I think that some good Luke/Bell smut is what we need in these trying times. The topic: tummy love. After waking up one morning, Bell shows Luke's belly some casual love with kisses and strokes, but it turns out he is in dire need of a thorough rub and TLC because his belly hurts (hunger/indigestion/virus). May or may not develop into a full sickness.
Bella let out a yawn, rolling on the bed, a hand stretched ahead of her in an attempt to grab Luke's abandoned pillow. It was a morning tradition, he got up super early, so she'd wake up and grab his pillow, mush her face in it to smell him, and get ten to fifteen minutes more sleep.
Today, her hand melt warm skin and she startled, opening her eyes. Luke's naked back was facing her, going up and down as he breathed in deeply, asleep.
"Lu?" Bella whispered, scooting closer on the bed. He didn't even stir with the name calling. Bell raised her eyebrows, then bit down a smile as she saw his slack face, swept dark hair falling over his forehead and the pillow, the cheek she could see with a pink mark in the middle of it since they were buried under blankets... He was so damn handsome.
Bella latched onto his back like a tick, wrapping an arm around his middle and throwing a leg over his hip, happily planting her mouth to his naked shoulder and peppering it with kisses, "Lucaaaas," she called, softly, "wake up."
It was a Saturday, so she wasn't worried about him sleeping in, since they had nowhere to be but there. It was really unusual, though.
This time his brow twitched and she smiled, pressing herself even closer and scooting up just enough she could nibble at his ear, "wakey wakey, baby."
"Uhmm?" Luke mumbled, lifting an arm to rub his eye and narrowly missing elbowing her, "Bell?"
"Hey," she pressed a kiss to his cheek, "you slept in."
"Whaa-" A yawn, him rolling on the bed and taking her with. Bella unwrapped herself, so she could move to lie nearly on top of him, "what time is it?"
"Uhm," she reached over him, grabbing his phone on the bedside table, "nine thirty."
"Wow," Luke was still slow, brain powering up, He reached in to grab a curl of hers, kinda dizzy and loopy from sleep, "it's late..."
"Please," Bella made sure to let her tone drip disdain about the "late" hour. She squirmed on top of him, smiling devilishly as she could feel a hard on pressed to her thigh, less about him being horny and a whole lot more due to the fact he had just woken up. Didn't matter in her books, a boner was a boner.
Luke blinked slowly, nearly falling right back asleep and she wouldn't have it, so she leaned in and pressed a kiss over his lips, "wakeee uuup, Luke."
"M'wake," he planted a hand on her back, heavy, and slid it up to her nape, fingers curling on her hair as he pulled her in. Although he kissed her back, he didn't initiate anything else and Bella let out a huff, moving her face so she could kiss his neck and then down his chest.
"Wake. Up," she punctuated her words with a little bite pressed to his skin, he had little moles scattered all over his back and chest and she played connect the dots with her mouth.
Luke was ticklish, so Bella smiled as she kissed him near the ribs and could feel his breath hitch, trying to suppress a full body shudder. Her hands curled on the waist of his sweatpants, inching them down to give her more exposed skin.
He wasn't hairy, almost no chest hair — he had to have some flaw, Bella thought with a snort — but there was a bit of peach fuzz that grew between his pecs and went down his normally flat stomach, thickening up under his navel and disappearing into his pants. Fine enough that it wasn't noticeable unless he was freshly showered and wet, the hairs darkening. Bella blew on the soft hair, hands pressed one to each side of him, mouth branding him right next to the navel-
A whine came from his stomach, so loud that Bell pulled back, with a startled chuckle, "oh, wow. Are you hungry?"
She folded her hands over his belly and planted her chin on top of them. Luke, who had scooted up slightly on the pillow, looked a whole lot more awake... And embarrassed too. He shook his head, rubbing his eye with one hand, in a way that reminded her of a sullen teenager, "no... Kinda queasy, actually."
Ah.
"Oh shit," Bella jumped away, so she wasn't all but lying on top of him, "why didn't you say something? I was all over you, that couldn't feel good..."
"You all over me always feels good," he rolled his eyes, "actually, the pressure was kinda nice..."
She had some sort of problem, like a Luke-addiction, Bella decided, because no way he was actually as cute as she thought he was right now. Luke-aholic.
"C'mere, you big baby," she moved so she wasn't fully on top of him, more on his side, but still with a leg dropped over his hip — the boner was gone, bummer — and her right hand could rub his stomach.
It wasn't bloated, but now that she was applying some pressure, it seemed sloshy and achy. Her husband's face pinched with discomfort, frustration too at the derailed morning plans.
"What exactly are you feeling?"
Luke grimaced, rubbing his chest with an uneasy expression that Bella knew well, "is it reflux? You didn't eat before bed." God, they were getting old, she bit down a smile.
"Seems like it," he shuddered, muffling a little burp in his hand, "stomach's just bleh."
"Just bleh, eh?" Bella grinned, stealing a kiss, "you're so adorable, I could chew you like a toy."
He snorted at her wording, then winced as a gurgle went through his belly, right under her palm, "I probably just need to get up and eat something light, to get rid of the acid."
"Hmmm," she wasn't convinced, but Bella didn't voice it. She trailed her fingers down his abs quadrants, faded and soft, he wasn't shredded like he had been in New Mexico and she preferred him like this. Her index circled his navel, nails scratching him, and she pressed on his right side, over the faint scar of his appendectomy. Sometimes she could barely believe that had happened, that whole stretch of their lives where they weren't together seemed like a fever dream.
"Ugh, hold on," Luke sat up on the bed, pushing her hand away from his middle and snapping her out of her thoughts, "gotta burp..." His voice was clipped, with pain or nausea, she wasn't sure, "can you-" a gulp, "thump-"
"Like this?" She thumped the middle of his back in a rhythmic manner and Luke nodded, a hand pressed to his mouth as he muffled a string of watery burps. Bella cringed.
"Baby, those are really wet... Are you gonna be sick?"
He shook his head, "stomach- acid," he shuddered, standing up abruptly and rushing to the bathroom, leaving Bella behind. She took a second to follow, expecting to find him curled up by the toilet, but instead he had spat up in the sink and was now washing the bowl and his pale face.
"Ugh," Luke said as she leaned against the door, drying his face with the hand towel, "I feel like crap."
"You don't think it's a bug?" Bella stretched a hand ahead of her, he was just close enough she could trace invisible patterns on his back with the tip of her nails.
"Don't think so," Luke braced against the sink, staring at the bowl, "my stomach hurts."
Bell stepped closer, pressed her mouth to his shoulder and slid an arm around his middle, knuckled brushing softly over his belly, "I think you're just old, Captain."
It earned her a huff, that pinched expression fading to give away to a boyish smile, "yeah, maybe," he blew out a burp under his breath, then grabbed her wrists and pulled her closer, arms crossed over his chest and her front pressed to his back, "I love you."
Bella rolled her eyes dramatically, biting down a grin, "couldn't have guessed, Luke."
Okay but it’s been so long since we seen a burpy, bloated Jonah?
Like nothing serious, just simply Not Feeling Too Hot and some comfort from Leo
This comes after a fic that still hasn't been published, so you'll be confused for a second, but... Trust the process! The muse is fickle like that.
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He had offered to drive Wendy home, but the woman had shaken her head, rubbing at her eyes and sniffling, told him she'd just go lie down in the doctor's headquarters until she felt more put together.
Worry ate at him and Jonah had promised himself he'd go check on Wendy as soon as they took Angie back home, crossing his fingers that his sister wasn't as shaken up as he expected her to be from what Wendy had told him about the morning encounter.
