bakerstreet | sick day meme

((ooc: Continued from the alpha/beta/omega meme and the defenestration meme. warning for incest and mpreg.))

It's been almost three months since Ludwig and he had argued about the possibility of Gilbert going off his suppressants. Which wasn't to say he had forgotten the argument entirely, even if the window in his study had been long since fixed and his brother long since forgiven. In fact, he had ended up giving a lot of thought to what his brother had said. It wasn't exactly fair of him to just say no to children when he'd known Ludwig wanted to be a father ever since they both were kids themselves, but... Honestly, he didn't want any sort of actual parental responsibility for a kid. Except that wasn't going to be something he could get out of, because you always know who the birthing parent is, as the saying goes. (Well, the saying uses the term "mother", but he's a man, damn it.)

He would have suggested adoption, but as he looked into it, he found that it was still not allowed for unbonded Alphas to adopt where they lived. Which was some bullshit, because nothing about his genetics made him any better of a parent than Ludwig! In fact, he'd be the worst father, he was certain of it. But, there was something he found that intrigued him... Apparently, it was possible for an unbonded Omega to sign over custodial and parental rights to an Alpha family member. No doubt a law left over from when a single Omega parent would have had extreme difficulty raising a child on their own, but worth exploiting.

Which had led him back to his doctor's office to discuss a change in suppressants. There was a fairly new one available, still in the clinical testing stage, which was designed to allow for ovulation without triggering a heat. It meant also that his scent wouldn't change much, because of how it blocked the hormones. Of course, the media had been covering this development with great interest, because it was still quite commonly believed that the uncontrollable mating urge was necessary to impregnate an Omega, whether because of some pheromonal response or because good Omegas didn't seek out sex otherwise. They claimed there would be no market for it, because why would an Omega want to go on something that hid the natural signs of their availability and fertility to Alphas?

The number of Omegas who wanted in on the trial had been so high that Gilbert was still surprised he'd actually been chosen, especially as they had expressed a preference for bonded Omegas. (Apparently to see if their mates would approve of their Omega not broadcasting their fertility to all and sundry.)

Of course, he had been warned it would likely take a minimum of six months for his body to restart the egg maturation process after having been on such powerful suppressants for as long as he had. Which was fine. Hopefully by the time he was ready to talk to Lutz about giving him that kid he wants, he'd actually be mentally prepared for it.

Which was all a terribly roundabout way of saying that he ought to know why he's spent the past week barely able to keep food down, but is so blindly trusting that his doctor and the endocrinologist and ob/gyn she'd sent him to all knew what they were talking about, since it's only been a month since he changed suppressants without telling his brother. He'd given up on going in to work about three days ago, since he kept having to run off to go throw up, and had been nodding off at his desk or hiding in his darkened office because of headaches when he wasn't in the bathroom. All told, he'd been ordered to take the rest of the week off before he made everyone else sick, and to bring a note from a doctor when he came back. He's got an appointment set up for tomorrow, but for now he's just hiding under his blankets, whimpering in misery. The constant vomiting is making his stomach cramp, which makes him throw up more often, which makes his stomach cramp and spasm, and it's really just a vicious cycle of his body saying, 'I HATE YOU AND EVERYTHING YOU LOVE'.

Ludwig had been worried for the past week. He had never seen his brother so sick and was trying to find something, anything to help his brother's illness. He was determined to drive Gilbert to the doctor's tomorrow, mostly because he was worried that his brother was too sick to drive.

Since his brother was so ill, he also took off from work. Explaining to his boss that his brother was very ill and needed someone to take care of him had been difficult at best. Alphas, after all, weren't supposed to play nursemaid for anyone one. Yet, he felt it was his responsibility to take care of his sick brother and he wanted to.

Here he was carrying a bowl of chicken broth on a tray along with a glass of water and some pepto. If his brother couldn't keep this down he was going to switch to the full B.R.A.T. diet in hopes that he would keep something down.

He shifted the tray into one hand and knocked on his brother's door lightly. "Brother, are you awake?"

"Unfortunately," he groans. It seems the only time he truly gets any relief is when he's asleep, because at least the sickness hasn't kept him awake through the night. It's really awesome of his brother to take time off work like that, though he has to wonder how Ludwig convinced his boss. His nose wrinkles as he gets a whiff of that chicken broth even through the door. Though he can't say he likes the smell of it, his stomach doesn't roll and growl in upset. A distinct improvement over prior attempts at food. With some effort, he pushes himself into a sitting position, leaning back against his headboard. "Come in."

At least when Ludwig enters, bringing the broth closer, he actually feels a little hungry instead of just plain nauseous like he had with prior meals. Perhaps that's a good sign, since he really needs to keep something down. Gilbert doesn't even want to think if he's lost weight or, worse, muscle to the fact that he can't keep any nutrients down.

