Sicktember Day 20

[mrsluigivargas]

Couched in Something Comforting
Luigi’s day is interrupted by a sudden onset of cramps after lunch. So he lies on the couch to rest, and gets a visitor, too.

Fandom: Super Mario
Rating: General Audiences
Characters: Luigi, Polterpup
Relationships: Luigi & Polterpup
Additional Tags: Sickfic, Fluff
Length: 378 words
Sicktember prompts: Curled Up With a Pet, Cramping Pain

~~~
The living room of the Mario Bros’ house was quiet and still, aside from the ticking of the clock, the low hum of the television, and Luigi’s soft breathing.

Flitting in and out of a doze, Luigi lay curled up on the couch, face pressed to the cushions. When he’d woken up this morning he’d felt fine, spending what was left of it as he usually would, but sometime after lunch was when he discovered his body had its own plans for the day and the cramps had started.

Mario had near-immediately heated up a rice pack for him, and was out to restock on medicine. He’d promised to be quick. So for now Luigi was by himself, with the television commercials, the heat of his rice pack, and a dull throb underneath his belly button as company.

Until something cold on his cheek interrupted whatever haze Luigi was in. He cracked an eye open. “Ciao, cucciolo,” he whispered, reaching out a hand to pet Polterpup.

Polterpup accepted the pets gladly. He nudged at Luigi’s face again, jumping up to the armrest above Luigi’s head and barking excitedly. “Sorry,” Luigi said, reaching up for him, “I can't —”

Luigi hissed, a lance of pain flaring up and arcing through his abdomen as he reached up too far. His arm fell back to the couch, and Polterpup stopped moving with a whine. He nudged Luigi’s face with his nose, drawing a huff of laughter from Luigi even as he breathed through the spike of discomfort. He then sniffed at the rice pack Luigi was still holding against himself, and with another bark and lick to Luigi’s cheek he dove into the couch and disappeared. Luigi distantly hoped he wouldn't get into any trouble.

Alone once more, Luigi settled into the couch as his pain faded back to its dull throb. His deep breaths turned slow, and soon he was drifting off. Before he fully fell asleep, he felt the weight of something being dragged up on top of him. “Thanks, Mario,” Luigi mumbled, even as Polterpup chuffed and phased through the blanket he'd brought to tuck himself under Luigi’s chin.

Mario found them curled up like that when he returned from the clinic, both of them dead to the world.
~~~

I don’t think I ever specified why Luigi was cramping. Upset stomach? Menstrual pains? Who knows! It’s not important. Had to do some research, too, on how to describe cramps, haha.