False Alarm
Summary: Talia wakes up one morning to a familiar feeling. One she never thought she would feel again. Word Count: 2025 Warnings: None, maybe a little angst and some fluff
Talia woke up and felt terrible, she could barely breathe. She felt like her head was made of lead, her chest hurt and even though she just woke up she was exhausted. When she opened her eyes she had to force them, they felt gross and… before she could finish the thought she shot out of bed and fell flat on her face. Did she just gain 15 pounds overnight, she barely was able to make it to the bathroom and to look at herself in the mirror. Tears made their way down her face as she saw that her eyes looked normal. She didn’t have the plague again, she wasn’t going to die again, she wasn’t going to leave Muriel again. Now that she had a clearish head she realized that all she had was a cold. Everything added up, her head was congested, she felt like she gained weight because she not only was bloated but that's just how she felt gross and heavy. She needed a bath to help clear her head, but before she did anything she needed to get a message Muriel. If she was feeling like this she wasn’t able to go to his hut today, she didn’t even know if she was going to be able to work in her shop today. She needed to send a message to Muriel so he didn’t get worried, that was the last thing she wanted. She was about to get in the bath when she felt a cold draft. She looked up and saw a familiar face.
“Friend!” Faust said to her, as she dropped down into the sink. As she looked at Faust she felt a smile come across her face. She found her a messager from her Muri. However before she could open her mouth Faust looked at her face and sorta jumped the gun.
“Friend sick!” Faust sounded really worried.
“I’ll be ok Faust. Could you please tell Muriel something for me.” She needed to word this carefully, Faust could deliver a message but… it needed to be worded right or she would have a terrified Muriel and a scared Asra on her doorstep in a matter of minutes. However, before she could even think about what to say, Faust was already heading out the window.
“Friend sick! Friend sick!” was all she heard Faust say.. Well, she better bathe quickly because she most definitely was going to be getting visitors very soon. She only hoped that when she was done she would look better than she still felt.
Once she was done with her not long enough bath she was not feeling that much better but she looked at least sorta human. She was at least grateful for having clean hair, that was the one saving grace of the day. Even if she wasn’t able to work, her hair was clean. She had just finished drying her hair when she heard the door to the shop open and two people running up the stairs, she didn’t even need to see who it was to know it was Asra, and she was willing to guess who they had in tow… A certain former pirate/current drama queen.. Julian
“Talia, Faust told me you are sick, what are you doing out of bed!” She had barely wrapped the towel wrapped around her when Asra had made it to the second floor and got slammed into the wall because apparently Julian didn’t stop in time… He just kept on running up the stairs then ran right into Asra. The small little traffic jam at the top of the stairs did not slow the doctor down at all. Before she could start laughing at the sight of everything he was right in front of her and starting taking her vitals.
“Warm your hands up Julian for the love of Arcanas! Did you dip them in ice before you cam-”
“Your glands are swollen, and you feel warm. You’re running a fever and your look way to pale for my liking. Asra, help me get her into bed.” Her best friend was already taking her arm and placing it over his shoulder and started to slowly walk her back to her room. They were treating her like she was on death’s door and could drop dead any minute; at this point Talia had enough.
“Guys, would you please relax, I’m fine. It’s just a cold, nothing more. I just need some rest, I’ll be fine tomorrow.” she could tell by the looks of both of their faces that they were not really buying what she said.
“Talia, you have a fever, you don’t get a fever with a cold, your glands swollen which means infection, fever also means infection. Asra please send for Nadia and let her know that we will be needing a room. I want Talia at the palace where we can monitor her from there.” Well, Doctor Dramatic was certainly living up to his name.
“Julian, my ”fever” is from the hot bath I just took, and swollen glands are also symptoms of a cold. I am fine, I do not need to go to the palace, I do not need to be monitored and watched over. I most certainly however need you both to let me go so I can get dressed.” Asra looked at Julian and Julian looked at Asra, it was like they were having a conversation about what to do. Well, she couldn’t stand here while they debated on taking her word or taking to the palace. She unwrapped herself from Julian’s and Asra’s hold and went into her bedroom. She had just put on her favorite dress when Julian knocked at the door.
