sirenspull_logs | Who's Sickest? - Backdated 3/7 (pre-Magneto-Breakdown)

[As Alan pulls away, Eric lets himself slide down onto his good side, and lay down.

The injury to his shoulder still looks bad. He's healing, but it looks like a wound that's been poisoned and left to fester for several days. Red lines run down his arm and across his chest. Sweat pours off of him, as he burns with fever.]

Doctor Xavier?

He regards the other man. "How could I not?"

"Yes, yes it's me." This...this wasn't something that could be treated at a home visit. At all. He knew, immediately what this was. Normally they killed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name, but could you take a spare sheet and wet it with warm room temperature water?" Cold water would make this worse.

That's right doctors had those oaths to uphold didn't they? "All the same, I'm grateful."

He closes the door behind the other man and watched, anxiously his fingers fussing with his coat. The buttons, the feel of how they're strung then fabric under his fingers all of it is a nervous habit that grounds him to the moment. He curses himself to his lapse in manners but doesn't say anything just yet as runs off to go find that sheet.

A few sounds of opening and closing cabinet doors and drawers and he's got the sheet. The sound of rushing water and draining water - all the rust and corruption being sent down the drain, before he wets the sheet down making sure to get the water just right. When he comes back he's huffing softly, obviously winded and more than a little tired.

"It's Alan and of course, how else can I help?" He won't take no for an answer, that much is obvious from the look on his face; the set of his jaw the way those green eyes held such determination. He wanted, needed to make Eric well again. Seeing him this way had that tightness back in his chest, painful like a wild thing tearing in and not letting go.

[Eric tries to sit up, but fails. He takes a long slow breath, reaches out, and takes Alan's hand, twining his fingers through the other man's.]

You're confused doctor. I'm healing. Something like this can't do me in. I didn't call you here for me.

[He pulls Alan a little closer.]

Alan is... the one I told you about. I don't need you. He does.

"Anyone can die here. Now lay down. I am capable of looking after both of you." Oh how he knew anyone could die here.

"You can take a seat and catch your breath. I don't need you falling out on me." He took the sheet and started pulling Eric's shirt away from the wound, then wrapping him in the sheet, using it to cool while he examined the wound.

"Alan is stable, you are not - it's called triage. Now be calm, both of you."

He frowns at Eric, eyes narrowing a bit but he links their hands; entwining fingers. "You didn't call him here at all." At he pull he moves closer, after a moment he'll sit on the couch shifting so that Eric's head rests on his thigh.

"I'll forgive you this once. Obviously, you're delirious from the fever." His fingers brush Eric's hair from his face, it was nice to see that there was another voice of reason here. "He can look me over after he tends you - I swear it. Don't fight this now, please. I didn't fall here just to watch you die."

[The sheet feels oddly cold against his skin. Eric winces, but it's from the words. He turns his cheek, nestling against Alan's lap. This seems to calm him some.]

You're not going to watch me die.

[It's the other way around, Alan. You know that.

Raising his eyes and giving the Doctor a dark look, he shakes his head 'no', but there doesn't seem to be a lot more strength for protest.]

"Neither of you are really in a position to argue. Now both of you just breathe and let me work." God spare him immortal love-sick teenagers, more when they both needed medical care.

"No one is dying today, all right? This wound needs to be cleaned so it can heal properly - that is best done in a hospital as it is minor surgery but I am equipped to do it here, if needed. But there will some recovery time. This is normally a mortal injury."

He completely ignores the look - he's had worse and is hardly concerned.

Alan snorted softly. Oh fates thank this one for putting up with Eric this long. He knew how out of hand Eric could be first hand. He had been told more than once that he was so much worse without Alan around.

His fingers brush over the other's neck just to keep him calm and soothed, then up to his cheek. He's content like this but he's focused on Eric's head on his lap. He doesn't want to see the surgery, not even a fleeting glance.

Stay calm, Alan. And tell the doctor to hurry up. I don't like the way you're breathing.

[Eric manages, his voice muffled by Alan's thigh.]

"His breathing is stable. Just hush now." He was starting to set up a sterile field, "And kindly stop informing me by proxy as how to conduct my job - I wouldn't do that to you." The scolding was gentle, patient, but there none the less. Eric wasn't helping either of them and setting up a sterile field in the field needed time to be done right even if it would only take fifteen minutes. And it would let him hang a curtain between his shoulder and their faces so neither would be able to watch.

