.” Sage’s voice trails off, “He’s waking up. Forgive me, but we need to go. He’s going to get sick again.”

The phone hung up and left the room in silence. The older woman stared at the phone, her heart breaking. A pit of worry was forming in her stomach and anger was boiling to a point. “And your mother refuses to help?”

Both Rowen and Sayako nod silently.

“T-This is what he’s like every day?”

“Sadly, yes. He’s not been doing well.” Rowen starts to explain nervously. “Some days are better than others but-“

“I’ll do it. Where are the papers?” She turns around and picks them up from the floor.

Sayako fumbles for a pen out of her purse before handing it over. She watches relieved as her grandmother flicked through and signed everything.

“Your mother can wallow in herself pity but I won’t stand by and let her hurt you or Cye because of it. Get him the help he needs, Sayako… Rowen. Please do whatever is necessary. Money is not object. The Mori family will help in anyway we can.” She gets to her feet and walks down the hallway into a large bedroom.

Sayako and Rowen stand in the doorway watching curiously. She pulls out an old looking box and pulls layers out before finally getting to where she needed to be. She pulls out a small gray felt box and walks over, “I don’t need to tell you how important this is.”

“I-it’s a lot fancier than mine, that’s for sure.” Rowen attempts to joke as he swallows nervously. He watches as she puts the box in his hands before holding him there.

“It belonged to his father and his father before that.” She looks into his eyes with a serious determined gaze, “You must promise me that the day of his 20th birthday that you will give this to him.”

“Of course. That’s the plan. We hate havin’ to do this to begin with.” He smiles reassuringly.

Sayako walks over and hugs her grandmother tightly crying into her shoulder, “T-Thank you so much… w-we’re going to figure out what’s going on and I’ll let you know as soon as I know anything.”

Her grandmother hugs her tightly, “You’ve been such a great help to him as you always have. Stay strong, my dear. He needs you. He needs all of you.” She reaches out and squeezes Rowen’s arm.

*~*

Sage sits up groggily looking around his large room. He rubs his eyes looking to his side and saw Cye was thankfully still asleep. He reaches out and rests one of his hands on his friend’s head before hearing the noise again. “Kacy?” He calls out as softly as he can.

He slowly gets to his feet making sure not to jolt his friend then walks barefoot on the tatami matt, his orb appearing his hand out of habit. He pulls the door to the side and sees Rowen stumbling in the darkness trying to get his shoes off without touching the tatami in the hallway and failing miserably. “Rowen?”

The other startled and dropped his shoe hitting himself in the head with it. “S-Sage …s-sorry I-I … Kacy let us in.”

“Us? Is Sayako here as well?” He looks past Rowen to see his sister’s light on before the door closed. He sighs kneeling down and helps untie the other tennis shoe. “You could have let me know via the armor you two were coming back so soon.”

“It was kinda last minute. We’ve been on the bullet train for several hours. I lost track of what we were doing to be honest. She and I both decided we couldn’t stay another night away from Cye and we both came back.” He leans back embarrassed that the other had to help him take his shoe off. “I kinda forgot your house was full of Tatami …so.. don’t get mad?”

“It’s fine.” Sage’s voice was at a whisper as he sat the tennis shoes beside his door in a neat way. Then he stands and offers a hand down, “Come on. Cye is fast asleep but I know he’ll relax more knowing you’re here.”

“We got what we needed. She is angry with his mother.” Rowen whispered back as he got to his feet following the other into the room.

The room was inviting and warmer than expected. The door was slid open and the sound of the small waterfall could be heard.

He finds himself relaxing and sits down on the ground undoing his jacket. He lays it over the over night bag then turns and crawls over to Cye. “Hey buddy, I’m here.” His hand rests on the other’s waist.

“I have an extra yukata if you’d like to borrow one. Cye is wearing one of my winter ones but he got so cold. I never thought my room would be considered cold especially during summer.”

“Uh sure…” Rowen smiles nervously as he gets to his feet walking over to where Sage was. “Is it green?”