“Talia, may I please come in, we’ve both calmed down and I simply want to double check.” Her heart warmed at that, she truly loved her patchwork family. She opened the door and let Julian in. As Julian entered Asra was right behind him. Talia sat down in the chair that was in the corner of the room and let Julian examine her. As Julian went to work rechecking her vitals Asra propped up against a wall and looked around the room. She had changed it a little since Asra basically lived at the palace because Nadia appointed him court magician, and they worked with their parents who were working on cleaning the flooded district. They still would visit the shop weekly and spend time with her and helped her around the shop. She had changed it up a little bit since they moved out. She reinforced the bed, added even more pillows and quilts, had plants hanging up in the window and all over the room. It was perfect, and as she looked at Asra she could tell that they were truly happy for her.
“Well, umm Talia, please forgive me, but you are right. Sorry about that, you really just have a cold. Forgive me, but Asra came into my office and told me that you were really sick and I didn’t know anything else after that, we both were just worried about yo-” Julian didn’t get a chance to finish her sentence due to the fact that something or someone was slammed open the door and was coming up the stairs. Muriel has made it to the shop.
“Talia! What’s wrong!!.” Asra was already meeting him at the stairs and Talia was getting up.
“She’s ok Muriel, it’s just a false alarm. She just has a cold, she will be ok.” Talia got to her door and saw that Muriel was sweating like he ran the entire way.
“Mi oso, I’m ok. I just have a cold. Julian is here and he just cleared me. It's just a cold.” She walked up to him and placed her hand in his chest. This little action always made him give her his full attention, no matter how he was feeling, whenever she placed her hand on his chest he was completely focused on her.
“Are you sure that you are ok? Inanna was told that you were sick and I.. I just was..” he couldn’t get the rest of the words out. But she knew, he didn’t need to finish the sentence because she knew.
“I’m sorry, Faust had really good intentions but I think.. given everyone history, we just assumed the worst. Julian, I think we are no longer needed.” Julian had made his way out into the hallway and nodded toward Muriel.
“Talia, I’ll open and watch over the shop until you get better. It will be nice to be back here for a bit.” Bless Asra, no matter what she could always count on them. When Julian and Asra had gone downstairs she was alone with her mountain man and even though he looked damn right climbable right now, she felt like someone unplugged her energy. She leaned into Muriel and felt his hands wrap around her. She laid her head on his chest as he carried her to the bed. She looked up and saw the concern that was across his face.
“You are sure you will be ok?” Muriel was always so gentle with her, always so careful with her.
“Yes Muriel, it’s just a cold. I just need rest, Asra is going to watch the shop so I can take a few days off.” He laid her down on her bed and gently sat down next to her. “Where is Inanna? Is she still at the hut or patrolling the forest? I didn't hear her come inside.” She looked at the doorway and didn’t see her favorite wolf.
“She is still in the forest… are you sure you are going to be ok?”
“All I need is some rest mi osa, just a little rest.” She smiled up at him and her heart filled with love… and she could no longer breath through her nose. She got reminded that she indeed has a cold and felt terrible. She groaned and started to cough her lung out, she realized that it was hard to cough and breathe at the same time. Ugh, she needed to get better, she felt a cool rag across her forehead and a warm hand stroking her back. Once the coughing fit was done she looked up and noticed that Muriel’s hand was on her back and he looked very worried.
“Can I please take care of you?” The question had her taken back, he usually wasn’t very forthcoming. Damn, her bear was finally coming into his own.
“Please.” she sighed and moved over to the far side of the bed. She felt like crap and being held by her mountain man would be better than any medicine. When she met his gaze she had to stifle a laugh, he still was getting the hang on nonverbal cues. She patted the empty space next to her and it got her one of his signature huffs. He stood up and went to take off his cloak on to realize that he didn’t have it, which was strange due to the fact that he always wore it.
“Must have forgotten it.” He mumbled when he caught her looking.
“How did you forget it? It's the first thing you grab when you leave your hut.” she prompted.
“Iwasworriedaboutyou!” Came out in a rush, she almost didn’t catch it. She felt her cheeks warmed and smiled at that.
“I’m sorry, I tried to tell Faust that it wasn’t anything serious.”
“It’s fine.” He mumbled.
Once he took off his boots he grabbed a few extra blankets and covered her up. Once he was satisfied he climbed in and placed his arms behind his head. She took the cue and curled up next to him, laying her head on his chest and wrapping her arm around her. He kissed her forehead then placed his hand on her lower back and started to rub it.