"Whoa, Li, you look rough!"
"I didn't get a lot of sleep, I'm alright," he shrugged, adjusting the grip he had on his suit case and yawning into his hand as if to prove his point. My eyebrows tugged together, "you weren't nervous about flying?"
"Nah Ni, I think I'm over that by now." Liam chuckled and raised a brow. He used to get pretty uncomfortable whenever we had to fly somewhere, something about being in a massive steel tube and not being able to get out made him anxious. It was a fear that was faced on the weekly in this job and as far as I knew he was over it. However, I couldn't think of another reason why he wouldn't have slept right.
I'd been excited about our holiday so it took me a while longer than it would usually to fall asleep, but after that I was like a rock.
I paused to give Liam a minute to try explain himself but he seemed to be finished with the conversation, distracted by the plane tearing down the runway 500 metres away.
Two men came from behind us, offered kind smiles and then gestured for our luggage. Once I'd handed my large suitcase over I realised that they were wheeling another two along, apart from mine and Liam's.
A bright grin spread across my face as I spun around and saw Louis and Harry running towards us.
"Oi, we were gonna give ya a fright!" Louis called out, slowing down.
I laughed as they barrelled closer and closer, "not sneaky enough Tommo!"
We shared quick hugs when they reached Liam and I out on the tarmac. It was good to see them, while Liam and I had hung out only the day before yesterday, going bowling in the city, I hadn't seen Lou and Haz for the best of a fortnight.
"The plane's ready for you lot!"
"Let's go!" Harry cheered excitedly, grabbing onto my arm. I laughed as he dragged me over and then all the way up the steps into the plane. I breathed in and smiled, glancing around the sleek interior. Never in my life did I think that I'd have the luxury of traveling in my own plane. I wasn't quite dramatic enough to actually buy my own, but being rich enough to be able to hire one was an achievement.
I dumped my backpack on the floor and kicked it under the chair I was claiming as mine, right beside the window on the right. There were only about twenty seats on the plane so I didn't exactly have a lot of choice, but I always had a window seat when I could. Maybe it was the immature child inside of me breaking through the cracks but there wasn't a lot that was cooler than watching the buildings shrink smaller as we took off into the sky.
"She's a beauty." Louis grinned and ran a finger across the counter top. Behind it was a larger than life fridge that I presumed contained all the flight-proof meals and drinks. There was a microwave to warm in all up whenever we liked. It didn't excite me very much. I'd brought a lot of snack foods with me because none of the plane-food I'd ever had was worthy of any awards but 'the worst mashed potato ever.'
The voice of who I supposed was one of the pilots came over the speakers, "if you'd like to take your seats and buckle off we'll begin preparing for take off."
"That was quick," Harry said, shrugging as he plopped into a random seat. He chucked his bag onto the one beside him and Louis pouted as he looked around for somewhere else to sit.
I nodded my head at the single seat in front of me, facing the left wall of the plane, "sit there, you can always move later. Or make Harry shift his shit."
"I need the leg room." Harry smiled and demonstrated, tossing his legs over the spare seat, "sorry Lou."
Louis lifted his chin and shook his head, "I didn't want to sit next to you anyway."
Harry scoffed and rolled his eyes as Liam sat down beside me, not saying a word. He blinked slowly and pulled his legs up to lean on.
"You good?" I asked, unsure of how to act. Both Louis and Harry were in high moods and I was excited too. Liam on the other hand seemed too tired to be much of anything.
He nodded and changed positions, pushing the armrest up so that he could rest against me, "can hardly keep my eyes open."
"You can go take one of the beds once we're in the air," I said, shifting slightly so that he could be more comfortable. I grabbed the pillow from the pocket on the back of the seat and put it where his head was, knowing that it'd be less sharp than my shoulder.
The plane started slowly moving and I looked out the window to see the end of the runway getting closer. Liam tensed hard.
"You said you weren't nervous." I touched his tight fist, "you didn't have to lie."
Liam whimpered softly and I shared a sympathetic look with Harry over top of his back.
"Scared?" Harry mouthed. I nodded just as the plane kicked into the gear, the engine getting noisy as it picked up speed.
"Stop grinding Li, you'll break your teeth."
Although it had been a while since we'd had to deal with this side of Liam I hadn't forgotten how he got. Shaky, sweaty, occasionally tearful, and he'd grind his teeth so loudly I wanted to cover my ears.
