#HII BESTIE TY FOR THE ASK!! | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

sicknessbysalem · 2 months ago

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Hii, its me, the habitual requester of all things Novak haha. First of all, your writing is MAGIC! When I asked for that fic of Novak and Elya, I never thought you'd be able to write it in a way where I felt like I was watching a movie play out!!!! (I'm soo sorry I didn't comment on it sooner, I have a new job and currently have no time for anything other than work, eat and sleep haha.) Speaking of, you may have ignited another set of asks from me... ZAK & NIKO omggggg. I. Am. Obessed. One of the cutest dynamics ever and hockey players are automatically cool to me. I love the idea that they are besties (at the moment teehee) and just know how to help one another. I am a sucker for all things flashback and first times etc, so could you maybe do a fic when one of them (probs Niko jus cuz I imagine it makes more sense) gets sick for the first time infront of the other. I'm imagining like bumbling around, kind of shock at the level of illness, not knowing what to do but just wanting to help sorta thing. Hopefully you get my drift!!! I will continue to check your page for any and all updates as I have done since I discovered you!! No new job will stop me from reading your stuff :)

hi sweet anon! i always love seeing your asks.

i am so happy you enjoyed the novak fic. it was so much fun to write and i wonder why i dont include elya more than i do even on the side. i had a lot of fun with that request!

also, congrats on the new job! don't ever worry about not commenting on my stuff. i enjoy feedback but at the end of the day i understand people are just busy.

i loved this request too. i decided to play around with a couple ideas and settled on this. niko has cyclic vomiting syndrome, has for several years at this point. he doesn't talk about it much, if at all, but when it hits him it hits him hard. i figured what better way to really dig into this request was to play with the idea of the first time zak is around for one of his more violent cvs episodes for the first time.

if you have any requests, questions, comments, etc., send them my way!

tw for chronic illness, emeto (lots of emeto), not telling someone about illness, more emeto, caretaker panic, more emeto

It had been one hell of a long day. Practice had run over by nearly two hours, the coaching staff squeezing in every last drill they could before letting the team off the ice.

Niko and Zak had spent the entire session chirping at each other—playful banter thrown back and forth as easily as they passed the puck. For Niko, it was just another day, the adrenaline of skating hard and hitting harder fueling him like always.

But now, with the rink lights dimmed and most of their teammates already back at the hotel, Zak and Niko were the last ones left in the locker room. Zak had just finished tying up his gear bag, glancing over at Niko as he sat on the bench, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

Zak didn’t think much of it at first—Niko was always the type to linger a little longer after practice, either lost in thought or catching his breath after going all out.

But something was different this time.

Niko was quiet, unusually so, and Zak could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands gripped the edge of the bench a little too tight. Sweat still clung to Niko’s skin, though practice had ended nearly half an hour ago. His face was flushed, but not the usual post-practice kind—this was a deeper, unhealthy flush that seemed to highlight the strain in his expression.

Zak’s brow furrowed as he straightened up, slinging his bag over his shoulder before taking a step closer. “You alright, man?” he asked, his voice casual but tinged with concern.

Niko glanced up, his usual grin a little weaker than usual, but still there. “Yeah, just... you know.” He waved a hand dismissively, though Zak noticed the slight tremor in his fingers. “Feeling a bit off. It’s nothing. Probably the longer practice, all good.”

Zak didn’t buy it for a second. He had known Niko long enough to know when something was up, and the way Niko was hunched over now, breathing a little heavier than normal, sent warning bells ringing in Zak’s head. “You sure? You look kinda—”

“—Hot? Sexy? The most handsome forward you've ever been blessed to lay eyes on?” Niko cut in, his grin widening, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah, I know. Thanks for noticing.”

Zak huffed a laugh, rolling his eyes, but the concern didn’t leave his face. “Nah, seriously. You don’t look so great. You coming down with something?”