"I am calm now hush. I'm not wheezing or gasping - just this stop now. You fight getting proper care is doing nothing for my stress. If you keep fighting us you'll send me into an attack and you don't want to do that. You wouldn't want to hurt me like that."

It was a guilt ploy; a lie wrapped in a sort of half truth. He hated using them but if it got Eric to behave he wasn't above a bit of emotional manipulation even if he'd hate himself for it later.

[Eric manages to give Doctor Xavier a dark look, but Alan's words work. His injury is upsetting Alan. All right, then it must be taken care of. Simple enough. Without another word, he goes quiet, letting his good arm drape around Alan's legs.]

Well. That was an expertly deployed play of guilt. Well done. Nor was he impressed with Eric's dark looks - he'd had far worse and didn't pay him any mind. Just continued to set up his field and prep for the surgery while keeping an eye on them both.

"Now, let me see if I can numb this a bit."

"Thank you."

Much better. He sighed softly letting his eyes close. He's content like this, just with Eric's head on his lap. He'd make it up to him later, maybe with some homemade cookies. He tilts his head just slightly, acknowledging the other's voice.

His fingers toy with Eric's hair a faint little humming sound leaving him. A small measure of comfort he'd allow himself, and hope it helped Eric a bit to focus on something.

[Eric is annoyed. He wants to shout that he should just get on with it... get it over with so he can focus on someone who actually needs help.

But, there's a ringing in his ears, and everything seems foggy and far away. And, Alan's touch is comforting and gentle. The protests never quite find their way to his voice.]

"There will be a pinch here, try to stay still." He inserted an IV catheter, using it to pump both pain killers and sedatives into Eric, guessing at an extremely high dose based on what he had dealt with before with him as well as the way the wound was behaving.

"Both of you be as still as possible, but if you need to move, let me know."

"I'm fine just like this." He closed his eyes leaning back into the couch. At least, Eric was calm now and willingly let himself be taken care of. Alan hated that stubborn streak sometimes. After sitting up all night he's happy to stay still and relax a bit.

[Colors blur together. Alan's voice sounds like it's coming from another room. There's a strange sensation that he's weightless and floating.

He doesn't go under, but his glassy-eyed expression and relaxed muscles show that there's an effect.]

He'll take what he can get, and this will work. As soon as Eric is as out as Magneto can get him, he lances the wound and begins to clean it.

"All right." The reply to Alan is automatic, he's focused on what he is doing, and flushing the venom from the wound. It was an uphill battle and he was aware.

He frowns slightly feeling Eric relax on his lap. He's never felt him relax like this, so completely. His brows furrowed and his eyes drifted open peering down at him. It's strange to have reserved roles like this. It's foreign to him to be the one holding and watching over rather than being the one watched over and held.

[Eric's not completely out, so he feels the procedure. In fact, the pain brings a surge of adrenaline, which throws the room slightly back into focus. He can't quite see, everything seems light bright colors, and the sensations are dull, but the twinge is there.

His muscles go tight, and his breath quickens. But, there's little movement, just a stiffness to his body that wasn't there before.

He wants to shout curses at the doctor, but he's conscious enough to know that would only upset Alan. His jaw goes tight, and his hold on Alan's leg with his good arm becomes tight as well, but that's the only response.]

He knows Eric isn't completely numb, knows he can feel the blade cutting, and hates himself being able to be calm, to shove the part of himself that is horrified at this, that gut churning sickening feeling that made him hate himself, hate what was going on, hate himself for being able to do this, and echoed his mindset of yesterday. He clamped his powers down on his nerves so his hands wouldn't shake, and his eyes grew distance and flat. But he got the envenomation site open and opened another IV bag to flush it out. Eric would have to heal this still, if he he could, but it would be easier with it cleaned.

He winces slightly because he knows it's painful. He knows it must hurt but leaving it as it was - well, he wouldn't think of what would have happened then. His fingers toy with Eric's hair, their tips brushing against his scalp.

It's a small comfort he can give, touching him like this. He doesn't know what to say, nothing he could say would make him feel better. It was just something to be done but all the same he's resolved himself to do something more for him later.

[The touch... Alan's touch... focus on that. He forces himself to keep his mind on that.

When the process is over, and the pain subsides, exhaustion, fever, and the drugs all seem to take over. Eric slips out of consciousness, limp on Alan's lap.]

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