Parasite

How Dare He-

Jay found himself in a bubble-like thing close to the ceiling, relieved when he figured out that the parasite wasn't latched onto him. It was swirling around in a bubble of its own across the room. Despite being separate, though, Jay discovered that his left eye, back, right shoulder and left leg were in pain, not to mention the unbearable hunger and will to throw up he had. For some reason, his stomach area felt empty and almost as if something had clawed at it from the inside. He sat up and wiped at his eye, but all that happened was he got a black smear on his hand and his eye started watering. Before he could stand up, a slightly muffled voice spoke from outside.
"Finally awake?" Jay looked down to see an armored figure, helmet and all.
"Who are you?"
They walked further into the room, to a control panel. "None of your business. I just had to make something clear to you."
"And what's that?" Jay sat on his feet and used his hands to support him while he looked down at them.
"Who is in control here. Any order that you are given, I suggest you follow.  That parasite—right there—the only thing keeping it from eating you inside-out is me. It will still get you eventually, but there's nothing I can do about that."
"What do you expect, a 'thank you'?"
"It would be nice, but it isn't happening and I know that." As they spoke, Jay noticed something small move behind them. It may have been a pebble, a shadow, or maybe even just his imagination. "I do ask another thing of you."
"Why would I do anything for you?"
"I could let you get eaten faster."
"I'm sure."
"Who is this?" They pointed to a screen Jay hadn't seen earlier, which showed a group that he instantly recognized. The fight he had earlier resurfaced in his head and he knew what they were asking.
He played dumb. "Which one?"
It zoomed in on Fyrus. "Him."
"I don't know who that is."
"Of course you do."
"I've never seen them in my entire life."
"Stop lying to me."
"Who said I was?"
"You paused any and all attack because of them. I want to know who they are in regards to you."
"I don't know. Don't ring a bell."
"Would you like me to jog your memory?" The bubble moved to drop Jay into some kind of clear, large containment area. The bubble with the parasite was moved over it as well, looming threateningly. "Do you have a clue now?"
"...No?" Jay seemed to be questioning it, though he didn't mean to. He didn't want that thing to be near him again...
They took a controller with a pair of buttons to the outside of the container, presenting it. "One of these buttons releases it. The other releases on full feeding mode. One may leave you standing, while the other ends in doom. I think you know which is which."
"...And what would you do to them?"
"Nothing. Nothing at all. We would deliberately steer you away from them."
"I can't tell if you're telling the truth or not."
"I am. What do I have to lose?"
Jay still didn't utter a word about Fyrus. They began to press the second button as a familiar figure appeared out of thin air. "Here I am! Stop!"
Jay freaked out, "No! What are you doing?"
"And what's your name?" They asked.
Two more people appeared beside Fyrus. "The name's Fyrus."
"Why, thank you." They quickly held up the remote and pushed the second button. The bubble flashed before it opened, dropping the formless blob of a parasite to the floor, where it quickly went to Jay.
Fyrus, Etce and Octoboy went wide-eyed, and Fyrus went to steal the remote from that strange person. Before any of the trio could react, they threw the remote into the containment area, giving Jay—who was currently fleeing to the furthest corner—a jumpscare. Etce and Octoboy shot at this character, but Fyrus rushed to the corner Jay had taken hide in. "Jay!" He called, making Jay turn around to look at him.
"You're an idiot! Why would you do that?"
"To save your tail! It's going to be okay, okay? You're going to be alright!" Fyrus put his hands up against the clear walls of it.
Jay followed, putting his hands against where Fyrus' were. "Right... right. It-I'm gonna be okay."
"I'm not letting anything happen to you."
"That was my plan! You stole my plan!"
Fyrus smiled a little bit, "Now isn't the time!"
Jay pulled his hands back wipe his face, getting black everywhere. "I know, okay? I know! I-I'm not-it sucks to be a part of that thing!"
Fyrus found the grin fading away and he pressed one hand against the clear wall. "I said you would be okay! It might take one more shot at this. Just one more time. That's it! You're never going to have to do it again."
Jay seemed to be swayed by the words and looked between Fyrus and the creature. "You weren't here very long, were you?" He asked with a small smile.
"No?" Fyrus informed him curiously.