Niko shook his head, though the motion seemed to make him wince. He pressed a hand against his stomach, a flicker of discomfort crossing his features before he quickly masked it with another grin. “Nah, just... stomach’s not happy with me. It happens.”

Zak’s frown deepened. “Like... food poisoning?”

Niko chuckled softly, though the sound was strained. “Not exactly. Just... you know. My stomach does this thing sometimes.” He waved his hand again, as if that was enough of an explanation, but Zak wasn’t satisfied.

Before Zak could press further, Niko’s breath hitched, his body tensing as a sudden wave of nausea hit him hard. He squeezed his eyes shut, swallowing thickly, his hand tightening on the edge of the bench as he leaned forward, trying to breathe through it.

Zak’s eyes widened, his concern spiking. “Hey, you sure you’re okay? You look like you’re about to—”

“I’m good,” Niko muttered, though his voice was tight, strained. “Just... gimme a sec.”

Zak stood frozen, not sure what to do. He’d never seen Niko like this—never seen him so pale, so shaky. The playful banter that usually came so easily between them suddenly felt hollow, like it couldn’t cover up the tension in the room.

Niko’s body jerked forward suddenly, his stomach lurching violently as he gagged hard, the sound wet and harsh in the quiet of the locker room. Zak instinctively took a step closer, his hands hovering near Niko, unsure whether to grab him or stand back.

“Jesus, Niko—” Zak started, but before he could finish, Niko gagged again, harder this time. His whole body trembled, his breath coming in short, sharp bursts as he doubled over. Zak could hear the struggle in his breathing, the way Niko was trying—and failing—to keep control.

“Trashcan,” Niko rasped, his voice barely audible as he gestured weakly toward the corner of the room.

Zak didn’t need to be told twice. He grabbed the small trashcan and shoved it in front of Niko just in time for another violent gag to tear through him. Niko retched hard, his body convulsing as his stomach rebelled, but nothing came up—just the awful, dry sound of his body trying to purge itself.

Zak stood there, wide-eyed and helpless, watching as Niko’s breath hitched again, another harsh gag wracking his frame. “Niko... what’s going on? Is this normal?” Zak’s voice was edged with panic now, the sight of his normally tough, unshakable teammate reduced to this making his heart race.

Niko managed a weak grin between retches, though the effort clearly cost him. “Yeah... pretty normal,” he muttered, his voice shaky. He gagged again, his body trembling as he clutched the trashcan, his breath coming in labored gasps. “Don’t... freak out. Just... CVS.”

Zak blinked, the term not registering right away. “CVS? What the hell does the drug store have to do with? Is it a side effect?”

Niko gagged again, the sound raw and painful, and this time, a thin stream of bile spilled into the trashcan. His face was flushed with both fever and exertion, and his hands shook as he gripped the edges of the bin. “Cyclic... vomiting... syndrome,” Niko managed to choke out between breaths, his voice hoarse. “Been dealing with it... for years.”

Zak stared at him, his mind racing. Vomiting syndrome? What the hell? He had no idea what that was, but the name alone was enough to make his stomach twist with unease. “Wait, you’ve had this for years? And you didn’t think to mention it?”

Niko chuckled weakly, though the sound quickly dissolved into another violent gag. His whole body shook as more bile spilled into the trashcan, his breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps. “Didn’t... seem important,” he muttered, though his voice was strained, his usual casual tone faltering as the nausea continued to tear through him. “It’s just... one of those things. No big deal.”

Zak’s eyes widened in disbelief. No big deal? Niko was practically falling apart in front of him, and he was acting like it was nothing? Zak ran a hand through his hair, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched Niko gag again, his body convulsing with the effort.

“Seriously, man,” Niko rasped, his voice hoarse from the retching. “Chill your dick Zakaria. I’m fine. Just... let it pass.”

Zak shook his head, his mind still reeling. “Fine? Nikolai you've been throwing up your guts for ten minutes, and you’re telling me you’re fine?”