The other rolls his eyes before handing over a gray one, “No. Not everything I own is green.”

“Yeah uh huh. Just like everything I own isn’t blue.” He takes the offered garment before looking around. “Where do ya want me to strip.”

“Over there.”

“Fancy. A bamboo partisian.”

Sage sits back down and glances over making sure Cye was still asleep. “Was Sayako alright?”

“She broke down to her grandmother a-and well I don’t blame her. She did tell me that the Mori Family runs one of the oldest pottery shops in Japan. The kilns have been lit for hundreds of years.”

“Yes, my family owns several pottery pieces from them that date back to the __ period.”

“Apparently the main kiln is in Hagi and the secondary kiln is where Cye and his sister and mother live. The three of them were taught how to do it after his father passed away. Kind of neat actually.” Rowen walks out from behind the screen and attempts to tie his yukata.

“Let me help. If you do it wrong, you won’t be sleeping comfortably.” The blonde stands and ties the yukata closed without making a big knot. “There.”

Rowen sits down grinning, “So graceful about it all…” He looks around the room. “Ya know, I just realized… Cye probably grew up with a lot of this as well.”

“It makes sense. Most older families in Japan are very traditional. The Hashiba’s are as well aren’t they?”

“I-I wouldn’t know… I lived with my grandfather only a few years once I got to Japan. He had a house like this but I ran away as soon as I could. I could never get used to all of this. I was born and raised in New York. I kinda assumed that Cye was the same because of his accent.”

“It sounds like he was raised with both.”

“You knew didn’t you?”

This time a smile crosses the blonde’s features, “Yes. His mannerisms and ways he sits and removes his shoes. It indicated a home life like this. Just as yours indicated a more western life style.”

“Thanks.”

“Never said it was a bad thing. I can see the two ways of life are fighting for dominance with him though. You can hear his accent when he speaks Japanese and that is not an easy feat. Just as you speak with your accent as well.” Sage goes quiet as he lays out another futon. “I only have a rice pillows is that ok?”

“Are those the pillows that are hard as rocks?”

“They help your posture.”

“I’ll say they do.” Rowen shrugs, “Can’t be worse than the floor! Rice me!”

Sage rolled his eyes before pulling one out and placing it on the futon properly. “I’ll sleep here. You need to be beside him.”

“A-Are ya sure?” It was then he noticed the bedding was a forest green. He started to joke but heard a sleepy sigh from the younger one beside him. “He looks comfortable for once..”

The other nods, “I haven’t seen him sleep so peacefully before.. he’s always tossing and turning in his bed at home.” Then his eyes widen, “I wonder if a futon would help him sleep better until we know what’s going on.”

“it would be safer that’s for sure. He wouldn’t have to worry about fainting and fallin’ off the bed.”

“Its probably helping with the vertigo and nausea as well. He can feel the ground and know it’s not moving… alright. We’ll take this one back home when we leave.”

Rowen sits down and stretches before he attempts to freshen his pillow up. He glances around the room then to the closet door that was still open.

He could see an orange, red and dark blue futon sets in the dim moonlight. He glances back down and sees Cye is curled up on a skyblue one that had a fish pattern. He tilts his head, “…Sage, buddy.. do you keep color coded futons for each of us.”

“It’s only proper to have bedding for your friends ahead of time incase of an emergency. I didn’t pull yours out, I assumed you’d want to be next to Cye and share one.”

“You’re right as always.” He scoots under the covers and pulls them back over Cye and himself. He blinks as Cye moves closer in his sleep then smiles. His hand smoothing the red hair down, “Shh, I’m here, buddy.”

He glances over and sees Sage has already drifted back to sleep. He lays back the pillow not bothering him this time, he was so exhausted and just relieved to be back with them and have Cye curled up against him. His head dropped to the side as he fell asleep just as quickly.

*~*

Cye rolls over onto his back groggily as his body wakes him up from the vertigo. His hands grip the futon as if that would slow everything down.

He heard movement and expected Sage’s voice to greet him. “Easy buddy, just breathe through your nose.”

