#maybe ill take some medicine if its worrying me.

[theouger]

i think the reason i overeat and stress eat chips at least some of the time has to do with wanting to have some control over when i feel nauseous

[ayrastv]

period? no problem.

sypnosis : the hsr men try to make your periods feel just a little bit better!

content : periods (duh!!), blood stains, just a bunch of fluff :3

pairings : aventurine, dr ratio, jing yuan, dan heng

tagging @lia-loves !

AVENTURINE ೀ

“what the..” you groan, your sleep disturbed by a sharp pain in your chest as you sit up. suddenly, you feel something strange between your legs— fuck.

you had completely forgotten your period was coming soon and did not bring pads when you were staying over at your boyfriends place.

and not only that, theres now a dark red stain on his expensive sheets.. oh no, what do i do..?

in panic, you get up and attempt to remove the stain, your cramps aren’t helping and his sheets are pure white, everything you do is futile.

suddenly, you hear aventurine yawn, his eyes opening from the noise. “mmf.. name?” his head turns to you, and then the red stain.

don’t get me wrong, aventurine isn’t completely stupid. but does he look like the guy to know anything about periods?

of course, his first thought is to panic, bombarding you with questions.

“why are you bleeding?” he asks hastily. “are you hurt?” he looks so worried, and you have to explain to him what a period is..

once you explain however, he feels a bit silly. all that panicking for what?

“ahhh, i see.” he chuckles. “well thats my bad..dont worry about the sheets, ill replace them.” he smirks at the apologetic look on your face, reassuring you its okay. he’s rich anyway!

“so uh..you need pads?” he asks, a little confused.

“yes aven, make sure you get the one with the wings.”

“the wings? okay.. what brand?” it was honestly cute seeing him so clueless. “any is fine.”

“do you need anything else?” he strokes your back, god he makes you fold so effortlessly. “maybe ibuprofen and some snacks…” you ask shyly.

“yes ma’am.” he teases you, making you smack his arm but its alright, hes overall pretty sweet, he takes some time to get used to your mood swings but he tries to lower the teasing by a notch.

VERITAS RATIO ೀ

you guys were chilling on his couch, he agreed to watch some movies with you. it was hard convincing him because he thought it was ‘a waste of time’.

you move closer to him, now holding onto his arm. you think the pain in your stomach is from the horror movie, but the feeling between your legs does not go unnoticed.

you’re not sure what to do, you’re hesitant to tell your boyfriend about it but ratio picks up on your uneasiness.

“is something the matter?” he raises an eyebrow. “if you don’t like the movie, we can stop no-“ you shake your head.

“um, veritas..” you look away. “im..on my period.” you admit shyly.

he immediately understands, nodding. he offers to help you clean up, preparing a nice bath for you. while you’re in the bath, he prepares his fresh clothes and a towel.

and you don’t have to tell him, he’s already out to the nearest medic store buying you pads (with wings) and medicine.

prepares some warm tea for you aswell while were at it.

you’re honestly baffled at how gentle and caring he is. ratio is a smart man, and he has studied about women periods so he knows how to take care of you and make you feel better.

definitely cuddles you after and reads a book to you.

JING YUAN ೀ

you were at your home when you got your periods, your boyfriend was on general duty currently even though he wishes he was with you instead.

you were curled up into a little ball on your bed, these cramps are gonna be the death of you, you swear.

you finally found the strength to get up and take some ibuprofen—only to find out you’ve run out. can your day get any worse? it does.

you decide you’ll live, its just some cramps after all.

you go to change your pad— youve run out pads now. isnt this great!

you’re FUMING with anger right now, these periods are making your blood boil and you really want to punch something, you take out your phone and immediately click on your boyfriend’s contact.

“home with pads and ibuprofen.”

“NOW.”

if jing yuan had to ever be scared of a text message, it would be this one. he doesn’t bother to think twice before he excuses himself from the seat of divine foresight.

he grabs the pads you need and ibuprofen and he welcomes himself inside your home.

he dares not to say anything as he hands you the items (as well as some snacks.)

you’re a little less angry once you change your pad and take some ibuprofen, you demand some cuddles and affection and all is well!

DAN HENG ೀ

you got your periods while he was away for a mission.

you didn’t wanna worry him or stray him away from his mission so you decided not to let him know, you didn’t want him to mess up afterall.

but of course, he soon found out because of himeko, as your boyfriend it was his job to take care of you! so you did get a lecture later for not telling him.

he asked himeko if she could take his place in the mission while he takes care of you, she said yes, teasing him about being smitten for you which caused a blush to spread across his cheeks.

he’d help you do mundane things, even if you were capable of doing them. he didn’t want you to lift a finger at all.

he let you chill with him at the data bank, he tells you about some unknown species from different planets while you rest your head on his lap.

instead of listening to his yap though, you fall asleep to his voice. his voice eased your cramps somehow, he’s just really calming to be around.

[blood-grove]

Werewolf Bites

pervious <- discomfort -> next stage of infection

tws; sickness , injuries , vomiting , violence, no use of y/n

parings: gaz x male reader (established relationship)

-> c/n - call sign

-> n/n - nickname

Fuck

You feel like you've said that too many times now.

But it was right once again.

The fluorescent lights were killing you as you squinted around the room your eyes landing on a blurry figure entering the room they said something something as they talked too your side.

It was all muffled you just stared up at them.

You probably look stupid now eyes all unfocused and ears still faintly ringing as your hearing came back staring up at them like a bug.

"..God you're probably too drugged up to even remember the past few days..maybe even too out of it to understand this again."

Again.

Hm.

You blinked as he came into focus finally.

Oh right, Kyle.

"Again?"

"..Yeah Lovie..nice to see you awake again you've been in and out of it..How's the shoulder..?"

Right the bite.

You could barely feel it really but with a quick glance at it and more colors of bruises than the rainbow itself, you guessed the drugs were working great for you to feel barely anything.

"..Can't feel it much.."

"..Good..they upped your dosage enough the last time you woke you were sobbing near screaming in pain..I..It hurt to see you like that.."

"..Oh sorry.."

He just sighed chuckled as he shook his head and gently pressed a kiss to your forehead as he leaned down.

"Don't apologize..You've been through so much..Mission was a success though..The guys have been checking in on you too.."

"..Ghost too..?"

"Yes, love..I still don't understand why you think he hates you over a small prank.."

You just whined huffing it was a small prank honestly but it feels like you've done something horrible, You could blame your anxiety or whatever the hell else is wrong with you.

But you blamed yourself.

"..Try not to think about it much..Focus on healing up.."

And focus you did.

A day had passed and you fever had gone down.

They took you off your IV and finally gave you the all-clear for a mostly solid lunch a sandwich, some apples, medicine.

Water.

You had ate everything else swallowing your pills dry.

You couldn't stand the taste of the water though.

Maybe it was just your tastebuds being weird.

Next day you luckily got juice.

Gaz visited when he could ill you were eventually back up on your feet with a still sore and off-colored shoulder.

You'd still have to get some checkups for it it would have returned back to its normal color by now you weren't that worried though you were feeling great really.

You were told to take it easy minimal training meant you were still benched on Price's order and your begrudging acceptance.

But there were pros the main being that now you were cuddled up gently with Gaz who carded his hand gently through your hair peppering kisses along your face grinning.

"I missed you so much.."

"You saw me everyday.."

"I..I mean I missed holding you..Being close like this with you.."

"..I missed you too."

God, you didn't know how you got with such an incredible man.

Luck? Pity?

Maybe both.

The day you confessed you honestly thought your heart would give out when he just giggled.

That sly man of course had to tease you he already knew the rest of team knew your schoolgirl crush on Kyle.

You weren't subtle about it.

Following him around and 'coincidentally' ending up in the same room as him.

Just being close to him made you feel all fuzzy, You didnt want to be seen as a creep but you just loved everything about him.

You both never talked about marriage but you'd give everything you had to be with him to please him the lingering fear of showing such love to him still hung around.

You fear you'd break if he left you.

Us.

"Love?"

"Mm..?"

Oh he was looking at you all concerned.

Why.

Did you do something wrong? You didnt mean too.

Please dont be upset.

"You whined..Is it your shoulder..?"

"I did..?"

"Yeah..you did.."

"Its nothing.."

You shifted as you sat up in bed ignoring the tug at the back of your mind to sit and stay.

Why were you thinking like this now?.

"Love..c'mon speak for me please.. Whatever ever it is you can tell me."

"I-..I don't know..I just..feel off.."

"You must be..youve been cooped up in the medical ward for days.."

"Yeah..I guess its that.."

You sighed as you felt him gently kiss your sore shoulder.

"Hows the shoulder..?"

"Sore..achy..but fine."

"Mm..Well thats better.."

He smiled, God that smile.

You didnt resist when he gently brought you back to laying down his hands gently glided his hands over your arms and thighs before coming back up to cup your face.

"Heh.."

"What..? Is..Is there something on my face?"

"If you mean the adorable look your giving me then yeah.."

"Oh hush.."

You both laid like that for a bit enjoying the quiet.

"Love you n/n"

"Love you too.."

a/n: hopefully this is good kinda of rushed the end

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

Galileo Galilei Main Story

Translations may not always capture the exact nuances or tone of the original text. Expect grammatical errors and inaccuracies. Not proofread.

(Who...?)

I wanted to open my eyes to see whose cold hand was touching my forehead, but my body refused to move, and I slipped into unconsciousness once more.

After checking Mitsuki’s condition, Galileo returned to his room and stood there for a while.

Galileo: “........”

After hesitating, he opened a drawer on his desk and took out a worn-out origami crane.

Galileo: “I thought as much...”