It hadn't been easy, for sure, but he wasn't going to tell his brother that. He didn't want Gilbert to worry while he was ill. He had to lie in the end and say that his brother could be contagious and even if he never got sick, he could carry whatever stomach bug Gilbert had to work with him and give it to the entire shop.

He entered the bedroom which smelt like sick person. He quickly sat the tray down on the bedside table and opened the window to let fresh air in, but carefully keeping the blinds shut, so as not to bother Gilbert's eyes with the light. Once that is done he walks over and feels Gilbert's head. "You still don't have a fever."

He frowns, he can't deny his brother is ill, but why wasn't his body fighting it properly. That was the truly worrying thing. What if something was killing his brother?! He had considered taking Gilbert to the emergency room, but since he had a doctor's appointment tomorrow, he wouldn't. Unless, Gilbert got worse during the night.

"Do you feel like you can try swallowing some broth?" he sits on the edge of the bed.

He leans quietly against his brother's hand, taking some comfort in the touch. Perhapss once he feels better, he'll tell his brother all about his plan. Ludwig would be a good father, he's certain of that. He's so protective and caring! It's just stupid that he has to jump through hoops so Lutz can be a dad... Oh. Wait, speaking of Lutz, his brother is talking to him. "Yeah? I am kinda hungry..."

Gilbert shifts closer to lean against his brother's side. Even if it's all in his head, he can't deny that being close to Ludwig and knowing he's safe and being taken care of doesn't help a little. It at least makes the situation more bearable. Really, he has the best Alpha.

Maybe he can convince Ludwig to get him some more pillows once he finishes that broth. For whatever reason, Gil can't help but think his bed is awfully bare, even though he usually prefers to have just the one pillow, a blanket, and then an extra blanket in the winter.

He lets his brother lean against him, he's glad Gilbert is feeling well enough to move, even if it's just a little. He presses a kiss to Gilbert's forehead before taking the bowl of broth in his hands. "I have some Pepto, too, if you want to try to calm your stomach."

He would do anything for his brother right now. If his brother wanted more pillows, he'd go get every pillow in the house and go to Walmart if he needs more.

Right now though, he's ready to spoon feed the broth to Gilbert.

"Ugh, no. Just the broth is fine." He glares at the offendingly pink bottle and tries to not think too hard about the weird taste or chalky texture. "You gonna make airplane noises?" Gilbert teases Ludwig when he sees the spoon in his brother's hand. Ordinarily, he'd snap about being able to feed himself, so it should be a sign of how sick he feels that he's not even going to make a token protest. In truth, Gil feels like he could eat on his own, but he just wants to be spoiled a bit.

"If I keep this down can I have some beer?" He misses beer. So much. And it's only been a week since he last had one.

"Not until after the doctor tells you it's okay," he says. "You need to stay hydrated and alcohol dehydrates." Okay, so there are some things he won'd do for his brother, and making his brother sicker is one of them.

As for airplane noises, he doesn't think his brother needs them, but if he has to, he will make the noises. He lifts the first spoonful up and towards Gilbert's lips with a steady hand.

He opens his mouth readily, because he honestly doesn't need the noises. For the next few minutes, he's quiet, only opening his mouth when it's time for the next spoonful of broth. Until his stomach tenses a bit at the thought of swallowing another drop, and then he turns his head. "Ah, that's enough for now." Inwardly, he's begging his stomach to let the broth stay, since it had been doing so well.

Gilbert reaches for the glass of water, trying to lean across Ludwig without squishing his own abdomen too much or upsetting the bowl. "Hey, Luddy?"

He is surprised how much Gilbert managed to get down. He'll save the rest of the broth for later.

"Yes, brother?" he carefully moves the bowl away from his lap because, even if the broth has cooled, he doesn't need it in his lap. Though, laughter is supposidely the best medicine, and he'd bet Gilbert would laugh at his brother covered in broth.

"Do we have any more pillows? I want some. And maybe another blanket..." Come to think of it, this bed is too high off the ground. Perhaps after he feels better he can move his mattress to the floor. He's not stupid; he knows Ludwig would never agree to rearranging his bed entirely right now. But surely he can get a little more bedding material...

And so long as none of the broth got on his sheets, Gilbert would find it hilarious. He takes tiny sips of water as he waits for his brother's answer.

"I'll bring out the winter blankets and see what I can do for pillows," he said. It was strange since he knew his brother's preference for one pillow, but if he thought it would help, he would bring pillows in by the truckload.

He moved to get up, setting the pepto on the bedside table and the broth on the tray. "I'll be back soon, try to rest."