Niko managed another weak grin, though it was quickly overtaken by another bout of retching. His body shuddered violently as more bile splattered into the trashcan, his breath coming in short, desperate gasps. “Yeah... used to it,” he muttered, his voice barely audible.

Zak felt a wave of frustration and concern wash over him. He didn’t know what to do—didn’t know how to help. Watching Niko like this, so casual about something that seemed so serious, made his head spin.

Niko gagged again, his body convulsing as his stomach tried to purge more, even though there was almost nothing left. The sound was awful, raw and wet, and Zak’s heart ached with every violent heave that shook Niko’s frame.

“You’re not okay,” Zak muttered under his breath, shaking his head. He crouched down beside Niko, placing a hand on his shoulder, the gesture meant to steady him, to ground him in some way. “You should’ve told me about this. What if—”

“I’m not dying,” Niko cut him off, though his voice was weak and breathless. He leaned forward, resting his head against the rim of the trashcan as his body trembled with exhaustion. “It’s... ugly, but it’ll pass.”

Zak frowned, his hand tightening slightly on Niko’s shoulder as another wave of nausea rolled through him, causing his body to jerk forward with another violent gag. Zak stayed beside him, his mind racing with questions, but he couldn’t bring himself to ask any of them. Not yet.

Zak couldn’t pull his eyes away from Niko, who was still hunched over the trashcan, his body shaking with the aftershocks of another violent gag. The room felt suffocating, the quiet of the empty locker room amplifying every sound—every ragged breath, every wet retch that came from Niko’s trembling frame.

“Jesus, Niko,” Zak muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, but the panic was clear. “This... this isn’t normal. You can’t tell me this is normal.”

Niko wiped the back of his hand across his mouth, breathing hard as he leaned his forehead against the cool rim of the trashcan. His face was pale, his eyes glassy from the effort of the nausea, but somehow, the grin still tugged at his lips. “For you? Nah. For me? Pretty much.”

Zak stared at him, his mouth falling open slightly. He couldn’t understand how Niko could joke right now, how he could act like this was no big deal. His stomach churned just watching Niko go through it—let alone trying to imagine what it must feel like.

“Look, man,” Niko rasped, his voice hoarse from the retching, “I know it looks bad, but... it’s fine. Really.” He coughed, his breath hitching as his stomach lurched again, but he pressed a hand to his chest, trying to force the nausea back down. “I’m used to this.”

Zak’s mind was racing, his heart pounding in his chest as he knelt beside Niko. He could feel the heat radiating off him—the fever that had clearly settled in, making Niko’s skin slick with sweat. The way Niko’s body kept convulsing, like it couldn’t stop trying to purge itself, made Zak’s own stomach twist with unease.

“Used to this?” Zak repeated, his voice tight with disbelief. “This isn’t something you should be used to.”

Niko chuckled, though it was more of a strained breath than a real laugh. He shifted slightly, resting his head on the edge of the trashcan as he shot Zak a tired grin. “It’s cute when you get all worried about me, you know that?”

Zak blinked, his eyes wide with a mix of confusion and frustration. “Cute? Niko, you’re literally throwing up everything you’ve ever eaten, and you think this is cute?”

Niko smirked, though his body tensed again as another wave of nausea hit him. He gagged hard, his breath catching in his throat as his stomach heaved, and a thin stream of bile splattered into the trashcan. His face twisted in discomfort, but as soon as he caught his breath, he gave Zak a weak wink. “I mean... you’ve been staring at me this whole time. I figured... you were checking me out.”

Zak let out an exasperated sigh, running a hand through his hair as he struggled to make sense of the situation. His mind was spinning, his chest tight with worry, but Niko was still... Niko. Still making jokes, still acting like none of this was a big deal.

“I’m staring at you because you’re puking your guts out and I don't want you to like... pass out and drown,” Zak snapped, though the panic in his voice softened the bite of his words. “This isn’t normal, Niko. You need to see a doctor or something.”

