#and i truly wished i could have made noelle olive because it would have looked good but similar reasons. shes way too rich for that. | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

sickdaysofficial · 6 years

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Sickdays 4.0: Day 3: Made a Mess

written by @lickstynine and @ocsickficsideblog, featuring my Kit and her Alistair and Julius. this is actually set slightly before our other recent collabs, possibly in November, definitely before Kit’s birthday.

tw for emeto and a lot of drinking

A loud knock echoed on the door of Julius and Alistair’s flat. Standing on the doorstep, shivery and a bit tipsy, was a grinning and remarkably good-looking redhead, dressed far too nicely for this cheap-ass apartment complex.

“Al! Julie! Let me iiiin!”

Julius answered the door quickly, his face breaking into a warm smile when he saw Kit. He was dressed in one of Alistair’s too big jackets with bare legs, clearly ready to settle down for the evening. “Hi, Kit! I didn’t know you were dropping by tonight,” he said, trying to imply that he didn’t usually greet guests half naked like this.

Kit shrugged, “Wasn’t planned. Just was in the neighbourhood, thought I’d stop by. I brought drinks, and takeout.” He proudly held up bottles of wine and cartons of Indian food, which he’d picked specifically because there are so many vegetarian dishes. He brushed over the part where he had no reason to be in such a shitty part of town, and was simply super fucking lonely with Ellery working double shifts all week.

Julius smiled and ushered him in quickly. “That’s great! We haven’t eaten yet. Star is in the living room. Forgive our outfits, we weren’t expecting guests.”

“Doesn’t bother me.” Kit sashayed into the living room, grinning at his cousin. “How are you, Al?”

Alistair grinned at him too, though he rather wished he was wearing something cooler than plaid pyjama pants and a ratty black jumper that was half unravelling. “Hey. What’re you doing, slumming it in this shithole?”

“Bored, thought I might do something charitable and feed the hungry.” Kit teased. “I also brought wine, not that you’d want any. Can I sit?” he asked, gesturing to the couch.

“Go ahead. It won’t be of the quality you’re used to,” he quipped back. All their furniture had been bought from second hand shops, and was therefore all a little stained, worn out or tired looking.

Kit plopped down on the couch nonetheless, just needing to sit down after hiking across town to harass his cousin. “Want some food? Do you lot usually sit at the table, or can we eat here?”

“It depends. But we can eat here, that’s fine. Formal dinners put me off food after growing up in our family,” Alistair grumbled. “What did you bring?”

“Indian. Just some simple curry, nothing too spicy. I figured that’d be easy to share, and it’s veggie, so…” Kit shrugged, offering up the take-out cartons with a hopeful smile, like he was nervous that Alistair would reject his free food.

Alistair had reached the point where he would never reject free food, since he’d been fired from three jobs in six weeks. “Cool. We can never afford the more expensive takeaways. We can only get the ones that give you food poisoning,” Alistair muttered, only half-joking.

“If you need a bite, you can just phone me, you know. I can send over a pizza or something.” Kit replied, genuine worry shining in his eyes.

Alistair was about to say that he didn’t really want to be begging his cousin for money or food, when his kitten ran back into the room with a perky meow, having just finished her own meal. Alistair immediately softened as she curled up on his lap, stroking her gently with his fingertips.

Kit raised his eyebrows, one manicured finger reaching out to brush the kitten’s ear. “And who is this?”

Alistair rolled his eyes. “Star. Because Jules named her. He says he likes it that he calls Star and both me and the cat look up.”

“That’s ridiculous, Julie.” Kit scoffed, looking up at the small boy to specifically give him grief.

Julius grinned at him. “You don’t know how adorable it is, to call their names and see them both fix their big eyes on me,” he said fondly.

Kit rolled his eyes. “That’s lame.” He teased. “Are you going to come over here and eat or not?”

“Yes please,” Julius said eagerly, bouncing over to sit beside Kit. “Thank you for bringing this over.”

“Not a problem. I figured my presence would be more welcome if I came bearing gifts.” Kit handed out cartons of curry with napkins and plastic forks, waiting for the others to be ready before he started eating.

Alistair mumbled a thank you, naturally less polite. He truly was grateful for a decent meal that he didn’t have to pay for though, and he smiled at his cousin.