An invisible force pressed me into the back of my seat and I glanced out the window to see that we were already off the ground. Benefits of having a smaller plane. My attention was trained on the gorgeous view through the glass until Liam's hand suddenly caught mine, squeezing hard enough for my bones to rub.
I clenched my teeth, not wanting to say anything. It'd probably only take ten minutes to get into the air, I could last ten-
"Ow, Li, let go!"
The pilot had tipped the plane slightly and then increased the angle, Liam hadn't liked it at all. His grip had only gotten tighter and I couldn't keep my mouth shut.
Thankfully he let go of my hand but the next thing to be taken hold of was my leg.
"Close your eyes and try to relax Li, maybe you'll fall asleep," Louis suggested.
"S-sorry," Liam stammered quietly. His fingers twitched on my leg and I could tell he was trying his best to let go. I place my hand on his, "it's okay, don't be sorry. Just do what Louis said, you're probably only getting worked up because you're tired. We'll be steady so soon."
He squeezed his eyes shut and exhaled shakily, melting into my side like warm clay.
He must've really been exhausted because I never thought that he'd actually be able to fall asleep. By the time we were flying flat he was out cold, snoring gently as his chest rose and fell.
"Didn't think he got like that anymore," Louis said, disbelieving. The seat belt light at the front of the plane clicked off and Louis unbuckled. Unfortunately with Liam draped all over me I didn't have the same liberty.
"He was really freaking out," Harry said as he wandered over, peering down at Liam curiously, "it's been forever since that happened last."
"He told me that he didn't sleep well last night, probably made a difference." I sighed and tucked one leg up underneath me carefully, "hopefully he'll be alright once he sleeps some. We've got a 21 hour flight ahead of ourselves."
"Almost 22," Louis corrected. He shrugged, "I'm sure he'll be fine."
"I hope you're right, this is gonna suck for him otherwise."
For the next hour I entertained myself with the small screen that popped up from the side of my seat. I couldn't move because of Liam and just when I started needing the toilet he thankfully woke. It was lucky that there were two bathroom because no sooner had he opened his eyes he was shoving off of me and locking himself into the first one. Louis stared after him, "seem okay, right?"
I nodded and shrugged, "yeah, I guess."
I yawned and stretched towards the ceiling as I wearily stood up, bones cracking.
"I'm gonna see how many things I can pile on top of Harry before he wakes, wanna help?" Louis shot me a mischievous smirk and gestured at Harry spread out across his seats sound asleep. I'd always been jealous of him when it came to flights. Whereas most people, myself included, struggled to sleep in the air, Harry said being on a plane made him sleepy and he'd always just sleep away any flights we had to take. I enjoyed flying, but not for nearly a whole day. It would be nice to be able to just sleep through the second half.
I shook my head to Louis, "I'm busting for a piss, I'll help if I get back and he's still asleep."
Louis snorted, "he will be. Sleeps through anything our Harry does."
I chuckled and ducked into the second bathroom to do my business. Because it was a private plane, it was larger than a normal commercial plane's bathroom, but only marginally. I would say that it was a lot cleaner though.
As I used the toilet my stomach did a weird flip that made me pause and latch onto the wall. It flipped a second time and I swallowed uncertainly, not quite sure what was going to happen next. I hadn't even been feeling sick before, and I never got airsick.
After a couple of minutes the feeling had passed and I was left wondering if I had imagined the whole thing. I felt fine now, no dodgy stomach and no nausea. Shrugging to myself, I washed my hands and exited the bathroom.
The door opposite me was still closed, locked. I leaned forward to see Louis balancing a pillow on top of Harry's head. That meant that Liam was still in the bathroom. I'd been longer than I usually would, and he'd been in there even longer than I had.
I knocked on the door, "you in there still Li? Everything okay?"
Slowly, the door slid open.
"'M feelin' kinda sick. . ." Liam murmured sadly. Both arms were wrapped around his mid section as if he was wearing an invisible straight-jacket and there was an eerie paleness to his face that hadn't been there earlier.
"You think you're gonna vomit?" I asked as I took a step closer. He was not having a good day.
"I don't know. . . my stomach's all over the place," Liam whined, hanging his head. I reached a hand to the small of his back and lead him from the bathroom, "you should try and get some more sleep Li, that'll help."
We got halfway back to our seats when Liam cast an unsure glance back to the bathroom and I stopped, "do you need to go back? I can sit with you."
