Pairing: Declan x Champwan (I dunno the ship name so Decwan for now? Idk)

Art isn't mine and I dunno who drew it, but isn't it awesome?! Wish I could draw <3

Takes place around season two in case you were wondering :p

~~~

"One hundred and ten. You're sick." He removed the thermometer from my lips and I groaned weakly. I can't be sick. I haven't even been around anyone who's sick and I haven't been out in the cold at all, not to mention I wash my hands every five minutes and shower twice a day. How can I be sick?

"I can't be. The thermometers broken or something. I am not sick." I tried to sit up from the bed, but his hand gently pushed me back down.

"It isn't broken, you're sick. It's from being in this dastardly cold for the last month. You've got pneumonia. Now lie down and keep still, I need to go retrieve some things to treat you with."

"No I am not lying in a bed all day, I have things to do. I still have to clean the office and-"

"You are going to stay in bed all day and for the rest of the week, possibly even the rest of the month. Pneumonia is serious, you can't just brush it off and ignore it. You need rest and medicine. I will finish the rest of your chores for you."

"Please don't make me lay here all month."

"It's for your own safety. I don't want you getting any worse than you already are. Pneumonia is deadly, you know. You could die if it's gets too bad."

"How did I even get pneumonia? I haven't been outside!"

"You've been shut up in that room of yours for weeks and it's cold as ice in there. No wonder you've got it."

"Why didn't you warn me?" I hissed.

"I've told you plenty of times not to stay in there for long periods of time. You were too stubborn to listen, of course," he chuckled. I gritted my teeth together and tried to resist the urge to scream at him about what an insensitive brat he is. I don't like leaving my room, for more reasons than just being too stubborn to socialize. I have OCD and I hate germs. His forgetfulness to clean up his messes combined with the amount of germs in the patient rooms is a recipe for a nervous breakdown for me. He doesn't know that though. I've never really told him and I don't plan to anytime soon. It's not that I don't want to or anything, but...I just don't want him bothering me about it all the time.

"At least let me go lay down in my room? Please?"

"You can if you'll allow me to treat you in there."

"...no touching me in any way, okay?" I think I also forgot to mention that I hate touching. Someone else's skin touching mine makes me want to hurl. I guess it's part of the whole germ-phobic thing.

He rolled his eyes and sighed tiredly, which sent a pang of guilt through my chest. I didn't mean to make him irritated. "Yes I know," he replied chuckling. "Go on, I'll be in there in a bit. And take off that hoodie while you're at it, you've got a fever and you need to get your temperature down. A hoodie isn't going to help you at all."

He left the room soon after, leaving me in a state of complete panic. He wants me to take off my hoodie? But...I've never shown him my face before. He's never seen the scar. Would he ask questions about it?

"D-Declan!" The call was forced and strained, so badly that I cringed at it when I heard it myself. It wasn't long before he came back in with a raised eyebrow and his stupid clipboard.

"Yes?" He asked confused.

"Um, do-do I have to...I don't want you to ask any questions about...this." I motioned towards my face. He nodded emotionlessly, an understanding look in his eyes.

"I won't. And you don't have to call me Declan."

"I don't want to call you Dec..." It seems weird. Everyone else calls him that, were closer somehow. It doesn't feel right calling him Dec.

"What do you want to call me?"

"...I'm not sure."

"Well you can call me anything you want Ryley." He smiled warmly at me.

"Don't ever call me that again."

"What? Ry-"

"Yes, don't call me that."

"I don't want to call you Champwan though."

"I don't care what you call me just don't use my real name, okay?"

"But what's wrong with Ry-"

"DONT. CALL ME THAT."

He flinched at the sudden raise in my tone, and it made me feel awful. I yelled at him for no reason. What's wrong with me? Is it because I'm sick, is that why I yelled at the only person who cares about me?

He said nothing else. He left the room, slamming the door shut behind him.

God, what have I done?
~
Hours later he never returned to my room. The guilt was eating me by now. I yelled at him for no reason at all and he's upset. He was taking care of me and I just spit in his face for it. What's wrong with me?

I felt terrible. Not only was guilt taking over my body, so was the pneumonia. I was burning up, everything was stuffy and I couldn't breathe, I was exhausted for some reason though I couldn't go to sleep, and now I felt like I was shaking really badly. Maybe if I hadn't yelled at him he would've gotten me some medicine for this stuff.

Well I have to get it somehow. I'll just go find it myself if Declan's too upset to get it.

