"Forever?" Pac calls around the base. "Are you here?"
In the back of his mind he hears Mike laughing - they both know that Forever is somewhere within his larger base, just that Pac isn't entirely sure where. Richas had said he was here, and Pac's pretty sure the mentioned stack of paperwork isn't letting him up any time soon. Not if not even their son's begging had not dragged him away.
He twirls the vine lasso in his fingers - that's what he's here for, after all.
"Forever?"
This time, when he listens, he can hear a groan and something mumbled. It's clearly Forever, but also does not sound like him at all. Something's wrong; Pac tucks the lasso he bought to drag Forever from his work away, and heads towards the noise.
A little silly kidnapping is nothing between friends, but if there's genuinely something wrong then he needs to be ready. Mike, settled in the back of his mind, agrees - asks if he shoukd send Rocharlyson to Cellbit and come over too.
Pac declines - for now - but makes a careful approach in the direction of the noise.
He turns a corner and there Forever is, sat on the floor with a blanket over his shoulders and a giant stack of paperwork around him.
"Forever why aren't you at a desk?!" Pac says, before he can think of anything else.
One look at the paperwork shows most of it is Presidential work, but at least a few pieces look like redstone machines.
"Oh hey Pac," Forever doesn't look up. "Just fancied a change of scenary."
"You'll hurt yourself," Pac says with the certainity of someone who has done the same a thousand times before. "Do you want help carrying it back to your office?"
"Just let me…"
Forever's signature on the paperwork is lopsided at best - he reaches for another, and Pac slaps his hand away.
"Richarlyson misses you," its a low blow, but it is one. "Let's put this in your office then go see him."
"I'll put it in my office, but I need to work," Forever's face is at least appropriately pained as he says that, and the compromise came unusually fast.
It's okay, once they put the paperwork down then Pac can kidnap him and force him to see some sunlight; he leans down, and grabs a stack. Forever makes to stand up, only to lean heavily on the wall.
"Forever?" Pac's eyes fix on him immediately. "Is everything okay?"
"I'm fine," Forever waves a hand. "I'm fine, I just... Need to get this done."
Pac doesn't quite believe him; he begins to lower the papers back to the floor, that he might offer Forever the support of his arm.
He's not quick enough - Forever seems to gather himself, makes to stand properly, and in a blink is back on the floor, sprawled amongst the paperwork.
Pac screams in every way possible, dropping the papers to get to his friend. He hears Mike say something along their bond, but doesn't listen as he drops to his knees at Forever's side.
Already Forever is starting to come around; Pac taps his cheek for attention, and eyes flutter vaguely in his direction.
"Forever?" he asks, trying to pull him closer to awake. "Forever, you do not get to tell me you're okay."
"Pac?" Forever's voice is hazy, and its not reassuring.
"I'm here," Pac says. "Mike will be here soon - he'll do the yelling. Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?"
Soon is maybe an understatement; as soon as he says that, he hears Mike's panicked yells from above. Afraid of hurting Forever's head more Pac instead tugs on their bond, a little scared himself but guiding the other half of his soul down.
He doesn't try to hide his own fear there, for all he masks it from Forever.
"Or... Now."
Mike makes much better time than Pac did, glasses slightly askew and lab coat far from clean as he storms over.
"Forever, you idiot!" He yells, before taking a breath and dropping maybe a third of his volume. "When did you last eat? Or drink something? Sleep?"
Even as Mike says all of that, he and Pac flash their own thoughts back and forth - Pac shows him how he found Forever, and what happened. Mike continues scolding as he guides Pac through checking Forever's head and spine for any damage. To their joint relief, there doesn't seem to be any.
"Where's your kitchen?" Mike ends with.
"Kitchen?" Forever screws his eyes up, the effort of thinking entirely consuming as he waves a hand in the approximate direction.
Pac and Mike share a worried thought, unbroken even as Mike hurries off in that direction.
"Forever?" Pac tries to ask more gently his time. "Does anything hurt?"
There's a pause; Forever shakes his head a bit, only to grab at it.
"I'm just a bit dizzy... it's fine," the words come too slowly, quiet and slightly slurred. "Just... A moment."
Pac tries to swallow his throat, reaching out and resting a hand on his arm, "take your time. Do you want help sitting up?"
Forever nods, and it's another terrible decision. Pac shuffles closer, helping as Forever eases himself up and against the wall. They're near one of the slight corners, and the extra wall seems to take a lot of his weight.
Once he is situated, Pac pulls his hands away. They hover, expecting to need to catch him again; thankfully it isn't true. "All good?"
The nod doesn't seem to cause too much trouble this time, though Forever's breathing still sounds a little off - forced but level, like he's counting breaths - and he still refuses to open his eyes.
Mike returns not long after; Pac feels him coming, and looks up to greet him. He's carrying some juice and some toast on one of their lab trays. The plates are Forever's and presumably clean, at least.
He kneels next to Pac, and puts the tray on the floor. He squeezes Pac's leg a little - Pac presses a little weight against his side - before picking up the juice.
"Forever," he says. "Drink this."
Forever cracks one eye open, and groans. He does, however, take the glass. Both hands are needed to hold it, and he makes use of the straw Mike put in there, but despite the slight shake he manages it fine.
After the juice, Forever is handed the toast. Pac watches as a little colour returns to his cheeks, and finds Mike relaxing too.
Now he can see that Forever simply forgot to eat anything for a while, Pac relaxes. He's done it before, Mike's done it before - he's pretty sure everyone on the island has, even if not to the point of fainting. Maybe not Etoiles - he has to be so much more careful about his blood sugar than the rest of them - but Etoiles would know how it feels none the less.
"Sorry," Forever quirks half a smile around the toast. "I must look an absolute dumbass."
"It's okay, we've all done it," Pac tilts his head a bit as he smiles back. "Mike and I have picked each other off the floor so often."
"You do," Mike confirms, taking back the cup. "I'm dumping your paperwork on Cellbit, and you're having a nap."
"Cellbit doesn't sleep either," Forever points out.
"But he's Roier's problem, not mine," Mike stands, offering Forever an arm.
It takes a little effort, but they get Forever on his feet. The query about his bed makes Mike, once again, protectively angry. Pac... declines from mentioning his own lack of one, but then he usually shares with Mike so perhaps its not so much a problem.
Pac grabs the tray, plate, and cup, ready to drop them if his hands are needed but not expecting it.
They end up setting up a bed in the corner of his sitting room - Pac has no doubt it will disappear soon enough - and sitting Forever down on it.
"Guys, I'm fine," Forever says, and he genuinely does sound better now.
Pac isn't sure, though, and Mike feels even less believing of the words.
"Nap while we make you dinner?" Pac suggests.
Forever looks between them, goes to argue, then sighs and lies down.
Pac actually looks at Mike this time, and the look is returned - Forever is definitely not okay.
I'll cook and you stay with him? Pac thinks at the other half of his soul.
Mike nods to the suggestion, and perches on the back of the couch. Pac nods back, and vanishes off towards the kitchen.
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