Superhero's Don't Get Sick
I’ve been really sick this week and thought I’d take my illness out on Luke, sorry Luke I love you, I swear I do!
This will be a short story in which Luke comes down with a cold causing his sizeshifting abilities to go haywire! Matt calls in reinforcements and we meet a grown-up Ivy! Enjoy!
Approx 3k words
“Yes I’m sure, I’ve never seen him like this before, what do I do?”
“ACHOOOOOO!!!”
Matt’s phone call was rudely interrupted by another strong gust of wet air that resulted in the dining room table being thrown across the room, luckily Matt was swift and had ducked out of the way. He stood once again with eyebrows raised in amazement, that eruption had caused his sick friend to shoot up a few more feet, his head bumping into their ceiling and showering them both in plaster and dust.
Luke’s nose twitched again agitated by the dust he had caused, Matt snapped out of his stupor quickly though and sprinted toward his friend.
“NOPE! Pinch your nose and lay down! Miss Waren would kill us if your gigantic head popped through her floor!”
There was a giggle through the phone as Ivy listened through the speaker at the absurdity of the scenario she was listening in on.
Meanwhile Matt had scaled his mini-giant of a friend and was pushing his head down, instructing him roughly to lay on the floor lest he cause more damage.
“ACHOOOOO!!!”
Another eruption and this time Matt was in the blast zone. “Fuck man!” Matt grimaced and wiped his wet hands on Luke’s shirt. “Ivy get your ass over here now!” Matt shouted into the phone before hanging up and throwing it across the room lest it get even more wet than it already was.
Luke’s chest shuddered under him, and Matt held onto the seems of Luke’s shirt for dear life. “Don’t you dare sneeze again.” He groaned.
“Actually, I think I’m good now, thanks.” Luke’s croaky voice reverberated; Matt rolled his eyes. “Thank the lord, now stay put, I need a fucking towel or something.”
Luke did as he was told, holding still while his friend manoeuvred around him in search of something to clean himself up with. He felt positively awful, his throat was scratchy, and it hurt each time he swallowed, not only that but the sneezing fits were getting worse as he’d just witnessed. Thankfully he hadn’t outgrown the apartment, but he was close to it, closing his eyes he took some careful breathes in through his mouth and tried to concentrate on shrinking.
His whole body shuddered and itched all over and soon he was overtaken by intense light-headedness, the world began to spin as it grew around him.
His head pulsed and a short while later there was a loud banging on the door, each thump sending shockwaves of pain through his skull and he clutched his head wishing the loud sounds would disappear. He had no such luck though as thundering footsteps resounded nearby and the creak of the immense door opened.
“THANK GOD YOU’RE HERE” Matt’s annoyingly booming voice assaulted Luke and he curled in on himself as he lay there amidst the rubble he had created.
“Shut Up!” Luke shouted as loud as his weak body would allow.
Matt meanwhile, heard no such command, he’d made note that his friend was no longer a giant as he’d passed through the living room to the front door, for that he was grateful. They’d need to get him out of here while they could until he was in a healthier state and better able to control his ability.
“Nice to see you too Matt, you’ve got a little something-“ Ivy’s slender fingers twinkled around a particularly soggy clump of hair. He batted her hand away “You try taking a giant size sneeze to the face and see how you look afterwards.” He growled in response.
She giggled and stepped past him and into the apartment, flicking her long wavy brown hair over her shoulder as she went.
“You’re lucky I was working in town actually.” She said stepping into the living room, eyes immediately scanning the area for any sign of her ill brother.
She paused, soft brown eyes landing on a small figure curled tightly into himself on the floor and miniscule hands over his ears. Her face fell and she kneeled gently beside him, hands reaching to scoop him up, a natural reflex to hold her brother protectively when he was so small.
“You have to help me, I don’t know what to-“ Matt started but Ivy quickly shushed him, holding up her small brother in her hands. “Quiet.” She whispered.
Her attention focused back on Luke as she looked him over, he was paler than normal and shaking like a leaf, though she knew he wasn’t fearful of her, she surmised he must have a fever. She placed a finger gently to his forehead and brushed the brown curls away from his sweaty forehead, he was definitely hotter than he should have been.
She held him gently to her chest encasing him in her fingers before she spoke to Matt again.
“Okay, pack whatever medicines you have, all the blankets in the house, water and food if you have it, otherwise I’ll stop by the grocer on the way.” She instructed quietly.
“Where are we going?” Matt asked as he started filling garbage bags of any throw blankets and doona’s he could find.
“Whatever large forest is nearby, he will keep fluctuating like this until he’s better, so we need to get him somewhere safe and away from prying eyes.”
“Achooo”
Ivy looked down her eyebrows furrowing in concern, and she shushed Luke gently like one might do for an unwell child.
“Your okay Luke, we’ll get you back to normal soon, I promise.” Within five minutes both Ivy’s and Matt’s cars were packed with anything they deemed might be useful and Luke had grown to a semi average height, but his body was wobbly on his feet, and he felt weak.