Kit smiled back, handing a carton to Julius as well before cracking open his own. “I’m starved,” He remarked, “I’ve been out of the house since breakfast.”

Julius blinked. “Goodness! Why? Have you been busy today?” he asked. Alistair just raised an eyebrow, knowing that Kit wasn’t usually one who was busy.

“Just out for a walk. I’ve been cooped up all week with nowhere to go.” Kit shrugged.

“That’s a long fucking walk if you haven’t been home since breakfast,” Alistair mumbled.

Kit’s cheeks flushed; he’d been out looking for friends all day, but all of them had been busy, since they actually had jobs and responsibilities.

“You can always come over here and sit with Star if you’re bored,” Julius suggested. “You could make sure he’s actually applying for jobs.”

“That I could. I didn’t know you still needed babysitting, little cousin.” Kit chuckled. He reached down by his feet, grabbing a bottle of wine. “Julie, you want a drink?”

“Only a small one,” Julius said, giggling.

Alistair scowled. “I fucking don’t.”

Kit laughed at Alistair, ignoring the younger boy’s whining to ask Julius, “do you have glasses?”

“I’ll go get some. Star, do you want any?” Julius asked. Alistair just shrugged sullenly, so Julius only grabbed two glasses.

Kit popped open the bottle; it probably wasn’t surprising that he had a corkscrew in one pocket. He accepted the glasses from Julius, pouring the younger boy a drink and handing it over before pouring his own.

Julius took a sip immediately, making the most of getting to taste quality wine for once. “How much did this cost?”

“Didn’t check,” Kit shrugged, “Just bought it.”

“I remember that,” Alistair said mournfully, as if he’d been living on the streets.

Kit rolled his eyes, ignoring the younger boy’s whining. “You done anything interesting since we last spoke?”

“I got a job and got fired in that time,” Alistair said.

“Christ.” Kit sighed, draining his wine glass and pouring more.

Julius sighed a little. “He’d only been there a few days too. I don’t suppose you know of any jobs with extremely tolerant managers, Kit?”

“Actually, I think one of my friends from literature class got promoted at his bookstore. Can’t recall if it was to supervisor or manager, but I’m certain he’d be happy to help you out.”

Alistair looked wary. “What sort of stuff would I do? Can you make it so I just stack books and don’t have to talk to people much?”

Kit rolled his eyes. “Obviously. No one would pay you to talk to people. Hold on, let me call him before I forget.” rather than finding somewhere sturdy to put his wine glass, he drained it and laid it in the lid of his takeout carton. Fishing through his coat pockets, he pulled out his phone, which was (surprisingly) three or four years old rather than brand new. “Let’s see… Nathan, Nina, Noah, Noelle, Oliver… ah! Osiris.” dialing the number, he sandwiched the phone between his ear and shoulder to pour another glass of wine.

Alistair wrinkled his nose. “Is he a weirdo? What sort of name is Osiris?”

Kit put his hand over the microphone to snap, “I can hang up right now if you’re going to be a shit.”

Alistair rolled his eyes. “It was just a question, touchy.”

“Well ask questions when I’m not on the phone.” Kit took his hand off the microphone as the number he was calling picked up. “Si! Glad you answered. It’s Ruby. I need a favour, if you can? My little cousin, he’s looking for work. Didn’t you say you needed people at the bookstore? Good, yes, okay, great. Thanks a ton, mate. I owe you. You can send it whenever. See you round.”

Alistair was about to make fun of the ‘Ruby’ nickname or bitch about being called a ‘little cousin,’ but he was taken aback now. “What, he hired me? Just like that?”

“It’s a pretty lax place, Al. They sell fiction books and comics and figurines, as long as you show up alive, you’re good. Si shows up high off his ass half the time, but he still gets his work done so they don’t care.” Kit replied, going back to his wine.

Alistair grinned. “He does? I might like it there then, if that sort of stuff goes on.”

“Exactly. I wouldn’t have recommended you to someone strict, it’d be a waste of time.”

“Yeah, it would. I don’t do well with that.”

“I know.” Kit rolled his eyes, pouring out more wine. “I believe you’re forgetting something.”

Alistair stared at him for a while, confused. In the end Julius mouthed it to him. “Oh. Thank you.” He paused. “Is that what you meant?”

“Yes. Christ, you don’t have to be a rich snob to have basic manners.” the older redhead snarked, offering Julius more wine.