The scar on Mitsuki’s forehead, which he had just seen, and the story he heard last night about the origami cranes, triggered a memory in Galileo’s mind.

It was from the time when he traveled through various countries and eras, using the door.

When he arrived in a certain eastern country, he witnessed a scene where a vehicle was about to hit a girl.

Realizing that the girl wouldn’t survive, his body moved on its own. Before he knew it, he was holding the girl in his arms and lying on the roadside.

Girl: “Thank you, big brother. You’re my lifesaver.”

Although he had caused her a slight injury on her forehead, the girl smiled, and the origami crane she gave him as thanks was still in his hand to this day.

Galileo: “The girl I helped back then was Mitsuki.”

Galileo: "That was an event from when I traveled to the future, which means Mitsuki came from the future using that door in the mansion."

With the strange fate involving Mitsuki playing out in his mind, Galileo couldn't help but sigh as he sensed his own fate intertwined with hers.

Galileo: "Even if she doesn't have any special powers, it seems she's still the woman of destiny."

Galileo: "How ironic."

His self-deprecating murmur faded away into the room.

Mitsuki: "Mn..."

When I woke up, the sun was already setting.

I moved slightly despite the lingering heaviness in my body and noticed something gently resting on my forehead.

(Ice pack? Did someone take care of me?)

(Was it Drake? Or maybe...)

At that moment, I heard a knock.

Galileo: "Are you awake?"

Galileo entered, holding a fresh ice pack.

Mitsuki: "Were you the one taking care of me?"

Galileo: "You got injured because of me."

Galileo: "It would be embarrassing if you fell ill because of that."

He said this before I could respond, and a small smile escaped my lips.

(This guy really has a strong sense of duty.)

But whether it was out of obligation or genuine concern, it was heartwarming to have someone look after me.

Mitsuki: "Thank you, Galileo."

Galileo: "........."

He accepted my thanks silently and approached the bed.

My heart raced wildly in my chest as he removed the ice pack and placed his hand on my forehead.

(This is the gentle, cold hand I felt while I was asleep earlier.)

Galileo: "It looks like you're recovering enough to speak, but you still have a fever."

Galileo: "Rest a little longer."

Mitsuki: "Okay. Thank you."

After placing the medicine and drinks he brought on the table, he quietly left the room.

Though I was alone again, I didn't feel as helpless as earlier.

(My chest somehow feels warm.)

(Is it because he was here with me?)

Feeling calm this time, I drifted into another sleep.

A few days later, my health had fully recovered, and I resumed spending my days with him.

We passed through the door and found ourselves on another moonlit night, and each time, I witnessed him struggling under the miasma.

That night, I reflected on the various times I had seen Galileo.

(Why does he keep going out on nights of lunar eclipses?)

All I knew was that he was looking for something, but I still didn't know what it was.

Even though he was suffering, he took some time to recover and then traveled again.

Realizing that he was repeating such actions, I got worried.

(I can't bear to see him like that. I want to stop him for his sake.)

Every time I got to know him better, I found myself unsure of what to call the emotions I had towards him.

He was a frightening man with intense anger hidden beneath an icy, cold facade. Yet he was also compassionate, engraving his sorrow and pain onto himself.

(Seeing him like that is painful.)

Despite aspiring to destroy the world, he tried to help his brethren and even took care of me.

(He has his kind side too.)

Each of these extreme aspects seemed to be part of his truth.

(The way he appears changes from time to time, like the phases of the moon.)

But I still felt like I hadn't discovered the true "him" yet. Just then, I heard footsteps from outside the room.

Curious, I stepped out of the room to find him and Sidereus getting ready to go outside.

Mitsuki: "Galileo, are you going out at this hour?"

Galileo: "Yeah. Sidereus finds this place too confining."

Galileo: "Besides, the sky is clear tonight."

I noticed he was carrying a telescope in his arms.

(Maybe he's going stargazing while walking Sidereus.)

Suddenly, curiosity piqued my interest.

Mitsuki: "Can I come with you?"

Galileo: "Is that to get to know me better?"

Mitsuki: "Yes. You said you wouldn't hide or run away from me, remember?"

While it's true that I want to understand the real him, I'm also intrigued by his personal life.

After a brief moment of silence, Galileo spoke up.

Galileo: "It's your choice."

(Does that mean it's okay for me to go with them?)

Mitsuki: "Then, I'll go with you."

I quickly got ready and followed them until we arrived at a flower field.

Sidereus: *Bark! Bark!*

Sidereus ran around happily in the wide-open field.

Smiling at his puppy-like innocence, I looked at the sky to see the crescent moon and stars sparkling like gems.

Mitsuki: "There are so many stars out tonight."

Galileo: "Yeah. There are no clouds today, so it's the perfect time for stargazing."

He chose a spot and swiftly assembled the telescope.

Once everything was set up, he peered through the lens, occasionally lifting his head to gaze at the night sky.

For some reason, as I gazed at his profile, I found myself captivated by his eyes.

(Is this how he looks when he's stargazing?)

His amethyst eyes were filled with passionate longing, as if yearning for something unattainable in the distance, evoking a sense of melancholy.

(His eyes are really beautiful.)

I found myself admiring his eyes more than the stars.

Galileo: "Want to take a look?"

Mitsuki: "Huh?"

Galileo: "You've been glancing at me since earlier. Isn't that because you also want to see the stars?"

Mitsuki: "Yeah! I'd love to take a look!"

(Thank goodness he didn't notice I was admiring him.)

I stood in front of the telescope, feeling relieved inside.

It was my first time stargazing through a telescope, so I was really excited.

Mitsuki: "Huh? It's blurry. I can't see well."

Thinking I might have messed something up, I tried to adjust the focus, but...

Galileo: "Let me see."

(…....)

He leaned over me from behind, his warmth enveloping me.

As he adjusted the focus, my heart beat loudly.

(My heartbeat is so loud.)

(Why am I feeling so nervous?)

Galileo: "There, try looking now."

Mitsuki: "Ah..."

Galileo gently guided my hand to the telescope.

My cheeks flushed as I peered through the lens, feeling the warmth of his cold hand.

Mitsuki: "It's beautiful..."

I sighed in awe, seeing the stars before me.

I glanced up and saw Galileo looking at the stars with a serene expression.

Galileo: "No matter the era, the brilliance of the stars remains unchanged."

Galileo: "They illuminate everything on Earth, regardless of hatred or sorrow, urging us not to turn away from the truth."

(Truth...)

His words stirred something within me, reminding me of certain words.

------------Flashback-----------

Galileo: "Fine. If you're going to speak as if you understand everything, then go and see it with your own eyes."

Galileo: "See with your own eyes what I am trying to accomplish and what my true desires are."

---------Flashback Ends--------

(One of the few things I've learned about Galileo is his belief in confirming the truth with his own eyes.)

“But why have you not observed this instead of reducing yourself to having to believe the tales of others? Why not see it with your own eyes?”

The words from the book he lent me echoed in my mind.

(He's someone who seeks the truth with his own eyes.)

(Huh? Didn't I have a conversation about someone seeking the truth before?)

------------Flashback-----------

Galileo: "Even if the truth is revealed, if it's inconvenient, they'll be condemned and excluded."

Galileo: "I know a fool who pursued the truth despite knowing this and ended up with a life sentence."

---------Flashback Ends--------

Suddenly, his words came to mind.

(Could that be…)

(Could that be him?)

It was one possibility I had arrived at.

However, I couldn't bring myself to voice it because I didn't want to disturb him as he gazed at the stars with fervent eyes.

(If it's true that he got a life sentence, then what could have happened in his past?)

(I don't really know how he lived as a historical figure, but I know he supported the heliocentric model and left the famous quote, "And yet it moves.")

It was frustrating that I only knew fragments of his history.

(I want to know more about him.)

(I want to understand him and touch his heart.)

Those feelings grew stronger.

Galileo: "Had enough of the stars?"

Mitsuki: "Huh?"

Galileo: "You've been lost in thought for a while now."

Mitsuki: "I was just..."

I looked up at the sky again, swallowing the rest of my words.

Mitsuki: "I was just thinking that they're still beautiful, even though I don't know their names."

I made that comment to hide my true feelings, but then a streak of light flashed across the sky above us.

Mitsuki: "A shooting star! Did you see it!?"

Galileo: "I saw it. Don't get too excited just because you saw one."

Mitsuki: "Sorry. But it was so beautiful! It was over so quickly."

Excitement bubbled up within me, and Galileo let out a sigh.

Galileo: "I didn't expect to see this side of you."

(.......)

For a moment, I felt like my breath had caught in my throat.

The smile I saw for the first time was so gentle.

(I really don't understand.)

(What are these feelings?)

My chest tightened, and I found myself unable to speak.

As if a shooting star had fallen, a nameless, tiny sparkle settled in my heart.

Previous Part ╎ Masterlist ╎ Next Part

[exchangestudentnova]

Jushiro Ukitake first saw you when the whole squad 13 went out for picnic in celebration of their latest win. You, being one of the new recruits, did not feel much deserving to be celebrating a win where you only played a small role and did not confront the enemy at all. Nonetheless, you were there with your friends as you make flower crowns for everyone. "May I wear one as well?" You were startled and quickly rose to your feet and bowed, you did not expect the captain to come and talk to you personally. Ukitake smiled and let out a small laugh, telling you to drop the formalities for such an event and you proceeded to make a flower crown for him.

You noticed he talks to everyone with the same level of politeness and respect, with his fellow captains, with his immediate subordinates, with his squad members and even with newbies like yourself. But you felt something was....off. There was a glint in his eyes that seemed to be present only when he's having a conversation with you, but maybe you were imagining things. You interacting with him became a daily thing. He would call you in his office and give you a small chore and ask you questions about your life, which turned into hour long conversations.

