For a while, they had been in a relationship. He, the boyfriend, would often come round to see how things were and spend some time when they weren't dating or Kyle was busy or unwell. Often he would just turn up uninvited. He did that the day Kyle got the cut. A nasty thing, quite deep, long and ragged, down his arm, on the shoulder. He was trying to press tissues to it when Fanboy started hammering on the door. Rolling his eyes, he got up, put his shirt back on and went to the door, allowing him into his house and home. With a wide grin, Fanboy launched himself at his boyfriend. "Hey Kyle! How are you? Did you miss me?"
"I only saw you yesterday!" Kyle snapped, rather irritated as his love's arm rubbed against the cut, causing a burning pain. Obviously, his snap caused offence.
"I was just kidding...are you okay?" He noticed the wizard clutching his bad shoulder.
There was no reply. He turned and went back to the bathroom, pulling his shirt off again and checking his shoulder. It was still bleeding. The tissues went in the bin and he turned to find Fanboy staring.
"What?"
"What did you do to your arm?"
"It's just a scratch."
"It looks really bad, Kyle..."
He glanced at it and shrugged, then winced. "It will heal, though."
"Actually," Interrupted a particularly cynical voice, "it looks to me like it needs stitches." They both turned to the Scrivener elf, who was stood only a little way back from Fanboy, who almost stood in the doorway to the bathroom. Getting angry, the young wizard pushed past them both, going to his bedroom and reaching under his bed, pulling out a sewing kit. "Stitches. I don't need stitches."
Scrivener and Fanboy shared glances. "He's been moody all day." The elf explained. "Something's upset him."
Fanboy nodded, frown deepening as Kyle connected the needle and thread, and then did something no-one expected. He effectively stabbed the needle into his skin, piercing near the gash already there. All at one, he cried out, Fanboy called his name and Scrivener yelled 'No', putting his hand out to stop him. Kyle was sewing the cut closed himself, even though it was clearly causing a lot of pain. Was he really that adamant on not going to hospital? It wasn't exactly safe to try to physically stop him, so really the most they could do was shout, but soon enough he was finished...and in tears...and he cut the thread, leaving him with his stupid idea of sewing the gash shut. Fanboy had left the room by this point and was outside, getting some air so he wouldn't throw up.
He jumped when he felt the hand on his shoulder. Turning, he found himself face to face with Kyle once more. He was dressed again.
"Kyle? Are you...?"
"I'm okay. I'm fine, I didn't...it's going to be an okay temporary solution."
"Temporary?"
"Yes, temporary. I'll get it properly seen to, but I really can't right now. Catch up later, okay?" He planted a kiss on the costumed character's cheek before disappearing inside, slamming the door.
For the next few weeks, things went as normal. They met up a few times, spent time together and were just as affectionate as usual, and it was if the situation had never occurred. Now, Kyle loved roller coasters. There was a theme park in Galaxy Hills and it had been a while since they had gone there, and Fanboy felt it would be nice to spend a night there. A date. Naturally, Chum Chum would not be coming with them. Well, he would be coming to the park, just not hanging around the other two. He went in ahead while Fanboy waited for Kyle.
The wizard was well aware he was late. He was staring at himself in the mirror. He had a sickly pallor about him, and he was feverish and shaking. It was a warm night, but Kyle couldn't get warm at all. He checked the time again. He should have been at the gates 15 minutes ago. The two of them had been looking forward to this date for ages, he couldn't fall ill now! He put on his coat and stepped out, stomping down towards the park. His shoulder was throbbing. He never did remove the thread from that cut, and it had been weeping, but he hadn't really noticed until the pain started, and it didn't matter. He had antibiotics. The infection wasn't clearing up yet, though, so perhaps he would have to go see someone about it. He was almost an hour late when he finally arrived, and apologised profusely, lying and saying his elf had needed assistance. Fanboy accepted the excuse without missing a beat and assured him that it was fine, lying and saying he had not been waiting long.
The night went fine at first. They played a few games, Fanboy doing great at throwing balls and hoops, Kyle being rifle and dart perfect, and winning each other countless prizes. They went on rides both rough and smooth, had some food and drink...but it started on the merry go round. Even though they weren't going fast at all, he began feeling sick. He stumbled off and wondered if perhaps he was just hungry (as this was before they went to get refreshments), so he took charge, leading to the nearest concession stand. They each had a hotdog and a lemonade, and Fanboy became eager to go on the roller coaster. He had brought bags to put the prizes in so they could take them on the rides, so there they were. Kyle dug his fingers into the chair and screwed up his eyes, his stomach cramping, acid rising in his throat. This was it, he was going to be sick. He was choking back the bile and then the ride ended. Suddenly he was feeling awful, struggling to catch his breath as he followed Fanboy to the next ride. The masked boy saw how uncomfortable his boyfriend was, however. "Uh...are you okay?"