He tried to force his eyes open, “..r-ro?”

“It’s me. Feelin’ dizzy again?”

 A hand dropped onto his forehead and he relaxed as best he could. “…the room feels like its spinning one direction and the floor is spinning the other direction.”

“I’m happy to inform you that it’s not spinnin’ around as much as you feel like it is.”

He finally forced his eyes open and they slowly focused so he could see Rowen hovering over him with a smile on his face.

“Hey there. Good morning! We’re still at Sage’s house. Sayako and I came back late last night.”

His memory was hazy as he tried to remember why he was at Sage’s house and where his sister and Rowen went. “…I’m s-sorry I don’t remember…”

“It’s okay. Say and I went to see your grandmother. She signed the paper’s over and I now have “medical guardianship” over ya until you’re of age.” Rowen tries to explain it as best he can doing his best to keep it simple. “Basically, any test you need we now have the ability to get it taken care of.”

He could tell Cye wasn’t fully coherent. The bright green eyes unfocused and he looked confused. He smiles down as best he can, his hand pushing some of the red hair behind his friend’s ear. “Just relax. We’re going to get you back to your apartment and to the doctor as soon as we can. We’ll figure out whats happenin’ one way or another.”

He watches as Cye goes limp and sighs heavily, another fainting spell. It was a good thing he was on the floor. He didn’t have any where to fall this time.

“Rowen? Is Cye awake?”

“Was. He fainted again. He asked where we were, said he didn’t remember, but then he fainted before he could comprehend what I was telling him.”

“I have a doctor’s appointment ready a day after we get back. It will be a long day but they said they are going to run a lot of tests. Maybe we can get some answers.” Sage enters the room with a tray of food setting it beside Rowen. “Here is breakfast for the both of you.. at the very least I want to see if he can keep the rice pudding down.”

“If he stays awake long enough to eat it.”

“We have to try. You can’t tell me that whatever this is isn’t being made worse with him being unable to eat and have energy to fight it or to level it out.”

“No, you got a point.”

The art I made for this story.

[rwfanficrw]

Beginning Cont. 2

So after digging more into POTS and getting on POTS tiktok, I learned that sadly it's so hard to get diagnosed that people can go YEARS without help.

So I rewrote some of the beginning and had them going through the same thing.

Beginning 3

(cont after they say they’ll take hhim to the doctor)

“What do you mean it’s nothin’?” Rowen exclaimed angrily. “He’s fainted on you three times in the last two hours!”

“His blood work is coming back perfectly fine minus a sodium deficiency. That can be fixed with a proper diet.” The doctor explains calmly nodding to Cye. “You could also be stressed or tired. I’m recommending you a weeks of bed rest.”

“A-A week? And that will fix it?” The water bearer asks hopefully.

“It should.”

“He can’t keep food down, what does he eat while “resting”?” Sage asks having to forcibly hold Rowen back from jumping the doctor.

“Soft bland foods. Treat this like you’ve got a really bad cold or the flu.”

Cye looks to the other two unsure how to respond. He was half relieved that maybe all it was, was a really bad cold or the flu.. but deep down, like the other two, he didn’t believe it.

“I am putting an appointment for a week from now. We will regroup and see how you are feeling. Complete bed rest, Mr. Mouri. No getting up unless its absolutely necessary.”

*~*

“That lady is crazy!” Rowen grumbled as he wrapped an arm around Cye’s shoulder walking him out of the hospital.

“Maybe a week in bed would help the symptoms? What if it is just a really bad cold?” The younger one offered nervously.

“Do ya really believe that? Have you ever had a cold or the flu make you faint without warning?”

“I-I don’t know, Rowen. I have to try.” He sighs frustrated. “I am upset that nothing else came out of it… no medicine or diet change, just rest. But I’ve got nothing else to do to fix it.” He then forces a smile as Sage pulls his car up.

He watches as the blonde gets out before opening the back passenger seat, “Here. I’ll drive us home.”

“Well at least you two won’t have to worry any more with any of this. I can take care of myself and you two can go about your normal lives.”

