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All day, Ze had been feeling off. He was too sweaty, too clammy, and way too dizzy for his liking. Typically, the smell of breakfast would ease him out of his room, but today he threw his pillow over his head. Then, it started getting too hot, so he groaned and got up out of bed.
Ze passed Moe as she made them breakfast, honking excitedly when she noticed him. He just hummed, wrapping his arms around her from behind. He wasn’t sure why, but he felt extra clingy this morning, seeking warmth from at least one of his partners.
Moe honked happily, presenting a plate to Ze. His grip tightened on Moe, his stomach churning at the smell of food.
“‘M not hungry today, sorry Moe…”
Moe blinked. She looked back at him, making sure this was still Ze and not a clone. He usually inhaled any food without hesitation. She knew immediately that something was up. Placing the plate back on the counter, she turned to face Ze directly, cupping his cheeks to make him look up at her.
“Honk honk honk?” She frowned at his pale appearance and messy hair. “Honk honk…”
“I’m okay,” Ze insisted, pushing his girlfriend’s hands away from his cheeks.
“Honk honk! Honk honk honkhonkhonk—“
“Yes, yes, I’ll tell you if it gets worse, don’t worry.”
Moe narrowed her eyes at Ze, trying to determine if he was being serious or not. Finally, she let him slip away, honking at him to take medicine before doing anything else.
It was Regect’s turn to make dinner that night. Ze had been lying in bed pretty much all day, clutching his stomach tightly. He couldn’t be sick, he thought. If he were sick, he would have a bug, which meant he would throw up.
Ze shuddered at the thought. He hated it when he was sick. He hated feeling weak, hated the feeling, hated how everything hurt when he convulsed, and his stomach tightened, his mouth opening beyond his control—
A soft knock on his door shook Ze out of his thoughts. Regect walked in without waiting for an answer, holding a small plate.
“Hey, Ze,” it greeted, its voice softer than usual. Ze grumbled, sitting up in bed with a slight scowl. It wasn’t directed at Regect—more at his condition.
“Do you want food? You’ve been moping all day.”
“Shut up,” Ze growled. Regect snickered, setting the plate on Ze’s bed near his feet.
“Really, though. You haven’t been out all day. Is something up?” Regect’s voice was quieter, more hesitant. Ze could tell that he was more worried than he let on, but it only seemed to annoy Ze.
“…I just feel a little sick today.” Ze pushed the plate away from himself. He couldn’t stand the smell.
“I think Moe mentioned how pale you are,” Regect hummed thoughtfully, pressing their hand to Ze's forehead. “No fever, but you’re really clammy.”
“Done ogling me yet?” Ze huffed with a smirk, nudging Regect’s hand to cup his cheek. Regect snickered again.
“Shut up, man. I’m just checking on you.” They pulled their hand away. Ze watched as they picked the plate back up. “I’m guessing you’re not gonna eat this?”
Ze shook his head. “Sorry, dude. Can you put it in the fridge?”
“Of course, man,” Regect replied, kissing Ze’s forehead. “Come downstairs if you need anything, alright? Drink water, don’t be a little energy drink goblin in here.”
Ze snorted. “You’re so corny.”
“Dude, shut up.”
· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·
Drool dripped from the corners of Ze’s dry lips. Drool, tears, sweat. Ze felt disgusting. He felt nauseous. He felt like his stomach would explode out of his mouth.
Hunching over the toilet, more bile forced its way out of Ze’s mouth. He sniffled softly, panting deeply. Don’t cry. Be a man. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t—
“Ze?”
Fuck.
“Regect,” Ze groaned, lifting his head from the toilet seat. He probably looked like shit right now, covered in sweat and drool.
You look disgusting. He thinks you’re disgusting.
“You…You okay, man? Moe went to check on you, but you weren’t in bed…” Regect shifted worriedly, their tail flicking back and forth.
Checking on him? Ze growled under his breath, his hands tightening around the toilet.
“I’m fine,” he ground out. “I’m… fine. It’s just a stomach bug. I’ll be fine.”
Regect didn’t leave. He stood there, fidgeting with the chain around his neck. It was quiet in the room, aside from the small clinks of Regect’s gold collar.
Then, Ze hurled again. He convulsed, trembling violently, lurching forward—
He felt a gentle, cool hand against his forehead, keeping his bangs out of the way. It soothed the incessant heat of his skin as he spat more of yesterday's dinner into the water.