They headed to South Mountain Reservation, only a forty-minute drive away that was hopefully not going to be too crowded in the middle of the week, Luke slept in Ivy’s back seat while they drove, in that time he’d only had one other fluctuation but by her estimates had only grown to about 12 feet and he’d scrunched himself further into a ball. She took a deep breath pushing down on the accelerator, almost there.
Once they arrived and parked their cars, Ivy’s main goal was to get Luke into the woods off the beaten track.
“Can you walk?” She asked up to her big brother who currently stood more than twice her height, he gave a slow nod and stepped forward, lucky no one else seemed to be around, they just needed to keep walking.
A short way in Ivy deemed they had walked as far as they would go today, she prayed no rangers would wonder by and follow her brother’s tracks. She turned to see Matt trailing behind them with a few of the garbage bags and then the ground shook with a resounding thud like a tree had fallen.
Ivy turned to see what had happened only to be knocked square in the chest and sent flying a few short feet away, the air knocked out of her and shaking the dizziness from her eyes she saw Luke had now fully grown and lay limp on the forest floor his immense hand resting innocently beside her.
“Fuck, Ivy are you okay?” Matt came rushing over, he’d just barely dodged a car sized shoe as it barrelled toward him, but Ivy hadn’t been so lucky.
Ivy shakily pushed herself to a stand, brushing the leaves out of her hair and pressing her fingers to her ribs searching for any extensive injuries, it had hurt like hell, but nothing was broken, she’d get a few bruises but she’d live.
“I’m fine, not my first rodeo with a delirious giant.” She smiled and waved him off.
“I’ve never seen him sick before, I was beginning to think he couldn’t get sick, well until now.” Matt said staring in astonishment at his large friend, currently unconscious with his face in the dirt.
“This will be the third time that I know of, he doesn’t get sick often but when he does…well you can see.” Her expression softened again, he was going to feel like shit when he woke up, she’d be careful not to mention the close call she and Matt had just experienced.
Working as a team Matt and Ivy managed to get all their supplies to their secluded little area and took turns in patting Luke’s warm temple with cold wet blankets they’d dunked in the river. A short while later Luke began to stir, his vision blurry and his head throbbing, he wracked a wet cough that disturbed the nearby wildlife, but Ivy and Matt kept a safe distance this time.
“Luke?” Ivy called gently, stepping closer to her brothers face in concern.
Luke’s eyes blinked slowly clearing his vision until it settled upon his little sister, she looked so small, there was no fear in her eyes, only concern for him and his heart beat quickened reminding him how lucky he was to have her in his life. Then he noted a purplish bruise along her collar bone and his eyes widened in worry, ready to push himself back and away from her.
Ivy quickly pulled her cardigan around her shoulders tighter to cover the bruise and held a hand up to him stepping closer confidently.
“It’s okay Luke, I’m not hurt, only a few bruises, I’m okay.” She reassured him gently, he brought a hand up to his mouth and coughed as gently as he could to clear his throat.
“D-did I do t-that?” He croakily asked, a finger stretching out toward her and brushing the cardigan off her shoulder.
“I swear I’m fine Luke.” She insisted but Luke wasn’t so easily convinced, a tear fell down his cheek and splashed onto the damp forest floor.
“I’m sorry.” He whispered.
Ivy only sighed, her heart breaking for him, she stepped closer still and pressed her body against his damp cheek, spreading her arms out across his face in a hug. A gesture she’d done so many times throughout her life and came naturally living with a brother who tended to change sizes rather frequently.
He brought his larger hand up behind her and carefully held her to his face, reciprocating the hug all the while repeating ‘sorry’ over and over. The moment between the two siblings was broken however as another body joined the group hug, Matt had flung himself beside Ivy, wriggling himself between the massive fingers and being mindful of the Giant’s nose, his arms spread around Ivy and over his friends cheek.
Luke’s hand pulled away and Ivy and Luke both gave Matt an odd look to which Matt was immediately offended, throwing his arms up in the air and stepping away with a hurt look on his face.
“What! I need hugs too you know!” Matt said in exasperation.
“Aww were you feeling left out?” Ivy teased, hand on her hip as she leant against her brother’s face.
With a mischievous smirk on his lips, Luke quickly scooped Matt up in one hand and brought him to his chest, turning to lay on his back he pressed Matt against his shirt in a tight but not too tight squeeze.
“You should have just said so.” Luke laughed, while Matt squirmed in his grasp.
“Alright, alright! Hug time’s over now!” Matt banged his fists on the warm surface underneath him until the Giant relented and removed his hand.
Amidst the laughter that kept Matt from gaining footing on his friend’s chest, he noticed a change in the rhythm of the quakes, almost like he was going to…
“Ahhhh, ahhhh.” Luke pinched his nose and Matt practically dived off of his chest, rolling onto the ground.
“Choooooo!” Luke leaned to the side sneezing in the opposite direction of Matt and Ivy and successfully stripping a nearby tree completely of its leaves.