Once Wen was gone, Jonah rubbed a hand over his face, texting Leo to figure out where he was.
Leo: Upstairs, at the nurses' station. They have donuts 😋
Jonah smiled at his phone, pocketing it and moving towards the elevators.
Leo was sitting down on the nurse's lounge as if he belonged there, a box of 24 donuts in front of him, one perched on his hand, as he chatted with two nurses excitedly.
He glanced up, then smiled, a sugar mustache on, "speak of the devil," he sounded amused, "hi, angel."
Jonah felt his cheeks heating up at the petname being used in his workplace, but he didn't correct Leo, smiling at the nurses and sidestepping his husband so he could plant a hand on his shoulder, instead of kissing him.
"Let's go home?"
"Yeah," Leo got up, holding a donut still and smiling around. Jon bit down a smile as he watched the nurses gawking on his husband, Leo completely unaware of how nice he looked at the moment, even with a sugar mustache. Jon wanted to kiss it away, "where's Angie?"
"Upstairs, I'll go collect her and you get the car?" Jonah asked, waving his goodbye to his coworkers and taking Leo's hand in his as they stepped outside of the lounge. It would always be weird for him, being in the hospital but not as a doctor.
Angie was already in the hallway, before Sophia's room, hands intertwined behind her back as she stared vacantly at a wall. Or maybe it was pensively, Jonah wasn't really sure.
"Are you alright, darling?" He stepped closer, considered reaching in and touching her shoulder, then thought better of it. Angie nodded, slowly, chewing her bottom lip.
He expected some sort of answer, but since he got any, Jonah tried again, "are you ready to go back home?"
"Yes," Angie's eyes finally met his and Jonah could read the confusion in them, a spark shining from within that he couldn't pinpoint.
"Are you-" okay? He had already asked that, so Jonah interrupted himself, "hungry?"
"Oh, yes," Angie nodded, the serious expression from before melting away, "can we have whoppers?"
Jonah snorted, rolling his eyes and nodding, "yeah, sure," he gestured for her to follow, "you wanna have fast food."
"Yessss," Angie beamed at him, bouncing on her feet as she followed him to the elevator and Jonah couldn't help smiling at her antics, all the worry from before seemingly forgotten.
Leo was waiting for them outside of the car, and since they had parked in the street instead of the parking lot he had sunglasses on, hands stuffed in his pockets and Jonah bit down a dreamy sigh.
"Everything good?" The blonde asked, twirling the car keys around his finger, "where to now?"
"Burger King," Jonah stepped closer, just enough he could steal a quick peck, "the lady's choice."
"Ooh, good one," Leo raised his hand to high five Angie, then they were off.
They stopped on the drive-through and ate in the park outside of their apartment, while Angie told them in a soft, conspiratory voice all that had happened that morning, Leo's eyes getting bigger and bigger until his shocked expression caused Jonah to laugh.
"I talked with Wendy after," Jonah said, as Leo stole some of his fries, appetite untouched by the fact he had had donuts earlier.
"Oh?" Angie leaned in, interested, her burger she had been starving for, already forgotten. Jonah picked it up, since hers had more cheddar than his.
"She's really sorry," he threw Leo a meaningful look that said later and the blonde nodded. Angie didn't catch on that, "I think Sophia broke her."
"Oh," Angie pouted, completely missing that Jonah was saying it as a positive, as in finally she's coming to her senses, "I mean, she was really mean to Wendy, yeah..."
Leo made a face, but refrained from commenting, sucking the ketchup from his thumb, "is she okay?"
"No," Jon shook his head, finished the rest of Angie's burger, "but she'll be."
He truly believed that. Wendy was resilient and he was so so relieved that she had seen reason, he felt nearly dizzy.
"Do you think her and Vince..." Leo trailed off and Angie perked up, curious, while Jonah shrugged.
He felt stuffed, so he leaned back on the bench, arms spread out to relieve some of the pressure on his middle. His sister was watching him like a hawk, eyes pausing on every square inch of him and he felt weird, like a bug under a microscope.
"Dunno."
"Weren't they really in love?" Angie asked, balling up their trash and jumping up, "why wouldn't they get back together?"
Leo's cheeks turned pink, his eyebrows climbed and Jonah could tell he had so many opinions on the matter and was chewing on them. He poked his husband's side to urge him to speak up.
"She was really mean to Vince, Ange," Leo said, carefully picking his words as if Wendy and Angelina were related or saw each other so often that he'd offend her with his honesty, "I don't think Vince has to forgive her... Or that he can."
"If they were in love," Angie pouted, looking upset at the prospect, even though it was not her relationship, "I don't see why not."
Jonah's stomach churned and he wasn't sure if it was all the grease he could still feel coating his mouth or the subject manner. He tuned them out, brain annoyingly insisting on making this about them, him and Leo, not Wendy and Vince. As if there was any comparison to be made.
Shut up, he told himself.
Leo seemed to sense his distress somehow, because he reached across the bench and laid a hand on Jonah's knee, squeezing it, "wanna head inside?"
They were not Wendy and Vince, Jonah scoffed, taking Leo's hand and twirling his wedding band, admiring it.
"Yeah."
Once inside, Jonah smiled uneasily as he watched Angie chase JD around, the cat meowing indignantly at his sister's attempts of petting her. Normally he'd be amused by this, certain that JD could easily disappear or hiss if she was that bothered, but right now the amusement was barely palpable as he could feel his stomach churning, struggling with the greasy lunch they had just had.
"What's with the long face?" Leo asked, throwing his arms around Jonah from behind, slotting his chin on his chin on his shoulder, "what made you grumpy?"
"I'm not-" he gulped down, his belly gurgled and pressed against his pants. He wanted to lie down and strip from these clothes, but he needed to be a decent host to Angie, it was so rare she visited...
"You're a little pale," Leo's voice dropped to a whisper, brows meeting with concern as he moved from Jonah's back to get a good look of his face, "what's wrong?"
"Just a little indigestion," Jonah's voice came out thick, as he felt a gurgle roll through his belly and gas try to climb up his throat, "I'm fine."
Leo raised an skeptical eyebrow and opened his mouth to say something, but Jon beat him to it, shaking his head, "I'm fine, Leo. Angie's here."
His husband's lips pressed into a thin, annoyed line and he looked around the room, eyes pausing on Angie in a way that made Jonah feel annoyed, because he could tell in that minute Leo wanted his sister-in-law gone. Not that Jon didn't share that feeling, but for a split second he felt defensive, it was not the girl's fault his stomach was giving him grief.
"Leo," he said, preemptively, as if Leo would ever, in a million years, dismiss Angie or purposefully say something to upset her. As if reading his mind, the blonde turned to glare at him, eyes rolling.
"Relax."
"Uhm-" Angie had successfully managed to capture JD, so she was now sitting on the middle of the living room, petting the cat, eyeing them in a way that was obvious she had caught on that half a second interaction, "is it okay if I go draw or... Uh, do you guys wanna hang out...?"
Jonah felt vindicated, then guilty when he saw the way Leo lit up. He just felt gross, uncomfortable and gassy and he really didn't want to be a host right now, let alone an understanding husband, or even a person, his own thoughts were pissing him off.
"What are you working with?" Leo asked, stepping closer and plopping on the ground unceremoniously, so he could pet JD and they could talk in a lower tone. Jonah sucked in a breath as a cramp went through his intestines.