Julius smiled apologetically, holding out his glass. “He’s getting much better…” he said gently.

Kit refilled Julius’s glass, offering a smile and draining his own. “I know.”

Alistair scowled. “Do you two have to talk about me like I’m a willful puppy you’re training?” he snapped.

“We’ll stop when you’re better behaved than a puppy.” Kit replied.

“I don’t piss on the floor. That’s better than a puppy.”

“Is that really your best claim to fame?” Kit scoffed.

Alistair rolled his eyes. “That’s all I’ve got right now. Even some puppies can hold down jobs as service animals or guide dogs.”

Kit laughed and rolled his eyes again. “I suppose so. It’s okay, though. We like you anyway.”

Alistair grinned at him. “Yes, and that’s very rare. So I’d better hang onto you two.” He leaned against his cousin’s shoulder fondly.

Kit smiled and ruffled Alistair’s hair before popping open another bottle of wine. “Julie, you want more?”

“I couldn’t have more, I have to go food shopping tomorrow,” he said, rather regretfully, since he didn’t want Kit drinking all of that himself.

Kit didn’t seem to mind, switching to drinking straight from the bottle. “Maybe I’ll tag along, if I’m still around.”

“That’ll be nice! I never usually have company,” Julius said.

“Well, I like shopping. I’ll gladly join you.” Kit smiled, wiping the faint burgundy stain from his lips with a cheap takeout napkin.

Julius bit his lip anxiously. “Are you going to drink all that yourself? You’ll get a headache.”

Kit chuckled, rolling his eyes as he emptied the wine bottle. “I have a bit of a higher tolerance than you, Julie.”

Julius leaned against his shoulder with a sigh. “Okay, if you’re sure…”

“I’ll be fine.” Kit shrugged, popping open a new bottle. He knew he really shouldn’t drink much more, but there was an uncomfortable, lonely gloom in his mind that he couldn’t quite shake, and he hoped another bottle might do the trick.

Alistair raised his eyebrows. “What sorrow are you trying to drown today?” he asked dryly.

“I dunno, maybe the bane of being around you.” Kit was equally sarcastic in response.

Julius had been draining his glass of wine as Kit spoke, and he snorted and choked, coughing. Alistair scowled. “I’d rather you two didn’t bond over a mutual mockery of me.”

“Then give us something good about you to bond over.” Kit challenged.

Alistair paused, thinking. Then his shoulders drooped a little. “Hm. This is a really fun conversation,” he said flatly.

Kit’s tone softened and he pulled Alistair into his lap. “Don’t get down, Al. I’m just teasing. I wouldn’t have come round if I didn’t like seeing you.”

“Well there isn’t anything good, is there?” he sighed, looking a little confused about being cuddled up so close to his cousin. Julius shuffled close to the other two boys too, grabbing Alistair’s hand - he fully approved of hugs when somebody was sad.

“Of course there is!!” Kit argued. “You’re smart! And creative! And cute, in your broody little way. And even if you don’t want to admit it, you’re nice when it matters.” he was perhaps a little drunker than he’d realized, and hugging Alistair more closely and awkwardly than the younger boy was comfortable with.

Alistair blushed, looking alarmed. “Ahhh…thanks, Kit. But you don’t have to hug me like this.”

“But you need to know you’re looooved.” Kit gave Alistair another tight squeeze. Alistair squirmed uncomfortably in his cousin’s arms.

“You could…love me from a distance. About an arm length.” Alistair entreated Julius with his eyes, looking like a trapped animal.

Kit shook his head. “Nope. You need proper affection.” He clumsily patted Alistair’s hair.

“This…doesn’t feel like affection,” Alistair mumbled awkwardly. He tried to gently pull away. “I know you’re being nice and everything, but I’m not good with so much contact.”

“Oh. I… I just… sorry.” Releasing the younger boy, Kit brought his hands back to himself, grabbing a wine bottle in the process.

Alistair looked miserable too, especially as he saw Kit reaching for the bottle. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how to function like a normal person…”

Julius grabbed one of each of their hands. “Shh, you two. It’s okay, anyone can see how you care for each other.”

“Shh, ssh, sh…” Kit patted at Julius’s hand… “I should shut up, shouldn’t I…” He mumbled.