Liam made a sound and shook his head slowly, rubbing his eyes. I helped him lower carefully down into his seat as a hiss came from Louis. Harry moved and a roll of toilet paper fell onto the floor.
"Shhh. . ." Louis hummed, shooting a look in mine and Liam's direction as Harry swallowed and turned his head, causing something else to topple off. Once it seemed Harry wasn't going to wake Louis let his hands drops and let out a relieved rush of air, "whew."
"Have you seen any airsick bags around Lou?" I asked, straightening up.
"No, are you sick, or- aw, Liam Mate. Tough day." Louis gave a soft smile and patted the top of Liam's head gently, "you're all pale."
Liam swallowed in response.
I scanned the area for any trace of the paper bags I was looking for. They'd have to be easy, fast access, so. . .
"Ah. . ." I hummed to myself as I moved over to the box on the wall. There were about a dozen of them lining the interior of the plane but I'd thought that they were tissues.
I dug out a handful and returned to Liam, "now if you feel sick again you won't have to spend more time squished up in the bathroom."
"Thanks," he uttered, pocketing the bags shakily. "I think I wanna go find a bed."
"They're at the back," Louis said, pointing. He took Liam's hands and helped him to his feet while I stood nearby and tried to ignore my own tiredness sneaking up on me. Going off the time back in England it was five a clock in the afternoon. I'd hardly been up eight hours but suddenly I was ready to curl up and go to sleep.
"I'll take you, I'm keen for a nap too," I admitted, taking Liam's elbow.
"I guess I'll keep piling shit on top on top of Harry then." Louis grinned and clapped his hands, "reckon I can hit the ceiling?"
"Probably," I said, laughing quietly, "take a picture when it gets real high."
"Will do," Louis laughed as Liam and I headed for the back of the plane. Louis had been right, behind the curtain were five closed doors. I opened the closest and ushered Liam inside. A plush looking bed sat in the centre of the room and there was a sink off to the side. A bin sat in the corner of the small room.
"Hop in," I told Liam as I pulled down the blankets.
A dip in the bed and I glanced over at the sound of paper rustling.
"Alright, take it nice and slow," I instructed as Liam fumbled over a bag, one hand over his mouth. "Let me." I sat down next to him and opened it for him before handing it over and resting a hand on his back, "deep breaths."
Liam shook his head once before digging his chin into the bag and throwing up with a sound that echoed in my ears. He burped quietly and then threw up a second time, leaning into my side. The smell was dreadful, my eyes were nearly watering.
Once he'd finished he balled the rest of the bags and chucked them into the bin, his aim true. He stared at the one down on his lap and gulped, wiping a hand over his lips.
"You might need those. . ." I frowned.
"D-disgusting, didn't like it," Liam coughed. He folded his used one closed and lobbed that into the bin too, "can we find a bucket or something?"
I didn't blame him for not wanting to use those bags, it hadn't looked very natural, or comfortable.
"I can look, are you okay on your own for a couple of minutes?" I stood unsurely. He'd gotten even paler since throwing up.
"Yeah. . ." Liam replied. He crawled across the bed and slowly squirmed under the blankets, "just hurry."
"Alright, I'll be right back."
I nodded swiftly and headed back into the main section. The fresh air filled my lungs as I closed the door behind me.
I walked briskly out to look around the counter for a bowl or bucket, anything big enough for Liam to be sick into.
"I've got some airsick meds, if he'd want them," Louis spoke up, whispering as to not wake Harry.
"That'd be great, grab them out," I nodded, opening up a cupboard. Shockingly, on my first go I'd come across exactly what I was looking for.
Louis tutted around in his bag for a moment before chewing his lips and glancing at the stack of crap on top of Harry. He tip-toed over and gently eased a thin box from the middle of a pile he had going on Harry's lap. I held my breath, expecting the lot of it to come crumbling down.
I only released the air when Louis had the box, and nothing else had moved.
"Jenga champ," he breathed, grinning.
I held out the bucket for him to chuck it into but unfortunately he missed and it hit me right in the face. We had to muffle our laughs to keep Harry asleep.
Back in the room Liam squeaked as I entered and then gagged, gesturing for me to rush. He yanked the bucket close and let the floodgates open, hurling violently into the cavity with an arched back and heaving chest.
I got him a glass of water from the tap, which he took gratefully once the vomiting had stopped.
When I showed him the airsickness tablets he pulled a face that I didn't recognise.
"What?"
"I don't think they'll work." Liam grimaced, pushing the bucket away. I frowned as I shifted it onto the floor, "why not?"