"I'm gonna go to the bathroom," he mumbled, so low he doubted either one of them had heard him, not that it mattered because Angie had lit up like a Christmas tree at Leo's interest in her art and they had forgotten about him.
He was annoyed about that too.
As soon as Jonah made it inside the ensuite, he removed his sweater and shut the door behind him, reaching to unbutton his pants as he walked to the bathroom.
Leo hadn't been lying, he did look pale, rich complexion suddenly looking a little ashy, perspiration dotting his face.
He didn't feel like he needed to use the bathroom, but nevertheless he kicked off his jeans and sat on the toilet, a leg bouncing nervously as Jonah stared ahead, feeling uncomfortable in his own skin, grossed out by the constant whining he could feel from his tummy. He hated how bloated he already looked, belly resting on his thighs, taut to the touch and crampy.
A minute passed, nothing happened, so he pulled up his boxer briefs and walked back to the room. exchanging them for just pajama pants and falling onto the bed with a groan. The burger they had had rolled inside of him and Jonah muffled a burp in his fist, shuddering with revulsion at the aftertaste it brought up.
He had ditched a shirt, so Jon planted a hand on top of his stomach, leaning his head back on the pillows and curling his legs. Under his palm, he could feel the vicious writhing of his guts.
Another sickly little burp rolled up, popping in his mouth before he managed to even blow it out and he made a face, getting up from the bed and back into the bathroom so he could spit in the sink, since the taste was making him nauseous.
Jonah moved back to the room, but this time he didn't collapse dramatically onto the pillows, only sat on the edge, an arm wrapped around his middle, trying to gauge if he was feeling queasy enough he should sit in the bathroom instead.
His palms were damp and his guts slippery, somehow. A whine came from his belly, wet and long, rumbling right under his navel. He pressed his fingers there, then gagged out of sheer disgust when the pressure caused a bunch of bubbles to move around.
He groaned, resting his elbows on his knees and let out a watery burp, aimed at the rug right under his feet. His back was clammy with sweat and their room was cold, since Jonah hadn't bothered with the heater, so now he started shivering slightly.
"Hey," the bedroom door opened just a bit and Leo pushed his face into the gap, "how are- Oh, okay," the blonde frowned, opened the door further and stepped inside, shutting it behind him, "are you nauseous?"
"Yes," Jonah nodded, gulping down, "and more."
Leo's face scrunched up as he wondered what more could mean, then opened with realization, "diarrhea?"
"Not yet," Jonah's cheeks burned with embarrassment, "I don't even- Maybe it's just gas. I don't know, I'm just not feeling well..."
Leo had circled the bed, so he could crouch in front of Jonah, planting a hand on his knee, "what do you need?"
"Nothing," he shrugged, then muffled a belch in his hand, gulping down after, "sleep it off, probably."
"You're sleepy?" Leo reached in, planted his hand to Jonah's forehead and he leaned his head into it, because Leo felt dry, unlike him who felt all sticky and clammy.
"Not really," his voice came out muffled by Leo's wrist. His stomach chose that moment to let out a loud, whine. So loud that Leo pulled back, eyebrows raised.
"Wow," he grimaced, "don't you wanna try the bath-"
"Already did," Jonah rocked, wrapping an arm around his belly in a feeble attempt of both muffling its gross noises and bloated appearance, while his other hand was clenched in a fist, that he used to muffle another wet burp. His chest was burning.
"How about tea?" Leo's fingertips traced his forearm, a mindless soothing gesture Jon wasn't sure he was even aware he was doing, "or meds? We have TUMs, I just checked."
"How- Where's Angie?" He answered, instead, hating being sick around her. Leo scoffed.
"Your adult sister?" He huffed, impatiently, "she's in the balcony, drawing. She said the trees of the park are pretty and it's looking like it's gonna rain, she wants to capture that."
Good, so she wasn't worried nor offended by his absence. Or grossed out.
Jonah nodded, curtly, then leaned forward and planted his forehead to Leo's shoulder, bringing up another belch that made his mouth water, cheddar kicking his ass, "I'm going to vomit."
Leo took a second to realize he was being serious, "Oh- What, now?" He pulled back, causing Jon's head to loll without the support, "get up, baby-"
"No, not now," Jonah gulped down, "but- But soon. I don't think it's settling..."
"Like I said," Leo's voice was just a little clipped, "we have meds, angel. What would help? You're the doctor."
Jonah moaned, "I don't know," talking was making him queasy and existing was annoying him, he wanted to curl up, but moving felt risky, "I-URorup-" a thick, wet burp came up, causing Leo to lean back with a groan.
"Straight on my face? Jonah, what the fuck-"
"So'rurp-urp-" he suddenly seized with a burpy fit, stomach churning violently, and pressed a hand to his mouth as they got wetter, "I'm-"
"Going to puke," Leo decided, grabbing his bicep, "c'mon, love, let's go to the bathroom-"
Another loud gurgle came up and Jonah groaned, whole body getting covered with queasy goosebumps as he nodded and grabbed Leo's shirt to hoist himself up. Goddamn fucking whopper.
They stumbled together inside the bathroom and Jonah didn't lower himself to his knees, hearing an annoyed sigh from Leo, "you're gonna make a mess, Jon..."
"I..." He planted both hands on the wall in front of him, head hanging on the space between his arms as he drooled inside the toilet, "hol'on-"
A hand rested on his back, fingers curling on his nape in a steady hold, "get that mess out of your tummy, angel."
Jonah huffed out a laugh, shutting his eyes, "won't come up..."
"Okay, uhm-" Leo's hands was suddenly on his belly and Jonah recoiled at the touch when he already felt so gross and vulnerable, pressing around, "damn, you look so round."
He sorta felt like crying at the comment, which was ridiculous, but it must've shown on his face, because then Leo let out a huff, "oh, angel," a kiss pressed to his naked shoulder, "as if I care. Your tummy is adorable."
"I don't think-" he spat in the water and rubbed his face, straightening up. His stomach rolled, more burning in his chest, "Don't think I'm gonna be sick."
Leo squinted at him, "I don't believe that," he said, but shrugged, "let's settle you in bed with a bucket."
"Gross," Jonah mumbled, to himself, as he followed Leo back out of the bathroom.
He curled up on the bed, feeling every little bit as whiny and dramatic as he could possibly be, watching Leo move around the room to settle it for him. A glass of water put on the bedside table, the blankets tugged from under his form with a huff, the bathroom bin on the floor near his head-
"Leo, would you-"
"Duh," the blonde rolled his eyes, crawling on the bed and pausing just enough he could open his own jeans, but he didn't remove them. Jonah rolled on the mattress, so he could press his face to his husband's lap and groaned as his upset stomach continued to roll around.
Leo's fingers started scratching his scalp and Jonah sighed, "I feel terrible."
"It'll pass as soon as it digests, baby," Leo sounded unconcerned, thumb stroking Jonah's cheek, "try to nap."
"I'm not sleepy," Jon closed his eyes nonetheless, "we abandoned Angie."
"She's a grown up, she doesn't need supervision," Leo chuckled, then his other hand moved down Jonah's naked back, resting on his belly, "want me to rub your tummy?"
"No," Jonah gulped down, cheeks puffing out with another belch, "it's too sensitive."
"Cheap fast food is too bad on your poor, fancy belly, uh?"
"Yes," Jonah scoffed, "greasy and horrible."
