I was stretched out comfortably on the couch watching TV when Sora stepped through the door.
I smiled at him. "Hey, welcome back."

"I'm home."

I felt my heartbeat quicken as I related the exchange to a husband and wife when the husband came home from work...
But I shook the thought away to avoid blushing in front of him.
"How come you left to run errands so early?" I asked, hoping to avoid him picking up on my embarrassing thoughts. He stepped into the kitchen to set down the groceries as he answered nonchalantly. "I just thought I should get done."

"Hm.."

I eyed him quietly from where I sat, and since he was turned away from me, I assumed that he didn't know I was staring. Assumed.
Meaning, yeah, no, I was wrong.
He spoke without even looking at me. "Staring, are we?"

I quickly jerked my head back around. "I was watching the tv...!!" I choked out.
I had expected a witty comeback, but when he didn't deliver, I peeked over from the corner of my eye.
In that short moment, I spotted him holding his arm. My brows drew together at this. Had he hurt himself?
"You okay...?"
Quickly realizing I'd caught him, he dropped his hand and straightened his spine. "Oh, I'm fine. I just... Think I got a bruise. It was probably from the yard work, I'm sure it's fine."
Somehow I didn't buy it, and yet I didn't press any further.

*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*

I was watching Sora carefully throughout the remainder of the day, and caught him reaching for his arm several more times prior. Being completely honest, I was freaking worried. Was he really okay? I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.
When we climbed into bed the following night, Sora was quiet. He didn't even attempt to hold me.
I was completely silent, attuned to any subtle hints he'd drop. Sleep was the farthest thing from my mind.
Time had crawled on to around 12am when Sora started to shift, and I nearly jumped as an arm wound itself heavily around me. The minute our skin made contact, I could feel it. A temperature.
And not just any temperatureー his skin felt so hot it felt like I'd burned myself on a stove. Worry stinging me instantly, I turned in his arms to look at him. Or rather, I tried. His body suppressed me as I felt him lean all his weight against my back, his head resting against the back of mine. When he exhaled, his breath felt like the breath of a baby dragon.
"Sora...!" I yelped, my body coiling. He felt so hot I thought I would melt beneath him. But he didn't move an inch, or answer me.
My stomach twisting with concern, I forced him from me with every ounce of energy I could muster, reversing the roles so that he laid on his back, my body from the waist up leaned against his chest so I could peer into his face.
I could see the beads of sweat on his forehead, and his eyes looked foggy, barely held open. I pressed my hand against his forehead and felt the same intense heat as the rest of him.
I looked at him worriedly. "Sora, you're so hot..!!"

"... It's about time you said that..."

Even at a time like this, Sora was making wisecracks, albeit in a low, trembling, raspy voice.
"You have a fever!" I corrected.

"...ah... That would make sense... I've been feeling a little faint...."

"You're burning up..."

I pressed my hand to his cheek, my face tight in concern. Sora leaned into my touch, raising one of his hands to gently clasp my wrist.
"But your hands are cool..."
He pressed his face to my palm, seeming to relax at the lower temperature.
My hands were always coldー thankfully it proved helpful in this situation. Still, I needed to get help for him.
I started to part myself from his body to get Yuto, or some medication. Or both. "I'll go get Yutoー"
I had just started to move when he tugged my arm. "Wait... Don't go..."
I looked back at him and my heart just about broke at the sad look in his eyes, hazy from the fever.
It was dimming the light of his green...
As hurt as I was seeing it, I laid a hand over his which held me back.
"I need to get you help... I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise..."
The sad look in his expression didn't change as I pulled his hand from my wrist, giving it a light touch from my fingertips, hoping to leave some reassurance behind in my haste for the door.
Sora...
Hold on....