''Stupid roller coaster...why did I even go in there in the first place?''
"You don't look well."
"That ride made me sick."
"We could just sit down for a moment..."
Kyle nodded and they went to the nearest free bench, and cuddled up to one another. The nausea did not fade. Kyle was actually getting a little concerned. It was only a fever a moment ago, and now suddenly he was so breathless and felt he might vomit any moment and...oh dear. Suddenly, he shot to his feet, drawing a gasp from his caped Casanova. "I need the bathroom." He explained in excuse before running off and locking himself in a stall, thankfully before an accident could occur.
It was as he was walking back from the toilets that the sickness hit its absolute worst. The muscles in his limbs were screaming. The pains swarming him and the acid rising in his throat once more drove him to tears. He couldn't stay any longer, he had to go home. There would be something in the Necronomicon that would help. His vision swam again and he stumbled to a trash can, finally bringing up everything in his stomach, legs almost collapsing beneath him. He retched again and felt a hand on his back. He tried to shrug it off, and Fanboy told him not to worry. It was only him. When Kyle raised his head he saw lights and heard voices, but everything was blurred or muffled, and he felt the ground scrape across his skin long before he realised he had fallen over, and he barely felt the pain where he bumped his head on the bin edge. The last clear thing he heard as he lost consciousness was Fanboy yelling for someone to call an ambulance.
Fanboy ran alongside the hospital stretcher as the doctors took his boyfriend to the emergency room, looking over him. He was barely breathing. Fanboy was not allowed in the room, so he behaved and waited outside anxiously. A doctor asked for the personal details of both boys, and he did his best to answer the questions, but then he was checking Kyle's medical records. "Could it be to do with his visit recently?" The caped crusader asked anxiously. The doctor frowned.
"Kyle's most recent hospital visit was...quite a few years ago, in England. Tobias, if you know something that might help..."
"No, I don't, but I remember he had to go to the doctors a few weeks ago...he didn't?"
The doctor shook his head. Fanboy had forgotten the injury and that it had been self-sewn. "Do you know what was wrong with him?"
"Uh...let me think..."
The doctor went back inside as other doctors cut Kyle's shirt open for some reason or another. As the wizard's distraught boyfriend paced around outside, feeling panic blossoming in his chest. He took furtive glances through the windows in the doors and then suddenly he remembered. Bursting through the doors, he fought against the instant attempts to usher him out. "He injured his shoulder! He stitched it himself!"
A while later, he sat in a hospital room, intensive care, beside the sick wizard. "Will be be okay?"
"He's quite unwell, but we're doing all we can."
They really were. They had removed the thread from Kyle's shoulder and carefully cut away body tissues that had died. He had several tubes and machines connected to him, and an air mask over his face. He wasn't awake yet. Chum Chum had been leaving messages on Fanboy's phone, but he had been ignoring them. He was just focussed on Kyle, Kyle's wellbeing and how all of this would affect Kyle. He was sat there a very long time, and was almost falling asleep. He had been there long enough to be ever so tired and hungry, but then as his head dipped low he saw some movement before him, heard the rustle of the blankets, and then he looked up, and Kyle was sitting up. Fanboy went to usher him back down. "It's okay, Kyle...just rest..."
He pulled the oxygen mask away from his face. "Where...what...?"
"You're not well."
He narrowed his eyes at Fanboy. "You look pale."
"I'm fine, you should rest."
"What time is it?"
"Uh..." He checked. "5 in the morning."
"Sleep."
"I need to make sure you're okay."
"Come closer."
Hesitantly, he obeyed, shifting his chair closer to the bed, and Kyle's arm snaked around his chest, weakly pulling him close. He sort of gently pushed Fanboy's head onto his chest and cuddled him. "I'll be good if you get some sleep."
You see, Fanboy had expected to be looking after Kyle, but instead, even though he was still quite unwell, Kyle seemed to be doing the caring.
"...Kyle?"
"Mmm?"
"Are you okay?"
"Mmm."
"Kyle?"
"Mmm?"
"I love you."
"...Fanboy?"
"Yeah?"
"Love you too."
"Oh, and Kyle?"
He sighed now. "Yes?"
"I told you not to stitch yourself. I told you so."
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