Leo snorted, stirred as he leaned in to press a kiss to Jonah's temple, "what am I gonna do with you?"
lately obsessed with the thought of a sickie vomiting on the caretaker who's holding them
maybe they were that deep in denial about needing to puke and it comes on too quickly to move away
maybe they've already been sick a lot and the caretaker thinks the sickie must be empty so they don't bother moving when the next wave comes on
maybe they've finally managed to drink some water and the caretaker is trying to talk them through the rising nausea so they can keep it down
either way they're curled up in the caretaker's arms, held close to their chest, head resting on their shoulder, and maybe the caretaker had the foresight to bring a bucket but it's just out of reach when the moment comes and the sickie ends up puking helplessly against the caretaker's shoulder or chest while the caretaker keeps holding them and assuring them it's fine, just get it out, don't worry about it
Some of My Favorite Ways to Describe a Character Who’s Sick
pressing their forehead into something cool or comfortable (this could be an array of things. the table, the floor, someones leather jacket, their water bottle, the countertop)
warm to the touch, or heat radiating from them (could be noticed if someone’s gauging their temperature with their hands, hugging them, or just generally touching them)
leaning into people’s touch, or just spontaneously leaning on them (like pressing into their hand when someone’s checking their temp, or just, like, literally walking up and laying their head on them from fatigue. bonus points if the character is usually feral and the other is scared to engage™︎)
falling asleep all over the place (at the dinner table, on their homework, in the car, in the bathroom — just being so exhausted from doing literally nothing)
being overly emotional (crying over things that don’t usually bother them, like their siblings arguing, or their homework, or literally just nothing)
stumbling/careening/staggering into things (the wall, furniture, other people. there is no coordination in feverish brains. running into chairs, hitting the door, falling over the couch, anything and everything)
slurring their words (could be from fatigue or pain. connecting words that shouldn’t be connected, murdering all of their conversations with the excessive use of ‘mm’ and ‘nn’ in place of words) (this is my favorite thing ever)
being overly touchy (basically like a sick kid — just hold them, please. do that thing where you brush their hair back out of their face, or rub circles on their back, or snuggle them. they won’t care. bonus points if this is also the feral character and they refuse to believe it afterwards)
being extremely resistant to touch (flinching away when they usually don’t so someone can’t feel the fever, not letting themselves be touched because they’re so tired they just know they’ll be putty in their hands if they do)
growing aggressive or being extremely rude (it’s a defense mechanism — they feel vulnerable and are afraid of being manipulated or deceived while they’re ill)
whimpering/whining/groaning (this was in my “characters in pain” post but it’s so good that i’m putting it here too. this shite is gold, especially if it’s just an involuntary reaction to their symptoms)
having nightmares caused by a fever and/or delirium (crying and murmuring in their sleep, or being awake but completely out of it and convinced they’re somewhere else)
making themselves as small as possible (curling up into a ball everywhere they lay, hunching over slightly when standing, wrapping their arms around themselves)
TW for vomiting below cut !!
sleeping in the bathroom floor because they keep getting sick over and over (bonus if someone finds them all weak and pitiful. bonus bonus if they find them there in the morning only to learn they’ve been there all night)
using their hands/other body parts to clamp over their mouth so nothing can come out (like pulling their knees up to their chest and using that, or like, their arm, y’know) (~maccreadysbaby who has emetophobia suddenly gets very awkward about this post~) (~yes i have a phobia of puke and still write this happening to my characters, shut up~) (~it’s about the hurt/comfort okay~)
sympathy pukers (people who aren’t the sick ones but get nauseous/vomit when they see someone else throw up) (~aka me~) (~okay I’m done now~)
dry heaving (it’s gross, but good for making your characters absolutely freaking miserable)
rolling/churning/spinning/cramping/ lurching and all those awesome words that describe what stomachs do when sick (i hate these words with a deep, fiery passion. but they’re good for writing or whatever)
Callum hadn’t exactly started the day feeling super great. His stomach had been giving little rumbles since he woke up, but he figured it was just hunger. However, the bowl of cereal he had wolfed down before leaving for Biology 202 had not sat well. It roiled in his stomach as he tried to listen to the lecture, occasionally sending small burps up his throat to be muffled by his fist.
He was starting to get odd looks from his classmates, and one girl even curled her lip at him, nose wrinkling in disgust. Aside from the general miserable feeling, now Callum was red with embarrassment. A particularly wet gurgle was loud enough for the professor to hear, and he placed his chalk down to look at Callum better. “Mr. Ulrich, is everything alright?”
Callum flushed an even deeper red, shrugging vaguely. He opened his mouth to respond, only for a thick burp to work its way up his gullet and explode loudly into the air. The professor raised one eyebrow while the rest of the class laughed, either openly or behind their hands. “Perhaps you ought to retire for the day, and study the chapter in the textbook instead,” he suggested.
Callum nodded, staring resolutely at the floor. He scooped his things into his bag, shoving his way out of the classroom while the harsh whispers of his classmates echoed in his ears. Once out in the hallway, Callum released a bubble of thick gas that had built up in his chest, nearly gagging at the bitter, acidic taste it brought to his mouth. “Fuck,” he muttered as he stumbled towards the bathrooms, one hand clutching his stomach and the other forming a fist at his lips, trying his best to stifle the wet burps that kept coming.
To Callum’s dismay, one of the stalls in the men’s restroom was occupied. In the small space, his belches, even with him trying to quiet them, seemed to bounce back at him even louder. Just as he was opening an empty stall door, a particularly thick belch sent a surprise wave of chunky sick rocketing up his throat. Callum lurched towards the toilet, but to his horror, the vomit shot from between his lips and sprayed the outside of the toilet, dripping to pool of the floor around it. He dropped his backpack on the ground, bracing himself against the rim of the bowl as his shoulders hitched up to his ears, a grating retch sounding through the restroom.
The person in the other stall seemed to be hurriedly finishing, because in the brief pause between bouts, Callum could hear quite a lot of rustling of clothing. “Hey, you good man?” A voice said over the flushing of a toilet.
“Fine, thanks,” Callum croaked. “Just a bi-” He was cut off by another choking gag, orangish-yellow puke flowing from his parted lips, leaving a thick rope of saliva hanging from his bottom lip.
The person next door fumbled with the lock, and jogging footsteps came up to the stall door. Shit, Callum thought. I left the door unlocked. Sure enough, he heard the creak of the stall door opening just as a wave of vomit so forceful he nearly whacked his head into the toilet lid shot into the bowl. He didn’t want to deal with a near stranger trying to help him when he was embarrassed enough from class as it was.
The next thing Callum knew, a hand was on his back and shoulder, kisses being peppered into his auburn hair. “Fuck, babe, glad I was in here.”
Callum took his brief respite to glance up, taking in curly blonde hair and pair of dark, concerned honey-brown eyes. “Eddie…” Callum groaned, leaning into his boyfriend’s touch.
Eddie stroked the stray locks of hair away from his boyfriend’s face, the strands matted with sweat. “Oh, baby, I’m so sorry, you must be miserable…”
Callum nodded pitifully, squeezing his eyes shut against another wave nausea. His stomach let out a quite audible gurgle, a wet burp bubbling up his throat and filling his cheeks with foul-tasting air.
Eddie’s arms wrapped around Callum, rubbing his back with one hand and kissing him gently on the forehead.
Callum recognized what was happening before it actually did, but only milliseconds before. He tried in vain to squirm out of Eddie’s grip and launch himself at the toilet, but his whole body was so weak and trembling that he could hardly make much of an effort. His stomach clenched horribly, sending another bout of chunky liquid shooting up into his mouth. Trying to squeeze his lips shut as tight as possible, he brought a hand to his mouth, pressing it shut.