I sat up from my sweat soaked bed and swung my legs over the end, preparing to get up. As soon as my feet touched the floor, a huge pain shot across my chest and suddenly I couldn't breathe. I grabbed at my chest and stood perfectly still, hoping that somehow it would stop, but it didn't. I couldn't breathe. What's happening to me? Is phenomena really that bad that it cuts off your airways?

I think I tried to call out for Declan, but I ended up on the floor, clawing at my throat in a desperate attempt to get air into my lungs. There was nothing I could do, I simply couldn't breathe. Why can't I breathe? Why can't I breathe?!
Just when I thought that this was gonna be my final moments, that I would die right there in floor alone, something lifted me up from the ground and laid me down on something soft. I still couldn't breathe, but then I felt something cold being put on my chest, and suddenly my airways became clear again. Oh thank god.

"I told you not to get up. You should've called if you wanted something, I could've gotten it for you. I was in the back room making your medicine."

Declan. Declan saved me.

I pried my eyes open to see him looking down at me with a disapproving expression on his face. I felt like hugging him. So I did. I flung my arms around his neck and squeezed him tightly. I didn't deserve to be saved after how I yelled at him.

He didn't return the hug, instead standing perfectly still and clearing his throat awkwardly. "Is there a reason as to why you're hugging me?" He asked confused.

"Y-You saved me!" I exclaimed a little more excitedly than I intended to. When he didn't return the happy smile I wore, I immediately let my hands fall from his waist and tore my eyes away from his. Did I actually just hug him? Am I that stupid? I can't just hug my platonic friend, it's unethical. What was I thinking?

"Saved you? I picked you up from the floor. No more getting up, okay? I don't want you falling again. Lay back down so I can put on the rest of the vapor rub."

"Vapor rub?"

"The cream I just put on your chest. It's supposed to open up the sinuses considerably well. Is it working?" I watched him pullout a lump of clear cream from a small bottle and I shuddered. He rubbed that stuff on me? Is he insane? I told him not to touch me, and that includes rubbing cream on me. Does he not care about my preferences?

"And before you start throwing a fit, I washed my hands several times before even coming in the room."

"I told you not to touch me," I stated, annoyed.

"Ry-"

I physically flinched when he started to use the word, which made him stop abruptly right in the middle of saying. He took a deep breath and continued to take with an annoyed expression on his features. "What do you want me to do? I have to take care of you, there's no way around that."

"Can't you do it with gloves on?" I asked quietly.

He sighed and laid the bottle on my beside, exiting the room without another word. More guilt flooded through me. I don't want to be a bother to him. I'm clearly annoying the hell out of him with all my stupid preferences.
He came back a few minutes later, a tight line forming on his mouth and blue surgical gloves covering his hands. I guiltily stared at the ceiling as he silently rubbed the cream on the rest of my chest.

"I'm sorry," I murmured as he finished up.

He rolled his eyes and removed the gloves from his hands. "Don't apologize. You aren't a bother to me."

"You seem annoyed..." My eyes met his momentarily, but they weren't annoyed. They were warm and understanding, and his smile the same way. How does he do that? How does he make me feel so wonderful with just a look and a smile?

"I'm not I promise," he assured me softly. "Stop worrying yourself about it. You're such a worry worm." He ruffled the hair sticking out from my hood and laughed, while I grumbled uncomfortably.

"Shut up. Are you gonna to get me some medicine or what?"

"I will as soon as I check your throat. Take your scarf and hoodie off for me while I go collect my tools, I left them in the other room. Do you think you can go without falling off the table for two minutes?" He asked teasingly, causing me to blush at the embarrassment. He left after finishing a series of chuckles, and that's when the absolute horror of the situation sunk in. I have to take off my scarf and hoodie.

No one has seen what my face looks like in years, and none of the friends I have now have seen me without my face covered. Ever since I came to Mianite, nobody's ever seen my scar. That gives me a right to be nervous about it, right?
I reached my shaking hands up to my head and slowly pulled off the hood and untied the black scarf, letting it fall as soon as the knot was undone. Instant anxiety swept through me. Is it noticeable? Is it ugly and distracting? Oh gods, what's Declan gonna say about it?

And because the universe hates me, it chose that exact moment for Declan to walk in. He didn't look at me for a long while, instead toying with his tools to make sure they were working properly, but when he did I felt like running away and hiding forever. His he's landed on my face and his mouth completely fell open. I felt my face heat up and my chest tighten from the sudden surge of anxiety.

"What?" I snapped angrily. I resisted the urge to cover my face with my hands, even though I very much wanted to.

He tried to say something, but his mouth kept closing, then opening, then closing, then opening again. This happened repeatedly for a solid two minutes until finally he tore his eyes away and cleared his throat. "N-Nothing." He went back to fiddling with his toys, and my tempered flared at his lie.