You joined squad 13 because of its calm environment, but you still haven't had the chance to join the battlefield, the zanpakuto on your hip collecting dust. You decided to talk to the Captain, he'll surely help you right? Even killing a small hollow would be a big achievement for you. "Captain if I'm not interrupting, may I make a small request?" Ukitake looked up from the book in his hand. "Go ahead" "Captain I'll like to join my colleagues on the frontlines" He closed the book, making eye contact. "I see... so that's your request? I'll do something about it okay?" You were happy he listened to you, now you can finally put your academy training to work.

The squad was preparing to go the site where a huge hollow was spotted and during the preparations you got summoned to the captain's office. You hoped it would be about him allowing you to go there as well."Ah you're here. Please take a seat, I have important matters to discuss with you. I've also prepared tea and snacks for us" Ukitake ushered you to sit in front of him as the two of you created a strategy to approach the holllow. When the solid plan was completed you excused yourself, but as soon as you stood up you fell to your side, the last thing you saw was Ukitake's arms holding you before you hit the ground.

The sound of a man's cough woke you up. It was a dimly lit room, a room you've never set foot in before. " You're awake. That's good. Now let me help you sit up straight" You recognised the man's voice, of course you did, you've conversed with this man daily.

Ukitake held your hand in his as he spoke " I must apologise for my actions dearest, but what other option did I have? How else could I have kept you away from the pain? Don't worry the poison I add in your meal would not cause you any harm, just makes you a little weak. That's all. Being affected by a chronic illness has made me a bit educated in medicine, so you're in good hands. I'll take great care you. I will not let anything harm you."His hands reach out to the bowl kept at his side.

He scooped some soup into the spoon, bringing it near your mouth.

"Now say ahh..."

[lvxybby]

Flu Season (sick Kai Anderson x reader)

i lied in the warmth of my bed, the bedside lamp was on. it was past 9 o'clock at night already. kai was in the bathroom brushing his teeth while i waited for him to come to bed. he finally finished and hurried over. "im fucking freezing" he mumbled sitting on his side of the bed. he lied down then pulled the soft blanket up over his chest. he turned over to face me. "kai its 70 degrees" i said turning over to face him. heat was radiating off his body. his legs were pulled up to his stomach. i let out a sigh before placing my hand on his forehead, then cheeks, then the back of his neck. "you have a fever" i mumbled moving my hand back to rub his face. he sniffled a bit. "ok...you need to rest and ill get you medicine tomorrow...ok?" i spoke gently. "ok" was all he said before shutting his eyes. i turned the light off before i fell asleep also.

i woke up to feel kai cuddled into my side, still asleep. he was moving around quite a bit. i let out a hum before getting out of bed. i looked at the clock on our dresser. it was only 8:30. kai would usually be awake at this time, but it makes sense that hes not and its best i let him get sleep. i placed a soft kiss on his head before going to get him some medicine. we only had liquid medicine he hates it but hes going to have to get over it. i agreed to take care of him when i agreed to be in a relationship with him. i placed it on the kitchen table along with some water to wash it down with. i knew it would be a while for him to get up so i continued with my regular morning routine.

i was scrolling on endlessly on twitter and sipping my coffee on the couch until i heard familiar heavy footsteps trailing down the stairs. i turned around to see a very pale and exhausted kai. "morning. i got you medicine and i made coffee" i said smiling at him. he just grunted before shuffling over to the kitchen table. "i hate this shit" he groaned looking at me. "ok first dont look at me because ill just force you to take it. and second you need to get over it. theres water right there to wash it down with." i said turning my attention back to my phone. he scoffed before turning back to the medicine. he spilled the thick liquid in his mouth before quickly chasing it down with water. he sniffled again before coming over to me. he sat down next to me. "wheres winter?" he asked. he sounded sick. his nose was stuffed and his voice was scratchy. "with one of her girlfriends or something" i said setting my phone down to look at him. "ok" he mumbled. "c'mere...does your throat hurt or do you have any body aches? maybe fatigue?" i asked as i put my hand to his head to see if he still has a fever. he nodded slowly. "ok you still have a high fever...you need to relax...sounds like you have the flu" i placed a kiss on his head.

kai was very quiet. mostly cause his throat hurt. i went back to scrolling on twitter. he looked over my shoulder to see. "want breakfast?" i asked abruptly. "sure..." he said rubbing his eye. "ok...what do you want?" i asked turning to him. "anything" he said. i smiled and got up to make breakfast. i like it when kais sick. i know he feels bad and is uncomfortable but thats not what im talking about. i like his attitude. hes more tired. hes more calm. hes not angry and doesnt get pissy easily. but the best thing out of all of that is hes cuddly. especially when nobody is around except us, he'll lean on my shoulder then eventually either have his head on my lap or will lay in my arms. i love it. plus it lets him get a break from everything. he doesnt have to worry about meetings. or city council. or anything else. i love it.

soon a colorful fruit salad was made. one for me and one him. i walked back out and over to the couch. "all done" i said softly, handing him the bowl of fruits and a fork. "want some coffee? you can have the rest of mine." i asked. "im not having anymore" i smiled. he nodded again. i handed him the cup. i turned on the TV to the news station. i didnt care for politics but some of the shit they say is interesting. so i dont mind. kai loves politics though. he may have just started getting into them but its what he likes. i eat my breakfast, my eyes darting back and forth from my food to kais face. hes so handsome. his face is sculpted perfectly. his beautiful eyes. his hair. there isnt a thing i would ever want to change. hes a very good looking man. "you ok?" he asked looking over at me. "hm? yeah im just thinking" i replied. "about what?" he questioned "you..." i say smiling. "what about me" he asked again. "about how much i love you"

A/N: im sick so i wanted to write a fic about kai being sick. sorry i havent been writing alot.

[secretswiftymarvelfan]

For your birthday celebration: can you do a biker!au of any one with the prompt “Babe, you look like you’re about to pass out”

Oooh yes I’d love any opportunity to expand my Biker!Ari universe! Its gonna need its own masterlist before long!

The Flu - Biker!Ari Levinson x Reader

You can check out my other Biker!Ari headcanons here and here!

Warnings: Flu! Biker Ari! (Because he needs his own warning!

Masterlist

The Flu

Ari decided to get the the bar a little earlier than usual today, hoping to spend a bit more time with you before your shift started

But as time ticked on and drew closer to your usual starting time, you had yet to appear

You arrived a whole 5 minutes late which was Ari’s first indication that something was wrong

He watched you shuffle behind the bar, shivering slightly despite the fact it was pretty warm out, tugging the sleeves of your shirt down.

“Hey Ari” you greeted “the usual?” You ask already grabbing the bottle of scotch, your voice all stuffy and tired.

“Uh yeah… is everything okay? You don’t sound great” he says his brows pinching together in concern.

“Yeah” you say waving it off “just a small cold, i’ll be fine once I get going and the meds kick in”

“You shouldn’t really be working if you’re ill, you’ll only get worse” Ari says shaking his head

“Yeah well nobody is available to cover so its this is or close the bar” you shrug as you move to wipe down the sides.

“I could cover” Ari offers but you shake your head.

“You’re not even an official employee, I can’t keep letting you work for free” you tell him.

“Well lets sign some paper work then” Ari shrugs.

“No Ari I’m fine I promise” you state making Ari huff but he decided to trust you.

Despite that he made sure to keep an eye on you.

Every time you caught him you would tell him you were fine but you definitely weren’t fine, Ari could see you slowly getting worse

It was when you stepped out from behind the bar and stumbled over your own feet that Ari stepped in. His large hands easily catching you and keeping you up right.

“Babe, you look like you’re about to pass out” he said, concern lacing his voice as he took in your pale, sweaty complexion and droopy eyes.

“I’m- i’m fine, just a funny five” you reason but you were still swaying.

Ari frowned holding the back of his hand to your forehead and hissing when he felt how hot it was “fuck babe, you’re burning up, you must have the flu”

“No its-its just a- just a head- head cold” you slurred blinking slowly as you tried to look up at him.

“You’re getting some rest now” Ari states scooping you up into his arm “and I’m gonna take car of you”

“Bu- but the bar” you managed to say already half passed out in his arms

“I’ll call in a couple favours, don’t worry they have experience” he promises

“M’kay” you murmur practically half asleep in his arms.

For the rest of your shift Ari split his time between caring for you in the back office and keeping an eye on the bar.

He made sure you took some medicine and brought you cold rags to place on your forehead to help cool you down.

When it came to the end of your shift he took you back home to your place and slept on your couch just in case you needed him in the night

SEND ME SOME BIRTHDAY PROMPTS!

Sleepy Prompts

Masterlist

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[slocumjoe]

companions react to sole being really sick but insisting to work anyways. they literally won’t sit down and they’re probably gonna fall out in a few minutes if they don’t

Companions react to Sick Sole that is In Denial

Aka the prompt that called high-school me tf out

Cait; Wrestles them into bed, hunts for cough syrup, force feeds. By wrestle, I mean "gently pushes until they fall over." Gives them alcohol and keeps away. Cait doesn't often get sick, but when she does, oh boy...Sole would never hear the end of it if she caught their shit. Will find spicy snacks for them to eat, to accommodate their lost sense of taste. Because Cait cares like that.

Codsworth; Absolutely not. Will use as colorful language as he can stomach to convince Sole to retire for a bit. Follows them around Sanctuary throwing a hissy-fit. Well...as much as Codsworth can throw a fit. Gets increasingly indignant. If Sole passes out before he can shepard them back home, he will consider duct-taping them to their bed, just for safety. He makes them soup and hand/claw-feeds them. Good luck sleeping with three robot eyes watching you like a hawk.

