[WARNING]: Talk of previous sex. No details, but insinuation it happened and mention of some 'toys'. It's light, but be aware.

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Vanilla saturated the steam overtaking the bedroom in a gentle mist. Violet became aware of the scent first, then the sound of the shower. She rolled in the limbo between sleep and waking, trying to find salvation in Hisoka's warmth.

Ruffled sheets complained under Violet's clawed hand. She groaned in annoyance when her search came up empty, apart from the heat left behind, trapped within the cotton.

Cold-blooded man and his need for insatiable amounts of steam. He is the hellfire I crave, though.

After shifting in choppy movements, she snuggled into what remained of Hisoka's resting place. The sweet candy that was his natural musk and residual bungee gum wafted over Violet, relaxing her back to blissful rest.

The sound of drawers opening and items being pushed away to reveal the desired treasures within roused Violet again. She couldn't recall how long she succumbed to sleep the second time. The steam cooled in the air, and the shower was quiet. A soft groan escaped her throat but was muffled in the sheets.

Hisoka's hand encircled the back of her head and gently petted and ruffled her strands. The peck of his lips on her head rose goose pimples along her neck. His footsteps padded back towards the washroom before Violet could open her eyes, let alone lift her head.

It took far too great an effort to rise. However, she managed a version of sitting. While rubbing her eyes, she banished the fireflies of sleep back. Another groan sounded when her body complained about the pain. It surrounded most of her form, particularly between the legs.

As she recovered and could handle longer ventures, Hisoka explored much of Aiai with her. Their goal was to play all the games to collect cards. Violet held the spoils of their week-long date. An innocent and enjoyable venture she never imagined receiving with the Magician Grim Reaper.

The experience took a far more adult-themed turn over the last few days.

My curiosity is more of a curse than an aiding factor lately. Maybe it always was...

With fingers pinching her nose Violet recalled the first time she stepped into the 'naughty closet'. Initially, Hisoka let her explore unhindered, but she was far too aware of his villainous eyes. Every movement must have tried his patient resolve. But Hisoka succeeded in keeping his distance; until she brought a few things to him, asking about how they worked.

In retrospect, that was a foolish action. Although it depends on what I wanted to achieve.

Against her body's cry for rest, she stood and walked to the kitchenette, sleep clouding the edges of her vision. Sharp needle-like paint erupted from her right foot, forcing her mind into a waking state.

"Shit!"

Violet raised her foot as she stumbled. The metal clatter drew her attention to the item she callously stepped into. Releasing the throbbing toes, she bit her lip as heat raced to her face and between her legs. The sex toys used the night previous lay riddled around the floor. The metal spreader she assaulted was becoming a fast favourite, as much as she hated admitting such embarrassing kinks.

But it feels so good when he has his way with me while I'm in that stupid, dirty thing.

The kettle clicked as she started the boiling process. Several clangs echoed from the washroom as items hit the floor and scattered. It was nothing hard or alarming, but it caused Violet to frown.

"Hisoka?"

It wasn't like him to display clumsiness; he only showed calculated and controlled behaviour. The former was securely her territory. When his calming hum responded, and the kettled whistled to life, she left it for the time to pour their morning tea and coffee. Hisoka preferred his black some days and with sugar others, but today seemed like a black-only day.

"I wish we had cream, Hisoka. Can we pick some up from the desk today?"

Sugar was forbidden in her morning drink, making the packets they had useless. She set one beside his drink on the off chance he craved sweetness.

When he didn't answer, she prompted, asking, "I know you love that scandalous devil's dress, but could we get clothing today? I cannot move well in that skin-tight, thigh-high, sex-sells outfit you bought me. We will eventually have to move on, and-"

This time the loud bangs were far more significant and froze the blood in her veins as much as they startled the hot tea from her mug. It was seconds before Violet rushed to the partially ajar bathroom door and opened it fully. The scene on the floor churned bile dangerously high in her stomach. Flashes of Keff's skinned form laying in a similar manner face down on the ground tried to overtake the actual sight of Hisoka in front of her.

Forcing trembling lips to check themselves, she called with more force than was present mentally, "Hisoka! Hisoka, can you hear me?"

