#care taking

KK knows she’s sick.

She just ignores it.

It starts as something small she thinks she can play through. A headache that lingers too long. Her body feeling heavier than usual. A weird chill that doesn’t match how hot the gym feels.

So she doesn’t say anything.

Because she’s fine.

Because she can handle it.

Practice proves her wrong.

Everything feels off. The lights are too bright, the sounds too loud, her body just a step behind where it should be. She wipes her face with her shirt, trying to shake it off.

“you’re slow today,” someone calls out.

KK rolls her eyes automatically. “you’re annoying.”

But even she can hear it.

It doesn’t land the same.

Across the gym, Kayleigh notices.

She’s mid-count when she sees it. The slight delay in KK’s movement. The way she pauses longer than usual. The way she’s not talking as much.

Kayleigh misses half a beat.

“…focus,” she mutters under her breath.

But her eyes keep going back.

KK pushes through another drill.

Then another.

Her vision starts to blur at the edges, just enough to be unsettling. She inhales slowly, trying to steady herself.

She’s fine.

She’s—

Everything tilts.

The sound hits first.

Voices.

Shoes.

Someone saying her name too loud.

Then nothing.

Kayleigh is already moving.

She doesn’t think about it. Doesn’t ask. She’s just there, pushing through the small crowd forming.

KK is slumped slightly, someone trying to keep her upright.

Kayleigh drops down in front of her immediately.

“hey… hey, look at me.”

KK blinks slowly, trying to focus.

Kayleigh is the first thing that clears.

“…you good?” Kayleigh asks, but her voice is already softer than that.

KK tries to nod. It barely happens.

“I’m fine.”

Kayleigh doesn’t even respond to that.

She presses her hand to KK’s forehead and immediately pulls back slightly.

“…you’re not fine.”

Coach is there a second later.

“What happened?”

“She’s burning up,” Kayleigh says quickly.

KK lets out a weak breath. “I’m good, I can—”

“No, you can’t,” Kayleigh cuts in, firm now.

Coach looks between them, then nods toward the door.

“take her to the trainer. Now.”

Kayleigh doesn’t hesitate.

She helps KK up, steadying her when she sways again.

The walk there is slow.

KK leans into her without even realizing it, her weight heavier than usual. Kayleigh adjusts her hold every time she slips, keeping her upright.

“…you’re dramatic,” KK mumbles.

Kayleigh tightens her grip just a little.

“walk.”

At the trainer’s room, they sit KK down on the table. The trainer checks her temperature, shakes her head slightly.

“fever’s high. She shouldn’t have been practicing.”

Kayleigh gives KK a look.

KK avoids it.

“She needs to go home,” the trainer continues. “rest, fluids, keep an eye on her.”

Coach nods when they step back out.

“take the rest of the day,” she tells Kayleigh. “make sure she’s okay.”

Kayleigh doesn’t even question it.

“okay.”

Getting back to the dorm is quieter.

KK barely talks now. She leans her head against Kayleigh’s shoulder, eyes half closed, letting herself be guided the whole way.

By the time they get inside, she’s exhausted.

Kayleigh helps her sit down on the bed.

“stay,” she says softly.

KK nods faintly.

Kayleigh moves around the room quickly, grabbing what she needs, then comes back.

“you need to get cleaned up.”

KK groans. “don’t wanna.”

“I know. Still doing it.”

Kayleigh helps her up again, slower this time, more careful. She keeps a steady hand on her arm, guiding her through everything without rushing.

When they’re done, she brings her back to the bed, pulling the blanket up around her.

KK immediately curls into it.

Kayleigh disappears into the small kitchen space for a few minutes, then comes back with a bowl.

“sit up a little.”

KK opens one eye. “…what is that.”

“soup.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“you’re eating anyway.”

KK sighs, but she lets Kayleigh help her sit up.

Kayleigh blows on a spoonful before holding it out.

KK takes it reluctantly.

Then another.

Not much, just enough.

Kayleigh doesn’t push it after that.

“okay. that’s fine.”

She sets it aside, then sits back down next to her.

KK shifts slightly, wincing.

“…what.”