Niko shook his head, though the motion made his stomach flip again, and he had to pause, his hand gripping the trashcan tighter as he gagged once more. “Trust me, I’ve been to enough doctors. They all say the same thing—just ride it out.” He coughed again, his breath shaky as he tried to catch it. “CVS... comes in waves. Sometimes... it’s bad. Other times... not so much.”

Zak’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Not so much? This is bad, Niko! You’ve been throwing up for—what? Fifteen minutes straight now? How is that not a problem?”

Niko grimaced as another heave wracked his body, his shoulders shaking as more bile spilled into the trashcan. He breathed through the nausea, his forehead resting against the rim of the bin as he tried to steady himself. “For me... it’s normal,” he muttered, his voice quiet, strained. “This happens sometimes. My stomach just... doesn’t know when to quit.”

Zak watched him, his heart clenching in his chest as he tried to process what Niko was saying. “So what? You just... deal with this? Every time?”

Niko nodded weakly, his face pale and sweaty as he leaned back against the bench, his breath coming in shallow gasps. “Yeah... pretty much.” He closed his eyes for a moment, resting his head against the cool metal of the bench behind him. “It sucks, but... it passes. Eventually.”

Zak shook his head, his hands clenching into fists as he tried to make sense of it. He couldn’t imagine living like that—couldn’t imagine having to go through something like this over and over again, knowing it would happen and not being able to stop it.

“How long does it usually last?” Zak asked, his voice quiet, almost hesitant.

Niko cracked one eye open, glancing at Zak with a faint smirk. “Depends. Sometimes a couple of hours. Sometimes... longer.” He grimaced again, his hand pressing against his stomach as another wave of nausea rippled through him. “But... you know... it’s kinda cute how worried you are. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.”

Zak glared at him, though there was no real anger behind it. “Yeah, well, it’s hard not to worry when you’re throwing up like this, man.”

Niko chuckled softly, though the sound quickly dissolved into another gag. His body jerked forward again, his breath hitching as more bile splattered into the trashcan, his whole frame trembling from the effort. “Don’t worry... too much,” Niko muttered, his voice weak but still teasing. “I’m not dying.”

Zak let out a long breath, his heart pounding as he watched Niko ride out another wave of nausea. He didn’t know how to respond—didn’t know how to deal with the fact that Niko seemed so casual about something that looked so awful. But if this was normal for him, what could Zak do? He didn’t want to freak out and make it worse, but the helplessness gnawed at him, twisting in his gut.

Niko leaned back again, resting his head on the edge of the bench as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. His breath came in slow, shallow gasps, his chest heaving as he tried to steady himself.

“See? Told you,” Niko muttered, his voice raspy. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

Zak frowned, his eyes narrowing as he studied Niko’s pale face. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”

Niko smirked weakly, his eyes half-lidded as he glanced up at Zak. “Might just be... trying to get you to carry me back to the apartment.” He gave a weak wink, though the effort seemed to cost him, his body slumping slightly as the nausea flared again.

Zak let out a frustrated sigh, shaking his head. “You’re impossible.”

“Yeah... but you love me for it,” Niko quipped, though his grin quickly faltered as his stomach lurched again. He doubled over, gagging hard into the trashcan, his breath coming in short, desperate bursts as more bile spilled into the bin.

Zak’s heart twisted in his chest, watching Niko go through it. He couldn’t understand how Niko could be so casual, so... normal about this. “I still think we should get you checked out,” Zak muttered, his voice softer now, the worry clear in his eyes.

Niko shook his head weakly, leaning back once the wave had passed. “Nah. Just... need to wait it out.” He glanced at Zak, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “But hey... if it makes you feel better, you can stay with me ‘til it’s over.”

Zak stared at him for a long moment, his chest tight with a mix of frustration and concern. Niko was still being Niko—still teasing, still trying to downplay everything—but Zak wasn’t sure how much more of this he could take.

“Yeah,” Zak said softly, his hand resting gently on Niko’s shoulder. “I’m not going anywhere.”