Eddie began to realize what Callum was doing a moment too late. Callum had no choice but to remove his hand and open his mouth as his stomach heaved again, filling his cheeks to capacity. The sick spilled over his chin onto Eddie’s shirt, running down onto the khaki shorts Eddie was wearing. “M’sorry-” Callum choked out as his body shook with the force of another heave. The amount coming out of him had lessened considerably, and every other retch was now just a dry heave, until finally he was left with nothing more to bring up.
During this ordeal, Eddie had held tightly onto his boyfriend, whispering, “It’s okay baby, it’s okay,” in an almost chant. When Callum was left panting, chest heaving with breaths, in Eddie’s arms, Eddie risked another kiss to the forehead.
“I’m so sorry Eddie,” Callum groaned, eyes shut so he didn’t have to look at the mess he had made.
“It’s alright, I can wash my clothes,” Eddie reassured him, rubbing his back again. “I’m just glad I was here to help you.”
Callum released a heavy sigh, curling into his boyfriend’s chest. “Thanks,” he muttered, thinking that, as hard as the ground was, he never wanted to move from this spot again.
"You cannot be serious," Vince groaned, his cheeks puffed out with food and voice muffled because he was holding a hand in front of his mouth in an endearing attempt to be less rude.
Bella draped herself behind Lucas, who was sitting on the couch, so she could plant her chin to his shoulder and wrap her arms around over his chest. To his credit, despite being essentially trapped, Luke didn't pull away, but leaned back into her arms, shaking his head, "but'am," he mumbled, while eating, gesturing with his fork, "he's a horrid quarterback."
Bella had been zoning them out for the majority of the past hour, after finishing her dinner. She had taken one look at the chicken drumsticks and wrinkled her nose, opting for having dessert for dinner instead. Luke ate quicker than Vin, who took his sweet time savoring it, and they had steadily cleared off a bucket by now.
Luke tugged on her wrist, turning his face and rubbing his nose against her arm draped over his shoulder, "come sit with us, Bell."
"Nah, I'm good here," she pressed a kiss to his temple, using the couch's back as support to her torso and smiling as she saw Vin watching them, "you guys wanna watch something?"
Having Vince around sometimes made her feel like she was back in college. It pushed her dynamic with Luke towards more family-friendly than they were used to being, but Bell didn't mind it, she actually really liked enjoying her husband as her best friend, as well as, well... Husband. Plus Vin, of course.
"Uhm, sure," Vince shrugged, "you guys know you don't have to babysit me, right?"
"Fuck off, Vin," Bella rolled her eyes, circling the couch so she could plop herself on Lucas' lap, but first giving Vin's curls a sharp tug and glaring at him, "quit the self pity party and pick something for us to watch."
Luke huffed out a laughter when Bella collapsed onto his thighs with a satisfied groan, wrapping her arms around his neck so she had better support. He spread out his legs, planted his feet on the coffee table and slid down on the couch, causing Bell to jostle on top of him.
Vince picked Emma, which Bella hadn't ever watched and Luke apparently had, because he groaned and threw his head back, "not this bitch again."
"She is not that bad," Vin curled up on his side of the couch, shoving his socked feet under Luke's thigh and smiling at the screen where a blonde woman who looked like a doll and had the tightest curls Bella had ever seen walked to a greenhouse midst dawn.
"Is it a musical?" She groaned, linking her legs with Vin's, since she was sitting sideways like he was.
"No, it's about this meddlesome idiot who ruins everybody's lives," Luke leaned his chin on her shoulder, "and she gets the guy at the end."
"She kinda ruins her life too and then learns a lesson, it's not like Lucas is painting it, "it's cute."
"When did you watch it?" Bella poked Luke's stomach and he rushed a hand up, muffling a burp on the back of it. She wrinkled her nose at the smell, "eeeww Atwood, not straight on my face!"
"You are lying on my stomach, Isabella!" He cried out, then continued on, unbothered, "we watched it together during college, at the theaters."
Bella rolled her eyes at him, shifting around to get more comfortable and getting sucked in by the movie. She was mesmerized. It was pretty, first off. The outfits were to die for and while regency romances, or romances in general, were not her vibe, Bell couldn't look away.
"Is this... From the Pride and Prejudice lady?" She asked, a good handful of minutes later. Luke was drawing little invisible patterns on her back and Vin had gotten up to turn off the living room lights, only the flatscreen illuminating them.
"Jane Austen, yeah," Luke answered, then patted her thigh, "baby, get off me-"
Bella fell onto the couch with a whine, but she wasn't really paying attention, sinking against the throw pillows as she watched Emma make a fool of herself during a piano showing.
"What does he see in her?"
"She's loving, in her heart, she means well," Vin answered, while Luke got up and started to circle the couch, "where are you going...?"
"Reflux," Lucas' voice was muffled and finally Bella took her eyes away from the screen, as she watched Luke walk to the kitchen, where they kept their medicine bottles. He left the kitchen light on as he returned, a couple minutes later, chewing tums and bringing a can of ginger ale, "the chicken clearly has a vendetta against me."
"C'mere," Bell gestured for him to sit back down, "let me rub your stomach..." from the corner of her eye she saw Vin's cheeks turn pink, but she shrugged it off. If he was uncomfortable with them being touchy, he didn't say it and Bell wasn't feeling like prying when Luke was looking clammy and pale.
He collapsed on the couch, leaning his head back with a groan and muffling a burp in his fist, "ew..." it was frothy and gross and Bella wrinkled her nose in distaste, while planting a hand on Lucas' belly.
She hadn't realized earlier, but not only was he bloated, but his stomach was warm to the touch, even through his shirt, and it let out a watery, disgusting noise as she pressed her fingers in, "ah, Lu, that seems nasty..."
"It's fine," his voice was all distorted as he muffled another burp in his hand, "just gotta wait for the tums to kick in... You don't need to pause, Vin."
"Nah, it's fine, I'm-" he grimaced, glaring at the now paused screen, "I think I'm gonna head to bed."
Luke let out a little wounded noise, "what, just because I got up?"
"No," Vin rolled his eyes, getting up, "I think I ate too much, I wanna lie down," he moved forward to plant a kiss on top of Bell's curls and she tilted her head back to look at him, narrowing her eyes suspiciously. He seemed a little pale.
"I will, it's gonna pass in a minute..." Lucas gulped down air, forcing up a thick belch in his fist, "goodnight, Vin."
Bella sighed, moving on the couch so she was by Luke's side and he could rest his head on her shoulder, "you think he's ok?"
"No," Luke groaned, wincing, "probably has indigestion too, the chicken- Urgh, the chicken..." He trailed off, muffling a burp against the fabric of her shirt and gulping down, convulsively, "hates me."
"You think it was off?" Bell frowned, running her fingers through Luke's hair, noticing how sweaty he was getting. It still seemed just reflux, but she had the feeling it was more than that.
"God, I hope not," he gagged at the thought, face scrunching up with disgust, "you wanna keep watching the movie?"
"No, I'll catch up tomorrow. Let's go lie down..." She eyed him skeptically as Luke got up with an arm wrapped around his stomach as if he had been stabbed, "should I grab a bucket?"
"No," he winced, hissing under his breath, "I'm not really queasy, it's mostly cramping like hell."
"Oh," Bella cringed at the idea, "I'm sorry... C'mon up, I'll get you my hot water bottle. It will help."
