This was requested by enby_ofdoom! Phantom, thank you for the request (your other request is coming, I just wanted to do this one first ahaha)! Anyone reading this, if YOU have a request that you'd like me to tackle, feel free to drop it anywhere and I will get it done!

This is another hanahaki fic! I'm not complaining, these are FUN.

Warnings are self-doubt, vomiting, and blood.

Setting is the Hermitcraft server.

WC: ~1200

Enjoy!

Just watching them sent a sick feeling to Iskall's stomach. Just seeing it happen made Iskall want to run away and never come back. Just hearing some of the things they said made Iskall want to stab himself just so that the physical pain would drown out the emotional.

Iskall couldn't help it.

Watching the love of his life flirt with someone else was rather painful.

Iskall clenched his fists from his perch in a tree as he watched Doc and Ren talk. No, not talk. Flirt. Iskall had seen this happen numerous times. Doc would approach Ren, they'd talk, Ren would blush, laugh nervously, sometimes snap at Doc, occasionally make Doc blush as well, and, on the worse days, Ren would get these twinkles in his beautiful chocolate-brown eyes.

It made Iskall's heart hurt.

And there was nothing he could do about it.

Ren was in love with someone else. That someone was Doc. And that was fine. 

But why was Iskall so jealous?

I can't be jealous, Iskall told himself sternly. Ren is your friend. Although you want to be something more, it wouldn't kill you to just be happy for him. 

Although he had told himself this hundreds of times, tears still burned in his eyes as he watched a blushing Ren nudge Doc playfully.

Iskall ended up leaving before his heart could crack any more.

Iskall sighed to himself as he placed leaves for his omega-tree. He wasn't being fair. Ren was allowed to fall in love with whoever he wanted. Who was Iskall to get in the way of that? Iskall rubbed his chest subconsciously, surprised that he felt an actual pain there.

Physical pain? Iskall thought with a cough. Seriously? Thanks, universe. Iskall coughed more violently, then froze.

A single yellow petal, drifting down.

No.

No.

No.

Please, no.

Iskall grabbed the petal, then rubbed his throat, which, now that he thought about it, felt sore. 

I have hanahaki.

Iskall's grip on the petal tightened. Panic and confusion swirled in his head. 

There are only two cures.

If Ren likes me back... that's not going to happen.

If I take that emotion-killing potion... that's not going to happen.

The blood drained from Iskall's face, and dropped the petal, letting it fall to the jungle floor. 

I can't give up my feelings. 

I guess... I'll just die then?

Iskall winced at the thought. But... what else was he meant to do? 

Nothing, Iskall realized. I can do nothing.

Except wait.

And that was exactly what Iskall did.

More and more petals.

Iskall did nothing except watch as the disease slowly killed him.

Iskall grabbed a bucket as he felt the petals build up. Kneeling over it, he threw up into the container. Once it stopped, he peered into the bucket. Oh, perfect, Iskall thought sarcastically as he noted the blood and thorns. He sighed despite the pain. He just wanted all of this to be over. Two months in and Iskall was tired of waiting. Tired of the bucket. Tired of all of this. Tired of avoiding everyone else on the server. Red and yellow had never looked worse. 

A while later and Iskall got the final symptom, other than death. 

Iskall felt an odd itch on his right upper arm. Curious, the redstoner ripped off his vest and hoodie, only to see...

Oh great.

Iskall glared at the little tulip bud. Yellow tulips had never looked uglier. Why, why did he have to have gotten this dumb sickness? Why can't I just die and be done with it?

"Iskall?" 

The redstoner froze at the voice. Possibly the worst one ever.

Iskall slowly turned around to see Doc.

Anger was printed all over the German's face, and he stalked over and grabbed Iskall's right arm.

"How long?" Doc growled. "And who?" Iskall winced.

"Erm... you'll get mad?" Iskall mumbled. Doc glared at him.

"I'm already mad," he snapped. "That you haven't gotten help yet." Iskall shook his head.

"I'm sick for your boyfriend, okay?" Iskall flared back. Doc let go and stepped back, shock painted across his face.

"You like Bdubs?" Doc asked.

Wait what-

"I- Bdubs- you- what?" Iskall stuttered. 

"Oh, right, you've been distancing yourself from everyone and not answering your communicator," Doc's voice was dripping with annoyance. "If you had been around lately, then you'd know that Bdubs and I started something." Iskall's eyes widened.

"Well, congrats," Iskall started. "But no, it isn't Bdubs. I- well- don't you like Ren?" Realization seemed to hit Doc, and a small smile toyed at his lips.

"No," Doc told him. "Why would you think that?" Iskall blushed, embarrassed. 

"I dunno, I always saw you flirting with him," he mumbled. "You two would talk, and he'd blush, and... stuff." Doc snickered.

"Iskall, that's because we were talking about you," 

WHAT-

"I had been telling him to confess to you for a while now," Doc explained. "But he's in denial. He refuses to admit it. He does like you though." Iskall's eyes widened.

"Does- does that mean I still have a chance?" he asked, his crackly voice hopeful.

"It does. Never call Ren my boyfriend again," Doc added with a wink, making Iskall avert his gaze.

"Sorry,"

The two of them made their way over to Ren's base. Doc told Iskall that he would leave, but Iskall had to tell Ren exactly what was going on.

"He's been worried, y'know," Doc told him. "He messaged you about a billion times and popped at your base about a trillion times, but you never answered or were there." Iskall winced as memories of hiding whenever he heard rockets flooded back.

Iskall landed on the black sand and waved Doc off, who promised to check on him later. Except...

Iskall rubbed his throat, wincing as he realized he forgot his bucket. Nevermind, Iskall told himself. I'll tell Ren. He likes me back, so there shouldn't be any problems.

"ISKALL!" said male's head whipped towards the sound, and there was a running Ren heading towards him. Iskall couldn't help but smile as Ren wrapped his arms around Iskall, crushing him in a tight hug. "Where have you been?"

Iskall couldn't respond. Pain was flaring up in his throat. He couldn't speak. All he could do was jerk away, turn around, then vomit while kneeling in the sand.

Definitely should've done this first, Iskall thought with a wince, sitting up once it stopped.

"You... you have hanahaki?" Ren's voice was laced with shock. Iskall looked up into his eyes. his beautiful, chocolate brown eyes that Iskall had fallen in love with so long ago. He nodded, answering Ren's question.

"Sorry about the sand," Iskall mumbled, kicking more sand over the bloody spot. "Also it's you. I'm sick for you." Ren's eyes widened.

"I... really?" his voice was no more than a whisper. Iskall stepped closer, putting his hands on the taller's shoulders.

"Yeah," Iskall murmured, his heart pounding in his ears.

Was Doc wrong?

Maybe Ren doesn't actually like me.

Maybe I-

Iskall's thoughts were cut off as Ren kissed him. He melted into it, relishing the feeling of the flowers and pain and thorns fading. Iskall smiled around the embrace, then pulled away.

"Why'd you do that?" Iskall asked, still very close to Ren, who smiled back.

"Anything for you,"

Yay! Phantom, thank you again for the request! That was fun :D

-Storm