"I felt sick last night too, that's way I couldn't sleep," Liam said, sounding utterly miserable. I groaned in sympathy, feeling all kinds of bad for him. We were on our way to Australia, and he'd come down with something! It had to be one of the worst things that could've happened.
Scratch that, add the 21, sorry, 22, hour flight and then you've got the worst thing.
"Aw, Li. . ."
"I think I've got a fever. . ." he whined as he got back into bed.
"You're sweating like you have, we haven't got a thermometer to check properly though," I said. I reached forward to feel his skin, "yeah, you're definitely warm."
He hummed and smiled lightly, "your hands are warm, feels nice."
I laughed quietly and cupped his face for a moment, "can't stay like this forever, sorry."
I yawned widely and rubbed my left eyes. Both of them were beginning to ache, as if I really needed some sleep.
"Go, if you want Ni. I'm just gonna sleep. I'll call out if I need anything," Liam whispered sleepily, obviously noticing my tiredness.
I nodded slowly and stood up, "don't know why, I'm suddenly exhausted. I'll just be in the next room over."
"Cool," Liam exhaled, already half asleep.
I shuffled out the door, wishing that there were double bed rather than singles so I could just cuddle up next to Liam in case he needed me for anything.
My stomach twisted when the plane dipped slightly. I opened the door with a grimace and held onto my stomach as it's contents swirled around inside me. I hoped it would pass like it had last time. I'd left the airsickness pills in Liam's room sadly, so I just climbed under the blankets and flipped onto my side.
My eyes instantly slid shut and within minutes I was totally out to it.
Some time later the door burst open with a bang and I jolted up in bed, "Liam's throwin' up!"
My brain didn't even unfog quickly enough for me to register what was about to happen. Even after I'd puked all over the bed I wasn't one hundred percent sure what was going on. All I knew was that my stomach hurt like a bitch, and now so did my nose.
"Shit, Niall, come on."
Louis ushered me out of bed, away from my dirty sheets. I hummed, unsteady on my feet. Nausea continued to lick away at me and as I blinked myself awake I realised that I was going to be sick again.
I voiced my thoughts aloud to Louis, slurring, and he rushed me out to a bathroom I hadn't noticed earlier, down this end of the plane. It was smaller than the other two which meant Louis couldn't even rub my back as I puked heavily into the toilet.
"That's just vile. . ." Louis muttered.
I coughed and spluttered, choking on the acid in my throat. Hearing Liam hurling his guts up in the other room was making it difficult to settle my stomach.
"You didn't even say anything about feeling sick," Louis said as I stepped out of the bathroom and collapsed into his side.
"It was hardly anything," I whimpered, "didn't know."
"Are you supposed to be so warm?"
"No. . ." I groaned. I grasped my unsettled stomach and explained best I could, "Liam's got a bug. We went out the other day. It's probably the same thing. . ."
"Damn it, that's awful timing." Louis sighed. He grimaced as we walked past Liam's room. Behind the door he was still retching.
"I'm going to have to wake Harry to help. . ." Louis sighed in disappointment, "I was so close too. He's practically buried. Do you wanna see?"
Despite feeling totally shit I found myself unable to resist. I wanted to see.
"Come on then, I'll walk ya slow," Louis told me. We shuffled into the other space and I grinned slightly at the pile of crap covering the seats Harry had been occupying. I couldn't see anything but a foot sticking out the end. As we grew closer I saw that his face had been left uncovered also, a piece of hair rising and fall as he breathed.
My stomach rumbled loudly, causing Louis to look at me with worry, "if you're gonna throw up again you've gotta let me know."
"Think I'm good," I said, "just hurts."
Another rumble and I hunched over slightly. The cramps were the worst, so sharp.
"You should be laying down," Louis tutted as he sat me down across from Harry's seat.
He took a breath and then leaned over to poke Harry's cheek, "oi, wakey wakey. I need ya."
Harry hummed and shook his head, "go away. . ."
A folded cloth fell to the floor. Harry opened on suspicious eye, "what in the world. . ."
"Surprise?" Louis squeaked, holding his hands up.
"You didn't," Harry complained, looking around at everything that had been so meticulously placed on top of him. One bounce of his knees and the tall pile of books, bags, towels, and whatever else Louis had found hit the ground with a crash, making me flinch.
"Do you actually need me?" Harry asked once he'd shaken off all the bits and bobs. I didn't think that he'd even noticed me yet.