Jay smiled, "I wish I could hug you right now." He placed his hand over where Fyrus' was. Before Fyrus could respond, he turned and took a breath before reaching out to the parasite. He crouched down, so it easily got onto his back, overtaking more than it had before. It enveloped half of his head, his entire arm and whole leg. Jay ended up on his hand and knees, clutching his side in pure pain. His supporting arm shook before it collapsed, leaving him on his side, gasping for air while simultaneously trying to cough something up. With his uneven bursts of energy, he tried his hardest to swallow down his gagging and stand to see Fyrus. When he got to his feet after a few good minutes, he leaned against the container walls and tried to put his hand against it. A hand appeared on the other side, and Jay looked up to see Fyrus with a horrified face, trying his best to turn it into a comforting smile. Jay smiled weakly and collapsed into the wall, sliding down it. Black smeared a wall between him and Fyrus, cuing his consciousness to fade in and out.
Fyrus saw Jay go still, as did everyone else in the room. The suit of armor shoved Etce and Octoboy away, dashing to the door. On their way they hit a large button, opening a small door on the cage. They didn't bother to go after him. The trio went to stand before Jay, who was curled in a ball with his eyes closed and hand on the wall. Fyrus took that hand and held it in his own, staring at Jay's face intently. The octoling's eyes blinked to be half lidded. "I think... I forgot... to... mention... something..."
"It's okay. You're going to be okay. Just like I told you." Fyrus said, preparing to help him up. "I just need you to get that off of you,"
"Can't..." The trio looked at him in confusion. "Not this time... I'm... done this time..."
"No, no, no, you're not—We have to get him to the others. There's got to be something they can do!" Jay closed his eyes and Fyrus picked him up bridal style with zero hesitation. Octoboy activated the small device for him and Etce held his inkbrush. Then they hurried out. They met the others at the gate, but Fyrus gave them no time for any kind of questions. He passed them and led the way back to the vehicle they came from. Fyrus heard discussion behind him, but he ignored it. He got to the helicopter and saw Marina standing next to Pearl. When they saw Jay, Pearl started talking but Marina silenced her. When Fyrus stopped before her, she needed no explanation.
She waved everyone in, saying, "Get in! We're heading back whether you like it or not!" Pearl realized what was happening and stopped Fyrus for a second. She looked down at Jay, then up and Fyrus and nodded. Fyrus got in and sat by a wall, laying Jay out before him. After a few moments, GG asked, "What happened, Fyrus?"
"He protected Fyrus' identity and accidentally almost died because of it." Etce explained. "He was normal for a little bit."
"That thing comes off?" Daniel asked. "A part of me thought he'd be stuck forever."
"This time is different." Fyrus decided. "He knows something that we don't. Something important."
"Why do you say that?" Vian questioned.
Etce continued, "He said he wouldn't be okay this time. That he's done this time."
"Woomy." Octoboy agreed.
Pearl hummed in thought. "'Rina?" There was a quiet response before Pearl was handed what looked almost like a cellphone. She used it to snap a picture of the unconscious octoling. When she looked back at the screen, she made a face of real fear. "Might want to pick up the pace..." Clearly Marina heard since they sped up.
"What?" Fyrus questioned.
"Well, you were right about being important. The bad news is..." Pearl fidgeted before finishing the sentence. "...that, uh, thing on him is kind of... eating him alive right now?" Everything stopped, but she kept talking. "Right now his body should've already rejected itself and tried to cough it up, but I'm not exactly sure why it isn't happening... At this rate, he should be gone in an hour or less. But if he doesn't start coughing then he might last a second day."
"You can help him though, right?" Daniel asked.
Marie nodded, "Of course." Out of absolutely nowhere, Jay started wheezing, then gagging. "The possibility is only a little less because of that."
Fyrus lifted up Jay's upper half to put him in a kind of sitting position so he wasn't suffocating himself. What had been in his mouth pooled out, making Marie hand Fyrus a cloth to wipe it off.
Daniel leaned over to Etce and asked, "Is Fyrus taking care of Jay it is Jay taking care of Fyrus? I'm having trouble figuring it out."
"I think they're fighting over who can take care of the other better." Etce concluded.
"We're here!" Marina announced, Fyrus being the only one quick enough to react and follow her.