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Leo was trying really hard to focus on the mission. He really, truly was. It was just Zapp's constant nagging, Steven’s orders rattling off within his earpiece, the constant noise that always came with Hellsalem’s lot, combined with the pounding headache he woke up with was making it difficult to focus.
He could feel a solid pain behind his eyes, it started small but overtime it had grown and now it just felt like someone had shoved several bricks into his head. Sharp and grating and making it incredibly hard to get anything done. Trying to read wasn’t helping either. Zapp yelling wasn’t helping. Steven who was still barking orders was not helping.
His earpiece was now discarded to the side, and he just knows Steven will have a few choice words for him when they get back. He doesn’t care though, the plastic felt uncomfortable in his ear and in all honesty none of the words being said were registering. Perhaps by the time they get back he’ll already be passed out, or preferably dead, then he’d never have to hear the lecture awaiting him.
He blinks, slowly, the blue lights from his eyes almost seemed to spin. Almost. He squeezed them shut just for a moment and everything felt marginally better, even if it only lasted two seconds because of course Zapp was complaining that this was all taking far too long.
“Well maybe,” Leo forced out through gritted teeth, “I’d be quicker if I didn’t have some dickhead yelling behind me constantly.”
Zapp made a noise that Leo could only describe as a cat being strangled. Perhaps it was an attempt at a gasp. “Oh no no no, you are not calling me names right now, you weird eyed freak. Speaking of your eyes, can’t they speed things up a little bit? I got places to go. People to meet.”
“Zapp just let me-”
“You should know I am a busy man. A very popular, sexy, intelligent, busy man.”
“Zapp. Shut up.”
Surprisingly, he does. Leo wonders if his tone was harsh. Maybe Zapp could hear the strain in his voice. But he wasn’t a considerate man so why he would actually do as Leo requested is beyond him. The buzzing from deep within his mind was too distracting to think more on the matter.
Behind the shine of his eyes, he can feel a heat growing. It hums alongside the thumping in his head. All he had to do was find the last few letters of this name and then he could piss off home and sleep for eternity. However, sparks were appearing in his vision- blindingly bright and familiar. He tried his best to ignore them, clenching his teeth in a way that made his jaw ache all the way up to the back of his ears.
Scribbling another letter on the piece of paper in front of him, he searched for the last two. Only two more. He wondered if his handwriting was even eligible at this point, he hadn’t looked down to check.
The sparks had evolved into what could only be best described as flashing. It made his pupils ache. It only aided the migraine. It caused a rush in his ears and the only positive from that was he thinks Zapp was yelling again but this time it was drowned out by the haze fogging his mind. Another letter was scratched into the page. He was never this slow usually. It was usually an easy task that was done in a matter of seconds and then Klaus could yell out a name and the whole case was closed.
Faintly, hidden between the stark blues and pure white lights he finally got the last letter. He doesn’t think he could speak, his jaw still locked shut in an attempt to ground him. Instead, he shoves the paper to Zapp and closes his eyes tightly.
Something is wrong though.
His eyes can usually switch off. He’s done his job and now he doesn’t have to find things that nobody else can see. However, he can still feel the warmth beneath his skin. The pulsating, the throbbing, the beats going again and again and again.
He thinks he can just about hear Zapp shout out the name. At least he’s not needed anymore because he doesn’t think he can move. His body swaying, eyes hot yet still shut. For a split second he tries to open them and winces at the bombardment of bright lights, sparks flickering at sickening speeds. He knows full well he’s overexerted himself. The countless times this has happened before.
He should’ve just stayed in bed.
He’s only here because Zapp literally dragged him out of bed by the hair. That’s when he just knew it was going to be a bad day. Maybe he should have called in sick. His head was already muddled by the time he got to the briefing and in all honesty the world had felt like it had been slanting backwards and forwards none stop. Would they have allowed him a sick day? He doesn’t think he’s seen any of the others call in sick. Ever. Maybe they’ll realise if he’s slightly off his eyes become more of a burden than usual. Then they’ll realise he’s not that useful and maybe get someone else to replace him. Maybe he’ll just die right now, after everything, his insides burning and his outsides burning. He can feel the sweat on the back of his neck, his jacket scratching at his skin, rough palms shaking his shoulders making even the dark void behind his closed eyes somehow twist and turn-
Wait. The rough palms shaking his shoulders?
Somehow, it brings him back for a moment, just enough to hear Zapp yelling, “Leo! Hello! Earth to Leo!”
