One Shot Wednesdays -Sun Allergy (Patreon)

Welcome back to a 'One-Shot Wednesday' post! I asked about a month and a half ago to tumblr for some prompts for writing coz I really felt like banging out some one shots. I received a few! Praise those people who sent some in! But, I think I wrote one and then called it a day and couldn't figure out what to write for the rest of them... UNTIL NOW. I think this was brought on by the extreme weather I'm getting where I live. So I hope you enjoy this bit of speedwriting! 

PROMPT: "Write about a character who thinks they have a sun allergy."

Cassius moaned. "I'm gonna die! I'm dying!"

"Stop being so damn dramatic," Laurna returned as she placed a cool, wet cloth to his forehead.

"It's...eugh. It's..." He covered his mouth as yet another, stronger impulse to throw up overcame him. She calmly passed him the plastic bucket that he could make use of though she kept her face turned away so as not to see anything.

When he felt he was finally well enough to speak again, he did softly, "I'm definitely allergic."

"Allergic!?" She turned back towards him with a look of confusion and a raised eyebrow a second later.

"The sun... Damnit but I'm allergic to it. I'm gonna be like one of those uh...those bubble people except I can't go outside during the daytime. I'm essentially going to be a vampire!" he lamented with a moan before another urge to heave came up like a wave on him again.

"What?! You're not allergic to the sun Cass."

He held up a finger as he leaned over his bucket and closed his eyes. When the feeling passed, he answered her, "I am so allergic. Hello can't you see how sick I am!?"

"Obviously I can see that," she retorted with her arms now crossed defensively, "but that's not an allergy!"

"Oh and you're...suddenly a doctor now?" he managed to snap back with less force than he intended.

The young woman rolled her eyes at him. "Common sense. Allergies make you sneeze or your throat to close up. They don't make you puke like you have the flu."

"Then...what the hell is this?" he asked softly in invitation as he swirled one hand around his head to indicate his current condition of being vastly unwell.

"Sunstroke."

"Stroke? I thought strokes were like...stopping you from speaking and damaging your brain."

"Well it's kinda like that," she agreed, "I mean your head is affected right now. But you just got too much sun and your body is reacting with illness because of it."

He took a second to close his eyes and dab the cloth back on his forehead and neck to cool himself again. "But I'm not allergic? Like...this happens to everyone?" His voice was unsure at the end. He didn't wish to sound stupid but he also didn't know the answer to his own question. He needed her response for some understanding.

"Yes. We humans can only take so much. Sorry to burst your bubble thinking you were superhuman or something."

He managed to smile a little at the jab. "I guess I'll take it. But... I'm not going to be vampiric?"

"Sadly, no. You can still go out during daylight hours once you recover from all this," she informed him smiling.

He made a face of disappointment, "Well...can't we just...bullshit it? Can't I just like pretend for awhile? Buy a cape? Create a local legend? Suddenly be spotted out and about in daylight and pretend I have no idea what anyone's talking about? Say I was living out of town and have just recently moved back? Boo Radley it?"

"Boo Radley?" she repeated with confusion and concern.

"You don't know Boo Radley?" he stressed with some concern and disbelief mounting.

"Mmmm nope," she hummed as she considered it once more but came up with absolutely nothing.

"Jeezus did you not go through the high school system!? Boo Radley? Recluse of To Kill A Mockingbird!?"

"Uh no what's that?"

"Oh my God!" he exhaled with complete exasperation as he dropped himself down on the pillows of the bed tucked behind him, "I... You friggen know sunstroke and all that shit but you don't know To Kill A Mockingbird!? Atticus Finch? Gregory Peck? Scout? Racism and prejudice!?"

"You've lost me." She shrugged and crossed her arms again.

"You're killing me here!" he sighed in defeat.

"I thought that was the sunstroke, Cassius." The look on his face as he found her smirking at her own comment was enough to fuel her to care for him the rest of the day without complaint.