Sage and Rowen glanced at each other before shaking their heads. “No way, buddy. I’m not leavin’ ya. I don’t trust what that doc is sayin’.”

“I agree. We’ll try this bed rest out but with supervision. The last thing you need is to hit your head when you faint by yourself.” Sage nods as he helps Cye into the backseat. “Besides, you need someone to cook and clean for you if you’re on bed rest.”

“I-I couldn’t ask that of you and-“

“You didn’t ask. We’re volunteering. Sit back and buckle yourself in.” The bearer of halo instructs before closing the passenger door. “Now just close your eyes and relax. We’ll be home within an hour or so.”

Rowen gets into the front passenger seat looking into the rearview mirror as the youngest warrior attempts to do what he’s told. “Sage, hang on.” He unbuckles himself and gets out moving to the backseat. He moves to the middle and buckles himself in before he pulls Cye to his side, “Go on, Cye. Just rest. You don’t have to go through this alone.”

*~*

Sage lifted his eyes to the rearview mirror after hearing a moan of discomfort from one of the people in the back, “Cye? Are you ok?”

“…I’m alright. Just a bit sick to my stomach.” He admits quietly shifting uncomfortably in his seat leaning against Rowen some more.

“Is it flu sick or-?”

“Not really… it feels like motion sickness, but I’ve never gotten that before and we’re only on the city streets…” Cye sat up hunching over. “…S-Sage please pull over.”

“Right here?”

“Don’t have much of a choice-“ Rowen unbuckled his friend and opened the door on the side of road. He pushes him out onto the grass just in time for the water bearer to get sick. He keeps a hand on his back turning back to Sage worried.

The blonde took a deep breath before he unbuckles and gets out carefully before hurrying over to them. As he suspected not much came back up thankfully but his friend looked in agony. He watches as Cye leans himself back against the side of his car. “You ok?”

“…I don’t understand. I’m so dizzy all of a sudden.” Cye tries to force a smile so as not worry either one of them, “…I-I’m sorry…I think I’m going t-to pass-“

Rowen turns around just in time to catch the younger warrior as he sags to the side. “….its just the flu.” He states looking to Sage. “He just needs bed rest.”

The other doesn’t respond only sitting back on the grassy dirt side of the road. It obviously wasn’t the flu or a cold. He knew bed rest wouldn’t fix it, it probably wouldn’t even put a “dent” into the symptoms.

He should have said something. Should have stood up for Cye in front of the doctor. He should have joined Rowen when he got upset.

He lifts his head hearing the usual weak gasp then grown of life as the younger warrior starts to move again. He swallows his nerves and smiles as best he can getting up on his knees to help Rowen sit Cye up. “W-Welcome back. You weren’t out but a few minutes. T-Take your time.” His voice broke at seeing his friends usually bright green eyes were glazed over and unfocused.

*~*

Cye lifts his head off Rowen’s shoulder as he feels the car stop. It was a different stop that told him they had actually made it versus a stop light. His stomach was churning and he didn’t want to open his eyes but knew he had too.

He forced them open only to have the inside of the car start to turn in circles. He drops his head back to Rowen’s shoulder clenching his eyes shut. “You ok?” Rowen’s voice sounded far away, his heart beat was so loud it was over taking it.

He thought he had answered but he must not have. He felt movement then heard “Cye? Can you hear me?” Closer to his ears. He startled slightly but nodded.

He didn’t want to pass out again. His hands weakly clenched at the edge of Rowen’s jacket as the other started to move get out of the car. He vaguely heard “stay there” but his mind didn’t comprehend it.

Out of no where it got silent and he opened his eyes again but they weren’t focused. He couldn’t even see blobs. Just faded colors turning to black.

“CYE!?”

This time Rowen’s voice was loud and it hurt. He felt hands grip his arms as he’s pulled out of the car and sat down on what felt like the side walk. “Cye?! Buddy, can ya hear me?”

“Is he ok?”

