Elemental brothers oneshot story

stomachache

Blaze was curled up in his room, his usual loud and fiery personality nowhere to be found.

His blanket was pulled over his head, though it did nothing to block out the muffled voices of his brothers from the hallway. Every sound made his head throb harder.

The pain in his stomach twisted like a knot that refused to loosen, sharp enough to make him groan. He pressed the heel of his palm into his abdomen as if he could force the ache to stop, his other hand clutching the blanket tight.

He had tried lying on his back, on his side, even sitting up, but nothing helped. Every shift made the pain worse, so he stayed curled, small and still, breathing shallowly because even breathing too deep felt like a punishment.

He hated this.

Hated feeling weak, quiet, breakable, he was supposed to be the troublemaker, the spark that set the whole house buzzing.

Not this miserable, sweaty mess hiding under a blanket.

Another cramp hit and he bit down on a groan, burying his face into the pillow.

"Ow- ugh..." The sound came out muffled, pathetic.

Another wave of pain hit, sharp and mean, and Blaze couldn't stop the pained sound that tore out of him. He curled tighter, forehead pressed against the mattress, fists clutching the blanket until his knuckles ached.

His stomach gurgled in protest, a cruel reminder of exactly why he was like this.

"Should have... should have listened to Gempa" he muttered hoarsely, barely louder than a whisper, his voice sounded small in the empty room.

"Shouldn't have eaten that stupid-" His words cut off in a hiss as another cramp tore through him.

He hated admitting when his big brother was right, but right now, with his gut tying itself in knots, he would have given anything to turn back time and skip that extra plate of food.

A cold sweat clung to his skin, Blaze shoved the blanket away, only to grab it again when the chill hit him.

"Ughhh!... never again..." he groaned, rocking slightly, hoping the movement might ease the pain.

For a moment, he just lay there, panting softly, glaring at the wall as though this was all its fault.

Gempa's voice from the other day echoed in his head, steady, calm, and annoyingly right.

"Blaze slow down, you're gonna regret it later"

Blaze squeezed his eyes shut, pressing his face into the pillow, voice muffled.

"Yeah yeah... I get it now..."

From outside the door, there was a pause in the brothers's chatter, a soft knock followed.

"Blaze? You okay in there?" Gempa's voice, gentle but laced with that knowing tone that made Blaze want to sink deeper into the mattress.

Blaze groaned quietly, too stubborn to answer, hoping Gempa would just walk away.

The silence stretched a beat too long before the doorknob turned, the door creaked open, and Blaze winced, yanking the blanket back over his head like a shield.

"Blaze" Gempa's voice was closer now, softer, almost patient.

"Are you feeling better?"

Blaze let out a grumble that was supposed to sound annoyed, but it came out weak and hoarse.

"Go away..." His words were muffled by the blanket, Gempa sighed, the sound half amused, half exasperated.

"You sound like you are dying in there, I am not just going to leave you like this" Blaze peeked out from under the blanket, just enough to glare at his brother.