Melodramatic Metathesiophobe

Still You

Then he collapsed.

He sagged to his side, relatively motionless, and Mikey immediately moved over, pressing a hand to his chest--was it still his chest?--feeling for a heartbeat. He was insanely thankful to feel it was there. He was breathing and his heart was beating. That was a relief.

"Ray...?" he whispered, would he even remember that name? Could he still understand english? "Ray... can you hear me...? Are you okay...??"

Ray shuffled, making a soft sound. His eyes slowly opened. Mikey watched as he rolled, a whine leaving his mouth as he attempted to stand, his limbs shaking and his tail forced tight between his legs.

"Shh, shh, no, stay down, okay...? Stay down... don't get up..." Mikey whispered, slowly reaching, touching his paw, "try not to move... try not to....." he was confused. The last time he had moved fine, he'd ran right off, what was different this time? What changed??

"Ray...? Is... is it still you...? Can you hear me...? Nod if you can hear me..." and the feeble nod of Ray's head made Mikey's stomach sink. It was still Ray. It shouldn't have been, not yet, he shouldn't have been able to control it yet- but he could, and he was, and it was still him, and he couldn't imagine the pain he was in-

"Does something hurt...?" he asked calmly, earning another nod, "is it bad...?" and another, "is there anything I can do to help...?" not a nod, but a light shrug.

He had to get Ray to stay by promising he'd be back, going to the kitchen and grabbing a mixing bowl, filling it about halfway with water before returning, kneeling down before him and setting it down. Ray looked famished and thirsty, which was realistic since he hadn't eaten that day other than the bacon, so he hoped it would help. It seemed to. Ray moved forward immediately, starting to lap at the water, closing his eyes. Mikey could see the fur around them dampen with small tears.

He stroked Ray's forehead and down to his back, running his fingers through the tangles of fur, the thickness reminiscent of petting a bear, just doing everything he could to try to help the pain. Ray finished most of the bowl of water before pushing it away with his nose.

"Ray..? can you still hear me...?" he asked, watching his ears twitch toward the sound as he perked up, "do you want to go outside...?" and that phrase started Ray's tail thumping heavily on the floor. That was a yes.

He stood, offering his hands out because he really didn't know how he was supposed to help him up, and it almost hurt to watch Ray paw at his hands and clutch them, stumbling up to his haunches. It looked like it was his first time walking, which he supposed it was, at least like this, and he towered above Mikey to the point where he was a bit intimidated. He was already tall and this was just adding to that.

Mikey got worried though. Ray looked like he was still in pain, refusing to look up, his arms shaking. Mikey carefully reached and cupped his face--it was like being incredibly personal with a dog--and tilted his head up. The fur around his eyes had grown much more damp.

"Hey, hey, what's wrong...?" he moved closer, rubbing the building tears from Ray's eyes and feeling him sag into his hand, "does it still hurt...? Maybe we shouldn't go out... maybe we should stay in here, okay...? We can go to bed and sleep this off...? It'll be over in no time..." he scratched under his jaw and around to the back of his neck, where his fur was thickest. He seemed to think, or maybe he was just distracted by Mikey's touch, but he did nod. Mikey hesitated for a moment before walking. He was stuck in thought about how it must have felt operating a body that both was, and wasn't, your own.

He started to lead, helping Ray walk, attempting to keep him upright as he just thought it was easier but Ray soon let go, slumping to all fours and padding along beside him. It was so strange to see him like that. It felt like he was just walking with a dog who had been left in a vat of chemicals for a while, not with his best friend--and probably more--of over a decade.

Once they got to Ray's room, he went straight to the bed, padding up onto the mattress and making small circles before flopping down. He took up so much of the bed it was almost shocking, Mikey remembering that it usually fit both of them with space, but now it was just him taking up quite a bit of it. Mikey ran off to fill the bowl with water again and came back, sliding it in front of him, watching and helping him drink. He seemed drained, lacking energy and spark, simply taking slow drinks and lapping softly at the water. Mikey could see when he'd open his mouth that his teeth were huge, sharp fangs followed by jagged molars, rather threatening, and he realized it was no wonder the curse was spread through bites. He couldn't imagine a bite from those...

He soon pushed the bowl away again, nudging it with his snout, watching Mikey put it on the nightstand. He got nervous, Ray didn't have clothes, would he be upset that he was bare when he awoke...? He knew he was self conscious, would it get bad...? Would he ask Mikey to leave...? He didn't want to leave...

He just got back up, fishing in Ray's closet and gathering clothes for him, setting them near the foot of the bed. That seemed to help ease the worry in the room.

Getting under the sheets was a moderate struggle. Most of them didn't cover Ray fully anymore, so he was halfway out of them while Mikey was covered. He shuffled forward and leaned near Ray's chest, closing his eyes. It was comfy. Ray's fur was soft, though a bit ratty, like a big wool pillow, and he was rather warm. It was as if he just had a big dog. He was used to cats, but this was okay.

Rest came easy for him. He couldn't speak for Ray, but he only hoped that the petting and kisses he gave would help. They seemed to.

//Author's Notes\\

Do I feel bad for how much I make Ray go through? Sometimes :')

~XO, Vacant.~