“I-I don’t know. I think he’s going to faint again?” He heard Rowen explaining to someone else. He knew someone else was there, he could see their face… he just couldn’t think of their name. He couldn’t be rude and forget it.

“Cye? I want you to take a few deep breaths, if you can.”

The person’s voice entered his mind and he tried to obey and listen. If it helped him not pass out, he needed to do it.

“That’s it. Again.”

Slowly but surely the spinning started to slow down to what was his new normal. He didn’t feel as sick to his stomach either. He forced his eyes open expecting to see nothing but this time saw blobs and colors that finally focused. “…Ro…?”

Rowen appeared smiling relieved, “Hey buddy. You didn’t faint this time. Sage helped ya through it!”

*~*

“I’m going to go sit with him while he rests. I don’t think he wants to be alone and I don’t feel comfortable leaving him by himself right now either.” Rowen explains as he digs through one of the overnight bags by the couch. He pulls out a book and a sweatshirt for himself. “You’re welcome to join.”

“Thanks. I’m good. I’m going to start trying to come up with something he can keep down and call Mia and update her.” The blonde sighs as he pulls out a small notebook flipping through the pages.

“Whats that?”

“Notes on what he’s able to eat and what his body rejects.”

Rowen changes shirts before walking over to where his friend was reading the notebook. “You took all of these notes?”

“Do you have a better idea? I don’t like forcing him to eat something, if he’ll just get sick later.” He heaves a sigh resting his head against one of his hands. “I’m sorry Rowen. I should have stood up to the doctor with you. This makes no sense. None of his symptoms line up with a cold or the flu.”

“Don’t be sorry. Someone has to be level headed.”

“Usually that’s you.”

Rowen blinks before he shrugs grinning nervously, “Sounds like I lose my level headed-ness around Cye, especially when he’s hurt. That’s why we’ve got you.”

“Level headed or not… it makes no sense. I want to take note of how many times he faints, what he was doing, and what he’s able to eat and drink.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“I mean it. Any time he passes out, we need to write the time he passed out, what he was doing, and how long he was out. In fact..” Sage trails off and flips to the back of the notebook writing out a chart before filling in the last three. “I want to go back to this doctor with as much evidence as we can that this isn’t normal.”

“…right. I’m going to go check on him.” Rowen heads down the hallway not know what to expect. The other warrior could be just “fine” and moving about or he could be- “CYE? Ok ok, take it easy.” He runs over kneeling down beside the smaller one on the ground. He looks around seeing a water bottle on the ground beside them, a puddle under it.

He saw one sock was on and a leg was in the pants. He sighs sitting back placing a hand over the other’s back rubbing it gently as he hears a moan, “hey buddy.. you’re on the floor. I think you just tried to get dressed.”

Slowly Cye opened his eyes not moving from where he was laying. He clenched his eyes shut his shoulders shaking as he tried not to break down.

This was his 3rd time since leaving the doctor’s office. Today was not turning out to be a good one.

“You don’t have to hide it, Cye. I-Its…it’s okay. I’m here. I know it’s got to be terrifying.” He leans back against the wall closing his eyes as he listens to the bearer of Torrent break down as softly as he could. His hand moved up from the other’s back to his head, he kept his hand there hoping to give some sort of comfort. “I’ll help you figure this out.. Sage and I will. It won’t be like this forever.”

*~*

“Hey. I was wondering when I was going to hear from you. How did it go?”

Mia’s voice was the biggest comfort right now as Sage dug through the kitchen taking note of what food they had as well as medicines and drinks. “Not that great.”

“What kind of news did he get?” She asks worried.

“He got nothing. No news, no anything. Just told it was probably the flu or a really bad cold and to have 1 week of complete bed rest.” He sighed standing at the counter as he fills out the lists of things he needed to buy.

“How did Cye take that?”

“Not well. None of us took it well. He agreed to it, because what else do you say when a doctor gives you an idea? Rowen snapped at the doctor as soon as he heard her plan, I had to step in and stop him before she was sent to the Dynasty with a one way ticket. Cye didn’t say much until we got out.”

“Do you think it will help?”