"Liam was sick, and now Niall throwing up too and I can't manage on my own," Louis explained, pointing a lame finger in my direction.
"Oh, Ni, are you alright?" Harry stood with a frown. He strode over and rubbed my back, "aw, you're burning up."
I shivered, "doesn't feel like it."
He hugged me close, "so it's a bug then? Airsickness doesn't come with fevers."
Giving a soft nod I coughed a little into my hand. My throat was so dry swallowing made me cough.
"Grab some water Lou," Harry said, but Louis was already halfway down to Liam's room.
"Sorry mate, I've got my hands full!"
When I asked Harry the time after having something to drink his answer nearly made me cry. We had seventeen more hours in this thing. Now that I was feeling so bad I just wanted off as soon as possible. Seventeen hours seemed like a lifetime.
"How about we give the shower a test?"
"There are showers?" I blubbered.
"That's why the bathrooms are bigger," Harry said, "it's pretty cool."
Sure enough, a shower head was attached to the wall in both the bathrooms at the front of the plane. Harry helped get my shirt and jeans off, handed me a towel and then left me to deal with the rest, telling me that he'd wait just outside and not to lock the door.
As nice as the water felt, it didn't take long for it to make me throw up again and this time everything I had came up, plus more. I didn't even bother to turn the shower off as I heaved over and over into the toilet, which was probably why Harry hadn't barged in yet.
I tried calling his name when I started getting lightheaded but sick kept cutting me off. When it was finally finished I could hardly stand. I scavenged up the energy to turn the shower off and put my underwear back on but that was it.
"H-Haz?" I stuttered, struggling to open the door.
"'M dizzy. . ."
He caught my shoulders as I toppled forward, crashing into his chest with a thud.
"Whoa, what happened?" Harry questioned. He reached into the bathroom and grabbed the towel, wrapping it around my shivering form swiftly.
"Threw up a l-load," I hummed, squeezing my eyes shut as the walls continued to spin around me.
"Louis!" Harry blurted as we stumbled into Liam's room, me hanging haphazardly off of Harry's shoulder.
"Sheesh, he looks like he's gonna pass out," Louis said. I was tugged over and sat down, Liam's legs against my ass.
"He said he was dizzy, I don't know what to do," Harry explained.
"You get him into bed, dumbass," Louis chuckled. He hugged me around the shoulders and then moved me up on the bed, "Liam's all curled up on one side, you can fit in there."
"Okay," I murmured, more than happy to cuddle up next to Liam. His body was ferociously warm but I was freezing so I didn't mind being pressed up against him.
My eyes were closed but I heard somebody clap.
"Now, we have 17 hours left on this plane and two sick people. What do you suggest we do now Harry?"
"They're sleeping, so first I'm going to get you back for burying me alive!"
A light smile crossed my face as the two of them bustled out of the room, the door closing behind them. Louis' laughter fluttered through the door and my best guess was that he was being tortured with tickles.
"You're dizzy?" Liam croaked, his voice making me jump. I'd thought that he was asleep.
"Been throwin' up like you," I replied quietly, coughing into my fist.
"Aw, sorry Nialler."
I hummed and shrugged, "I'll survive, as long as you stop talking. Let's just sleep."
"Sounds like a plan."
"Shut up."
I'm gonna finish this here for now, but later on I'll definitely add to it. It's the longest I've written in a while so I'm pretty proud. Hope ya like it, and that everyone had a wonderful new years. Bring on 2018!
This was similar to a request I received from styleskiiwi, but she asked for a larry version. I understand that there's been a lot of that recently so I changed it up again. She hasn't gotten back to me since I asked her about it but if you're reading this love, I hope this is still okay!
***EXTENSION***
Louis' POV:
There was something about vomit that just made it the most unnatural and revolting substance on the planet. Given the choice between vomit and a bucket of roaches, I'd take the roaches. Vomit or rotten meat? Rotten meat.
I really fucking hated vomit. It attacked practically all the senses at once. It looked absolutely atrocious, and smells so bloody strong that you could taste it at the back of your throat. It's not a stench you're quick to forget either, it lingered around for hours upon hours.
As you could imagine, being stuck on a private plane with two people barfing their guts up was not the most pleasant experience for anyone. The whole plane reeked of spew and poor Liam and Niall could hardly keep their stomach's down for half an hour at a time.
