another small megamer writing snippet, again, to try and shake off the writing dust. This one is very sweet, you've been warned
Roll pushed open the door to the Medical Room, then leaned back to grab the handle of her little doctor kit with her teeth before wiggling inside.
Rock was out at sea, trying to calm their rampaging brothers, and Dad was out there with him, leaving Roll all alone in the lab.
No, one of her brothers was in the Medical Room, in the very very large tank pressed up against the back wall.
She remembered Dad and a few of his drones carrying him in. Dad was frantic, seeing his son injured and unresponsive. Saying that the colors were dull and how his scales were starting to flake away.
(Roll was just surprised at how large her brother was….she knew Rock and herself weren't very big, but seeing him from the safety of her small tank, and how he barely fit through the door …was she going to grow up to be that big one day?)
Dad couldn't stay long. He wanted to, but the others needed him and Rock, so he gave Roll a kiss on the forehead and ran out the door.
She didn't have Rock’s copy ability. Nor did she have his bravery. But Roll wasn't about to sit around and do nothing.
So she dragged in her little doctor kit into the Medical Room, staring at the large tank and the grey lump inside. Said lump was connected to a plethora of wires and tubes, a faint heart monitor beeping somewhere in the room.
Roll did not share her twin’s dislike of the Medical Room. In all honesty, she found it rather fascinating. All of these devices had a purpose, the purpose of making others feel better. Maybe she could learn how they worked, and she could make others better too!
Roll pressed her cheek against the glass, looking at the flowing orange fins and the red scales running down his body. She thought back to pictures Dad had shown her of her older brothers. If memory served…
“You’re…DLN-006? No, 007? Fire?”
The lump stirred, emitting a low, mournful whine.
“Oh, sorry!” she whispered. “One second-”
Roll briefly left the tank, grabbing some boxes and whatever was laying around the room to build a rough staircase. Once completed, she grabbed her little kit and clambered up, splashing inside the tank with little grace.
Immediately she could practically taste all the medicine that had been mixed into the water. Fire must be very sick, more than she anticipated. Could she even help?
Swimming down, she took a moment just to look. Roll was meeting one of her big brothers for the first time…ever! She and Rock had been so excited to meet them, she just didn’t expect it to be like…this.
With an excited trill, she nuzzled against his arm. (He was so warm!)
Fire blearily cracked open an eye, gazing in her general direction.
Roll beamed at this. “Hi! Hi hi!! I'm Roll! I'm your little sister! It's so nice to finally meet you!”
All she got in reply was an ear twitch. His gaze seemed distant, and overall he just looked so…so tired.
“I’ll make you feel better. I promise.” She said, voice full of determination as she nuzzled his arm once more.
While hesitant to leave his side, Roll swam around to see if he had any lingering injuries. And he did, but they were already bandaged and covered with gauze. So much for using her little doctor kit here.
She tried to think of what Dad did whenever she or Rock got sick. Unfortunately, she wasn’t allowed to use the stove, so making her brother some soup wasn’t an option.
(Even though she totally could. She could totally make soup if Dad would let her. And she'd be so good at it.)
Roll thought harder, thinking of what else they did when someone fell ill. Soup, rest, making them comfy…
Wait. She knew what to do!
She swam back, a soft purr in her throat as she wiggled a bit closer to him, settling on his back. Once settled, she nuzzled her cheek against his back, starting to gently knead on him.
She was trying not to be rough, and trying not to use her claws.
Roll couldn't make him soup, or bring him toys, or bandage him up more than he already was. But she could try to make him comfy, try and show he was safe and loved and cared for. That she was right here, and that he wasn't alone.
After a minute of her purring as much as she could, she felt Fire stir underneath her paws. He met her purring with a deep rumbling from his chest, the tension and stress slowly leaving him.
It was working! It was working!! Roll could feel him relaxing, and sure he still seemed tired, but at least he was finally settling down-
Something tugged at her tail. Then tugged harder. Then she was dragged off his back and onto the tank floor.
Fire had grabbed her by the tail, and was now staring at her with a half-exhausted, half-apologetic expression. With a half-hearted chuff, he brought her close again, almost tucking her under his chin.
Then, he sighed, satisfied.
Roll had no idea how to react to any of this. She knew (hoped anyway) that Fire wouldn’t hurt her. But now here she was, curled up under him. Was this normal? Was this because he felt sick?
Fire started to rumble-purr again, and she could practically feel it in her bones with her so close to his throat and chest now.
Was he…trying to comfort her now?
…Because it was kinda working?
Something deep down reassured her that this was nice. This was good, even. Fire was warm and would keep her safe, his rumbling purr lulling her into a relaxed doze.
And as she wiggled closer, nuzzling against his chin and closing her eyes, she purred with him.