“That’s not what I meant.” Julius squinted at Kit thoughtfully. “Are you feeling okay today?”

“‘M fine. Fiiiine. I… I left the house and everything, see? Put on pants, brushed my hair. ‘M fiiiiine.” Kit insisted, drooping over the arm of the couch. His momentum sent his glasses to the floor, clattering on the ground and sliding halfway under the couch. Too drunk to care, he just took another gulp of wine.

Julius leaned over him, brushing his hair off his face. “You don’t look yourself.” He paused. “Are you having a low day?” he asked, and Alistair looked over too, concerned.

“Low day?” Kit rolled his eyes, as if Julius has suggested he was an Olympic swimmer. “I don’t have low days. I’m fiiiiiiiiine.” That was a crock of shit right there. A jumbo crock of mega shit actually.

“Is that why you’ve been out of your house all day?” Julius persisted gently. Alistair took hold of Kit’s hand, looking upset.

“Why… why would I do that? If I was upset, I’d just sit at home and drink.”

“It must be hard sometimes, living in that big empty house,” Julius said.

Kit scoffed, in a pitiful attempt to deny Julius’s very accurate statement. “Nah. It’s… it’s fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine. I’m not… I’m not lonely. I have Ellery… who I haven’t seen all week… and… and the servants… who’ve been getting really sick of me… hell, sometimes, I even get to share the house with my dad, and he’s just the best.” It was hard to tell whether he was being sarcastic or trying to convince himself.

Julius caught Kit’s face in his hands. “You don’t have to pretend with us.”

“‘M not pretending… I.. I’m fine…” The ‘fine’ was just a feeble squeak this time, not nearly as persistent as before. Alistair squeezed his cousin’s hand tightly, leaving Julius to this, he was much better at it. Julius’s eyes softened even more.

“It’s okay. It’s okay to be lonely.”

“Yea, but I’m not okay. I’m a fucking mess.” Kit groaned, draining the rest of the wine bottle and burying his face in the arm of the couch.

Julius and Alistair exchanged a glance. Alistair shuffled closer to Kit and put a hand on his back. Julius stroked his hair. “We don’t think you’re a mess.”

“I am! I’m alone, I’m annoying, I’m a fucking wreck. I dragged my sorry arse all the way around town looking for a friend, like the kid in the neighbourhood nobody wants to play with, just knocking on every door until someone actually seemed glad to see me.”

That nearly shattered Julius’s heart, he made a soft cooing noise and tried to haul Kit up to hug him. “Oh Kit… You should have come to us right away, we’d always be happy to have you.”

The older boy flopped back against Julius, whining and snuggling against the tiny dark-haired boy. He was dizzy and down and had a growing headache, the excess of wine starting to really hit him. By the time he’d actually drank enough to be properly wasted, his stomach was aching and overfull, and he curled in on himself, struggling to get comfortable. “I… I didn’t want to bother you again… I feel like I’ve been calling on you all the time.”

“We like it when you visit. Alistair talks about you all the time,” Julius said. Alistair blushed, but didn’t comment.

“You do?” Kit gazed up in their general direction hopefully, his eyes glazed and unfocused.

Alistair went crimson, but he nodded curtly. “Obviously. I’ve only just regained contact with you after all this time. I want to see you as much as fucking possible.”

“See, I told you you were nice!” Kit insisted, poking at Alistair’s cheek. He missed spectacularly, his hand smacking into the couch instead.

Alistair swatted at him fondly. “Don’t start poking at me without your glasses. You’ll take my eye out.”

“S-sorry…” Kit hiccuped. “S’posed to keep my hands to myself… I forgot.” He retreated back to his corner of the couch, giving the wall near Alistair an apologetic look.

Alistair immediately looked guilty. “No… Not like that. You don’t have to never touch me at all. I’m just not good with tight hugs. That’s all.”

“Shhh. Shh. S’okay. ‘M too clingy anyway.” Kit sighed, curling in on himself. One hand moved to massage his temples; Julius had been far too right, and his headache was only getting worse.

Alistair frowned, then crawled across the sofa and awkwardly pulled Kit into his arms. He held him a little stiffly, but he was proving a point that he could cuddle.

Julius smiled fondly. “That’s really good for him, Kit.”

The older redhead smiled as well, leaning against his cousin with a quiet sigh. “I know. Thank you, Al.”