Curie; Pesters. Following them around with a rollup mattress for when they inevitably collapse. Recites a monolog about wellness and self care until they do. Very cross. Sole thinks they're hallucinating, seeing her glare and scold them. Makes their medicine herself; doesnt trust wasteland 'doctors' enough, and worries about such old, Pre-war medicine. Might start sticking things up their nose, or something, for samples.

Danse; A soldier refusing to seek attention and rest is not going to last long. He will also manhandle them, but not until they're already falling over. Makes a nasty ass...tea thing, that's great for colds/flus. Its. So. Gross. Danse knows how to make it because he himself refuses to stop working for sick rest. Hypocrite. If on the field, will personally tend to them. If not, leaves it to Cade, or any other doctor. Pesters said doctor enough he might get a clipboard thrown at him.

Deacon; Makes a similar, nastier tea thing. Spikes it with soda. Not to make it taste better. The soda is punishment to remind himself to never get sick again because it makes it fucking demonic. It makes Sole throw up and the force knocks them out. Rolls them up in a blanket burrito, raids the nearest pharmacy, and prepares a disguise. When Sole awakes, 50/50 chance they'll recognize its him.

Gage; What, is he their fucking mom? If they want to crack their head open passing out, that's their idiot choice to make. Except no it isn't, because he needs them alive, so Gage bitches the whole time, but he drags them kicking and screaming to bed. Throws medicine at them and tells them to quit being a baby. He's not getting too close to them right now. Hell. No. Also a baby himself about getting sick.

Hancock; Hancock isn't the type to tell someone how to handle themselves. He'll privately worry, and maybe hint that they should take a damn break, but until it gets bad enough they're half-way down to the floor, its not his business. When they're faceplanting, he'll step in. Also gives them some booze. He'll try to cook for them, but...uh. Chips and soda is good for colds, right? Right? [SOUNDS OF CURIE SCREAMING IN THE DISTANCE]

MacCready; Lucy was a doctor. He's got this. Or so he thinks, right up until Sole refuses to acknowledge their own illness. Okay. Shi–uuucks. What did Lucy do when he was being stubborn? Uh...that's not appropriate with Sole...what if he—Sole...? Sole–! Oh. Okay. That works. Just has to drag them into bed now. Spends extra caps for the good medicine, and for once, makes proper food. Sole remembers learning that he knows how to make his own noodles during this incident. MacCready tells them they were hallucinating.

Nick; Stands straight, crosses his arms, looks at them expectantly. Just waits. Grabs them before their legs give out, hauls them up over a shoulder, and straight to the doc's. Doc says bed, Sole is in bed. While they're out of commission for the week, plans out his lecture. It's not healthy for the brain nor body to keep moving when everything is telling you to quit. He's sarcastically coddling.

Piper; Also guilty of trying to power through. Piper is also an opportunist, however, and the moment she sees their guard fall, sees a moment of weakness, she's shoving them into their bedroom. Sole barely notices the change of environment. Canned soup, crackers, tea...and because Piper is just the best, she'll make them a dessert she often makes for Nat. Rice pudding, tarberry shortcake, she's even made honey custard. Something sweet and easy on the stomach.

Preston; Like Codsworth, chases them down begging them to just go the fuck to bed. Grabs them by the scruff of their neck before they hit dirt. Like Nick, sasses them the whole time, even if he is doting on them like a fussy mom. Remember Cait and her spicy snacks? Preston throws whatever spices he has into their meals. Hope Sole has a high spice tolerance.

X6-88; Grabs and warps to the Institute. If the Institute is gone, grabs and drags them to a doctor. He could try tending to them, but similar to Hancock, you will quickly regret asking. It's better to just have him go get medicine. He's somewhat fascinated over the concept, though. Cousers rarely get sick. And the once or twice X6 was, it was just an irritated throat or a headache. Sole is melting and yet they're expected to recover. Fascinating.

[strxbrymochi]

random when you're sick jaemin drabble

pairing: jaemin x reader (i tried to make it gen neutral djsjsjs)

words: like less than 1k ish??

warnings: mentions of sickness, illness, id say it be too close to home fr

synopsis: basically you're sick and jaemin's here to comfort you as much as he can long distance style.

note: a random ass drabble i came up w as im lying in bed sick for the 4th day and after a conversation i had with my mom bc i needed an outlet lol (its like 99% based on real life events other than the fact that i unfortunately do not have a jaemin with me 💔)

you absolutely despised being sick. okay, maybe sometimes you would be okay with it because it served as a formidable excuse to get out of work or your responsibilities for a couple days but that was when "sick" constituted to simply a cold or a fever that passes over the next day, not when you're tied down to the bed and the toilet every second of every day.

you wake up one day to shivers, brushing it off, you continue on with your day, heading over to work. on your way to work, you start feeling dizzy, nausea hitting you. you take a pill to calm down and make your way to your shift. today, you were working at a small fast food chain restaurant and if things couldn't get any worse, you were assigned to deal with the blowtorch. the heat from the fire and small space rushing all the way to your head but you push through, making it to the very end of your 3 hour shift.

making your way to your next appointment, you scavenge for food to hopefully give you back your appetite. you haven't eaten a proper decent meal all day; only crackers before you drank your pill. oh, and did i forget to mention, you headed into work with a 38 degree fever; claiming "to be fine" because you needed the hours to sustain your living expenses in a foreign country all alone.

at your meeting, you're met with fatigue. a wave of exhaustion rushes over you and coughing fits take over. your brain barely processing what was being discussed, only speaking when directly being asked a question. but still, you push through, ensuring everyone around you that you were going to be okay. that it will all brush away soon and that you really are just tired. your fever has reached close to 40 degrees.

you sigh, throwing your phone on your bed. on any other day you would have loved to talk to jaemin, especially now that you two were oceans apart. it killed you to know that if only you hadn't moved he would be right there and you could see him in person. that alone would've been all the medicine you need to get better. but alas, life had other plans.

the next couple days consisted of sleep, wake up, repeat. occassional trips to the toilet and visits from coughing fits disrupting your sleep that make you sound like you're entering into an entirely different dimension. you had absolutely no energy-- to eat, to move, to do anything really. when you said you needed a break, this wasn't what you meant.

jaemin would call you, or attempt to call you and you would pick up, if you were awake and if you were in the mood to speak. he would send you daily messages to drink your medicine, eat meals, get some rest. you knew he was worried and it killed you not to be able to ensure some type of reassurance everything was going to be fine. you knew if he found out what you had been actually doing, you would never hear the end of it.

one night you had awoken from your nap struggling to find something to eat, let alone the energy to consume anything. at this point, your stomach is practically bounded to an electrical heating compress to temporarily soothe your pains. you weren't sure if you were getting any better. your fever was relatively gone sure, but the coughs, stomach pains and diarrhea remained. let alone, that morning you almost passed out in the toilet, hearing muffled, ears ringing, vision blurred. all you could do is pray.

well, at least your sense of humor was back.

---

LOL such an abrupt ending idk i just needed an outlet to express how im currently feeling and whats been going on these past few days so if theres a delay with mtt or my other stuff i apologize once again 😭😭 need all the prayers and support i can get fr; being sick is one thing, being sick in a foreign country alone is another story. for anyone else who has gone thru or is currently going thru same thing, i hope yalls feel better soon and that know things will get better! bc i know thats what i need rn 🫡

[faiirybread]

undercover martyn︴ln4

⏳ in which..a girl streams to help her mom get better

CHAP. 1

❝and she spoke words that would melt in your hands ❞

march 03, 2023

📍massachusetts institute of technology

“thats all for today everyone, we’re gonna end a bit early, if you have any questions about the assignment email me after class.” the teacher said, wrapping up his lecture. y/n sighed, putting her laptop away, and gathering her pencils.

“y/n! wanna work together on the project?” her classmate, isabelle, asked. “yeah, sure! i have like, no ideas for it so that would be great.” y/n says with a smile. “awesome! i’ll text you.”

y/n finished packing up and walked out of the class, heading to the parking lot so she could go home, when she got a call from an unknown number. normally she would decline them, but something in her mind was telling her that she needed to pick it up.

so she did. she answered the call with a “hello?”

“hello, is this y/n y/ln?”

“yes, this is she. may i ask who’s calling?”

“this is charlotte, from florida hospital, we’re calling to inform you that sophie y/ln is here, you are on her form as an emergency contact.”

when she heard that, y/n gasped, “oh my gosh, is she ok?”

“she is being given medicine right now, but she requested that you come.”

“of course, thank you so much, ill be there asap.” she said, turning on her car and driving to the airport.

“thank you, have a nice day.”

“you too.” she hung up and kept driving, scenarios of what might’ve happened to her mom running through her head, until she pulled over.

head in her hands and gasping for breath, y/n started crying. crying because she was scared of her mom leaving her, just like her dad had, just like her friends had, but her mom never had.

and she needed to make sure she wouldn’t.

so, y/n pulled the car back on the road and drove to the airport, rushing in to find a kiosk that would sell her a ticket. she went to tsa, and upon seeing the extra security mark on her ticket, they pulled her aside for further screening.

after about 10 minutes of uncomfortable questions and searches, y/n finally got to her gate. which meant she had 20 more minutes of worrying before she could get on the plane. in the meantime, she pulled out her phone and started emailing her professors, explaining that she had a family emergency and would be absent for at least that day. as she had gotten a ticket so last minute, she was in the back of the line and had to squeeze into a middle seat.

after an hour squeezed in between two people in quite possibly the smallest seat ever, y/n got off the plane and called an uber to take her to the hospital. it pulled up quickly, and she got in.