"No it's obviously something. Tell me."

"It's nothing important. Now, let's go on with-"

"No, tell me." I crossed my arms in front of my chest and put on my best death glare.

"I just-...I didn't know you were so um..."

"So what?" Ugly? Nightmarish? Hideous? Disgusting?

"I didn't know you were so...attractive."

What. What? Did he just call me attractive? Did Declan, the priest of Mianite, just call me attractive? My strictly platonic friend that I've known for years just called me attractive?

"I apologize. I didn't mean to stare and make you angry, I just...I didn't know there was such a handsome face underneath all of that fabric. Why do you cover your face when you're so defined?"

Handsome? Defined? I blushed so hard my face felt like it was on fire. Or maybe it was the fever. I'm not really sure.

"M-My scar, it's ugly."

"Your scar makes you look even more defined than what you already are. When's the last time you looked into a mirror? You're stunning Ry- Champ! You're very good looking Champ. Um, I'm going to check your throat now." He practically shoved the small light down my throat, and I gagged a few times before he actually let up on the thing. By now my face was the darkest shade of red, both from embarrassment and because I couldn't breathe.

"Your throats swelled a bit so I'm going to go retrieve some um...something for that." He pulled the light back out of my throat and rushed to leave the room as quickly as possible. What's up with him? Is it because my face is uncovered? But that still doesn't explain why he's acting so nervous. He said I looked okay. Why would he be acting so weird if I don't look ugly to him?

Ugh. When did things get so complicated between me and him?

I closed my eyes for a second and took a deep breath. I need to relax. He's probably acting nervous because I was being an angry twat a second ago and making threats at him. I need to stop looking into things so seriously.

I drifted off in a world of dreams. Dreams where Declan was complimenting me over and over again with a warm smile on his lips.

They were the best dreams I'd ever had.
~
The next morning when I woke up, I found out that I'd gotten worse. Much worse. My fever was higher, I could barely breathe even with the vapor rub on, and I couldn't hold my eyes open long enough to look at something for more than three seconds. My body ached all over for reasons unknown, not to mention I was coughing so much that sometimes it turned into puking. I was a mess. It was driving me insane.

"Champ I know you're not well, but you must hold your lips open long enough for me to get the soup in. And you have to swallow it too. Can you do that?" A wooden spoon was lifted to my lips, but I shook my head, made a weak whining noise, and turned my face away from it. I don't want food. I don't want to put anything else in my body. I know it'll come back up again.

"Please? You haven't eaten anything all day. You can do it." He tried again, and this time I didn't even try to fight it. I was way too weak to protest another moment. "There we go! Was that so bad?" He asked so cheerfully I wanted to punch him. Instead I nodded slowly, letting my eyes fall closed again. Please let me sleep. I don't want food, I want to sleep.

"No, no sleeping. You need to put something in your body right now. Open up." He lightly slapped my face a bit, and in return I groaned in pain.

"Please...leave m-me alone..." I begged him with the most pitiful voice ever.

"Champ...you know I can't. Please cooperate. I just want you to get through this. Just a few more spoonfuls okay?" He gave me a pleading look as he held up the spoon again, and I whimpered as more soup was poured down my swelling throat. Doesn't he know that this hurts? I mean yeah it's delicious but it still hurts.

I managed to get through the entire bowl of soup, and he finally left me alone. Well...he tried to anyway. He got up to leave, but I made another whining noise and grabbed for his hand before he could. I think he caught on because he did stay and he held my hand as I drifted back off into sleep. It's not like I was scared and I wanted him to comfort me....I just wanted him nearby in case I stopped breathing in my sleep. Is that so bad?

"You look absolutely miserable. I'm so sorry." I felt a hand slip itself into mine and a thumb brush across my sweaty palm calmingly. I didn't cringe or pull away because I was uncomfortable. It was actually...really comforting, having his hand holding mine. I didn't think about the germs or possible bacteria on his hand, just how soft it was and how it seemed to practically fit perfectly with mine. He had large hands than me, but they were cooler and softer, and they made my burning skin feel wonderful. He made me feel wonderful.

"You feel...wonderful." I smiled up at him, despite the horrible pain and disgust I felt inside of myself. Maybe I'm being delusive. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if I was losing my mind. Why else would I be giving poor Declan heart eyes? I'm crazy.

"You are very very hot," he chuckled softly. I laughed too, but not how I normally do. It sounded more...crazed than usual.

"You're hot too," I heard myself giggle. Oh god. I've lost my mind.

"Alright Ryley- I mean-...ugh. I'm sorry. I don't know why I keep calling you that." He face palmed himself with his free hand.