“my braids,” KK mutters. “they hurt.”

Kayleigh pauses.

Then nods.

“okay. come here.”

KK leans back against her, eyes closing again as Kayleigh carefully starts undoing them, slow and gentle so it doesn’t pull.

Her fingers move patiently, taking her time.

KK relaxes more with each one.

“…that’s better,” she mumbles.

“yeah?”

“mhm.”

When she’s done, Kayleigh sets everything aside and helps her lay back down properly.

KK doesn’t even hesitate this time.

She reaches for her sleeve, holding onto it lightly.

“stay.”

“I’m here.”

Kayleigh lays down next to her, pulling the blanket up around both of them.

KK shifts closer immediately, resting her head against Kayleigh’s shoulder.

There’s a quiet moment.

Then—

“…kiss me.”

Kayleigh sighs softly.

“you’re sick.”

“so?”

“So I’m not trying to get sick too.”

KK tilts her head up slightly, still half asleep but stubborn anyway.

“please.”

Kayleigh looks down at her.

“…no.”

“pleaseeeee.”

Kayleigh shakes her head, but there’s no real weight behind it.

“You’re actually impossible.”

“just one.”

Kayleigh exhales.

“…you’re so annoying.”

“you like it.”

Kayleigh leans down anyway.

Just quick.

Just soft.

A small kiss.

KK smiles immediately.

Even like this.

“again.”

“No.”

“please.”

Kayleigh gives in one more time, softer this time.

Then she pulls back.

“That’s it.”

KK doesn’t argue.

She just curls closer, holding onto her hoodie.

Kayleigh’s hand moves up to her hair, brushing it back gently.

“go to sleep.”

“only if you stay.”

Kayleigh nods slightly.

“I’m staying.”

“promise.”

“promise.”

KK’s breathing starts to even out, her grip loosening as she drifts.

Kayleigh stays still, letting her settle.

Then she looks at her.

Really looks.

KK looks softer like this.

Quieter.

All the tension gone, replaced with something calm, something gentle Kayleigh doesn’t see when she’s awake.

Kayleigh’s fingers trace lightly along her arm, careful not to wake her.

“…you’re gonna get me sick,” she whispers, but there’s no real complaint in it.

KK shifts slightly closer in her sleep.

Kayleigh pulls her in just a little more.

And for a second, she just watches her.

Like she’s trying to memorize everything.

“…I love you,” she murmurs softly.

KK doesn’t hear it.

She’s already asleep.

But Kayleigh stays.

Author’s Notes: I’ve decided there isn’t enough Biz and Meeko. I need it. Here it is. Meeko and art by @aller-geez

Silently, Biziil was re reading one of his favorite book series. Twilight. Before you judge the man, he was a bit late on the hype. This is his second read through trying to find any hidden things he had maybe skimmed. Biziil loved a good book while his darling girlfriend Meeko was laying half asleep on his chest, curled up fully in his lap, his arms comfortably around her to maintain the hold on his book. One hand, lazily threading through Meeko’s softened orange strands while the other kept the ledger secured.

Meeko had come down with something gnarly a few days prior but was fighting off the brunt of it this evening as the wheezing sound of her breaths filled the silence of the room. Biziil would absent mindedly kiss the top of her head every so often just to remind her he was still paying close attention, if she were to need anything.

Connie was working overtime to make up for the time Meeko was out sick, their hard working girl. Connie always thought it best Biz did the care taking most times, Connie always felt at a loss when her partners were sick. Leaving her helpless and aching for their health.

Meeko’s eyes barely cracked open an inch, looking over the barely legible words on the book her partner read. Her mouth hung open, nose too stuffed and full to even consider a nose hole to breathe through. She sighed, heavily, her chest caving and following the motion with a hacking, and violent cough. “Hnnn….” She whimpered after. She really just wanted to breathe normally again, but every time she tested the waters she found that familiar prickle, scratching at the back door. ‘Let me out….’ It threatened and beckoned for her. ‘Let me out!’ But she couldn’t. She was so comfortable and she ran the huge risk of dampening the pages of her lover’s book. “SndfF…” she tried her best to clear herself of the fog. To no avail.