By the time they made it back to their shared apartment, Zak’s nerves were frayed. The walk from the locker room to the car had felt like an eternity, every step drawn out by Niko pausing to double over with another bout of nausea, his body shuddering with each attempt to hold it together.

Twice during the car ride, Niko had been forced to ask Zak to pull over, his stomach rebelling with another wave of retching. Each time, Niko had laughed it off afterward, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand and muttering something about it “not being the worst episode” he’d had.

But Zak wasn’t laughing.

As they stepped into the apartment, Niko immediately shrugged off his jacket and tossed his keys on the counter with his usual nonchalance. Zak, on the other hand, was still keyed up, his hands twitching slightly with the urge to do something—to help, to fix this—but he had no idea how. He watched Niko with a mixture of disbelief and frustration, wondering how the hell he could still act so casual when his body was clearly falling apart.

“You want to lie down?” Zak asked, his voice tight with concern as he hovered near the doorway, watching Niko carefully. His eyes followed every movement, half-expecting Niko to keel over at any moment. Or vomit again. Or both.

Niko waved him off, though his movements were slower now, more deliberate as he leaned against the counter, his breathing shallow. His face was still pale, his skin slick with sweat, but he flashed Zak a tired grin, trying to downplay the situation like he always did.

“Nah, I’m good,” Niko muttered, though his voice was hoarse, strained from the hours of retching. “Just need to ride it out a little longer. It’ll pass.”

Zak let out a frustrated breath, running a hand through his hair as he stared at Niko. He didn’t know how much more of this casual attitude he could take. “Niko, you’ve been throwing up all afternoon. You’ve barely kept anything down, and you’re still—” He stopped himself, his voice catching in his throat as he gestured helplessly to Niko’s exhausted frame. “I don’t get how you can be so calm about this.”

Niko chuckled softly, though the sound quickly turned into a cough, his body trembling with the effort. “Told you, man. This isn’t my first rodeo.” He shrugged, trying to brush it off as he grabbed a glass from the counter and filled it with water. “I’ve been through worse episodes. This one’s just a pain in the ass, but it’ll pass.”

Zak stared at him, his jaw tightening. “How can you say that?” His voice rose slightly, frustration bubbling to the surface as he took a step closer, his eyes flashing with worry. “You’ve been sick for hours, Niko! How is this ‘no big deal’ to you?”

Niko raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching up into a faint grin. “Because I’ve been through this a hundred times before, Zak. It sucks, but it’s nothing new.” He took a slow sip of water, grimacing slightly as his stomach twisted again, but he forced himself to take another sip, his eyes never leaving Zak’s. “You’re making a bigger deal out of it than it needs to be.”

Zak threw his hands up, his frustration evident in every gesture. “Of course I’m making a big deal out of it! Watching someone throw up over and over again isn’t exactly something I’m used to.”

Niko smirked, leaning back against the counter as he swirled the water in his glass. “Well, you better get used to it. This is just how my body works sometimes. No point freaking out about it.”

Zak’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Niko, the casualness of his tone grating against the knot of worry that had been building in his chest all night. “I can’t just sit here and act like it’s normal for you to be this sick, Niko. It’s not normal!”

Niko shrugged again, though the motion was more sluggish this time. “Normal is relative, right?” He flashed Zak a tired grin, his eyes half-lidded with exhaustion. “For me, this is just another Wednesday.”

Zak’s chest tightened, a frustrated groan escaping him as he paced toward the living room, running a hand through his hair again. He couldn’t understand how Niko could be so relaxed about this—how he could stand there, barely holding it together, and still crack jokes like this was just some minor inconvenience.

Niko watched him for a moment, the teasing glint still in his eyes despite the exhaustion that weighed on him. “You’re cute when you get all worked up,” he said, his voice soft but playful. “Kind of like a little... worried mom or something.”

Zak stopped dead in his tracks, his head snapping toward Niko with a glare that could’ve melted glass. “I’m not your mom, Niko! I’m your teammate—your...” He hesitated for a split second, the words catching in his throat. “I’m your friend. And watching you go through this is killing me.”