"No no, call me Ryley. You can call me Ryley...nobody else though, nobody else is special like you," I giggled.

"Oh? And why can't anyone else? Why is your name so forbidden?" He asked playfully.

I frowned at the hazy memories attempting to resurface. "Mean people called me Ryley...nice people call me Champ."

"Mean people? What made these people mean?"

"They did bad things to me Decsie...s'why I ran away from home and came to you!"

"Decsie hm?" I saw him smirk at the nickname, though me in my sick state paid no attention to it. I only giggled again and nodded, playing with his fingers mindlessly as he stared at me.

"Well...I suppose since you're confessing everything in your sickly state, I should admit a few things too. It's not like you'll remember them later..." He sighed and leant back in his chair, still staring at me as I played with his fingers.
"I just...I just think you're positively wonderful Ryley. Even before you took off the hoodie and scarf I-...I thought you were amazing and now that you've taken them off..." He paused for a moment to smile at me and reach his free hand up to my cheek, softly brushing his thumb across it as he spoke again. "I don't understand how such a wonderful person could have insecurities like you do. If things were different maybe and I-...and I was somebody else, maybe then I'd have a chance with you Ryley. You don't understand how much I care for you. I'm never annoyed by you, I'm always annoyed at myself for not being good enough to make you happy. I could never be annoyed at you...you're perfect to me."

"Why don't you have a chance with me Decsie?" My sick idiot self asked.

Decsie only chuckled sadly. "There are so many reasons why, but I will narrow it down for you. I'm old, Ryley, I'm nearly as old as the gods. You're so young and-...I'm just too old. It wouldn't be right."

"Love has no age," I whispered softly. "Society doesn't decide what age we need to be in order to be in love."

"But it certainly does frown upon it. Not to mention Mianite's rules...a priest can't be with somebody. It just can't be."

"Stop being a priest and follow your heart."

"I can't just stop-"

"Why can't you?"

"Because it's my job Ryley."

"Get a new job."

"Which would be what?"

"Taking care of me," I giggled.

He had a laugh at that too. He was still petting my cheek and staring at me when I looked up from his fingers. Have his eyes always been so...dreamy?

"Ryley is it okay if I try something? It will be quick, and I'm sure you probably won't remember it later."

I nodded, still staring into his dreamy eyes. Without anymore questions or a single word uttered, he leant forward and pressed his lips to mine. Fireworks, fireworks everywhere, I could barely see the man in front of me because of them. I kissed back as good as I possibly could in my loopy state and knotted my fingers through his red hair. It was soft, just like everything else I'd touched on him so far. His lips were softer than anything though. Softer than clouds, I dare to say.

His lips were softer than clouds.

I decided that then was a perfect time to check out the rest of his body. I dragged my hands down his arms, smiling into the kiss when I felt how nice and strong they were. I felt of his chest next and it was the very same. How does he manage to keep in shape while being trapped inside this house for months? I don't understand it.

When I felt him trying to pull away, I whimpered and tugged him closer, murmuring a firm 'no ' before latching my hands around his waist. He chuckled into the kiss and pulled back anyway, despite my obvious not wanting him to.
"Sorry, I have to breathe. You're a wonderful kisser by the way. I half expected you to miss my lips."

"How could I miss them?" I murmured, pressing my lips back to his so we could continue our kiss. So soft. So many fireworks.

I hope I never forget this moment.
~
I did remember what happened when I woke up the next morning. And I nearly had a panic attack because of it.
Because not only did I have fourteen billion questions about the strange memories from last night, but I also had Declan holding me in his arms when I woke up. I felt like puking.

The position was sweet, the way he was coddling me in his arms underneath a huge pile of blankets, but there's still the fact that I do not like touching. At all. Cuddling sound cute to you? It's absolutely terrifying to me. I would rather be stabbed in the foot with a spork than cuddle with somebody. But Declan was cuddling with me, for unknown reasons, and he was not about to let go of me anytime soon. I tried to squirm out of his grip, pry his arms off me, pinch and poke and call his name over and over again, but he wouldn't wake up or loosen his grip on me.

"D-Declan! Declan please let me go, I need to get up. Please."

"Mmh...shh. Stop...worrying. Keep you safe..." He promised tiredly. I nearly choked on my own tongue when a pair of lips kissed my widows peak that kept my hair parted. Oh my god. He kissed me. What is happening?

"Declan you know how I am with germs, please let me go." I tried to wiggle out again, but he only held me tighter.

"You aren't really afraid of germs, you just like having control over something in your life that your parents didn't force you into. It's OCD and I understand it, but right now, please, just let me hold you for the rest of the morning...it would make me so happy..." He sighed contently and I shivered as I felt his lips brush against the back of my neck. He knows? How long has he known about it? His lips kissed the side of my neck next, and my breath was sucked right out of me.
