Ghosts of Winter: Kolkhis (for Corbie)

[st_onecoldfox]

Another coughing spell hit, clenching and jerking Mildmay's body so strong the headboard rattled against the brick wall of his room.

Fuck me sideways. I got the winter fever. Again.

His whole body ached, and he was shivering, but it hadn't been a septad-minute since he was drenched in sweat, pushing feebly at the covers trying to kick them off. He'd known it was Winter Fever, but forgot. It did him that way sometimes. The idea hitting all the sudden like a epifa-whatsit, and knowing he'd knowed it only fading in after.

But he knew he was sick. And worse, others knew it too. Emma'd kicked him outta the kitchen with a thermos of soup, assuring him she and Kenny'd manage without him, and insisting he get some rest and take care of himself. What'd happened to that soup? He couldn't remember eating it or nothing. He thought maybe Corbie'd bullied him into bed, but that mighta been the fever, 'cause there'd been two Corbies, and how the blazes could he withstand the both of 'em when they put their minds to something?

Couldn'ta been Corbie though, neither of 'em, 'cause she'd never been to Mélusine, and he knew this bed. Too big for any bed of his. Felix's bed at the Mirador'd been this big, but Mildmay's was little more than a cot. He knew this bed. This was... This was Keeper's bed.

Kethe. He hadta get outta here. He wasn't going back. Not to her. And he couldn't let her get Corbie neither. Fuck.

He took a deep breath to work up to pushing out of bed. Or he tried to. It set off more coughing, and he just wound up more tangled in the bed linens, already clingy damp with his sweat.

"Just where do you think you're going, Milly-Fox?" The voice was almost a purr that slithered down his spine like the Snake Littleman had called her. Keeper put her hand flat on his chest, and she barely had to push to keep him right where he was.

"You go where I tell you. When I tell you. Always so good at doing just what you're told. Except for when you didn't, and look where that got you. Although perhaps you've forgotten. Should I show you then? Remind you of what you are?"

Comments

[st_rikingblueeyes]

Corbie had all but moved into Mildmay's room since that visit from her other self. They'd managed to bully him into bed, which was half the battle, but the other half was still exhausting. Getting him to eat or drink anything. Getting his fever down. The fever was showing no sign of breaking yet, and that worried her to no end, but she went no further than just to the other bed unless she needed something, and even then she could call and ask someone. She should perhaps have feared getting sick herself, but he was too ill to be left alone for any significant length of time. Even when he was sleeping. His nightmares had been fucked up, even though she couldn't really make out what they were.

"Mildmay?" she called softly from the bathroom where she'd gone to wash her face. The room felt so hot and close, even though she knew that was her imagination. Mostly calling out was to remind him that she was there at all, before she went to go check on him. His voice was way too raw to carry even that far. "D'you need anything?"