“so, headed to the hospital?” the driver checked, looking at her in his mirror.

“yes, please.” she smiled to the driver and put on her seatbelt. “can you go fast, please? its my mom, i want to make sure she’s ok.”

he nodded and started driving, weaving in between traffic and quite possibly speeding at some points, but y/n didn’t mind. she needed to get to her mom, even if it meant she was in a bed next to her.

as soon as he pulled up to the drop-off area, she jumped out, and waved to him as a thank you. running into the hospital, she got in line to the front desk.

time seemed to pass slowly, seconds lasting minutes, minutes lasting hours, all the while her mind was running with possibilities.

what if she got in an accident? maybe she fell down the stairs? or burned herself cooking?

LUX’S NOTE..

welcome to undercover martyn! i hope you all enjoy (: im so sorry about the ending lmao, they have never been my strong suit. hopefully throughout this they get better though!

[v1vian-th3-f4nfic-wr1ter]

Willy Wonka gets a horrible stomach bug from overworking/eating too much of his chocolate with Noodle as a worried caretaker, please.

Willy Wonka and Noodle

Sickfic Drabble (Request) divider by: @cafekitsune

Tw: Throwing up (kinda detailed? but still there) slight wonka x lofty ig

Summary: Turns out overworking and letting your head of taste testing (Lofty) go on break A PAID DAY OFF and now willy ate too much chocolate and throws up and Noodle has to babysit

"SERIOUSLY?!" Noodle looked at the brown, chunky vomit, gagging "Nope, your cleaning that up" Willy sniffled "Oh come on its not that bad-" he throws up into a trash bin this time "Okay maybe a litte-" throws up again "Okay am taking the day off..." Noodle gags again, regretting breakfast

"Okay, lets clean up first..." They cleaned up and Willy laid on his bed, Noodle placing a trash bin next to him and tissues "Am going to get some anti nausea medicine, meantime, STAY STILL, and throw up there if ya need to"

By the time Noodle came back, the bin already had vomit in it "I told you to eat lightly since your taking over Lofty's job for the day" noodle gave the pills and water, he gulped the pills and water down "Yeah...i know..."

"But hes been working hard for me, he needed it" "So do you" Noodle retorts "Besides you pay him enough" Noodle rolled her eyes ans got some food for Willy, she gave it to him and sighed "Am going to babysit you for the whole damn week" "Language!"

Part 2 below

Next day Lofty is back from vacation, rolling in his comically small luggage and Noodle is panicking because she cant find Willy "Whats going on?" Sipping on hot chocolate with sunglasses on "Willy is gone!" "So, hes a random man who befriended you" Noodle groaned "Hes supposed to be in bed because he threw up alot yesterday" "Oh dear, well thats your problem" Lofty put on his sunglasses and rolled his luggage into his small room

Willy at the same time came out of the bathroom, fixing up his joggers, looking at noodle "What?" "WHERE WERE YOU?!" Noodle looked at Willy in shock "I had to pee so- you didnt know did you?" Noodle gave a gesture that suggests yes, "Sorry Noodle, also is Lofty back..?" Noodle raised an eyebrow

"By that look, he is, well tell him that-" "Tell me what, Wonka?" Lofty looked at the much taller man "-You are going to work overtime" Willy said, Loft walked into the kitchen "Not unless i get more pay, good day" "But-" "I said good day" and lofty poured himself a glass of wonka brand chocolate milk and sipped on it, Noodle is just sick of his BS

(Agh i cant make this into a draft so ill edit this later)

[black-rose-writings]

For a writing prompt I’ve had this idea of like an outsider POV of Kirigan’s Grisha seeing him be affected with merzost and are just talking with each other like “is he ok???”

Like maybe Vladim goes to deliver medicine and before he opens the door he just hears Aleksander coughing his lungs out. Or someone accidentally sees Aleksander with a healer as he’s dry heaving in a bucket and the healer shoos them away. Perhaps someone sees him outside at night cause he couldn’t sleep with his headaches. Just like little things that make them all raise an eyebrow at each other. Maybe it gets to a point where he just doesn’t wake up and they’re all like “is he dead??!!” but then a healer finds out that he’s fine he was just really sleep deprived and to the others they’re like “ahh just let him rest”

Not quite what you've suggested, but I think you will like it:

AO3 version

Price of Safety

Grisha don’t get sick. Everyone knew that.

And Healers knew that it was not that simple.

Plagues had no power over Grisha. Sicknesses that spread left Grisha unharmed.

Grisha only fell into sickness when they were weak. At least, that was what Elinor had always seen.

Wounds could get infected, but even that was rare.

No, most Grisha sickness came from denial. At the Little Palace, they called it suppression wasting, or just the wasting sickness. A body eating itself alive, breaking down because it lacked the power of the Making.

Elinor had seen it many times, working with other Fjerdan refugees. Elinor had lived it herself for most of her life.

She never imagined there was a way for Grisha power, for that euphoric feeling, like coming for air after almost drowning, to cause sickness. It didn’t make sense.

She had heard of Merzost, of course. Of the power that created the Fold and killed its maker. But it seemed like a fairytale. A scary story to make children behave.

And yet.

And yet.

Every victory, every group of rescued Grisha, he stood there, watching, looking pale, the aura of power replaced with the cold wrongness.

There was no wound to be healed. No single source of the illness except the power itself, the energy that protected them all but ripped him to shreds as it did so.

She remembered one of her first nights at the base. She had the night shift, taking care of the few injured they had.

“Do you need something?” she had asked.

He asked about the injured.

“I’m not sure there’s much more that can be done for them.” she had said. She was the only fully trained Healer there, at the time. And there were some things Heartrenders and Tailors couldn’t help her with.

“Would amplification help?”

She wasn’t sure what he meant, at first. Then he offered her his hand.

She was able to help the injured. But even with the power, she couldn’t help him. She only took more.

She worried what would happen once there was nothing more to take.

***

Vatra walked through the corridor, hands outstretched. Kirill followed her, hand on the wall.

“There’s a little bit here.” she stopped.

“Let me check.” he nodded, following the trailing his fingers along the wall, still. “The pipe seems okay.”

A cough echoed from behind the door to the master bedroom, where the general had taken up residence. The two of them looked at each other.

“Is he okay?” Kirill asked, scanning the wall lamp. “The valve on this one is leaking a little. It’s a quick fix.”

Vatra walked to open a window, letting the gas vent out. “The Healers think it’s the monsters. They’re Merzost.”

“Is he going to be okay?”

Vatra shrugged her shoulders. “Focus on fixing the lamp so he doesn’t get blown up. There’s nothing more we can do.”

“I don’t like that.” Kirill frowned, but he focused on valve, sealing the cracks. “It looks like the knob needs to get oiled. Then, there won’t be so much force needed and it won’t break again.”

“I’m pretty sure that’s your job to keep track of.”

“I’m just thinking out loud, Varvara.”

“Saints, chill.” she rolled her eyes. “I know.”

“Do you have something I could make a note on? So that people leave it alone until I get to it?”

“I don’t make a habit of carrying flammable things on me unnecessarily.”

“Right.” he sighed and forced the paint in the wallpaper to form the necessary message. “Actually… I have an idea.”

***

She slipped soundlessly into the room.

“Genya? Do you need something?” he asked her. He stood by the map, presumably thinking of the best road to take for the night’s raid. “How is your arm?”

Genya run her hand over the recently torn fabric. There were no signs of her clothes anymore, though the wound still lingered.

“As good as it can be.” she said. “Fruzsi asked me to talk to you. On behalf of her and the rest of the strike team for tonight.”

“If they want to stay and sleep, I’ll let them. They could have just come and asked. The camp is small, it will not be much work.”

“Actually, that’s what they wanted to ask you to do.” she smiled a little. “And they sent me because I’m the only one crazy enough to suggest it and the only one you might listen to.”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“They want to go alone. You’ve been stretching yourself thin to save us and we can all see what it’s doing. We’re worried about you.”

“It’s not as bad as it looks.”

“Forgive me for not believing that.” she shook her head.

“This is the safest way.”

“And what of when it kills you?” she raised her voice. “Will we be safe then?” He looked at her curiously. She rarely allowed herself to express her anger. “There’s enough of us that we can handle the regular attacks. If that power is killing you, it should be the last resort.”

“Sometimes, we need to suffer to change things. You know that yourself.”

“I’m starting to think you’re just a masochist.” Genya muttered. “You’ve just said it’s going to be easy. They know what they’re doing. Give them a chance.” she stepped closer. “We’re soldiers. This is our fight, too. You don’t have to do everything on your own.”

“It is worth a try.” he admitted.

“We’ve all seen what happens when we fail, Moi Soverennyi. And we’re not going to let it happen.”

[shirohige-pirates]

Just Like Fire

CisFem Reader x Portgas D. Ace

CW: angst, language, erotic, violence, serial killer, stalking, poisoning, over-bearing controlling parents, attempted forced marriage, possible dub-con, Munchausen by proxy (aka Factitious Disorder), wildly cute and fluffy despite the warnings. 18+ only

Summary: You're Sabo's biological sister in this AU. After college you moved in with your dear brother and his two sworn brothers in order to avoid going back home. You and Sabo despise your family equally.

Chapter 5: Sick

Sabo pinches the bridge of his nose and takes a deep breath before letting it out slowly. You’d just got done telling him about how the date went, and the threat that was obviously in Inchiji’s words. You could tell he was trying not to lose his temper.