The whole situation was just a tough one. Being on a plane complicated things, and then that it was Liam and Niall who'd managed to come down with this bug made it even worse. It wasn't how it usually went. Generally, Harry got sick. Whatever bug was floating around, he caught it first. Next was usually Niall or I, which always left Liam and one of us on sick duty.
Liam was the best at it, but that was obviously out of the question this time around.
On the other hand, Harry didn't have a clue. His experience of getting sick all the time meant he knew how to complain and be especially needy, but he had no idea when it came to taking care of someone else when they were sick.
The only thing we could do was our best. When we were back on the ground we could ask for some help if we needed it, but while up in the air Niall and Li only had Harry and I to keep them alive. If I was in their shoes, I'd be worried.
"What are you doing Li? I can get whatever you're grabbing for you," Harry said suddenly, interrupting my thoughts. I opened my eyes and blinked a few times, sighing as I stood up to make sure the slight swaying of the plane didn't put Liam on his arse. I figured if I could keep the jolting to a minimum he'd be able to keep from throwing up again.
"Jus' water," Liam murmured, rubbing the side of his head as he continued to shuffle forward, "I can get it. . ."
I took him by the elbow and gently directed him over to my seat, "sit down."
A sudden jerk of the plane gave Liam no choice, the movement made his legs buckle and he landed heavily on the edge of the seat with a grunt.
Harry had beat me to the fridge but I was closer to Liam so he handed me a bottle and I opened before passing it on to Liam. I watched him uncertainly as he swallowed a few fast mouthfuls. As much as Harry didn't know how to care for the sick, Liam didn't know how to be sick.
I wouldn't dare to drink anything that quickly if I was sick.
"Slow down Li, smaller sips," I warned, already itching towards the sick-bags on the wall.
Liam pulled a face, "my mouth tastes gross though."
He swallowed one more time and then looked down, very slowly closing the bottle with shaking hands. When he looked back up his face was totally colourless.
I whipped a bag from the bottom of the holder and darted over to his side, pulling the edges apart to hold the bag open beneath him before he could dirty all the seats and carpet. That would make the smell a thousand times worse.
"This is why you take smaller sips," I murmured sympathetically as he coughed once and then heaved up what was left in his stomach.
"Ow. . ."
"Are you done?"
Liam wiped his lips and nodded once, holding onto his stomach tightly. It wasn't exactly convincing. His head shot forward but rather than throw up anymore he simply gulped hard. It sounded painful.
"Just bring it up," I told him, confused.
Liam shook his head and whimpered, "I don't like sick b-bags."
His stomach made a strangled noise that made him curl over slightly, hand over mouth. I tried nudging his cheek with the bag but he just shook his head again.
"I'll take him to the bathroom Lou," Harry piped up as he came up beside him, looping an arm around Liam's back to haul him ungracefully onto his feet.
I sighed and shifted out of the way, "if he starts to overheat wet a cloth or something okay? I'm going to go check on Niall but call out if you need me."
"Will do," Harry said. Liam gagged into his hand, and I turned around and moved quickly towards Niall's room, not wanting to witness the puke show if they didn't make it to the bathroom in time.
Only when I stepped inside did I remember that I was holding a bag of puke, and with a wince I tossed it into the bin, wiping my hands on my jeans as I whispered Niall's name.
Slowly, a tuft of blond hair emerged from the top of the bed.Niall spoke in a muffled and cracked voice, "is Liam okay?"
I rolled my eyes and smiled a little, "he's throwing up again, but Harry's got him. He's fine. How about you? It's been a bit since you were last sick."
I said a bit, but really it had only been about an hour.
Niall coughed a few times and rustled the blankets, "I threw up like five minutes ago."
I grimaced as drew closer, "oh. Sorry Mate, we didn't even hear you."
"S'okay. . ."
He sounded so sad and small I couldn't resist climbing into the bed with him, just wanting to offer any kind of comfort I could. Normally I wouldn't go anywhere near the germ-infested bed with a damp sheets but it was Niall, and I didn't want to see him crying which he sounded close to.
"Whoa, you're boiling," I muttered quietly. His body was shaking.
Niall hummed, "doesn't feel like it."
"C'mere then, I'll warm you up."
Niall made a few soft noises as he shuffled back to lean against me, sniffling. "Thanks, Lou."
I smiled softly and tucked the blankets around him, "all good."
"Just tell me when you think you're gonna throw up again."
"Will do."
***
Very short sorry. I think it's written better than the first part though, which is cool to see. Means I've improved :)