Odd Love

Chapter 6; Love Sick

     Tom tossed and turned in his bed, uncomfortable at the disappearance of Matt's warmth. Dinner that night had been an awkward silence between him and Edd, caused by Tord and Matt's absence at the table. Tom debated storming into Matt's room to try and talk to him, but he suspected it'd just make things worse. He turned on his back again, staring at the ceiling through the dark. I'm not  that sensitive... Am I? Sure, he got angry easily, maybe a little over protective, but he wasn't sensitive, right? He sighed, the knot that had formed in his stomach refusing to loosen.

     He sighed, his body giving a little shudder. He looked at the clock and groaned outwardly; it was only a little after four a.m. Tom rolled onto his stomach and buried his face into the pillow, letting out a muffled roar of frustration. He sat up, feeling the monster parts of him resurfacing. His tail thumped against the bed like dead weight, and his ears drooped. The balled-up knot in him tightened further and he growled at himself.

     Why am I such a fucking freak... This wouldn't have happened if I wasn't like this... He thought to himself, swinging his legs off the bed to stand up. His throat was tightening and his mouth was dry, Tom felt sick. He pushed himself up and walked out of his room, heading to the bathroom. He had to force himself not to go towards Matt's room. Tom grabbed the door handle, narrowing his eyes when it wouldn't  open. Now that he looked at it closer, a small dim light shone through the crack near the bottom. He pressed one of his ears to the door, and taken aback by a horrible retching sound. Tom banged his fist on the door.

     "Hello?!" He asked, concern audible in his voice. The door clicked and he shoved it open, showing Matt hunched over himself, shivering and shaking. Tom let out a gasp and fell at his side, immediately bombarding the trembling ginger with questions. His thick tail wrapped around Matt, supporting him. "Oh fuck, Matt! Are you okay?" He yelled, bringing him into his arms.

     "...T-Tom..." Matt groaned. Tom loosened his grip, looking at the ginger's tear-stained face. "...What... What if th-the eggs d-d-don't m-make it..." He stuttered, pausing to catch his breath. "Wh-What if they... they d-die inside me..." He cried out, digging into his stomach with his nails. Matt started another round of gagging and Tom looked at him, speechless.

     "...Don't... Don't say that Matt..." Tom finally said in a cracked and quiet  voice. He looked down wearily at Matt's hands, proceeding to hold them down. "Stop doing that... You're gonna hurt yourself." Tom swallowed a lump that formed in his throat, trying to wrap his head around everything.

     "But... I c-can't... I just... I don't want them to die b-but... wh-what if I did s-something wrong a-and they d-don't... d-don... d-" Matt jerked away, retching into the toilet. The vile stench permeated the air and, luckily, Tom was able to hold back a gag at the odor. He rubbed Matt's back, whispering reassuring words and comforts to the boy. He could feel the ginger trembling, in fact, he could visibly see the tremors that wracked his body. They stayed like this for a while.

     Once some time had passed since Matt had vomited, Tom wrapped his arms around him, hoisting him up. Curling his tail back around him, Tom carried Matt back to his room. Matt had buried his face in Tom's shoulder, his eyes tightly shut and heavy with fatigue. Tom walked over and laid Matt down on his bed, pulling up the covers to try and cease the boy's shivering. Running a hand across Matt's forehead, Tom sighed with a soft smile.

     He laid down next to Matt, holding the ginger's head tentatively and running his claws gently through his fluffy orange hair.

     His heart sunk a little when Matt didn't respond to his touch, already passed out from exhaustion and letting out shallow shuddering breaths. The taller boy's body stopped shivering as hard, only small tremors remaining, occasionally jolting him violently. Tom looked longingly at his face through the dim light, counting the light freckles on his skin.

     Oh Matt...

     He sighed, continuing to run his hands lightly along Matt's scalp, bringing the gingers head to his chest.

    You worry too much.

     Tom left a small, reassuring kiss on the top of Matt's head, his thoughts drifting as heavy eyelids shut, joining Matt in sleep.