Ace was trying as well, and you were almost certain you could see flames flicker around him. You hadn’t asked how Ace or Luffy were cursed, such a question was often considered highly rude in the first place, but you figured the two would show you when they were comfortable enough with it.

“Are you alright, at least?” Sabo asks finally.

You nod. “He was polite otherwise.” You admit. “Honestly, if things had ended sooner, I almost think I would’ve voluntarily considered a second date.”

“You know how mother would’ve reacted.”

“Yeah, but the devil you know and all that.” You sigh. “I mean, he seemed almost reasonable. Reasonable in the sense that I could have possibly just been honest with him.”

You wave your hand as Sabo looks at you. “No, that option’s long gone.”

“Yes, well, we’ll just have to hope he doesn’t try to push for some sort of accelerated timetable.” Sabo grumbles.

“… What do you mean by that?” Ace asks, piping up for the first time since you and Sabo had started talking.

You hesitate to put it to words and Sabo picks it up for you. “Nobility and all, is nothing but traditions, right?” He starts to explain. The way he looks at Ace makes you think that your brother had been giving his brothers a primer on things prior to your moving in. “Courtship has its own traditions, and usually takes a couple years from first date to an engagement announcement. All the rules and bullshit must be done properly. But in some cases the time can be condensed.”

“Most notably,” you say in a very quiet voice. “When one person involved is chronically or terminally ill.”

Putting it to words almost makes you feel defeated. A heavy silence comes over the three of you and Sabo sits down across from you, his face twisted in frustration. Your condition wasn’t widely known – your parents mostly kept it under wraps as you grew up, but if it could be used to herd you into the result they desired, then you were certain it would come out.

“What if you weren’t sick anymore?” Luffy asks. Ace nearly leaps out of his skin hearing his younger brother directly behind him. You and Sabo look over at him.

“Holy hells, Luff! When did you get here?” Ace swears, hand on his heart for a second.

“Marco said you took off from the station in a hurry, and I saw Sabo’s car speed by afterward.” Luffy says plainly. “Usopp dropped me off. He an’ Zoro were worried I’d be distracted.”

“Do you mean some sort of deception?” You question.

“No, let’s get Chopper an’ Traffy to look at you.” Luffy asserts.

“But… it’s uncurable, that’s why I -.”

“Traffy’s cured the uncurable before!” Luffy interrupts, stepping past Ace. “He saved his hometown, and they told him it was impossible. Chopper’s amazing with medicines too, maybe he can improve your medication!”

“Luffy, I…” You aren’t sure what to say. He seems so sure and adamant, but you’re torn. If you hope now and nothing comes of it, it’ll be heavier to go forward later.

“We won’t force you,” Sabo says. “But it’s better than my idea.”

“Better’n mine too,” Ace admits quietly.

“I’m almost afraid to ask.” You glance between Sabo and Ace, putting your hands up before either could say anything. “No, I am afraid to ask, keep it to yourselves.” You say with a small laugh.

Sighing, you lean back into the recliner and consider things for a moment. “Imperfect action is better than perfect inaction.” You mutter, before looking to Luffy. “I would be honored to be assisted by your friends, Luffy.”

“Yes!” Luffy jumps up in a cheer before turning to Sabo. “I need your help getting Traffy freed up.”

“Yes of course.” Sabo says, getting up and following Luffy as the two leave the house abruptly.

You look toward where they left and back to Ace in confusion. “Are they… going to kidnap him?”

Ace laughs. “Nah, he’s busy, they’re just going to help him free up some time so he can see you. Sabo’s good with the paperwork, so he went with Luffy to untangle the red tape.”

“That’s a relief.”

“Hungry?” Ace asks. “I know you said you didn’t eat much, and if your stomach’s settled, I can make you something.”

“Yeah, I could go for something. I can-.”

“Ah-ah-ah.” Ace puts a hand on your shoulder before you can get up and gently pushes you back into the recliner. “Just… relax for a bit. I promise I won’t make it spicy.”

“Very well.” You agree, letting yourself sink into the recliner a little.

Ace brings you something warm to eat on a tray, and a cup of tea to go with it. You were almost upset by the fact that he could make tea so perfectly. You’d spent ages perfecting your skills because you enjoyed it, but you had to admit that Ace did it better.

You eat a few bites, and you realize how hard everyone is working for your sake. You haven’t even been living with them for a full month, and you’d think Luffy had been your friend for years. It was almost more comfortable around Ace than it was with your own brother, not that there was any discomfort between you and Sabo.

It would be more comfortable if he wasn’t so good looking. No, it wasn’t that he was good-looking, he was, but that wasn’t the problem. The problem was that smile. The freckles. The way his hair shifted when he tilted his head to get your attention. That glint in his eyes when he challenged you to a drinking contest. The ease with which he braced you against that hose so you could destroy the books.

It was how comfortable it was to be alone with him like this.

How much you wanted to just -.

“Whatever’s on your mind is heavy enough I can feel the weight of it over here.” Ace says quietly his eyes on the TV. He glances over at you with an apologetic smile. “If you need more space, I can go to my room.”

“Sp-space? Why would I need more space?” You question, genuinely confused. If anything, you didn’t want to be left alone with your worries – Ace was a welcome distraction.

Ace’s face goes a little pink and he rubs the back of his head. “It sounds silly to say it out loud, but I mean, a guy you thought you could trust basically threatened you. I thought, without Sabo here, maybe I was making you uncomfortable? Since, uh, I mean, you don’t know me that well…”

You blink a few times, processing his reasoning. “Ah, oh – no, no – I mean… I mean, I k-know I can trust you, that’s – it’s not the same thing. We don’t know each other that well, but we know each other well enough – and I mean, I, that is…” You stop and put a hand over your face before collecting your thoughts.

“Thank you.” You say finally, moving your hand away and looking over at him. There’s a little confusion on his face, but that smile’s already forming. “I didn’t thank you for earlier, so thank you… And please, um… stay. I don’t-,” you look away, that smile’s already too much for your heart right now. “Want to be alone right now.”

Ace leans back into the couch, giving you that damnably good smile. “Sure.”

As you eat a little more, and begin to relax, you feel yourself starting to drift off. You say something to Ace, and he takes the tray away as you fall asleep. The day had been exhausting, even if the most stressful thing had been a conversation, somedays your body just couldn’t take it.

But it was a lot easier to relax and rest when you could trust the people around you. Back home, sleep never really felt much like rest.

When you come around you aren’t sure how much time has gone by, but Sabo and Luffy are back. The noise of them returning had woken you up a little bit, but it was Luffy’s excitement that pulled you completely out of your nap. Ace was glaring at the younger man from the couch, but his expression softened when he saw you smiling as you stretched in the recliner.

“Sorry, (Y/N).” Luffy offers up hastily as Ace yanks him onto the couch.

Sabo smiles down at you. “Sleep well?”

“I think so. How’d it go?” You ask, sitting up properly. Sabo’s smile nearly answers your question before his words do.

“Thanks to Luffy’s network, Law and Chopper will be able to see you on Tuesday. It’s a good two weeks sooner than I expected we’d be able to manage, considering how in-demand Law is.” Sabo explains. “But Luffy’s, er, mentor Shanks is a friend of two surgeons, and he asked Hongo and Crocus to cover Law’s scheduled surgeries. Chopper was much easier, Marco’s covering for him on Tuesday. Now the only question is – do you want me to sort out getting you out of work Tuesday? Or do you want to handle that yourself?”

“I… hm.” You think about it for a moment. “I would love your help, brother dear. I’m not really sure what I should or shouldn’t say in that situation.”

Sabo smiles. “It’s your first job, I’m happy to help.” He sits on a chair across from you. “I’ll record it for you, so you can learn from it if you want.”

You laugh a little and shake your head. “No, I’ve seen your theatrics at work, I can’t really do things that way.”

“If that’s all then I’mma go back to work!” Luffy says, jumping up from the couch.

“Oh, Luffy, wait a moment.” You call out as you scramble to get out of the recliner before he dashes completely out of the house.

He turns toward you as you open your arms for a hug. “Thank you.” Luffy’s face lights up as he comes over and gives you a hug. The air is pushed out of you as he lifts you up in the excitement of his actions, but he doesn’t hurt you.

“Luffy!” Ace and Sabo yell as he sets you back down.

“S’alright!” You gasp, coughing a little. “It’s alright.”

Luffy crouches down to look at you while you catch your breath, and when you straighten up, he very carefully gives you a gentle hug. You chuckle a little as you return it and the young man beams at you before he dashes out of the house with an energetic, “You’re welcome!”

“(Y/N)?” Sabo questions, coming over to you, a worried Ace not too far behind him.

“I’m okay, truly. He pushed the wind out of me, but that was it.” You admit. “I was caught off guard more than anything else.”

Your smile fades even as you keep your feet, and Sabo gives you a gentle hug. “Nervous, lil’ Spark?” He questions.

You nod. “Yeah.”

“Whatever the result, it’ll be okay.” Sabo says reassuringly.

“We’ll be here too,” Ace adds. “No matter what.”

“I just… I don’t know what to think.” You admit taking a step back and walking toward the kitchen. Ace and Sabo exchange glances and you give them a weak smile. “If… I mean, if they can cure me, then what… what were our parents doing all this time? If they can’t cure me then I suppose nothing changes, but… this sucks, Sabo.” You say the words and tears start to run down your face.

“I know… I know I’ve been doing my b-best, but it’s always there. It’s always a factor in every. Single. Damned. Decision.” You take a step back as you see Sabo step toward you and put a hand up as you start wiping your eyes. “Sorry, I… I’ll be f-fine, I just…” The words die on your lips, and you start crying again.