“Darling?” Biziil looked down, hearing the concave struggle of his girlfriend’s breathing, and more or less sniffled struggling. “Do you need another tissue, my love?” He asked softly, already preparing himself to grab one before she even decided to nod yes. However, she did.

“Please,” she responded with the most pathetic, low volume voice one could possibly muster in a time like this.

“Of course, Princess,” setting his book down for a moment he reaches over his side in order to grab a tissue from the box beside him on the ground. The box had once been on the side table by the couch but with a change of position, it was too hard to reach. The bear had properly placed it next to him on the floor, and was more than prepared as his fingers expertly swafted a tissue from its box with a *thwiff*. “Here you are sweetness,” handing it to her, but before she could even reach out, her face threatened to crack under the weight of her virus. Twisting and scrunching to avoid the fatality.

Her chest felt hot, her head started to sweat and she realized there was no out running the inevitable. Her nose starts to drip just ever so slightly, her hand working to push the stream back, but found it hard to keep her eyes open while doing so. Her body shivers, her head starts to pound and the more she tries not to think about it, the more prevalent it becomes. Sitting on the folds of her frontal lobe. “H-Hih….” She hitches, trying to swallow it back the second it falls from her mouth. “Hh…hhi—…HIH…” Biziil now scrambling to set his book aside, and cradle the back of her head in his now free left hand, and the right coming to a pinch just under her nostrils.

Just in the Knick of time, because the second the tissue was placed in the correct positioning, Meeko blew the top straight off her lip. “hih’KKSSSHHHuh!!” Loud, pronounced, her body shook, her legs buckled the sheer force and display drew up a brightened pink blush across the bear’s face. Without much warning or notice, the young woman finds herself yet again, struggling to catch a breath. Her throat clasps around the intake of air and shuts out any ability to get a good breath in. She stutters, almost hiccups as it sticks inside her throat.

“Let it out darling, don’t hold them back like that….you know how demanding they are,” he clicked his tongue, rubbing the back of her neck between 4 fingers and his thumb. Hoping the motion could soothe her some. It couldn’t. “Hh-h…HIH…h…. HA’AETTCCCHH’uh!! Eh’KSSSSOO, K’SHIEW!!” They were prominent, thunderous, they echoed the picture framed walls and Biz held onto her for dear life, as if everything they lived for was at stake, swiping, pinching, scooping what mess he could with the tissue still clutched to her face.

“Goodness, my love…Bless you,” his voice concerned, his eyebrows furrowed as his hand moved back to pushing the white bangs from her forehead, feeling her temperature. “Sweet girl, you’re burning up….”

Meeko turns, buries her face into the crook of Biziil’s armpit, trying her best to hide the deepened scarlett blush that decorated her usually pale face. “Hnnn….do’d loog ad me….” She whimpered with embarrassment. She absolutely hated how loud her sneezes were, they always made her feel less feminine somehow.

“It’s alright, darling, there’s really no need to apologize,” the grey haired man chuckled, kissing the top of her head. “Come now, don’t hide one of my favorite things to look at….” He leaned in closer to her ear, gently moving the orange threads that once shielded it.

“Hnnn….” She groaned back at him, wishing to disappear into a pile of ash. Or sneeze goo. Whichever she could manage first and faster.

“Do you wish to go to the bedroom, Princess?” Biziil asks her softly, in a gentle whisper as his arms tighten around her.

“……No……” her own voice softer this time, almost too muffled for the larger to make out, but he still strained every muscle he could to hear it.

“Then we shall stay here like this, for as long as you wish, my dove,” pulling her face from within his pit, they now face each other, eye to eye. “I love you, beautiful,” he leans in to kiss her tender lips before Meeko quickly shoved her index finger between them.

“I love you too Bizzy…..but I don’t want you to get sick…” her voice almost breaks, not from sadness but from the scratchiness, the soreness and the over all trashy way she was feeling. Her lidded eyes looked up at his with sincerity, and all he could do was smile.

“It’ll be worth everyday I fall ill….now please,” he responds in a sultry, but gentle tone, before leaning in and pressing their lips lovingly together.

The End