The blonde lifts his head and looks around the half clean kitchen and clothes on the floor heading out to the hall. “…do I wish that a weeks bed rest would miraculously, fix it? Of course. It would be ideal.”

“..but.”

“Mia, there is no way this is a cold. He got motion sick in the car today, I had to pull over in mid drive for him to get sick. He fainted on the side of the road twice then once when we got back here. According to Cye, he’s never had motion sickness – ever.”

He hears Mia sigh and move in her chair. “Let me do some research and I can try and find some different doctors, would that help?”

“If you come up with someone different that would be great. I do want to force him to rest, I think it will help a little. I just can’t see it preventing or taking care of a fainting spell.”

“As my Grandfather would say “take lots of notes”.”

He grins, “Ironically, that is what I’m doing. I told Rowen, we’re taking notes of every single time he passes out. What he was doing when it happened and how long he was out.”

“Good. That will come in handy for the next doctor. Where is Cye now?”

“Hopefully resting. Rowen went back to check on him.” He flicks through his lists before holding the phone closer to his hear, “Mia, you said you were raised in France?”

“Born and raised, why?”

“Do you know of any bland soups or food that he could maybe keep down?”

“Is he still getting sick after each meal?” She asks worried.

“Yeah, he is. Do you know of anything?”

“I’ll dig through my cookbooks and look. I’m sure Cye won’t say it, but I know he’s grateful that you’re there.”

Sage smiles weakly, “That’s nice to hear. He tried to run us off after he was told bed rest. There is no way we’re just going to leave him when-“

He goes quiet at hearing Rowen call for him. “I’ve got to go. I think Cye fainted again.”

“Go. We’ll touch base later.”

Sage hangs the phone up before hurrying down the hallway towards the bedroom, “Rowen? Is everything ok?” He stops at the end of the hallway as he comes up on Rowen holding Cye up against him.

The younger warrior didn’t look coherent. He had that same glassy look as earlier when he fainted on the side of the road. He kneels down reaching out to feel for a pulse, “…his heart is beating so fast.”

“I-I know. He came back here I think to get dressed and fainted. I caught him on the floor and he broke down on me and when he tried to sit up he fainted again. I caught him mid fall this time. I’m not sure how hard he hit the first.” Rowen explained as best he can while trying not to panic. “S-Sage we can’t …we have to be here. He’ll injure himself really badly if someone isn’t here.”

“One of us needs to be by his side at all times.” Sage states sighing as he checks the water bearer over for any injuries. He gently moves the limp arms back and forth looking them over. “The fainting explains all of these bruises. I noticed them the other day and was confused on how he got them… it makes sense.”

“Do we move him to the bed or wait for him to wake up?”

Sage waves a hand in front of Cye’s face for a few seconds expecting some kind of response. He didn’t get one. “I don’t know how long it could take for him to come back. This one seems different than the others.”

“I know, that’s why I called you. It had already been 8 minutes since he fainted.” Rowen sighs as he gently pulls one of the limp arms over his shoulder, “Ok buddy. We’re going to help you to bed.”

Sage nods taking the other arm and together they lift him to his feet. They stagger as Cye passes out on them again going fully limp in their arms. “W-What the..”

“Did he just faint again?” Rowen struggled to look over to see. “He wasn’t even fully conscious this time.”

“Don’t panic.”

“How can I not?!”

“Rowen, take a deep breath. Let’s just carry him over to his bed. It could just be exhaustion.” The blonde tried to reassure him as they walked into the bedroom carrying the youngest in between the two of them. “Okay easy, easy..”

Together they eased the smaller warrior onto the bed and lay him back. Rowen moves down and bends his friend’s legs pushing him a bit more onto the bed. To their surprise they get a moan.

Sage glances down taking note of what just happened. “Cye? You’re on your bed.”

“Ya fainted on me again. Twice.” Rowen explained as he finally lets go of Cye’s legs stretching them out before covering his lower half up.

Cye’s hands started to weakly grip the bed and he moaned again before his eyes opened. Rowen sighed with relief that they looked mostly focused, “Hey buddy.. can you see me?”