Frustration makes it harder to stop, and you’re embarrassed to be crying in front of people. You’re glad you kept yourself together while Luffy was here, you were already being a burden for two of them as it was, and the youngest had the softest heart. It takes you a couple of minutes to get yourself calmed down. Ace is already in the kitchen making some tea, and Sabo’s giving you the softest smile he can, holding a small box of tissues toward you.

“It’s okay.” He insists. “You don’t have to be okay in front of us.”

Your breath hitches in your chest and you nearly start to cry again. Sabo gives you a hug before you can get your face cleaned up, and you brace yourself against him until you can get the new round of emotions under control.

“That was dirty,” you pout quietly as he strokes your hair softly.

“Perhaps.” He admits. “Feel better?”

“Perhaps.” You answer and the two of you start to laugh. By the time you step back from him you’re almost fully laughing, as you wipe your face with another tissue.

Sabo motions to the breakfast bar as Ace pushes a cup of tea toward one of the seats for you.

“You boys are like to spoil me.” You say with a smile as you sit down and wrap your hands around the warm cup.

“It takes far more than a few hugs and a cup of tea to spoil someone.” Ace offers with a smile.

“It’s been a hug and two cups of tea between us.” You correct.

“Already hugged my sister, huh?” Sabo questions. “Luffy lasted longer.”

“I gave her a ride home on the bike!” Ace’s face starts to go red. “I didn’t hug the air out of her lungs like he did.”

“Ah, so you didn’t even hug her correctly. Made her do all the work.” Sabo teases, and you nearly sputter in your tea.

Ace motions as if he means to strangle Sabo, a tight, irritated, toothy grin on his face. “Look here you little shit-.”

“I’m taller, and older.” Sabo insists.

“You’re – By a TECHNICALITY!” Ace exasperates, turning away to make more tea for him and Sabo.

“Technicality?” You question quirking an eyebrow toward Sabo.

“According to the story,” Sabo begins.

“Garp wouldn’t lie.” Ace huffs.

Your brother grins at you. “According to Garp – ah, Luffy’s grandfather – Ace’s month was pregnant with him for twenty months.”

You almost choke on your tea, setting the cup down hastily.

“Why – how?!” You question.

Sabo and Ace exchange glances and Ace sighs. “My dad was wanted by the government.” Ace says. “Right or wrong, well, it was over twenty years ago, so I try not to think about it anymore, but Mom and Garp were both concerned about some stuff.”

You can’t bring yourself to ask with words, but Sabo sees your expression. “You know how the W.G. gets. The concern was, that they would try to abort his child.”

“Ah.” You say flatly, nodding a little.

“So anyway, old gramps said mom just… refused to have me.” Ace says, setting a cup of tea down for him and Sabo as he sits across from you at the breakfast bar. “An act of will, a side effect of some curse no one knew about, who knows.”

“But, back to the more light-hearted part of all this, Ace insists he’s older because he was conceived before I was.” Sabo says, giving you a devious grin.

“But your birthday is -.” You start to ask and Ace grumbles under his breath.

“January 1st,” Sabo answers on his behalf.

“Then you’re about 9 months… Oh. Oh I see where this is coming from.” You admit with a soft laugh. “If you had been born 9-10 months after conception your birthday would’ve been just before Sabo’s.”

“Exactly!” Ace says.

“But you weren’t.” You say, a neutral expression on your face.

Ace sighs and slumps against the counter. “Siblings.” He grumbles.

“You’re older than me, if it makes you feel better.” You say with a smile as he looks up at you from underneath a mess of hair. “I’m three years younger than Sabo.”

“… I’m trying to sort out the fact that you’re Luffy’s age, and there’s no way I would’ve guessed that.” Ace admits. “I knew you were Sabo’s younger sister, but I thought maybe by a year.”

“Years of growing up in a noble household change one’s disposition.” You shrug. “I envy Luffy’s capacity to still act so young.”

Ace starts to say something and then stops. “Wait, you graduated college at twenty-two!?”

“Twenty-one…” You offer hesitantly. “My birthday’s next month.”

Ace looks at you agog and then turns to Sabo. “You said she was kind, you didn’t say she was a genius!”

“I graduated from college early too!” Sabo snaps back, his ears red. “Don’t tell her I said she was kind!”

You look back and forth between the two of them, feeling like the cat that just caught the canary. You let them bicker for a little bit, and even agreed when Sabo insisted the only reason the two of you completed college so young was because you’d had all kinds of tutors and professors to help you. Both of you had completed your general education when you were sixteen and had enrolled in college when you were seventeen – the earliest you could be on your own legally.

“Still, it’s amazing to me.” Ace admits after the conversation calms down again. “Luff and I barely completed our general education.”

“You and Luffy had spent years in the jungle in his grandfather’s wild drive to have you both enlist.” Sabo says, obvious irritation on his face. “Plus, you both have respectable jobs, don’t let it bother you.”

“Envy works in all directions,” you say as you push your empty teacup toward Ace. “I would love to be able to do the job you do. Everyone at the station is so much livelier and more interesting than the people where I work. Ah – not that anyone’s mean or anything, there’s just a very different energy.”

“We’ll have to find time for you to visit again.” Ace offers with a smile. “Everyone’s been asking about you since the day we destroyed all those books.”

You feel your face heat up a little, but you smile from the warmer feeling in your chest. It was nice to be appreciated simply for being you, and not because you were nobility or any other such useless designation.

“Oh! We could celebrate your birthday there!” Ace offers with a wide smile, and you nod in response.

“That sounds delightful.” You agree.

“It’s decided then.” Sabo says. “May the city refrain from any and all shenanigans on July 15th.”

[clementinesandwine]

Sick Day

✧˖° includes~ fluff Gyutaro x Fem Reader; modern au

While you had spent your day cuddled up in the house, movies on and food delivered, Gyutaro went to class. Now, you didnt actually want to stay home and were actually very anxious, as missing class meant missing important material. And what if Gyutaro didnt get all the side notes discussed in class? How would you be able to study efficiently? In all honesty, you couldnt remember the last time you skipped class, but when Gyutaro came to pick you up this morning, he was adamant that you stay home. 

“You look like shit,” he said, as you opened the door. 

“You look lovely, too,” you state with a smile. Gyutaro smirks and pats your head. 

“Really though,” he starts. “You don’t look well.”

“Yeah, that would be because I’m sick. I just can’t miss class, you never know whats gonna happ-“

Gyutaro put his hand on the center of your chest and pushed you back inside. He was instantly anxious, knowing your weak, little body was fighting off some illness. And he didn’t want you to work yourself up in class when you weren’t feeling well because you might just die. So, with little effort, he picked you up and brought you back to your bed. 

“Gyutaro, I’m fine, seriously. I can go to class,” you said. You were getting frustrated because you knew this whole scene would make you late, which stresses you out more than missing class all together. Walking in and everyone staring? Absolutely not. 

“Sorry, weakling, but I can’t let you go to class. If I learned anything from human health class, its that humans need to rest when sick.” Gyutaro really didn’t understand why humans get sick, and considered it to be more of a character flaw than anything. He watches as you try to stand, but places his hand on your shoulder and pushes you down again. 

“Gyutaro, please?” you ask, looking up at him with the biggest puppy eyes you could muster. 

“Y/N,” he says sternly. 

“Gyutaro,” you say with a cheesy grin. 

You know you won’t win this argument, especially when he raises his eyebrows at you. “Stop treating me like a child,” you say sternly. 

“I will. When you stop acting like one.” You lay down. “Fine! But I’m not staying home because you said so, I’m staying home because I want to!” He smirks at your announcement and leaves the room. In the kitchen, Gyutaro is putting the teapot on the stove. He heard it helps this kind of situation. He begins to look around for something to eat, that way you dont feel sick on an empty stomach, but remembers he doesn’t really know how to cook. Ultimately, he decides to order in some food. The tea finishes and he brings it to you. 

“Here, drink this. Google says it will make you feel better. And take this.” 

He hands you a box of medicine he had taken from your bathroom. You slowly grabbed the items, still mad that he was making you stay home, but appreciative that he cared this much for you. He proceeded to grab your laptop and put your favorite show on before kissing your forehead and heading out the door. 

“I’ll go to class for you and get you some notes so you dont go crazy,” he says, looking at you with a smirk. You smile back and he leaves. 

Not even 20 minutes later you get a text from him. 

G: Are you dying? I looked up your symptoms and one of the causes says cancer. Have you been to the doctors recently?

You giggle to yourself and respond, reassuring him that you would be fine and it was just a little cold. That didn’t stop his worrying, though, and you received plenty more texts with the same sentiment. You also kept getting deliveries, whether it be food or hot chocolate or even blankets. 

Y/N: You can stop door dashing/insta carting me. I’ll be alright. 

This got you no response, and you decided to take a nap. 

𓂂𓂂𓂂

Gyutaro opened the door slowly. He hadn’t gotten a response from you in maybe two hours, so he assumed you were sleeping. His assumptions were confirmed when he peaked through your bedroom door. A blush crossed his cheeks. You looked so cute all cuddled with the blanket he sent over. There were candy wrappers, cups, and to go bags all over, making him smile. He knew you would need all that. Gyutaro quietly cleaned the room and climbed into bed with you, moving your hair from your face and kissing your cheek. 

You rolled over to snuggle into his chest and he swears he would do anything to protect you, even if you were just a weak, little human. He is unbelievably grateful that you chose to be with him. You are so gorgeous. Since the day you met, you had shown him nothing but kindness, always complimenting and sticking up for him. You are the reason he had become so confident in himself. He had become the luckiest guy in the world when you gave your heart to him, so of course he is going to make sure you are well taken care of.

