Chapter Text
It started with a minor itch in the back of his throat and a low pressure in his skull. Then, he noticed Markus squinting more often and subtly wincing whenever he swallowed anything. He even cleared his throat more and more frequently as the day went on. He knew what this led to and immediately snuck to the bathroom in search of some Advil upon catching the symptoms. He’d have to tell Lieutenant Anderson to put the medicine in a more accessible place, and maybe give him the keys- picking the lock of the mirror cabinet was an easy fit but more of a hassle than he was really willing to deal with. He offered some of the Advil to Markus, who’d been with his nose in his math book for the last three hours already, and didn’t insist when his older foster brother refused. Maybe he’d have some later.
He never did.
The next morning, Connor was relieved he took at least something. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know what he’d feel like now if he hadn’t, considering he already felt like he’d lost a training session against Amanda right about now.
He launched the blanket off his bed with a miserable groan. Too hot. He turned to the clock by his bedside: 6:34 AM. He slept in. He sighed and heaved himself out of bed- too fast! He fell back on his mattress and clung to his head with both hands while the floor took its time before it finally slowed down and stopped swaying as much. When it was safe to do so, he lifted himself out of bed once again, this time making sure to hold himself on his side table for support. Before going down, he peeked at his foster sibling. Markus was fast asleep in his bed… Snoring, which in and on itself was unusual. Connor picked up the math book that had fallen on his face the night before and that he hadn’t bothered picking back up himself- His face was red, puffy and sweaty under there.
Connor grunted at the sorry sight. Markus had been stressing about a Math test for the entire week now. He’d laughed them off when Connor and Cole offered to help him, but it hadn’t felt genuine. He’d spent his days and nights working and never stopping even once, not even to see North… Not even so he could paint.Thinking back: no wonder he ended up sick too… Seeing what his face looked like: He’d probably gotten even sicker than Connor. With that observation made, Connor went out in search of the thermometer in the bathroom. He used it on himself, and it indicated in bright blue 100.6°. Not good. He went back up and slowly pushed the small machine in Markus’ ear since he clearly would not be taking care of himself. 101.9. Oh. Really not good.
“Con? What are you doing? And why are you still here?” Markus’ voice was rough as he yawned.
“We’re sick.” Markus lifted himself on his elbows, studying the younger kid, placing a hand on his forehead:
“You do feel hotter than normal. And you sound like you swallowed nails. I’ll tell Karine to call your school, you should stay here today.” Connor frowned at the older boy:
“I checked, and your fever is worse than mine. And you also look and sound worse.” Markus smiled down at him:
“I’m older than you, I’ll be fine. I can’t miss class. You go back to bed.”... Now Connor had spent enough time monitoring his colleagues in the past to know that Markus being fine because of his age was just a bold-faced lie. He also was well aware that directly calling him out on it wouldn't necessarily work. Instead, he asked:
“Why do you need to go?”
“I’ve math class. Everything we will learn today will be on the test tomorrow along with everything else since the beginning of the semester. Our teacher’s evil.”
“Evil?”
“I think he may be the devil in person.” He suspected Markus was merely joking, but still replied:
“I’m not sure the devil would work a low-paying job in a middle school just to give complicated math tests.”
“Heh, you dunno. Can’t be any more boring than being stuck in hell doing absolutely nothing, right?”
“I suppose not… But still, you can just ask your friends to bring you your homework after classes, yes? That’s what you did for North last time she was sick, isn't it?”
“I learn better when I see the teacher do things. Just reading won’t cut it. Plus, North is just a bad writer.”
“But she’s not your only friend, right?... And your friends could reenact the lesson if that could help.” Markus tried to laugh but only made himself cough instead:
“I have great friends, but I don’t think they’d do that.”
“Then make them. You can’t go out with such a fever! It could be dangerous for your health. And you won’t learn anything efficiently if you’re too ill to focus… And even if you do, it’ll be all for nothing if you’re too ill to go tomorrow.”
“I won’t be, stop worrying about me, Con. I’ll be okay.” Markus usually was fairly reasonable: why was he being so obstinate?
“You know… Amanda says that your body’s your best weapon. Like all weapons, if you take care of it, it’ll take care of you... Unlike others, however: if you don’t care for it as you should: it can and will kill you for it. That’s why you should take care of it as best you can any time you get the chance to do it. Your fever is nearly 102° already, and you could make it worse by going out. Surely a mere standardized test is not worth the trouble!”
“Well… For once, Amanda’s right.” Connor defiantly sniffed.
“She always is.”
“But I’m still going. I promise I’ll call dad or even Karine if anything’s off, okay? So, stop mother-henning me and go back to sleep, you look like you’re about to fall over.” Right. Mrs Kyle was here. And he was getting nowhere like this. Plus, his head was seriously starting to hurt from all the talking. Instead of arguing further, he walked right around his older sibling and went to the trapdoor, down to the living room where Mrs Kyle and the others were having breakfast. Mrs Kyle immediately got up and sped towards him- she appeared displeased:
“Connor? What are you doing in PJs still? Your bus is coming soon!”
“ Connor .” He ignored the strained voice above him:
“Markus and I are ill, Mrs Kyle. We both have a relatively high fever and I was wondering if you would allow us to stay here for the day?” He explained.
“God damn it, Connor!”
“You… You do look pretty bad. Markus?”
“I’m okay!” His voice cracked.
“Let me be the judge of that, will you? Come down here.” Markus grumbled on his way down, pouting. Connor got to witness one of the rare times Cole was both wide awake on a school morning and frowning, already waiting by Karine for the boy to reach them. As soon as Markus step foot in the living room, Karine had her hands on him. Connor felt obliged to specify:
“His fever is almost 102°.”
“Connor!”
“Yeesh. I can believe that. I’m calling your school. Cole?”
“M’ callin’ dad.” Cole cut in, already going to fetch a phone.
“Thanks.”
“Guys!”
“Markus! Don’t you start! You’re not going, that’s final.”
“Come on! Are you serious?”
“Don’t you scream like that! Especially not now, you’ll make your throat worse. Now go to your room!” Markus recoiled as if he'd been slapped- Connor understood why, of course. Mrs. Kyle didn't usually yell at him. Usually she understood where he was coming from and was understanding towards him. Not this time however.
For the first time since Connor was first introduced to this family, Markus glared at him before dashing back up towards their shared room. Connor... Wasn't sure how to take this. Why was Markus so upset? Before he could ask, Cole had a hand on his shoulder while the other was holding his phone- probably to call the Lieutenant. Connor wasn't sure why Cole was doing this either, but he was learning not to ask why the people here seemed to bother the Lieutenant at the first unexpected thing.
"Don't worry Connor, he'll calm down. Just go back to bed and don't worry about anything, you'll be okay."
"I'm aware. Thank you, Cole." He just hoped Markus would cease being so unreasonable.