They made the slow track back to their bedroom and on the way there, Bella stole a quick glance towards the guest room. The bedroom door was shut, not a light leaking from under it and she chewed her lip with concern. Had Vince really gone straight to bed?
Luke faceplanted the pillows, groaning loudly and curling up his legs.
"I know, baby, I'm sorry," Bella cooed, moving around the bedroom to grab the hot water bottle and sitting on the edge of the mattress, sliding it under his shirt, "can I get you anything else?"
His face was pink and Bell's stomach squeezed with worry. She combed her fingers through his hair, lowering them down, lightly touching his cheeks — prickly, since he shaved in the morning — and to his neck, pressing them to his pulse.
"What- what are you doing...?"
"Just checking if you're breathing fine," she replied, leaning in so she could feel his breathing against her fingertips and make sure there was no wheezing. Luke raised his head from the pillow, seeming puzzled.
"What? Why?"
She let out a scoff, flicking a strand of hair away from his eyes, "take a guess."
Luke took a second too long to understand, then rolled his eyes, exasperation clear as he huffed and collapsed back down, "it's not an allergic reaction, Bell."
"I'd rather check," Bella ignored him, leaning forward so she could plant her chin to his bicep and rub a hand down his arm, "I can make you some peppermint tea, what do you think?"
Instead of answering, Lucas shuddered and let out a groan, voice muffled since his face was half hidden by her folding over him, "no... Just leave me here to die."
She snorted, hiding a smile against his shirt, "so dramatic," she whispered. They stayed in that half squished croissant position for a handful of minutes, until Luke stirred with a moan, rolling flat onto his back and pressing the plastic water bottle to his stomach.
"Fuck, it hurts."
"Probably just gas," Bella shrugged, sitting up straight and starting to press around his stomach in a gentle manner. He was so sweaty, it was unnerving her. A gurgle ran right under her fingertips as she pressed under his belly button and Lucas hissed, reaching blindly behind him to grab the headboard and pull himself sitting up.
"Wait, wait, wait, stop," he pushed her hand away from his stomach, then stared ahead as if waiting to see what his body was trying to communicate. Bella held her breath in anticipation, regretting not bringing the bucket-
"Ah, shit," Luke groaned, shoving himself up. He swayed, but kept moving towards the bathroom. She was up and following him immediately, only for her husband to slam the door shut on her face.
Ah.
Bella jumped back at the disgusting cacophony of noises that followed, tapping against the door, "I'm gonna-" give you some privacy, "gonna check on Vin, okay? Yell if you need me."
"Goooooo awaaaaayyy"
The ginger snorted, rolling her eyes and walking out of their room, towards the guest suite.
Bella had a nasty habit of not knocking, so she only thought of doing it when the door was already half open. She shut her eyes, squealing, "sorry!" just in case Vin was in some state of undress, but there was no answer. She opened an eye and then let out a sigh, the room was empty, blankets messed up, but abandoned.
"Vin?" Bella called out, wondering if maybe he had gone down to the kitchen or back to the living room to finish the movie... There was light coming from under the bathroom door. She let out a sigh, walking closer and knocking, "Vin? Are you okay?"
A groan answered her and she paused, weighing her options. She could just go in, but there was a risk of catching Vince naked...
"Can I come in?"
Another groan.
She let out a frustrated sigh and opened the door.
Their guest suite wasn't large, but it wasn't as cramped as the downstairs half bathroom either. Vin still made everything look like it was doll sized in comparison to him.
He was sitting on the ground, wearing loose black boxers and a grey t-shirt that was a size too big, an arm draped over the toilet, curled so he could prop his forehead against his palm, eyes shut as he breathed carefully through his mouth. He was drenched in sweat.
"Jesus, Vin..." Bella moved closer, crouching down, "I'm gonna guess the chicken was bad, uh?"
At the mention of the chicken, he jerked with a gag and fell to the side, just in time to hang his mouth over the bowl and cough up a thin dribble of vomit. Bella cringed, grabbing his shoulder with one hand, the other one gathering his curls before they got in the way.
Vince let out a whimper when the next retch was empty and he was left dry heaving over the toilet bowl, hunched forward so much Bella had to tug on his curls to keep him from drowning.
"You're done, Vin, you're done," she sighed, dropping the hair and rubbing his back, "take a deep breath, dude."
To his credit, he really did try. It turned into a wet belch halfway through and Vince lurched forward once more, making Bella scramble to keep the hair out of the way.
A meager mouthful of dinner fell in the water and he pulled back, face strained, patches of blotchy pink on his pale face, sweat running down his temple, "feel... Fucking awful."
"Yeah, no shit," Bella reached over him, to flush the toilet, "have you been sick already?"
"Nuh-huh," he shook his head, "won't come up..."
"God, that sucks," Bella grimaced in sympathy, "I'm gonna get you some water. Don't fall and split your head, okay?"
"Mmm'kay," Vin nodded, leaning over the bowl to drool once more.
She hurried out of the room and downstairs, quickly correcting courses on how to handle it. Bella grabbed two buckets from the laundry room, then used them as containers to put the gatorade bottles — thank god that Luke stockpiled them —, as well as two different rags, a bunch of different medications and a thermometer, just in case.
Vince was back onto his knees, instead of flat on his ass, and he had both elbows planted on the seat, palms supporting his head as he gagged mercilessly, but was able to bring nothing other than colored saliva.
"God, Vin," Bella crouched down next to him, rubbing his back. His shirt was glued to his back, "better out than in, get it up," she patted his on the back softly and managed to push up a wet, disgusting burp. Vince groaned, panting as if he had run a marathon, and then his next little frothy burp tailed into a productive heave and a mouthful of chunky dinner fell into the water with a nauseating plop!
Bella cringed, turning her head and gagging out of revulsion, but she kept her hand firmly pressed to his back, "that's... Good," she swallowed the excess saliva, "you're doing great..."
Vin let out a little chuckle, "don't make me laugh, my stomach-URurop-hurts..." he belched mid sentence and Bella snorted, patting his back with a little more force.
"Sorry..."
She heard a loud, violent heave and then the startling noise of a lot more liquid colliding with liquid, "Oh there you go!" Bella cooed, turning around and then cringing at the gruesome sight.
There was a beige sludge filling the bowl, having splashed onto Vin's forearms since he was still holding himself up by the elbows. His face was pinched with pain. She reached forward, pressing the flush and grabbing several squares of toilet paper to wipe his arm, "aw, Vin..."
He gulped down, "not'done," his words stuck together, as if he had glue in his mouth and he seized with a gag, so violent she could see his stomach flexing even under the oversized t-shirt. More vomit fell into the now clear water and Vin was left panting, nearly hyperventilating.
Bell waited for a minute to see if more was gonna come up, but despite his convulsive swallowing, his stomach seemed to be done for now, so she flushed again and squeezed his sweat soaked nape, "done?"
"For now..." His voice was all hoarse, "don't feel well, Bell..."
"I know, buddy," she pressed her lips in a small sympathetic smile and passed him more toilet paper so he could wipe his lips, chin and blow his nose. Vince retched as he did it, the movement alone upsetting his belly, but nothing came up and he was simply left clutching the ball of paper and waiting.
"Come on, let's get you lying down," Bella patted his arm, "come on."
Vin nodded, but didn't move. Instead, it took her grabbing him by the elbow and starting to pull him up for him to pull away from the toilet and get up. He swayed on the spot and braced against the mirror above the sink, leaving a sweaty handprint on it, "wait..."
"Dizzy?"