[sageofthestrange]

PLOTTED STARTER CALL FOR @sanguisarcana

---

"Trading blood as if it were gold. Literally. Yet people still have the gall to ask me why I harbour cynicism? Usstan'sargh wael, Valeryana! Thinking you were somehow exempt from an encroachment of the past! Oloth enlighten me, am I not only a physical invalid but have I finally retrogressed down to a LOBOTOMITE?!"

"ARAJ" — The word in Valeryana mother's tongue for 'VENGEANCE'. Whatever cursed Matron birthed her was certainly on the mark in naming their daughter. Pah. Not like the wizard herself wasn't one to talk. Under agitated breaths and murmurings to herself, she found herself in a cycle in the outskirts of their 'palatial' stay in the great wilderness of the Shadow-Cursed Lands. Pacing, coughing, pacing, coughing—she eventually grew tired of it and even began to consider a vice she rarely indulged in, peeking and gleaming as if to mock her for the menagerie of troubles that wicked dilettante of the sanguine arts brings up for her.

No one knows. NO ONE CAN KNOW—

Another hacking fit of writhing coughing spells fill up in her lungs, covering her mouth with yet another washed hankerchief set to be soiled by this illness. Sickly lungs give way to increasingly acute coughing fits under stress. Relief graced her only for a little while—they haven't been like this, not for a long time, not enough to spill a palpable amount of blood into her hands. Enough to pool in trained, delicate palms. Trained, but weak. Studied, but infirm.

Living, yet dying.

The now-bloodied hankerchief is tossed to her side, into another pile of blood-soaked towels and a variety of medicinal paraphernalia she uses to treat herself, too bereft of energy to properly clean up. She found herself slumped against the padded seat of her cramped living space. It was further away from all the others, enough for her to usually suffer in silence, and privately. The way she preferred it.

Thing is, she isn't able to spend all her time pitying her own ills now, is she? She had others to worry about, and she liked worrying about them. Blood and its meaning. To share it with another—a myriad of ways to interpret that phrase. Heaving breaths slowly quell as Valerya takes hold of her staff and inch-by-inch, gaining her strength step-by-step, she musters enough energy and determination to grab two glasses and the illusively uncorked bottle of wine. Last time she partook was during the party after the defeat of the Goblin Camp, and remained sober still by that night's end. She went to bed alone that evening, in spite of some… budding developments she could've sprang upon. No one had to deal with the wretched form that was her body and so she saved herself the embarrassment and so, the invitations were left behind with only clever euphemisms and yearning gazes to lust after.

The least she could do was offer him a drink of some kind, if nothing else, even with his palette being disagreeable to the drink. Another reason to hate the dreadful visitation they came upon—Astarion was unnerved, and greatly so. She only felt it was right to stand up for him, realizing in the back of her head that he would've done it if she coaxed him, too. That even the way he must endure and feed himself in his undead existence—to not even be in control of when and how he feeds? She's seen abuse. Hells, her bloodline has actively perpetuated such possessive, monstrous cycles. But she refuses to, and did so with Astarion when confronting Araj. "He said NO." and that, as the Bards say, was that. Jackass or no (they all were jackasses in their own ways... save for Karlach, maybe), she couldn't help it. She was worried for him, regardless of all his attempts to push her away and close himself off from others (she herself has the same habits, make no mistakes).

Composing herself as best she can, the drow adjusts her staff as she treks down the path and towards Astarion's tent, blissfully located a little closer to the edge of camp and thusly tucked away. Shadows be damned or not, approaching the vicinity of Astarion's tent did not slither a sense of untold dread up her spine. Rather, Valerya found that it augured for... a moment of peace, between two who have now adventured together for quite some time.

She, as the "fierce leader" of this pack, steeled her own expression as she quietly approached behind him, sure enough that he could scent either the blood or the herbal decadence (floral lavender, sweet succulents and an airy note lilacs this time) her alchemical work is kind enough to provide her sometimes, masking the more physical troubles for her. The single prayer goes to him hopefully not mentioning or preferably, having not heard any at all of her hour or so of terrible flare-ups.

"Before you make some scandalized face," comes her typically weary but sharp tone of voice with a lilt of friendly amusement shadowing it, "I am as much of a nun as you are humble, so spare me the wide-eyed shock," the jab was her show of endearment, a commonality between... all of them, honestly, but Astarion provided quite the repertoire in their time together.

Sylphidine fingers curl around a wine glass, offering it quietly as her staff is set against one of the structure supports of his tent for her to subsequently lean on. An attempt to downplay the effects of the painful episode that occurred only moments before. Whatever struggles she was (and still is) having this evening, were being pushed aside. Why wouldn't she? Full lips quirk up, the lines of her face perking around them as she gives him a mixed expression. A smile laced with concern, her next words said quietly and furtively enough to ensure any eavesdroppers wouldn't be privy to their dialogue.

"Only if you want any, obviously. Drinking alone is sad, so I had to at the very least ask before I became the sad clown for the evening," another attempt at some levity to settle them in before slowly lowering the glass slightly, as the concern brings itself face forward, looking up towards him from her smaller frame.

"How are you doing, since our unfortunate run-in? I… have my own irritations with her, but the way she treated you in front of our faces?" Valeryana speaks her next words as if acrid poison got on her tongue, grimacing, having half the mind to spit at the ground in disgust if she had lesser manners. "No. Asking me to have you deign yourself for some fetishistic attempt at haemomancy? Please." a ragged sigh escapes from her as she shakes her head and focuses her pale blue-red gaze directly into his nocturnal, crimson stare, "I'm sorry, that you were targeted like that, is what I'm trying to say. My defense for you and your right to autonomy was genuine—never think otherwise."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry she did that to you and brought upon you that same look of horror you make when talking about Cazador," echo privately in the crevices of her mind, pushing forward that stone-cold resilience she'll die with before ever losing it when it comes to those deserving of it.

[opalimagines]

Whumptober Day 2 - Thermometer / Delirium / “They don't care about you.”

A sick Courtney tries to sneak out against doctor's orders

Character: Courtney Whitmore/Stargirl

Reader: Neutral

Warning: sickness/flu

"This doesn't look like 'bed rest' to me."

Courtney looked guiltily at Cosmo, then back at you, where you stood in the doorway with crossed arms. She quickly turned around and away from the wide open window. "I know Beth said to stay home for a few days, but we should be helping the JSA."

"They'll be fine, Court. I promise." You closed the space between you, taking her gloved hand. "The world will survive without Starwoman until you get better."

"I am better. I feel like a million bucks. Like I could beat the whole ISA all by myself." Really, she was trying her hardest to ignore the soreness in her throat as she spoke, and that annoying urge to cough.

"You look like you're only able to stand because you're holding onto Cosmo."

Under her mask, her skin was nowhere near its usual brightness, nor were her eyes, and she didn't stand as tall and proud as she usually would in her alter ego. She wouldn't be fooling anyone, least of all you.

"I'll be okay," she said, sounding a little less sure of herself than before. Part of her already felt like crawling back into bed and sleeping another few hours.

"Court, please. If you go out there like this, you could really get hurt." You gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I can't make you stay home. All I can ask is that you follow doctor's orders and rest."

Courtney bit her lip, looking at you for a long moment before glancing back at the window. She was sick of being cooped up at home, but she also didn't want to worry you or her friends if she went out crime fighting.

"Fine. I'll rest. But if some big emergency happens, I'm going."

"I'll make you some tea." You began to turn away, but you stopped and addressed Cosmo first. "Please let her get better."

Cosmo hummed in what you hoped was agreement, and you left the room again.

Courtney pulled off her mask and launched right into the coughing fit she'd been willing away. Hot tea sounded nice right about then, that was for sure.

Once that was over, she kicked her shoes to the floor and let go of Cosmo so she could peel her top off. She hadn't realized just how much energy it had taken to change into her costume and stand for a short period. Until she felt herself about to stumble face first into the closet door.

Cosmo quickly moved in front of her, catching her with ease.

"Thanks," Courtney said with a smile, giving her friend a pat. Cosmo made a soft noise and locked in that position, allowing Courtney to hold on as she continued changing back into pajamas.

Her body was practically screaming for her to lay down by the time she finally settled into bed, and Cosmo headed to its crate, allowing her to rest like you'd asked. Courtney glanced over at her bedside table, covered in tissue boxes and bags of cough drops and bottles of medicine. She prayed that would all end up back in the hall closet soon and that she wouldn't have to keep feeling like this.

You walked through the bedroom door again, fresh cup of tea in one hand and thermometer in the other. You placed the drink on the side table within her reach. "Beth asked if your fever's gone down at all since we checked it earlier."

Courtney opened her mouth, allowing you to place the thermometer under her tongue. As you waited for the beep, you gave her an encouraging smile. Seeing her look so drained broke your heart a little, but you knew she'd be back to herself soon enough.

"101.4," you said, showing her the tiny screen. "It's going down. Maybe you'll be back in action sooner than we thought."

"I sure hope so." Courtney grabbed the mug and took a careful sip of the hot drink. The Shade had brought over the good stuff when he'd heard of her illness, and she was glad for it as it helped soothe her scratchy throat.

Once you closed the window and climbed into bed next to her, and she looked over at you. You weren't sick at all, and you could've easily been out with the rest of the JSA instead of at home. But you were adamant about staying with her, even with several assurances that you didn't have to. She knew she didn't always make it easy. She smiled and said the words that came naturally between you. "I love you."

You moved in close and put an arm around her. "I love you, too."

Courtney happily rested her head against you. "Thank you...for taking care of me."

"Happy to help."

You kissed her head, and Courtney thought that maybe there was something to the whole rest and relaxation thing.