It started out fine...

[mitochondriaaya]

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.

Comments

[mitochondriaaya]

"My poor legs," yep, she was doomed. When he slid her into the seat though she grabbed his hand. "Dilan? How...I know Braig has had pneumonia but how bad is it really? It doesn't look like a lot on the pictures right?"

[sliceitwithwind]

Dilan sighed and cupped her hand in both of his, "It can be deadly, monkey, if it's not caught early and not taken care of. We caught yours early, and you're going to take care, so you'll be fine. We're going to keep you all wrapped up and babied until you hate us, but it's for the best."

[mitochondriaaya]

Deadly. Meep. Yeah, it was one thing to risk her neck or take a fall or something and get cracked up, but disease?! Disease was scary.

Yeah, that probably showed on her face. She didn't do scared often.

"I don't want it." Because that totally made sense.

[sliceitwithwind]

"I know." Dilan said, "I don't want you to have it. We're going to take care of you...you're going to feel awful, but we'll be there the whole time. You can order us around like Braig does when he's sick."

[mitochondriaaya]

"...that would be really weird." She could bossy, sure, but usually she had to be in the moment. Forethought and bossy didn't work out for her! "Can I have some of my favorite foods though?"

[sliceitwithwind]

"Probably some of them." Dilan agreed, "It depends on how your stomach is doing."

[mitochondriaaya]

"It'll get in my stomach too?!" It was a super virus! She was doomed! Wait. Waaaait. Stop panicking. Think about biology class right? Did the lungs AND stomach make sense?

No. Not really.

"The medicine might make me feel sick?" she hazarded.

[sliceitwithwind]

"Yup." Dilan said, "And sometimes you might be nauseas if you're not breathing very well, or the fever could make you not up to eating things."

[mitochondriaaya]

"That doesn't seem very well thought out, evolution wise." she muttered. "Hard to get better if your defenses screw you up!" Obviously Dilan needed to fix this. He was a genius biologist! He could...eh, rewrite people maybe?

[sliceitwithwind]

"Evolution did it's best, monkey." Dilan said, with a wry grin, "Oh, Braig's back."

Braig tossed the baggie of medicine into Aya's lap, "Lots of stuff for you to read, Aya. We'll read it too, of course."

[mitochondriaaya]

Aya fumbled the catch and watched the bag slide from her lap to the floor before she could grab it. Wow. Way to go hand eye coordination. ANYWAY! Yes. "Codeine in cough syrup. Have I had that before?" she asked, already flipping open the little pamphlet with it.

[sliceitwithwind]

"Yup." Dilan said, "Broken leg. It was just a baby dose, but you got past the reaction and were fine."

[mitochondriaaya]

"Awesome. This should help keep the coughing reflex down then. Says I should take it when I've been coughing, not all the time though." So it stayed effective probably.

"And...sleeping pills. Is that normal?" She didn't remember Braig having them, but then Braig could sleep easily on his own!

[sliceitwithwind]

"For humans, yeah." Dilan said, "Not for Olia."

Braig grinned, "And, like. Having me sleep more would almost be impossible."

[mitochondriaaya]

"It wouldn't be impossible! It'd just be called a coma then." So do not tempt fate Braig! Do not! "These I'm suppose to take every twelve hours, no skipping. Sleeping is the best answer huh? Probably have a few hours awake..." more as she adjusted but still.

[sliceitwithwind]

"Yup." Dilan said, ruffling her hair as Braig headed down the street to home. "Does it say anything about full or empty stomach?"

[mitochondriaaya]

"Sleeping pills I have to take with a full glass of milk. The codeine they suggest after a meal but it is not a requirement?" she offered after checking. "Remind me to keep taking all my vitamins too though okay?"

[sliceitwithwind]

"Duh." the boys chorused, Dilan continuing, "We're not letting you get sicker!"

[mitochondriaaya]

"That's not...I just didn't want to forget! They're from my nutritionist!" And some extra calcium tablets for the ribs! She didn't expect it would make her sicker! She just...if she was going to be sleeping a lot her memory could glitch!

Hmph.

"Not going to get sicker. I think."

[sliceitwithwind]

"Better not." Braig said, pulling into home.

Dilan got out and held his arms for her.

[mitochondriaaya]

"Nope, won't," she promised simply. Granted, she had no idea that pneumonia got worse before it got better but she'd kick it eventually...right?

When they stopped she tucked her medicines carefully back into their bag with their write-ups then held her hands out to Dilan. "I find myself understanding why Braig is so tired after a doctor visit." she yawned.

[sliceitwithwind]

"Everything takes more out of you when you're sick." Braig said as Dilan picked her up, "I'll get you a glass of milk...want a snack with it?"

[mitochondriaaya]

"I didn't even walk though1" She was...offended at her body right now yes. "Yes? Please?"

[sliceitwithwind]

"I know." Braig said, "I know. It'll be okay."

Dilan tucked her back into bed, letting her stay in the sweats and his shirt if she wanted to, and grabbed the book she'd been reading to read to her for a while.

A few minutes later Braig showed up with a sliced apple and a ham sandwich. Totally a snack.

[mitochondriaaya]

"Tell Elcy and Yinsi? Or bring me the phone?" she called after Braig. Oh, bed and reading! Yes in sweats and shirt thank you they were comforting!

When Braig showed up she wiggled around to lay her head on his thigh and nibble at her snack. Yep. She was...going to finish it before drinking down the sleeping pill with her milk yes.