“Do you want some water?” Julius asked Kit gently, wanting to sober him up a bit.

“Mmmn.” Kit buried his face in Alistair’s chest, knowing he probably should, but not actually feeling up to it.

Julius brought him a glass anyway, holding it to his lips. “Just a few little sips for me…”

Despite how poor he felt, Kit wanted to please Julius, who had been incredibly kind to him all evening. He forced himself to drink, draining about a third of the glass before pulling away. “Is that alright?”

Julius nodded, placing the glass on a little table by a lamp. “Yes, thank you. Can I get you anything? Do you want to go to bed?”

Kit shook his head, burying it in his arms as a rush of dizziness overwhelmed him. “Don’ wanna move…” he groaned.

Julius grinned at Alistair. “Guess you’re sleeping there, Star. I’ll get blankets.” Alistair huffed irritably but didn’t protest.

“Sorry…” Kit actually managed to aim his apologetic look mostly at his cousin this time.

“It’s okay. I’ve spent nights on the sofa before. Just don’t puke on me,” Alistair mumbled.

“Mm.” Kit curled up, yawning and struggling to get comfortable.

Julius grabbed them a blanket, pausing as he tucked them up. Then he crawled onto the sofa and curled up against Alistair’s other side. The cat curled up on the floor beside the sofa, tucking her paws under her tummy.

Kit dozed off initially, but as the night dragged on, he found it difficult to stay asleep. Increasingly restless, he adjusted subtly and tried to ignore the growing discomfort in his stomach. He did his best to hold still, not wanting to bother Alistair, who was also a light sleeper.

His head was swimming, though, and he wondered if the bathroom was close enough to make it there blind. Squinting in the dim light, he came to the conclusion of definitely not. Kit glanced between Alistair and Julius, wondering whether he should wake them up. Gazing blearily around the room, he noticed a round, pale shape on the floor - Julius must’ve put out a bin, he was thoughtful like that.

Kit leaned over the bin as his stomach lurched, not bothering to fight the gag climbing up his throat. He groaned weakly, coughing up a bitter wave of bile and wine. The violent red spew made him look like a sick vampire, and he might’ve laughed if he hadn’t felt so poorly..

There was a sudden strangled yowling, so loud that Julius and Alistair jerked awake, thinking they’d stepped into a horror movie. When Julius saw Kit was throwing up he immediately grabbed his hair, holding it back. Alistair scrubbed at his eyes, trying to understand what was going on, as something small and nimble was dashing across the room so quickly Alistair could barely see it, still yowling horribly.

“H… hey Julie… Al… ‘m sorry… didn’t mean to wake you,” Kit mumbled, coughing out apologies between gags.

“What the fuck is happening?” Alistair cried. The thing dashing across the room suddenly leapt up onto the sofa with the three boys, finally stopping on Alistair’s lap. It was the cat, now thoroughly coated in Kit’s vomit, her fur stuck together unpleasantly.

Kit, who was still pretty drunk, nearly fell off the couch laughing. He struggled to apologize, cackling too hard to articulate himself.

Julius knew how protective Alistair was over his cat, and he hadn’t wanted to laugh, but Kit set him off and he was soon bent over, howling with laughter.

Alistair was livid. “What the fuck, Kit?”

“Don't… don’t be mean…” the older boy hiccupped. “I can’t fucking see…” While his laughter made it a bit harder to pity him, Kit was honestly just too drunk and blind to function. It’s not like he would ever do such a thing on purpose.

“You can wash her then! Since this is your bloody fault!” he snapped, picking up his cat. “Poor thing, she’s covered…”

Julius wiped his eyes, still giggling. “N-no, Star. He can’t. He’s way too drunk for that.”

Kit nodded. “We’d both drown in the sink most likely. Or she’d attack me and the whole kitchen would be wet and bloody.”

“Why did you puke on her anyway? Surely you could see some sort of shape on the floor?”

“Curled up. Looked like a… a trashbin.” Kit mumbled, sinking back against the couch.

That made Julius start laughing again. Alistair scowled at him, cradling the cat. “Shut up! She’s probably traumatised.”

“You’re pitching more of a fit that she is, Al. Calm down a little.” Kit now sounded more defensive than amused.

“I’m going to go clean her up,” he grumbled, stomping to the bathroom.