Ivy walked around him carefully and held up a large blue bedsheet as though it were a hanky, he took it gratefully and proceeded to loudly blow his nose while the smaller people around him covered their ears.
“I’m sorry guys, this all sucks.” Luke groaned, he pushed himself up and sat crossed legged looking down miserably at the two people who cared about him the most.
“Hey at least you didn’t sneeze on me this time.” Matt smiled, trying to cheer his friend up.
Luke cringed, he had been so out of it at the apartment and had almost forgotten that embarrassing experience, at least Matt seemed okay.
“Sorry.” Luke muttered yet again.
Matt rolled his eyes. “Quit saying your sorry, none of this is your fault, your just sick.”
“I don’t get sick.” Luke said firmly to which Ivy just raised her eyebrows.
“Oh, so the cough of 2010 was just you teaching the horse how to fly was it?” Ivy quipped.
“Okay fine, I don’t get sick often, not like you guys do.” Luke mumbled, and it was true, he would bet any money that his strong immune system was all because of his unique ability, however that didn’t mean he never got sick. And when he did, it was bad.
“Even superhero’s get sick dude, remember that episode of Smallville! This is just like that!” Matt said excitedly comparing the two vastly different scenarios.
“Once again, I’m not a superhero and I’m certainly not Clark Kent.” Luke pinched the bridge on his nose and sighed, his stomach gave a groan and he realised he hadn’t eaten all day. “Did you bring any food? I’m starving.”
Ivy nodded. “We did…do you think your able to shift? I’d like to give you some medicine as well but I’d prefer to give it to you when you’re a bit smaller and not likely to overdose if I give you too much.”
Luke concentrated, unlike last time where he was borderline conscious, he was able to focus his body to shrink to his average human height without getting dizzy.
“Alright let’s get some food and meds into you now then before you fluctuate again.” Ivy said grasping his arm and leading him over to the small fire they had made, she wrapped him up in a warm blanket, handing him a bowl of vegetable soup and a handful of pills.
Once he’d finished his bowl to satisfaction, Ivy took it from him and laid a hand over his forehead, sighing with relief. “Your fevers broken, thank god.” She said.
Now that the worst seemed to be over, the three of them sat in contented silence, watching the fire and chewing on jerky.
“So… I’ve been thinking about names…” Matt said into the open air, Ivy turned to peer at him curiously. “Names?”
“No.” Was all Luke said, knowing full well his best friend was about to try and give him a superhero name….again!
“Just hear me out!” Matt insisted.
“What names? What the hell are you two talking about?” Ivy snapped, currently agitated that she was somehow not included in this inside joke of theirs.
“Luke’s superhero name.” Matt said wiggling his eyebrows to which Luke just held his face in his hands in embarrassment.
“Ooooooh I like this game!” Ivy said giddy in her seat and rubbing her hands together. “How about Ant Man!”
Matt looked at her like she was crazy. “Ivy, that name is already taken, you have to be original, I was thinking ‘Shifter’.”
“Giganta!?”
“Expando!”
“Proportio!”
“Oh my god! Stop! Both of you!” Luke groaned. “It just sounds like your saying spells from Harry Potter now.”
Ivy and Matt laughed together at Luke’s expense, he was too sick and too tired to argue with them further on the subject. They continued to list stupid names and when Luke had had enough, he announced that he was going to bed. He stood and carefully pulled his sleeping bag a good distance from the fire, just in case he grew in the night when the pills wore off.
As much as they were bugging him, he wouldn’t risk turning them both into pancakes in his sleep.
Ivy and Matt sat up talking and catching up for a little while longer and Luke was just about to drift off to sleep when soft footsteps crunched through the leaves on the ground as they approached him. Without a word, Ivy took off her shoes lifting the corner of the sleeping bag and wriggled in beside him just as they had done as kids.
Luke always had a twin sized sleeping bag, he was always afraid of growing in the night, and figured better to have a larger one he can get out of quickly if he did start to grow. Ivy was also not very big, her slim frame left heaps of room between them so they were both comfortable.
“What are you doing?” Luke asked her, as she turned in the sleeping bag to face him, she buried her face in his chest and he wrapped her arms around her. He hadn’t known till now just how much he missed his little sister and how grateful he was that she was here right now.
“I was worried something might happen in the night.” She said matter-of-factly.
“Yeah, I could grow and hurt you…again.” He said quietly.
“Or you could shrink and become an owls next meal, I’m a light sleeper, I’ll wake either way if anything happens.” She insisted.
He gave her a kiss on the forehead, brushing away her curls, the same shade of brown as his own and breathed a contented sigh.
“Thank you, Ivy.” He whispered.
“Any time bro, also just for the record, I always believed you’d be a superhero.”
“Not you too.” Luke sighed impatiently. “Just, go to sleep.”
There was silence once more and Luke really did think that Ivy had gone off to sleep, so he let his own breathes even out before unconsciousness took a hold of him. However, Ivy was not yet asleep and instead holding back laughter as she said the final words of the night.
“Goodnight… Expando.”