“Jeez, man…” Regect huffed out once Ze was done, quickly grabbing a rag to run it under cool water. They pressed it to the back of Ze’s neck.
“How long have you been in here, dude?”
“…Just an hour,” Ze admitted.
“How many times have you thrown up?”
“Uhhh… Five or six.”
“That’s not bad…” Regect thought for a moment, running a hand through Ze’s locks to soothe him. “Think you’re done for the night..?”
Ze sighed, leaning into the touch. His shoulders relaxed, and he nodded.
“If I grab some ginger ale or something, yeah.”
Regect sighed in relief, massaging Ze’s scalp. He leaned down to kiss Ze’s hair. “That’s good. Moe’s really worried.”
Ze stayed quiet as he cleaned his face with the rag. He shouldn't be this vulnerable. He shouldn’t be this weak.
Come on, toughen up. Be a man.
“Honk honk honk!!”
“Whoa, Moe—“
Moe crashed into Ze from behind, hugging him tightly whilst trying not to upset his stomach further. He laughed weakly, reaching back to pat her hair.
“I’m okay, Nella. Just a little under the weather.”
She honked sadly, pressing her face into Ze’s back while Regect came back into the room with a ginger ale. When had he left?
Ze cracked open the drink, slowly sipping it with trembling fingers. Moe’s hands shot out to steady him so he didn’t drop the can in the toilet or something. Regect probably would have laughed if he did.
You look pathetic. Get up off the floor.
Moe helped Ze up off the floor, letting him drape his arm across her shoulders for support. She attempted to lead him to her room, but Ze mumbled something about being contagious, so she ended up going to his.
Regect followed closely behind the two, keeping an eye on Ze’s sluggish behavior. They didn’t want to admit that they were worried, but it was getting harder and harder to hide that fact with how pale Ze looked. His eyes were sunken into his head, sweat beading on his brow. The bug had taken a toll on him, clearly, and Regect was happy that it seemed to have passed now.
Moe lay Ze down on his bed, wrapping him up in his blanket. He mumbled a quiet thanks, pulling the blanket tighter around himself until he was wrapped in a cocoon. Moe honked quietly, settling near his bent legs to rest her head on his thigh. Regect, meanwhile, sat on the edge of the mattress, his gaze drifting over the sleepy Ze. It was quiet for a while, other than Ze’s soft breaths and occasional snores.
“Honk honk honk.” Moe’s voice (or… horn) was so sudden that it startled Regect out of his thoughts.
“Yeah, I know… He’s definitely trying to downplay it.” They frowned, brushing Ze’s hair away to see his face better.
Moe cuddled closer to Ze with a sad honk.
“He’s been different. More closed off than before…”
“Honk honk honkhonkhonk!”
“I know, right? He was already so distant, but…” Regect sighed softly, its tail curling up to rest in its lap. “He was getting better before he went missing. Now that he’s back, he’s just…” Regect huffed, unable to find the words.
“Honk?”
“Yeah, tired. He’s tired all the time now, and he’s always getting sick—“
Ze stirred, making them both pause, but he went back to sleep quickly.
“Honk honk honk…” Moe sighed quietly. “Honk..”
She reached up to hold Regect’s hand in her own, smiling softly at them. “Honk honk honk honk.”
Regect thought Moe looked beautiful at this moment. Her voice was soft, hopeful, as she spoke, suggesting that they continue to be there for each other. Her hair was down, messy since they’d both just woken up. Regect squeezed her hand, leaning down to capture her lips in a kiss.
“Thank you, Moe,” Regect replied. “I’m so happy to have you. Both of you. I- I know I don’t really show it well, but I love you guys so much.”
Moe honked, kissing Regect again before pulling away to press a kiss to Ze’s temple. He pulled the blanket over his head with a sleepy whine, mumbling something along the lines of “don’t touch me, mom.” Moe and Regect both chuckled at that, planning to tease him later.
“So, are you staying in here tonight?”
“Honk! Honkhonkhonk.”
“Yeah, I don’t want to leave him alone either. I’ll just sleep on his pullout.”
Regect set up the pullout couch nearby as Moe settled back down into the spot under Ze’s knees. Regect stole a glance at her, chuckling to himself. She really looked like a cat.
“Night, Moe,” Regect said as it buried itself in a blanket. Moe only managed a sleepy but happy honk in return as they both dozed off.
(Moe did get kicked in the morning, but Ze apologized by buying her a bow for her horn.)