mitochondriaaya | It started out fine...

It started out fine...

She was fourteen when the area karate regionals came around. Never mind the fact that it was early December, and her mid-terms were coming up, and she was still trying to come to terms with her new breast size. Like an idiot she said she'd be there, layered on sports bras, and trotted to the gym.

The fights were simple exhibitions, points awarded on execution and touches rather than beating an opponent into the ground. In her third bout Aya was getting tired, and her opponent, a human from two towns over she'd met in the ring before, was as well. That was probably why things went wrong.

Three points in he flubbed a spin kick and his ankle buckled, making the attacking foot lash in an unexpected direction. She didn't get a block up in time and he tagged her hard on the ribs, taking them both to the floor. The referee blew his whistle, hard, halting all conversation as paramedics came forward to access injuries.

One cracked ankle on his side.

Two cracked ribs on hers.

They both managed to facepalm at the same time when it was announced they were unfit to continue. "Next year," they mouthed at each other around the pained wincing as they were bandaged.

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Come dinner time Braig shook her awake, "Hey, Aya. You want to eat with us, or do you want soup up here?"

She whined and burrowed in the blankets per the norm, but cracked her eyes open anyway. "Coming down," come Hell or high water! "Still have a fever?"

"Yeah, baby." Braig said, "Still have a fever. Here...Dilan's got his robe for you to cuddle up in." And Braig had a pair of slippers for her, "I told mom and dad that you weren't feeling good, so it's okay that you're in PJs."

"Corgin," she swore softly and let herself be bundled up. "I don't like feeling like this." At all. It sucked. And now she was...vaguely nauseous. Goodie. Not new, she'd had that before. Still.

"What do they think?"

"I know." Braig said wryly, "They think you should take a few days to stay in bed and rest up."

Dilan fluttered as they went down the stairs, ready to pick her up if she wavered.

"Dilannn...your fluttering. Your hands are fluttering!" In the corner of her vision even! "I won't fall, and I'll rest. Maybe I'm just overtired? We've got books."

"Sleep as much as you can." Braig said, grabbing Dilan's hands and holding them still for a minute, "I'll read to you, if you want."

"Maybe? I like reading too but if I have to stay in bed being read to might be nice?" Because having someone else there, keeping her company, would help her stay in bed! "You can even read your homework if I'm sleepy."

"Sure, monkey." Braig said, pushing her seat in to the table, "I can do that."

"Me too!" Dilan agreed, "I think you'd like mine...we're doing roses."

Dinner was a very bland meal, Elcy hadn't wanted to upset Aya's stomach with her first ever illness.

"Ooo, roses!" Aya did like them. The scent didn't work well on her skin but she liked them anyway! She sat when pushed and dutifully tucked the robe snugly about her legs.

Bland was...good. She managed to eat almost her normal amount! Heavy on the meats and greens though. Ironnnnnn.

"If you're sick more than a few days," Yinsi said, "we'll move the small TV into your room like we do for Dilan."

"I hope not!" Aya looked...shocked at the idea. Like this for days? "I don't like it." Grump.

"...and I'm hot." Yes, time to wiggle the robe off her shoulders.

"Keep the robe on, Aya, the fever will help burn out the illness." Yinsi said quietly.

Elcy nodded, "I know, dear...but it should pass quickly since you're so healthy."

Aya looked at Yinsi, stricken, and slid the robe back up on her shoulders. "Guess I'm not from Mars huh?"

"We knew that." Dilan said, "I've tested you! You're human, you've just got a super immune system."

Braig patted her, "Want anything else?"

"Humans could be from Mars. Could be a throwback." Aya chuckled softly. "Juice?" Aya was going to bat big blue eyes at Braig and look pathetic!

"Maybe my immune system is going normal?"

"It's probably just stress from the ribs." Braig said, hopping up to pour her another glass of juice.

"Yeah." Dilan agreed, "You probably wouldn't have gotten sick if your body wasn't already working on that."

"I hope so. Normal is icky." Very icky. She would never regret her immune system again! "...Blaine, I just said 'icky' out loud didn't I?!"

"It's the right word, though." Dilan said, trying to dump more veggies on her plate. He was worried!

"Sorry I'm bein' normal." Grump. Picking at veggies now yes! She...really didn't want them. "Sorry. My head hurts." She was...whining a little? And used to providing info for Dilan, so!

"Okay." Dilan stood up, "Mom, can she have paracetamol?"

"Yes, dear, remember? We tested it on her a couple of years ago."

"Right." He was flustered. He shook a couple out into his hand and offered them to Aya.

Aya eyed the pills with a grimace for a moment then downed them with the juice Braig had brought back. "I feel like a wimp." And she did really. "Elcy, Yinsi? Can I be excused? I think I want a shower and a story."

"Of course, sweetheart." Yinsi said, "I'll come up when the water stops and read to you for a while."

Thus pre-empting the boys, who looked taken aback, a bit. Oh well, she was his favourite! "You two," Elcy said, "Can help me clean up."

"Thank you," Aya smiled at Yinsi warmly and leaned on Braig a moment before gathering the energy to stand up and go up the stairs. She liked the way Yinsi told stories so it wasn't too long before the shower stopped running.

"Dilan, red tops on those two." Elcy reminded her boy gently. "Blue is for fruit. She's quite alright."

"Right, mom." Dilan shook himself and started cleaning up appropriately. Braig stood by the sink to rinse things and put them in the dishwasher.

Yinsi brought up Aya's favourite books of stories, to let her pick one.

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