"Mmh...D-Dec..." I almost moaned. Oh my god what is happening.

"Don't you mean Decsie?" He chuckled softly, the sound vibrating against my neck. I was melting. He was melting me.

"Declan what's happening?" I asked, exasperated.

"You're facing your fears and I believe you're winning." Another kiss, directly on my jawline.

"Th-This is sexual assault!" I screeched half heartedly.

"...is it really? I thought I was being romantic. My apologies." The grip around my waist left completely and the warmth that was radiating from the back of me disappeared. The amount of loss I felt when he left the bed was extremely surprising. Wasn't I just complaining about how close he was to me? And now I want him to be that close again, maybe even closer. What's wrong with me?

I angled my head slightly to the right, just to see where he had gone, but I ended up seeing a lot more than that. He was still sat on the end of the bed, stretching out his arms and yawning as he tried to wake himself up. I watched, completely mesmerized, as he stretched his toned arms and flexed his muscles slowly. Woah, wait a second, why isn't he wearing a shirt? Did he sleep by me without a shirt on?!

"So how are you feeling?" He asked suddenly, his bright golden eyes switching to me for a moment. I was too utterly lost in his gaze to even consider answering the question. His eyes are so beautiful. He's so beautiful, his whole self is...beautiful!

"B-Better." Which was a bit of a lie. I felt worse, like my whole body was on fire and freezing cold at the same time. I was still horribly congested and everything was blurry in its own weird way. At least the coughing stopped. For now.

"Good. I hope you don't mind me leaving for awhile, I have a meeting with Mianite I have to attend to." I watched him slip on his usual maroon shirt, frowning in disappointment when his beautiful upper half became covered again.

"A meeting? You never said anything yesterday about it." Maybe he told me while I was in my sick crazed state and I just don't remember.

"Oh he only told me a few minutes ago. He wants to meet with me today so we can discuss my breaking the rules."

"B-Breaking the rules? He's not...he's not gonna do anything, is he?"

"Well I'm going to be punished, I just don't know how yet."

"What?! But I was the one who got you into trouble! He should be punishing me!"

"You aren't a priest. You don't live by the same set of rules I do."

"It's not fair though!"

"I chose to kiss you Ryley. It is fair."

"But it's not! You shouldn't have to be punished for acting on your feelings! That's wrong!"

"That's the way it is, I'm afraid. I'll be back soon, okay?"

"Wait!"

"What?"

"I-I still feel really sick and dizzy! I'm afraid I might pass out, please don't leave me."

He rolled his eyes and laughed at my half baked lies. "Ryley he isn't going to kill me. He might relieve me of duty or at the worst kick me out of the church, but he would never harm me. Stop worrying, worry worm." He ruffled my hair and smiled warmly at me, but I was still extremely worried about him. Mianite is kind and understanding, but I've never seen him punish someone before. The very thought made me sick to my stomach.

"But you like being a priest, don't you?"

"I do, but I can think of a few other things that are more important than priest duties."

"What? What's more important than the job you've had your whole life?"

"You, Ryley."

"Me?!" I screeched. Me? He wants to lose the one job he's had his whole life for me? I rejected him and I was mean to him and he wants to give up something extremely important for me? Is he crazy?

"Yes you. I love you. I know I've never shown it before and you don't necessarily share the same feelings, but I always have loved you and I always will, even if you don't feel the same."

"I-...really?"

"Really. I have to go now, I shouldn't keep him waiting. I'll be back later." He gave me a small pat on the back and another warm smile, and then he began to head towards the door. I didn't want him to leave. I wanted to talk to him about everything, the things I've lied about for a long time because of my shyness. I wanted to confess everything to him. I let my shoulders slump and a frown take over my lips. Maybe later I guess.

"Unless...you're feeling a bit nauseous? I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I was helping a loved one and I was too busy to come. That is if you need me."

"Yes! I mean, uh...yeah, I'm feeling really really nauseous. Can you stay?"

"Of course. Anything to help a sick patient." He moved back to my bedside and slipped back in with me. I was hoping he'd take his shirt off again, but he remained fully clothed. When he saw the unsatisfied look on my face, he smiled and rolled his eyes. "Would you like me to be without a shirt, Ryley?"

"Yes please Decsie."
~~~~

THIS WAS SO LOOOOOONG UGHHHH

But I hope you enjoyed it! PRETTY PLEASE LEAVE ME A COMMENT OR A FAVORITE! It would make my day so much better. <3

Thank you!

- Lee