Niko’s expression softened for a moment, the playful smirk fading slightly as he set the glass of water down on the counter. “Hey,” he said, his voice quieter now, more serious. “I get it. I do. But you don’t have to worry so much. I know what my body can handle. I’ve been dealing with this for years. I have medicine for it—"

"Good, where is it?" Zak said, "Take it then if—"

"Episode's already started, it's preventative, not to make it stop when it's already gone this far," Niko said, "Seriously, Zak, please just take a deep breath and relax. This is literally just another Wednesday"

Zak let out a shaky breath, his shoulders slumping as he looked at Niko, the frustration giving way to helplessness. “But... what if this time it’s worse than before? What if—”

Niko cut him off with a soft chuckle, shaking his head as he pushed away from the counter and took a step toward Zak. “Zak, come on. I know my limits. I’ll be fine. I just need to let it run its course.” He offered Zak a small, reassuring smile, though the pallor of his skin and the sweat clinging to his brow told a different story.

Zak wasn’t convinced. He could see Niko was still struggling, could see the way his body trembled slightly as he stood there, trying to act like everything was okay. “You look like you’re about to keel over,” Zak muttered, his voice soft but filled with worry.

Niko shrugged, giving Zak a weak smile. “I’m tougher than I look.”

Zak rolled his eyes, though the worry hadn’t left his face. “Yeah, well, tough or not, you’re still human. You can’t just pretend like this doesn’t suck.”

"Oh, no, I never said it didn't suck," Niko said, "I said it was normal."

Niko chuckled again, though the sound was strained, and Zak could see the way Niko’s body tensed, his hand twitching slightly as he pressed it against his stomach. He was trying to hide it, but Zak wasn’t blind—he could see Niko was still battling the nausea, could see the discomfort etched into every line of his face.

“Come on,” Zak said softly, stepping closer and resting a hand on Niko’s arm. “Let’s just get you to bed. You don’t need to be standing around trying to prove you’re fine.”

Niko hesitated for a moment, his eyes flicking toward the bedroom before he sighed, the exhaustion finally catching up with him. “Yeah... maybe that’s not a bad idea,” he muttered, his voice quieter now, the bravado fading as his body betrayed him once again. He leaned slightly into Zak’s touch, the weight of the afternoon finally starting to take its toll.

Zak guided him toward his bedroom, his hand still resting on Niko’s arm as they moved slowly through the apartment. He could feel the tension in Niko’s body, could feel the way his muscles tensed with every step, but Niko didn’t say anything—just followed Zak’s lead, his usual playful banter replaced by a weary silence.

When they reached the bedroom, Zak helped Niko sit down on the edge of the bed, his hands gentle but firm as he guided him onto the mattress. Niko let out a soft sigh, his body sinking into the bed as he leaned back against the pillows, his eyes closing for a moment as he tried to steady his breathing.

Zak stood there for a moment, watching him carefully, the worry still gnawing at him. “You need anything? Water? Another trashcan?”

Niko cracked one eye open, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “I think I’m good. But... you know, if you wanted to stay here with me, I wouldn’t complain.”

Zak huffed a small laugh, though the concern still lingered in his eyes. “Yeah, because you’re totally fine, right?”

Niko shrugged, his eyes closing again as he let out a soft, tired chuckle. “What can I say? I’m irresistible, even when I’m a mess. Besides, you still look like you'll go into cardiac arrest if you let me out of your sight.”

Zak rolled his eyes, but a small smile crept across his face as he pulled up a chair beside the bed. He wasn’t going to leave Niko’s side, not until he was sure this episode had passed.

For now, though, he’d have to deal with the fact that Niko wasn’t going to stop being Niko—even when he was sick as hell. No matter how fucking annoying he was.

#emeto #sickfic #emeto fic #emeto cw #emeto tw #emetophilia #emeto writer

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