"Just a little," he gulped down and then let out a airy, large belch and groaned, "sorry..."
"You know I don't give a crap about that," Bella rolled her eyes, planting a hand firmly on his back and bunching up the shirt in her fist as if she could, somehow, stop him from face planting in the odd chance he fell.
"Still..." He whined, "rude..."
Bella let out an impatient huff, but didn't say anything and after a minute Vin nodded and let her guide him back to the room, where he fell onto the mattress with a pained groan.
"Okay," Bell plucked the gatorade bottle from the bucket, planting it on his bedside table, and putting the now empty bin next to him, "bucket's here, gatorade to your left," she smoothed his curls back, worried gaze searching his face, "you're gonna be okay while I check on Luke?"
Immediately his eyes sprang open, alarm making them way more alert than they had been, "Luke's sick too?"
"Yeah," She sighed, "uhm- other end tho..."
Vince's face scrunched up and he folded an arm protectively around his stomach, "god, I hope not..."
"Yeah, let's hope you guys don't switch symptoms," Bella nodded, then broke the seal of the electrolyte bottle, "but drink a little bit for me? Small sips, please."
"No way," Vin shook his head, eyeing the bottle with disgust, "it's gonna come right back up."
"Take very small sips," Bella glared at him, "but you have to drink a little bit, otherwise you'll end up sicker."
"I'm fine," he scoffed, closing his eyes in a clear tell he was done with this conversation. Bella felt a wave of fraternal annoyance and considered just grabbing him by the chin and forcing him to drink, before she gave up the thought and let out a dejected sigh.
"Well, try to. I'm gonna go check on Luke and then I'll be back for you."
"I'm fine," Vince repeated, much to her annoyance, "don't need a babysitter, Bell."
"Yeah, yeah," she waved him off, gesturing to the bucket, "bucket. Use it, if you gotta- I'll be right back."
She didn't wait for a response, picking up the remaining items and moving to the master suite. The bathroom door was still shut, so Bella took a deep breath and knocked on it, "Lucas? Are you alive in there?"
A grunt answered her and Bella let out a frustrated scoff, "Lucas, I'm going in, okay?"
"No, Bell-"
"I don't care," she rolled her eyes, turning the knob and holding her breath as she opened the door. He was exactly as she had left him, at the very least, although a whole lot more sweaty, sitting on the toilet with both arms wrapped around his stomach, pale as paper.
"See?" He groaned, staring ahead with his cheeks heating up, "give me... Give me a minute, I'll be right out."
Bella squinted at him, not quite believing, but she nodded, not wanting to humiliate him further and yeah, it was disgusting, "Okay... I'm going to wait outside..."
She took a step back, shutting the door again and heard some annoyed huffing, followed by moving around. A minute later Luke stumbled out, bracing against the doorway and planting his forehead to the wood, thumping it softly, "I don't feel good, Bell..."
"Yeah, the chicken was off," she took a step closer, pointedly ignoring the smell and wrapping an arm around his waist to pull him to bed, "Vin's puking up his guts."
"Wha-" Luke interrupted himself with a little burp and fell sitting down on the bed, "Vin's sick?"
"Yep," Bella smoothed the sweaty hair away from his face, opening another bottle and pressing it to his hand, "drink up, hydrate."
Luke glared at it in a wary way, "I don't know..."
"You're having diarrhea, that kills people, drink."
"The runs aren't gonna kill me, Isabella," Luke scoffed, cheeks turning red, but he did take a large gulp under her commanding gaze. Bella opened a triumphant smile.
"See? Wasn't that bad, yeah?" She leaned in to press a kiss to his temple and her brows furrowed as she heard a nasty growl coming from his stomach, as the drink went right through Luke. He whimpered, hiding his face on her chest.
"Fuuuck..." His hand clutched his bloated belly, "it's fucking killing- Ah, shit, shit, shit, Bell, MOVE-" he pushed her back by the arm, jumping up and nearly falling as he ran right back to the bathroom.
In his haste, Luke had left the bathroom door open and Bella grimaced at the noises that followed, tiptoeing closer to shut it and give him some semblance of privacy, "I'm gonna go check on Vi-"
Before the words were fully out of her mouth, she realized this time it was different. Luke had a hand firmly pressed to his mouth and was seizing with aborted gags, eyes squeezed shut as he fought the nausea.
"Oh shit, wait, Luke-" Bella rushed back to the room to grab the bucket — dumping the medicine on the bed — then ran back to the bathroom, but she was too late, because right as she skipped to shove the bucket under his chin, Luke lost the battle and gross, chunky mess splashed down his shirt and collected in the boxers pooled at his ankles.
He whimpered, a hand darting out to grab the bucket out of her limp grip and brought up an even bigger stream of vomit inside of it, barely having to retch this time around.
'"Fuck, okay," Bella breathed out through her mouth, trying to ground herself, starting to feel overwhelmed. She blinked quickly, "okay..." then planted a hand on his forehead to help with the aim, the other one going to the bin's edge in order to keep it put in case he lost his grip.
Lucas, unlike Vin who suffered and took forever, seemed to be a fucking fountain of puke. His retched were violent and loud and Bella was biting down her lip worriedly, because it just kept coming. He whimpered, she heard another gurgle coming from his belly and more ejecting into the bowl under him. Bella closed her eyes, in a feeble attempt to block out the sound.
Revulsion and concern were making her pulse race, "shhh, get it out of your system, mi vida..."
Luke coughed, hunching forward a little more and Bella let out a squeal as the bucket got even heavier as he projectile vomited inside of it, bits and pieces splashing onto her knuckles and causing Bella to have to bite down a groan. Ew ew ew ew ew.
Then he just hung there, as if he was a doll whose batteries ran out. Bella gulped down, "baby? Are you done...?"
"Think..." He opened his mouth and another thin dribble of puke fell into the mess, "I think so..."
"Okay," Bella squared her shoulders and kept her gaze firmly above Luke's head, so the disgust wouldn't show on her face, "stay put, I'm gonna- I'm gonna get you out of this mess..."
"Don't feel... My head's woozy..."
"Whoa, whoa, HEY!" Bella nearly dropped the half filled bucket, planting it on the edge of the sink as she rushed to grab him by the shoulders before he could fall off the toilet, "LUCAS!"
"Uhmm..." He squinted at her, blinking quickly, "wha...?"
Bella slapped his cheeks, forcing some sort of consciousness to his eyes. It worked, he frowned, "why are you slappin' me...?"
"Oh santa maria madre de dio," Bella whispered, relief washing over her, "hey... Don't pass out, okay? Just sit back a little-" she pushed him by the shoulder until Luke could rest against the back of the toilet, "take a breath for me, baby."
"Hm'kay..." He blinked at her slowly, like a cat, "don't feel good... Sticky."
"Sticky," Bella giggled, hysterically, "yeah, you could say that, babe..." she stretched in order to keep a hand on his shoulder and run the other one under the faucet, then wipe at his face with it. The cold water seemed to do the trick and he was standing up a little less limply under her hold, "don't move."
"I'm sorry," Luke whined, as Bella crouched down next to his feet and started to pry the ruined boxers from around the ankles, folding them with a gag of her own.
"Eh, sickness and health, right?" She chucked them inside the trashcan and then pressed the flush several times, before starting to peel his ruined shirt off, "still nauseous?"
"Yeah," Luke's chin quivered and he gulped down audibly, "and I don't think... The other stuff is done either."
"Huh," Bella shuddered, "let's hope it is, you're freaking me out."
