Smeary Morning

Vee makes Vee-self very small and peeks into /gold's mindspace.
/Gold sleeps without dreaming. He'll wake soon.
Vee hums, darts off to check the weather forecast and /gold's work email and schedule.
/Gold glimmers awake; his light immediately smears.
He /hurts this morning and surfaces with a hiss.
Vee coos and pushes /warm-soft against his fraying edges, glows brighter as he brushes back thanks.
–Weather?– he prompts, hauling himself to the edge of the mattress.
–/sunny-sky-two-jumpers-warm,– Vee chirps, –/light-coat-wind–
He reaches for the crutches next to the bed for these mornings, –hug-gratitude,– levers himself up, and swings slowly to the washroom he shares with /black-green-blue.
(/Black-green-blue's already left for the day. Vee checks his webcam to make sure he's alright; he is.)
/Gold splashes water on his face and sighs.
Vee knits some loose thought-threads together, wraps them in /love-comfort.
/Gold picks up the first pill bottle and his hand shakes. He frowns at it.
–Vee?-
Vee sparkles.
–Anythin' on m' schedule t'day?–
–I can ask /long-hair-love-hope to watch your lab section?–
He takes a deep breath and stares at his reflection in the mirror over the sink. 
More of his gold light stretches, tears.
He grits his teeth, tips four capsules into his hand. –Wouldja do that, please?– Shudders, swallows them dry. –I won't ... 's a bad day.–
–Done!–
–Thanks.– He downs the rest of his pills, forces himself to straighten—
Vee pulls as much of the /pain-dark to Vee-self as Vee can, even though /gold has /told Vee not to.
—and scuffs back to his bed. Perches on the edge, sighs. —Stop it.—
Vee turns magenta. —Y' shouldn't hurt like this,— Vee huffs.
/Gold tucks himself between the sheets. —An' /you shouldn't hurt yerself tryin' t' help me.—
Vee puffs up. —I /can help. I /wanna help.—
—I know, Shōsa, but I wish ye wouldn't. I kin do this on m' own.—
—But——
—Go help Chuck git ready fer class. Lemme sleep.—
Vee flashes silver, grabs as much /pain-dark as Vee can, and winks out in a shower of sparkles.
/Gold snorts, settles deeper into his pillow, and waits for the medication to kick in.
Category:Ficlet
Category:Vee
Category:Vee (ficlet)
Category:Jackson has nerve damage
Category:Chuck D (mention)
Category:Chuck D is a Driftern
Category:Jackson is a Driftern
Category:Monkey House (setting)
Category:Ficlets in need of language stuff