Oh, wonderful! He has the absolute best mate. Even though he's supposed to be resting, as soon as Ludwig is out of the room he's trying to make his pillow a bit fluffier. Then he's unfolding his extra blanket, to scrunch it up into a cushiony type shape by the headboard. Since he can't do anything else, then, until Ludwig gets back, he curls up against his pillow and extra blanket and tugs his main blanket up aroud him.

He is surprised when he comes back, about fifteen minutes later, carrying all the pillows from the couch as well as the extra winter blankets. He expected to see his brother asleep, not cuddling his blankets and pillow.

"Brother?"

The sight of all that bedding makes him perk right the fuck up. Apparently managing to eat and not throw up has provided Gilbert with enough energy to sit up and make grabby hands at the pillows. "Gimme!" Come on Ludwig, hurry up! He knows exactly where that really poofy pillow needs to go, and it needs to be there yesterday.

He is really unsure about Gilbert's reaction, but he offers the pillows and makes a note to ask the doctor about this sudden behavior shift. It could be the sign of a virus attacking the brain. But for now, he would give in to Gilbert's odd form of insanity and let him have every pillow possible.

Whatever it is, it has led to a very peculiar form of insanity, definitely, although Gilbert is utterly unconcerned. Right now, he's just happy to have food in him and the energy to do more than lie there suffering, and he now has construction materials. This will be the most well-engineered nest the world has ever seen by the time he's done! Already he's pushing his pillow and blankets out of the way so he can tuck the foofy couch pillow against the headboard. Then he uses his pillow and the other two off the couch to build up the foundation of a wall, which is then secured by tucking a winter blanket around it. The other blankets are carefully folded and tucked until he has a nice, cozy L shape built up; the base of the L at the head of the bed and the vertical going down the side opposite the door. It is only then that he takes the last two blankets -the ones originally on his bed- and settles back down with his back against his 'wall'. The heavier blanket he just cuddles, but the lighter one he wraps around himself.

...Is Ludwig still there?

He watches, astounded, as Gilbert makes a nest. Soon his mind is adding two and two, which is equally four, but he's not sure how.

"Brother, was there something wrong with your last batch of suppressants?" he asks hesitantly. The last time he questioned Gilbert on his suppressants he had gone out a window, he didn't want to go out a window again.

"Hmm? No? I mean, my endocrinologist said that my hormone levels were actually better than he expected!" Gil looks positively proud of that! Honesty, Ludwig, what a silly question. Why would there be anything wrong with his suppressants. So far they're working exactly as he'd hoped, because Lutz hasn't suspected a thing until now.

He wonders what better means. "I don't mean to imply anything, but your symptoms are adding up to something that shouldn't be possible with your suppressants being well."

Illness that involves vomiting, but no fever, able to sleep during the nights, but still tired, and nest building, for that's the only term he could use to describe Gilbert's pillow fort.

"Kesesese! Don't be ridiculous!" He hasn't reached the same conclusion his brother has, if only because he doesn't quite realise the urge to be secure and comfortable is a symptom, not just a natural response to being sick. "We changed things about a month and a half ago, so they've been keeping a real close eye on my levels so I don't get sick from the different hormone levels." See, Ludwig, he knows what he's talking about!

He decides it's better not to bring up the other option, that of a terrible disease. He takes a moment before crawling into the nest with Gilbert, partly as a test, and partly because he wants to reassure himself that his brother doesn't have some terrible life changing illness.

"When is your doctor's appointment, tomorrow?" he pets Gilbert's head making sure there really is no fever while trying to provide some comfort.

Part of him wants to kick Ludwig out, but for the most part he feels cozy and comfortable, so if Ludwig wants to cuddle then why not? "Yeah, at ten. Earliest they could get me in. Wouldn't've been able to, I don't think, except I know the doc was worrying I'd have an adverse reaction to switching to Nomecra from the Supraxol." He's feeling tired again already, having burned through what energy he gained from eating, so all of that is in a sleepy tone. However, Lutz should recognise the name of the new suppressant since it's been all over the news.

He was unaware that Gilbert had switched and wasn't Nomecra in clinical trials still? He needs more information. "When did you switch to Nomecra?" he wonders this as he relaxes briefly, since the new father panic hasn't kicked in yet.

"Mmmm, 'bout a month and a half ago come Friday..." He's snuggling against Ludwig's chest now, breathing deeply and evenly. The scent of his alpha is so calming. "Kinda surprised I got in the trial... wanted to surprise you... once things got to where they're s'posed to be..." Ah, good, Ludwig feels relaxed. Yes, surely now is a good time to start properly nodding off.

Prussia || APH || closed to vereinigt

a very beautiful teal dear~

why thank you~

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