Post by dacapo on May 25, 2008 4:03:33 GMT -5
This is partly based off of some of my RPs with friends, where Nephrite is sick with a fever. Also, Naru is expecting... and will be showing soon! Anyway, it's yet another slice-of-life ficcie! Enjoy!
-----
Nephrite lay in his bed, soaked in sweat. The air around him felt ice-cold, though he knew it was only because of his high fever. He gritted his teeth and shut his eyes tightly, and his hands weakly gripped the sheets. Such was routine for Nephrite; every so often he would develop a kidney infection, no matter how well Naru tended to him. Even changing their sexual lifestyle to prevent the spread of bacteria did no good.
The auburn-tressed king of summer watched as kaleidoscopes of patterns flashed before his clenched-shut eyes, and he occasionally mumbled some nonsense which only he could understand, and only in his half-dreaming state. For days, Nephrite had been sick, and while it was common, it wasn't much easier for either of them. The only thing that made them bearable was Naru, who was now pregnant with his child.
As Nephrite lay in his fevered restless state, he felt a cool cloth gently touching his forehead and moving side to side. That familiar, soft touch sent waves of sweet calm through his body, and put a weak smile on his face. He opened his eyes a crack, and tried to focus.
"N-naru..." he whispered, exhausted from his ordeal.
"Shhh, sweetheart..." Naru hushed him, kissing his eyes with the softness of a sakura petal's touch, "You need rest..."
Nephrite smiled a little more, and opened his eyes again, trying unsuccessfully to make that fuzzy shape he knew was Naru look sharper.
"Naru..." he whispered, "You shouldn't be..."
A wave of dizziness hit the king, and sent him back into that half-dreaming state. When he woke up again, Nephrite felt someone holding and kissing his hand.
"Nephrite... are you feeling better?" Naru asked, kissing his fingers again.
Suddenly, Nephrite felt his adjustable bed being lifted so he was in a sitting position. A gentle hand tilted his head forward, and he felt a glass being carefully placed to his lips. Instinctively, Nephrite took a few sips of cool water, while a damp cloth on his head eased the terrible fever.
When the cup was set back down on his nightstand, the king of summer felt Naru's arms tenderly embracing him, as she eased him out from under the covers. More kisses followed, then Nephrite felt his love removing his soaked clothing. It smelled a little, because he had sweat torrents. As his clothes came off, a blast of the cold air hit him, making the king cry out.
"Oh Nephrite..." Naru whispered, caressing the redheaded king's pale cheek.
Nephrite looked up at her, focusing a little better, and kissed his angel on the cheek.
"Our baby..." he panted, "You shouldn't be putting her..."
He was interrupted by a finger to his lips, and then a kiss. This time, Nephrite just looked at her sheepishly, almost laughing. Naru kissed him again and again, all over his face and down his neck and shoulders, eliciting a short chuckle from him. Soon, his cheeks turned the slightest bit rose, a sign that Naru knew meant he was getting a little turned on.
She gleefully kissed him some more, but was soon met with some hesitation from the redheaded man.
"Don't worry," she giggled, "I'll be fine... as long as we don't have sex the 'traditional way' for awhile there's nothing to worry about..."
Naru gazed into Nephrite's tired, pale face, then continued, "... and you don't need to pay me back either, silly!"
Nephrite just laughed a little, and replied, "I know... I just want to be able to do what I can... to keep you safe, my angel..."
Naru kissed her auburn-locked lover, and carried him to a room with a fresh bed. She laid his body down onto the clean sheets, then poured some warm water into a bowl, and mixed in some soap, before filling another bowl with warm water and taking a couple clean washcloths from the drawer.
Being washed was always so relaxing for Nephrite, especially when Naru massaged his neck, shoulders, and arms. After the sponge-bath, Nephrite watched as his angel took the bowls back to the bathroom, and filled them with fresh water. She took them back in with some shampoo, and gently washed his hair, rubbing vigorously and waking him up some more, making the king feel so alive. Finally, she rinsed his hair off, slowly, frequently changing the water in those large bowls, and wrapped her lover in a large, soft towel.
Nephrite's eyes were now able to focus, and he felt much better. These episodes often became quite unpleasant, but he knew they would be over. Naru's care assured that. The doctors recommended surgery to prevent infections, but the two were still looking for alternatives. He watched as Naru did all the routine procedures, then cleaned her hands and gave him some more water.
"Drink lots of this," she giggled, kissing him over and over, "I want our baby's daddy to be healthy when she's born"
The king nodded, and obediently drank down the fresh water. He would need to drink more of that, and less of those other drinks, to flush out his kidneys and prevent these frequent infections. So many of his favourites were guilty pleasures... but water tasted so good when he had a raging fever.
After he was through with that cup, Naru helped him into a pair of adult underwear, and taped the depends closed around his thin waist. She stroked his chest, nuzzling and kissing it, then looked up into Nephrite's tired-yet-joyful eyes, and kissed him on the lips. She pulled the covers of the bed up, and helped Nephrite under them, before getting in and snuggling close to the father of her baby.
Nephrite held her as tight as he could, kissing her on the lips and the forehead.
"Will I be a good father?" he asked, feeling more than a little nervous.
Naru shifted, and stroked Nephrite's still-wet curly hair.
"I know you will be..." Naru reassured him, smiling, "She will have the best father in the world!"
Nephrite chuckled, and kissed Naru on the lips again, before settling down to a restful sleep, his fever going down.
The next morning, Nephrite woke to Naru gasping "Ooh!" in surprise.
"What's wrong, Naru?" he asked, looking over at his angel, who was grasping her stomach.
Naru smiled, and sat Nephrite up, holding his cheek to her belly. He couldn't feel anything much, but he heard a tiny heartbeat, and shed tears of joy. This was their child... their creation... a tiny, precious life.
"I wonder if she takes after her father" Naru joked, to which Nephrite laughed out loud.