“Ro…?”

“Yeah, that’s right.” The archer sighed with relief as he curls up around him. “Just lay there and get your barings back. I’ll help you dress later.”

“…I-I can’t v-very well relax in jeans a-and a shirt, Rowen.”

“You don’t have much of a choice.” Sage interjects. “From the looks of the last two fainting spells. I think one of them hit because you were getting dressed.”

“Just take a nap for a few min. I’ll wake ya up and we can get you dressed. Okay?”

They heard a groggy frustrated groan, “…fine.” And then wait for a few long minutes before they hear his breathing level out.

“Don’t worry, I’ll sit here with him.” Rowen stacks a few pillows up behind his head as he gets comfortable. He keeps close as he moves around.

“Good. I have some things to do. Mainly picking up ingredients. Before I head out, I’ll give you that notebook. Start filling it out.”

*~*

Rowen lifts his head off the page he was reading and looks down. The younger warrior was starting to move again. He could feel a hand weakly grasping at his pants leg. He smiles, “Good mornin’ sleepin beauty.”

He gently pulls the blankets down and lets them puddle at Cye’s waist. “Take it easy, you’ve been asleep for almost three hours.”

“…t-three hours…” Cye repeated groggily as he tried to sit up. He wavered unsteadily the world spinning. He reached out in half a panic not expecting to feel all of this right away.

“Cye!? What part of take it easy, didn’t ya get?”

“I s-slept too long. I need to …to help Sage…” His voice kept dropping off as he tried to speak and ignore the dizziness. He fell back and was caught by Rowen who held him against his chest.

“You’re not helping anyone and you didn’t sleep too long. You’re on bed rest, remember?” The blue haired warrior cradled the other in his arms helping him get comfortable again. He only lowers his arms once he feels the other relax. “However, we do need to change your shirt at the very least.”

“…I-I changed earlier…”

“You didn’t complete the task, buddy. You fainted.”

Cye opens his eyes and looks down at himself. Rowen was right. He was still in his button down from earlier. He sits up slower this time before he attempts to unbutton his shirt. His hands were trembling too much to do it himself.

He feels hands sit on his own and looks up, “Let me help.”

“I-I can undress myself, Rowen. I’m not an invalid.”

“I never said ya were. You’ve fainted so many times, you’re hands are shaking. Let me help.” Rowen sighs as he hovers over Cye. “I won’t tell anyone, I promise. This will stay between you, Sage and I.”

Cye finds himself blushing a bit but nods quietly, “Oh alright..”

*~*

Sage comes down the hallway holding a tray in his hands. A bowl of soup, utensils, a cup of tea, a water bottle and electrolyte drink were on top. “Cye? Are we still conscious back here?”

“W-Who is this we? Are you fainting now?”

He laughs happy to hear the sarcasm in the other’s voice, “Ok, you. I’m guessing by your response that you are still conscious.”

He enters the room happily surprised to see Cye sitting up wearing his killer whale pajamas and …”are those dolphin slippers on your feet?”

This time the water bearer flushed a bit before a smile takes over, “Yes, of course! Kento found them for me when he went to China last year to see his family.” He slowly moves his feet, hitting them against each other. “They are nice and comfy.”

Rowen grins shaking his head, “Somehow, buddy, I’m not surprised by any of this. Oh, hey, Sage brought some food.”

While Cye sounded back to normal, he didn’t look like he felt well. His hands were shaking as he tried to stay up right and present in the conversation. Sage had gotten used to the dark circles under his friends eyes, or so he thought… he internally shivered at seeing the glazed green eyes look over at him.

Cye had been pale when they all met him. Kento always joked it made no sense that Cye didn’t tan like a normal person.. that he spent all of this time out in the water and never tanned for it. This was a different pale, he didn’t look well.

He startles at hearing Cye call his name, “Ah yes, I brought soup. If you can stomach it, it’s potato soup. Mia called me with the receipe, it’s from France.”

The other’s eyes light up as it’s set in his lap.