This man does not know how to shut up.
Once again, he pries open his eyes and between the dazzling lights, he actually thinks Zapp looks concerned for him. Then the thought leaves as he is shaken again and the lights explode, darkness encroaches the corners of his vision and then everything is dancing around him tauntingly.
He tries to beg Zapp to stop but all that comes out is a strangled gasp.
Apparently, that’s all that’s needed. Whilst his body stops moving, nothing else does. He tries to blink it all away desperately. As if that will stop his eyes from staying activated. It doesn’t work and he can feel the pressure rising rapidly. He pushes the palms of his hands into his eye sockets, biting back another gasp. He’s trying to brace himself for what’s about to happen, yet it never gets easier. He’s had these goddamn cursed eyes for so long now and he can never stop this from happening. Useless. If only none of this had happened in the first place, he wouldn’t be stuck suffering. His sister wouldn’t be suffering. They could still both be happy and both be away from this literal hell. He knows he’s spiralling, and he can’t grip onto anything to stop himself from jumping into the deep end.
He palms his face more aggressively. God if only this would all stop- he can hear Zapp still fucking yelling- the pressure is unbearable at this point-
There’s a pop. Sickly and wet. A single bout of pain. He feels the blood beading at the corners of his eyes, it starts to dribble down the side of his nose.
He knew this would happen. It always does when his eyes get like this.
He opens them, he’s met with a moving haze. It’s dark and wet around the edges, the black taking an almost crimson hue. He can’t see more than that. A blur of movement, static in his ears. The thumping has moved down to his chest.
He goes to speak. To say anything. Instead, he gags, it rips at his throat.
“Don’t you fucking dare throw up on me.”
He thinks, in a very brief moment of peace, that if he threw up on Zapp right now then it would make this whole experience a tiny bit better.
Another heave is ripped from deep within his chest and suddenly it all comes crashing down. Everything that has piled up on him since this morning. Since he woke up with a splitting headache and didn’t have time to take painkillers. It comes down on him in waves. Bile rising through his throat, the vomit splattering down onto the concrete beneath his feet.
He thinks he might fall face first into it, but he feels a hand grab his. He’s pushed downwards until he’s kneeling against the stone. Another hand rests on his back. Its oddly comforting.
Coughs wrack his body, and another wave of sickness hits him. It forces its way out, stinging the roof of his mouth as it passes.
Eventually, he's left with stuttering breaths and a mouthful of bile. After a few dry heaves, eyes squeezed shut, when his body realises, he doesn’t have anything left to give, does it even out. There’s still a slight ringing in his ears and his head feels like it’s been slammed into a wall but at least he can no longer feel the buzz behind his eyelids. He wouldn’t dare test it though, right now the darkness is comforting.
A few seconds pass, “so, do you think you’re finally finished?”
He completely forgot Zapp was here. He should feel embarrassed. But there’s still a hand resting on his back. There’s still a hand holding his to make sure he doesn’t sway and fall. He’s too tired to be embarrassed right now. He’s seen Zapp naked after accidentally walking in on one of his one-night stands. A memory that has left a scar. Surely this isn’t the worst thing to happen between the two of them.
When he responds, his voice is dry and rough, “dickhead.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” he feels the hand remove itself from his back, “I’m taking that as a yes then. Can you stand?”
Leo exhales. He’s too tired to answer. He hopes Zapp’s smart enough to understand.
“Right then,” Leo feels himself get lifted up and then he’s lying on something smooth and leathery and realises he’s being carried on Zapp’s back. He always forgets how strong his teammate is considering he looks like he can be snapped in half easily.
“Hey- yes boss, we’re on our way back now,” Zapp’s voice sounds distant. He’s probably talking into the earpiece, “yeah, the kids okay right now, I don’t know about his eyes, but he can probably tell you more. Yep. Okay- understood. We’ll be there waiting for Gilbert.”
He also always forgets that Zapp can be responsible when he needs to be. It’s always surprising, considering he acts like an utter fool ninety eight percent of the time.
Leo is hoisted up, his legs supported by Zapp’s arms. He loosely dangles his own over Zapp’s shoulders, his head leaning into the back of the leather. They start moving forward.
“Boss says you did well. Also says you should tell us next time if you’re feeling sick though, we won’t force you to do the job.”
“Mhm,” He can’t help but smile.
He’s already drifted off to sleep buy the time Gilbert arrives to pick them up.