Kit sighed, burying his face in his hands and curling into the corner of the couch. “Well, he’s steamed at me. Fantastic.”

Julius chuckled again. “Oh, he’ll get over it, don’t worry. You know what he’s like with that cat.”

“I should’ve known better then to come bother you. Now I’ve just made a mess of things.” Kit’s lighthearted mood was quickly fading, and his voice was heavy with misery.

Julius put a hand on his back. “Hey, don’t say that. We both care about you. We want you to come over when you’re feeling down.”

Kit shook his head. “You shouldn’t have to take care of me like this. I’m a grown man, not a fucking toddler.”

“Everyone needs looking after sometimes.”

“Feels like I need it all the time.” Kit grumbled.

“Well, it didn’t sound as if you were looked after much as a kid. Star is like that. Sometimes he needs lots of extra care,” Julius said.

Kit shrugged, mumbling something about how he used to be taken care of as a kid. He curled in on himself, still nursing a nasty headache. Maybe if he stayed like this long enough, everyone would just ignore him like he deserved.

Julius shuffled over to him, trying to pull him close. “How’re you feeling?”

“Shitty.” Kit groaned, leaning against Julius. He was ghastly pale and a little shaky, and his hair was a disheveled mess.

Julius brushed Kit’s hair back from his face, nodding. “Mmmn, you do look poorly… Can I get you anything?”

The older boy shrugged. “Water would be good… maybe a bin, to be safe.” He was still feeling pretty sick, and the mix of wine and takeout food sloshing about his stomach didn’t seem to be settling.

Julius ran for the supplies obediently, bringing back a pillow and another blanket as well. He placed the bin by the sofa and tucked Kit up as tenderly as a mother.

“Thanks, Julie.” Kit mumbled, curling in on himself as his stomach turned. He was starting to get nervous, afraid Alistair would come back to yell again once the cat was clean.

The cat eventually came dashing back into the room, now wet and clean, but clearly annoyed by what had transpired. She ran restlessly and tried to climb the curtains until Julius plucked her off. Alistair came padding back, licking at the lines of new scratches on his arms and wrists. He nodded at Kit, looking apologetic now. “Hey. You okay?”

“Oh, uh, yea, I’m fine.” Kit stammered, not expecting a sympathetic reaction. If he’d been able to see Alistair’s scratches, he would’ve been guilt-ridden, but as it was, his cousin was little more than a blob of dark clothes and red hair.

Alistair perched on the sofa by Kit’s feet, patting him awkwardly. “I’m sorry I snapped at you before,” he mumbled, staring at his lap.

Kit shook his head. “Not… not your fault. I was a drunk mess. Still am, if we’re being honest.” He sighed, wrapping an arm around his unsettled midsection.

“Do you still feel like shit?”

Kit nodded, knowing there was no point in lying when he was likely gonna puke again soon. Julius moved the bin closer, and Alistair rubbed between Kit’s shoulderblades. The shaky older boy leaned against his cousin with a groan.

“Al… why am I such a fucking idiot?”

Alistair paused. “You’re not really. You’re just a bit…reckless.”

Kit smiled faintly. “That’s generous of you,” he laughed. The smile faded as quickly as it appeared, and he tensed up, clutching at his stomach as it churned more violently.

Julius grabbed the bin and held it under Kit’s chin. Alistair pulled back his long hair gently. The older boy gagged harshly, but nothing came up. His stomach cramped and he retched again, only forcing up a mouthful of bitter saliva.

Julius grabbed onto his hand. “That’s it, get it up. Remember to breathe…”

A few more painful-sounding gags wracked his body before Kit finally belched up a thick wave of half-digested curry. The smell was enough to make his stomach turn again, and he threw up several more times, filling the bin with chunky sick.

Alistair pulled back a little, wrinkling his nose. “Yuck…” Then Julius shot him such an unusually fierce glare that he shut up quickly.

Kit was too ill and unfocused to have even heard his cousin, currently coughing over the bin as his now-empty stomach tried to expel nonexistent contents.

Julius stayed close by Kit’s side, rubbing his back firmly. “There we go… You should be able to sleep now.”

“Ugh… fuck me.” Kit grumbled, pulling away from the bin to curl up and nurse his tender belly. Julius stroked his hair gently.

“He should really be in bed. Could you carry him, Star?” he asked. Alistair shrugged.