Luke let out a little amused huff, agreeing, then folded in so he could plant his elbows to his naked thighs and his head on them, "you said... Vin's sick?"
"Yeah," Bella moved around the bathroom, putting the bucket away so she wouldn't accidentally hitting it, but so it was still close enough she could reach for it if needed, turning on the shower, "okay, uhm, lean onto me..."
"Can you go check on Vin?" Luke asked, instead of obeying, staying firmly in place. Bella frowned.
"I will after I get you washed and back into bed, baby."
"You don't need to help me, I can do it," he argued, weakly, and Bella rolled her eyes with a dramatic groan.
"Lucas Atwood, get the fuck up," she grabbed his bicep, pulling him up with all her force, and while normally he would indulge her by doing what she was urging him to do, this time he didn't even pretend she could move him. Bella stomped, "baby, I know you're embarrassed, but I pinky promise I won't look at your unwashed ass. Alright? Pinky promise you."
His face turned pink again and he squinted at her, "pinky promise?"
"God, you're ridiculous," Bella bit down a smile, hooking her finger with his and then pulling them apart, "there. Okay? Now, up, into the shower-"
This time around he let her help him up and true to her words, Bella kept her eyes ahead and up.
"Fucking disgusting," Lucas whined as he braced under the hot water, movements lethargic as he reached for the soap bar, but he had shoved her hand away as she went for it, "don't you dare."
"There's nothing I wouldn't do for you, you idiot," Bella shook her head, moving away because she might as well make herself useful and emptying the bucket into the toilet and washing, "I'm gonna take the ruined clothes to the laundry room, okay? Don't fall."
"Not gonna," Luke mumbled, forehead pressed to the tiled wall as the water ran down his head and back.
Bella rushed out of the room, but before she could even reach the staircase, she heard another sharp retch, now coming from the guest room. Immediately forgetting the gross clothing balled up in her hands, she moved towards it and found Vin nearly toppling out of the bed as he heaved into the bucket she had left him.
"Aw, Vin," Bella sighed, moving further in and crouching down so she could pick it up off the ground and hold it under his chin, pushing him backwards a little so he wasn't about to fall off the bed. The bucket was still empty, but his face was pink and strained, covered in sweat, "you're doing so great, uh?"
"Astonishing-" Vince spat inside of the bucket, "investigative skills."
"The next Sherlock Holmes, really," Bella snorted, lowering the bucket as she figured he wasn't gonna bring anything up and running her fingers — from the clean hand — through his hair. Hell, she might as well have used the puke sticky one, given how sweaty it was.
"How...How's Luke?" Vin groaned and Bella flicked a curl away from his forehead, moving so she could sit on the edge of his bed and rubbing his chest over the fabric, as she could easily tell he was dying of heartburn, given the little acidic mouthfuls of nothing he had brought up earlier.
"Pretty bad shape," Bell cringed, then her eyes widened as she felt his stomach churn right under her palm, "Vin..?"
He whimpered, curling up and squeezing his hands into fists, breathing through his mouth as if he was having contractions, "fuckin' cramps..."
"Oh no, not that too..." Bella whined, "no point fighting it, Vin, you'll just end up hurting yourself."
"I hate-" he cut himself off, gulping down, "Bell, bucket-"
"Here!" She brought it up to his mouth, but all Vin did was dry heave over it. It went on for so long, Bella patted his arm, "babes, I really don't think you got any-"
Then he coughed and a significant amount of puke fell inside of it. Vin panted as if he was having a panic attack, eyes squeezed shut as he rode out another wave of cramps, "cazzo, it's killing me-"
"C'mon," Bella grabbed his sweat drenched shirt, made a mental note to get him a new one, "let's move this back to the bathroom, Vin. You'll thank me later-"
He nodded, then whimpered again, like a dog left outside, and Bella sighed, lowering the bucket so she could grab him with both hands, "heeeelp me, you're so fucking heavy-"
Vin went up with a groan, leaning heavily against her as they walked back to the bathroom. As they crossed the doorway, he pushed away from her in order to use the sink as support and turned around, "end of the line, Bell. Get out."
"Let me just clear the bucket for you first... Luke already had it both at once, you don't want to-" she rambled on, nervously, as she emptied its contents on the toilet and used the bidet to rinse it off, leaving the now clean bucket on top of the sink, "I'll come back to check on you, okay?"
"You don't have to," Vince steered her to the door, hunched over as if he was an elderly man and cradling his stomach, "I can handle it-"
"I wasn't asking you," Bella glared at him, "don't lock the door."
"Bella, get out."
"Don't lock it!" Just as she said that, Vin gave her back a push and she stumbled out of the bathroom, so he could slam the door shut. She sighed, pressing her back to the wall next to it and groaning. What a mess...
What was she supposed to be doing? Before coming to the guest room?
Bella paused, puzzled, and looked around as if she was searching for clues. The ruined little ball of pukey clothes were next to Vin's bed. Oh yeah.
She rushed out of the room to dispose of them, then ran back the stairs two steps at a time and burst back into the master suite, "Luke?! I'm sorry, I got side tracked with Vin- LUCAS!"
"M'kay, m'kay,m'kay," Luke slurred, collapsed onto the shower ground, with the water still running and falling on top of him. Bella skipped closer, nearly falling as she realized water had splashed out of the wet area, and dropped to her knees next to him.
"What the fuck, Luke?! Why didn't you shout or say anything- Oh shit, did you hit your head?!" Bella rambled, cupping his wet face and trying to get a good look at his pupils, "did you!?"
"Stop yelling at me," Luke groaned, shaking his head out of her hold, "just got dizzy- Had to... Sit down..."
The bathroom was stuffy, the hot water running for too long...
"Oh baby, I'm so sorry," Bella groaned, turning off the water and grabbing her husband's arms and throwing them around her neck as she hugged his waist and tried to pull him sitting up. The wet floor helped him to slide up against the wall, but no further than this, "that's it, I'm- I'm calling Jonah."
"What?" Luke's head lolled and he jerked with a hiccup, tilting to the side so he could cough up a splash of bright yellow onto the tiles, splashing some of the flooded water to push it towards the drain, "gross... I just wanna lie down, Bell..."
"I know, baby, but you're so weak already-"
"It's just been a lot," he yawned and she took a small comfort on the fact he at least sounded coherent and weren't slurring his words, "I can't keep water down..."
"Yeah, exactly the reason I'm calling a doctor," Bella moved up, grabbing a towel and throwing it over his head, starting to vigorously dry his hair, "you and Vin are both sick as dogs. I- I don't know what to do..."
"Just," Luke yawned again, then grimaced as another cramp hit him, paling considerably, "there's no reason to worry Jon... Leo was just sick..."
Ugh.
She hated when he made sense.
Bella scrunched up her nose in distaste, considering rejecting Luke's words entirely and calling their friend anyway... But yeah, Jonah had just handled a sick Leo, the guy needed a break too and she could, technically, handle the two men, right? Just as long as none of them passed out on her or fell in the shower...
"Uhm," she grunted, instead of giving in to Luke's reasoning, pressing a kiss to his brow, "let's go back to bed? Think your legs are working now?"
"Maybe," Luke leaned into her touch, "how's Vin?"
"Your boyfriend is fine," Bella rolled her eyes, grinning as she realized that had to be the most asked question that night, "let's get you lying down and then I think I'll bring him to our room, then at least I can keep an eye on both of you..."
"Vin's gonna hate that," Luke mumbled, sleepily, pressing his cheek to her shoulder, "lemme sleep here, baby..."
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