The Apple-Like Fruit
Mom figured the fruit that looked like an apple was why I was in so much pain after eating it. I agreed with her.
"Yeah, looks like that's it, Mom."
"I was fine because I'm a Healer. So, uh, what do we do now?"
"I'll tough it out and get through it, Mom. That's how you overcome stuff like this, right? Hng... hng."
My breath came in ragged gasps just trying to speak. But I was determined to endure. I couldn't leave Mom alone in a place like this.
"Hang in there, son. Mom's right here with you."
She gripped my hand tightly, cheering me on with desperate intensity. I forced a smile for her and fought the pain starting in my gut.
Time dragged on. Unfortunately, the agony didn't fade.
"Urgh."
All I could do was pant and groan over and over. I just kept enduring, enduring.
"Son!"
Mom had noticed something. I lifted my head with effort and looked at her.
"What?"
"This is the treatment."
"Huh?"
I didn't understand at first, but it clicked fast. Mom's face was resolute as she pressed her lips straight onto mine. I was in excruciating pain, but the shock of my own mother—the woman who'd given birth to me—kissing me and slipping her tongue inside made me forget it all for a moment, leaving me dazed.
Her tongue roamed wildly inside my mouth. In the process, I swallowed her fluids.
'Mom thinks her saliva heals when it gets into the body.'
She was transferring her saliva directly with her tongue since she couldn't just spit it into her son's mouth. Slurp. Slurp.
I understood her intent now. This was treatment. If I cared about Mom, I needed to get better fast. I moved my tongue to swallow more of her fluids.
Our act—part healing, part kiss—didn't stop. It grew even more passionate. I wrapped both hands around her head, pulling her closer as my tongue danced frantically, and she hugged me tighter.
Our mother-son bond of love and healing stretched on without end.
The next day, when the sun was high, I opened my eyes. Something soft pressed against me. Tilting my head down, I saw Mom asleep in my arms. That softness was her massive breasts squeezing against my side.
'I'm so recovered I forgot about yesterday's pain for a bit.'
Despite the agony last night, I felt refreshed. My body was in such great shape I'd momentarily blanked on what happened.
'Thanks, Mom.'
I gazed at her, the mother who'd fallen asleep worrying about her son. This woman who gave everything for me was truly precious, someone I was deeply grateful for. I vowed to repay her with all the filial piety I could muster.
'You clueless bastard!'
Even as I made that vow, my dick was stirring. Mom's leg had brushed against it carelessly.
'Am I really beyond hope?'
Ever since yesterday, it popped up at the slightest provocation involving Mom. Shame and self-loathing washed over me.
'This isn't right. No.'
I told myself to stop, but my eyes drifted downward anyway. Her outfit—baring everything but her nipples—filled my view. I took in Mom's figure, admiring it.
'She's my mom, but she's undeniably gorgeous.'
Mom had a refined beauty. She resembled a wholesome actress who'd been hugely popular back in the day, until she got busted for drugs and retired. Mom never touched that stuff, but she held her own against that star in every way.
'I'll protect her no matter what.'
Guys around the neighborhood had always eyed Mom hungrily. Even my friends sometimes gave her those lecherous looks. With the debts piling up, she started working, and the creeps harassing her multiplied. She never said much, but her frequent job changes screamed shady offers turned down.
I wanted her to see only good things and think only good thoughts. I swore to make her happy.
"Mom, wake up!"
With my resolve set, I stopped ogling her body and got up first, rousing her.
"Time to get moving, Mom. We gotta fill in the map before nightfall."
"You're awake, son? How's your body? Feeling okay?"
"All thanks to you—I'm perfect now. Not even a twinge."
"Thank goodness. Really, thank goodness."
Mom's eyes welled up with relief the moment she sat up.
Having survived near-death from the fruit, I chatted with Mom before heading out to finish mapping the place. It was mostly me explaining my take on things.
"Warrior Mode doesn't block all pain."
"Yeah. You're right, son."
"Probably just limits it to external wounds. Games do that kind of thing all the time."
"Ah—got it."
"We don't know how pain might hit next, so let's stay cautious until we're sure, Mom."
"Yeah, let's do that, son."
"And... I think we should eat that fruit again."
"What? After all that suffering?"
"Yeah. It's the best option."
"Why's it the best?"
"It's like building immunity to this alien environment."
"Huh, that makes sense. You're spot on, son."
"Eat it and survive. So I'll take it slow. Help me if it hurts too much, Mom."
I told her to help if the pain hit again after eating. It was mortifying to say. We'd ended up in a steamy kiss for "treatment."
"Of course Mom'll treat you. You embarrassed by your mom's healing?"
"It's not... I mean, not embarrassed, just..."
"You are embarrassed. 'Cause Mom's some old lady, huh?"
"That's not it!"
"Son, why get mad?"
"I'm not mad. Let's eat the fruit. You eat as much as you want, Mom. I'll go slow."
"Okay, son. Remember to tell Mom if it hurts."
"...Yeah."
I plucked a fruit. Mom happily munched the apple-like thing that did nothing to her. I watched enviously before taking just one bite.
'Adapt to it bit by bit like this.'
Mom and I resumed our exploration. We'd hit 47.1% mapped so far.
"Mom, let's rest here."
I suggested it and collapsed right there. I had zero energy left to move.
Mom approached and placed a hand on my forehead.
"Son, you've got a slight fever. How's your stomach?"
"Still okay."
It wasn't. A stabbing pain had started poking at my gut. The small bite hadn't twisted my insides like before, but it still tormented me plenty.
"Son, you can't fool Mom, you know that."
"Wh-why say that?"
"Mom knows everything. Just stay still."
She swept her hair back over her shoulder and leaned in close. I could only watch as her lips covered mine.
Slurp. Slurp.
We'd already kissed for treatment. Maybe because of that, our tongues found each other naturally, rubbing together as her fluids flowed in. We kissed for a good long while, and my stomach pain vanished completely.
"Better now?"
She'd been checking my face; the moment the pain left, she pulled back and asked.
"Yeah. All good."
"Good. From now on, eat your fill when you're hungry—no worries. Mom'll heal you right away. Speaking of, eat up now. You're starving."
"...Okay."
Unlike Mom, who'd eaten her fill, I'd barely touched any. Hungry as I was, knowing the pain was coming but trusting my growing immunity and Mom's healing, I popped more fruit in my mouth. She watched like a supervisor.
"Son, just curious... was Mom your first kiss?"
"Koff! Pfft."
Her unexpected question made me spit out some fruit mid-bite.
"No need to answer—I know. Keep eating, son."
She flashed a mischievous smile and urged me on, even patting my back. I was a little annoyed but couldn't retort. She was my first kiss.
"Sorry, Mom. For taking your son's first. But you get it was unavoidable, right? Mom had to save her precious boy. If it happens again, I'd do the same. Even if it went further."
"I get it, so stop. You're embarrassing me repeating it."
Listening to her just made it worse. I demanded she quit, a hint of irritation slipping out.
She leaned in, locking eyes. Her intense gaze made me look away. Then she grabbed my face with both hands, forcing me to meet hers.
"Nothing matters more to Mom than you, son. So don't be shy around me. I hate that. Got it?"
Her eyes brimmed with earnest plea. No other answer would do.
"...Yeah. I won't, Mom."
'I'm in deep shit.'
When she said not to be shy, my first thought was using it as an excuse to kiss her senseless. I hated myself for it. But that's who I was—nothing I could do.