“Probably… I haven’t tried since we were kids.”

Kit shook his head. “That’s too much trouble. ‘sides, I don’t wanna steal your bed.”

“It’s only a double, so we’ll have to squeeze in, but we’d be happy to have you,” Julius said. “I hate to think of you out here all alone when you’re poorly.”

“Are you sure?” Kit raised one copper eyebrow at Julius.

Julius nodded fervently, and even Alistair shrugged. “Yeah, come in with us, Kit.”

“Alright…” the older boy nodded and slowly sat up. “You’ll have to lead me, I can’t see for shit.”

Alistair looped Kit’s arm around his shoulders. “Where the fuck are your glasses?”

“Dunno,” Kit sighed. “They fell off earlier.”

Alistair rolled his eyes, bundling Kit to the bedroom. “We’ll find them tomorrow.”

“Sounds like a plan…” the older boy mumbled, leaning on Alistair as they walked.

Alistair half-carried him and dropped him on the bed, curling up beside him. Julius squeezed in beside Alistair, reaching out to hold both boys.

Kit stretched a hand out for Julius but only succeeded in smacking Alistair on the cheek. Alistair yelled and gave Kit a light tap on the forehead. “Watch your fucking hands! I feel like I’m in bed with Velma from Scooby Doo.”

“Shit, sorry.” Kit pulled his hands away, deciding to leave the hugging to Julius.

“How’re you feeling, Kit?” Julius called.

“Drained. Queasy. Regretful.”

“Ooh, you’re so poetic,” Julius mumbled. Alistair snorted.

“Bollocks. He’s just dramatic,” he said, nudging Kit fondly.

“Yea, it runs in the family.” Kit quipped back.

Julius giggled. “Go to sleep, both of you,” he laughed.

Kit whined but curled up to nap nonetheless, doing his best to not take up too much space. Alistair closed his eyes obediently but didn’t really think he’d sleep in those cramped conditions. Julius was the only one who was genuinely dozing off.

It was only exhaustion that eventually brought Kit to a state of sleep, and even then he was far from restful, tossing, turning, and mumbling. Alistair dozed fitfully till morning, jerking awake whenever Kit moved. Kit was asleep around sunrise, but stirring and whining, muttering something unintelligible as he burrowed under a pillow.

Alistair tried petting Kit’s hair as he slept, hoping it’d smooth him and help him drift into a more restful sleep. It didn’t do much for his restlessness, but Kit did latch onto Alistair as a result, clinging to the younger boy like a baby koala. Alistair sighed heavily but didn’t have the heart to push his cousin away. He’d given up on sleeping by then anyway.

Kit woke up around nine in the morning, stretching and groaning. If anything, he felt more tired than last night, and his headache was worse than ever on top of a hangover. “Fuuuuuck,” he moaned, pulling a pillow over his face. “Al, if you love me, you’ll kill me now.”

Alistair smirked. “I think Jules would be upset with me if I did.”

“Dammit Julie.”

Alistair laughed, glancing at him. “He’s still sleeping.”

“Right, sorry.” Kit lowered his voice before asking, “Did I wake you?”

“No. I didn’t go back to sleep.”

“Oh… I… sorry.” Kit pulled away, a guilty pang causing his still-sensitive stomach to turn. He was such an asshole. Barging into Alistair’s home uninvited, making a mess of the living room and the cat, and keeping him awake all night.

Alistair pulled him back, tutting. “Stop it, I don’t care. You’re my cousin, and I actually like you. Stop acting like you’re a total liability.”

“I feel like one.” Kit sighed, pressing his face into Alistair’s shoulder. His cheeks were damp, and it soaked into the younger boy’s sweater.

Alistair frowned. “Are you crying?”

“N-no…” Kit lied, his cheeks burning red.

Alistair turned to him properly, putting his arms around him. “Christ, Kit…”

The older boy hid his face in his hands, mumbling, “You don’t have to feel sorry for me.”

“Yeah, I know I don’t have to. But I’m going to, because that’s what happens when someone you love is in pain.” Alistair softened his voice. “Talk to me. What’s wrong?”

“What isn’t? My dad’s been even pissier with me than usual. I feel a fucking wreck all the damn time. And I swear Ellery is picking up extra shifts to avoid my clingy arse.”

“I very much doubt he’s doing that,” Alistair said.

“But what if he is? I don’t know how much attention is too much…” Kit whined.

“You could ask him. Ellery’s a nice guy. He’ll understand. Then you won’t have to worry about it,” Alistair said, trying to be sensible.

Kit calmed down a little at that, “You think so?”

“Yeah, of course. And he’s a nurse, right? He’ll be used to people worrying about shit.”

“I suppose you’re right…” Kit mused. “I hadn’t thought of that.” Much more relaxed now, he chuckled after a moment.

Alistair blinked. “What? What’re you laughing at?”

“I can’t believe you’re giving me relationship advice.”

Alistair rolled his eyes. “I’m in a successful relationship, thanks very much.”

“Yeah, but that’s because Julie is a saint, not because you’re socially competent.” Kit quipped.

Alistair paused. He couldn’t really argue with that. “Well, for some reason he likes me. I’m not gonna stop and ask.”

The older boy laughed. “I don’t blame you. He’s very nice, definitely a keeper.”

Alistair nodded. “Yeah… I really hope he doesn’t realise how much better he can do and dump me.” He spoke lightly, but this was one of Alistair’s genuine fears.

Kit’s tone softened and he gave Alistair’s shoulder a squeeze. “I don’t think he will. He seems awfully smitten with you. Heaven only knows why, but I don’t think Julie will be leaving you in the foreseeable future. Just try not to set him on fire.”

Alistair thumped Kit’s shoulder, smirking. “Once again, the boarding school thing was an accident. I didn’t stub out my fucking cigarette properly…”

“If you say so…” Kit teased.

“It was! I nearly shit myself when I saw that half the west wing was on fire.”

The older boy chuckled now, smiling and nodding in concession. “Okay. I believe you. For real.” He patted Alistair’s hair, reassuring him, “Either way, my point was that Julie seems to like you, arson and all.”

Alistair grinned. “Yeah… Love is blind, I guess.”

“As am I… I never found my glasses last night.”

Alistair burst out laughing. “Oh shit… They’ll be in the living room somewhere.”

“You’ll probably need to look for them. I’d trip on the cat and break a leg or something.” Kit sighed.

“I’m pretty sure my poor cat is gonna avoid you now.”

Kit cringed and his face grew red. “Right… again, I’m really sorry.”

Alistair rolled his eyes. “I’m over it.”

“Thank you…” Kit sighed, still clearly quite embarrassed.

“It’s okay, Kit, really,” Alistair said, seeing he was still bothered by it.

“I really appreciate you. I don’t say that nearly enough.”

Alistair blushed. “Y-you don’t have to say that…”

“Well I mean it, and I think you ought to know.” Kit said.

“Well…thanks. I don’t…really know how to react when people compliment me,” Alistair mumbled awkwardly.

“Then instead of reacting, how about you go find my glasses?” The older boy asked.

“Ugh, I dunno. It’s still pretty early…” Alistair teased, rolling over and closing his eyes.

“Maybe I’ll go look myself, then. God help your flat and everything in it.” Kit threatened, sitting up to swing his legs off the bed.

Alistair sat up quickly. “No, do not! Fuck, I don’t want you stumbling blindly around the place.”

Kit chuckled, stretching back out on the bed. “Well, go get them, then, and I’ll join you for breakfast.” he paused for a moment as his stomach turned at the thought. “Or maybe just keep you company.”

Alistair grinned, swinging his legs out of bed. “Yeah, bet you’re feeling rough.”

“That I am. I’ll feel better when you bring my glasses, though.”

“I’m going,” Alistair muttered, leaving the room. In the cold bed, Julius murmured in his sleep and cuddled up to Kit.

The older boy was caught off guard, but after a moment he reached over, patting Julius’s hair gently. Julius shuffled closer, murmuring happily.

“Ssstar?” he drawled, still half-asleep.

“Not quite. Sorry to disappoint.”

“Mmnnn, not a disappointment… You’re a good friend,” he mumbled.

Kit smiled faintly, ruffling Julius’s hair. “I’m surprised you still want me around after last night.”

“Why wouldn’t I want you to stay?”

#tw vomit #tw alcohol #tw drunkenness #emeto #emetophilia #ocs #lickstynine #ocsickficsideblog #january 30 2018 #sickdays 4.0 #submission

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