Red smeared against the vanity doors, indicting the trajectory of his fall. Violet stepped forward despite the dry, cracking throat that replaced her once blissful happiness moments ago. There was a calmness to her movements that was hard-earned after years as a field medic dealing with supernatural deaths and injuries. Her body knew what to do in times of emergency and acted accordingly.

While approaching, she assessed him for ailments, including a head injury. Nothing obvious screamed out, but she double-checked with her hands through his red locks that may hide blood by sight but not touch. No abrasions or bumps presented. Kneeling by Hisoka's form, she used every ounce of muscle to turn him onto his back.

Tears stung the edges of her eyes after flipping him to brace his head in her lap. The blood was dark and sticky, far too thick. It stained the floor as much as his chest. Even the best efforts couldn't stop Violet from placing a hand over her mouth as guilt replaced her better scientific-judgement. Looking further along the washroom floor, she found a white sheet and bandages. The back side of them matched Hisoka's skin.

"Hisoka, you fucking asshole! Texture surprise? Seriously!" she screamed with as much pain as heat. "Why did you hide this from me? You moron!"

A soft growl escaped the Nen master. He shifted slightly before going still beyond short breaths.

"Can you hear me? Hisoka?" Concern replaced the anger in her tone, and hope gleamed that appearances were worse than reality.

It was short-lived when he didn't respond further, and she noticed how pale his complexion looked, far more than his normal tone. She brought the back of her hand to his cheeks and neck, confirming the fever.

Turning back to the festering wound around his chest where she had sunk her blood-hungry nails less than two weeks ago, Violet took a deep breath. The tears fell down her cheeks, but she wouldn't allow any more to form. Work needed to come first.

"This infection is so deep, Hisoka." Violet pulled away flesh and dabbed at the blood. "And these towels aren't sterile. I'm not sure how useful any of this will be. You need antiseptics and antibiotics. Fuck you might need surgery to close this wound properly! It's past the point of healing by secondary intention."

She knew he couldn't hear any of it and spoke in far more technical terms than normal. However, the comfort of medical science, where there were many clear-cut paths with visible dos and don'ts, was all she could cling to. But in the same stroke, none of it was possible in their situation. She had no medical tools or medication to help.

"I didn't see a single doctor or hospital in any of the places we visited or on the maps. If there were one, you'd have taken me there, not to this place." She continued to clear his wound with gently flowing fresh water. "I'm not strong enough to carry you anywhere while recovering. Why did you do this to me?"

Lips clamped shut with tension after the last sentence. She knew it was unfair to ask him such a thing. And wholly unreasonable given her actions over the last year.

He's put up with the same behaviour from me without complaint. This sickness and wound are my doing. All because he was saving my useless ass from my own stupid behaviour.

Although the wound was larger and angry red, in Violet's professional opinion, it seemed slightly better post-cleaning. But they were far from safe. The injuries were profound, with lacerations leading outwards, and his fever wasn't overtaking his Nen ability to heal for no reason.

"I should have gone back to the hotel in Yorknew," Violet whimpered. "I should have done as you asked. Hell, I should have run to you in Heaven's Arena, not the airship port. Asked for help and not tried to deal with Zanko alone. All of this could have been avoided if I just went to you rather than running away."

Fingers continued to clear the infection, wipe the poison from the wound and flow water over it. But unwanted tears came strong with gasps from her mouth.

"Please, Hisoka," Violet begged. "I have no right to ask, given everything you've done for me. But, please don't leave me here. I cannot do it again. Not with you."

Hugging his head into her lap, Violet bent and sobbed into her wounded lover. It was several minutes before she could speak again.

She said into his hair between sobs, "I came back because I love you, and-"

She gasped as a hand coiled onto her neck and gently threaded through her locks. Unable to pull away despite the startle, her eyes shot open to see Hisoka's dulled but golden irises smiling back.

"Hush, kitten. It's only a small fever." His fingers tickled her neck and scalp from where a hand wrapped around. "No need to shed tears. You've cried enough the last few months."

"It's not. You have an infection that's overcoming your Nen." Violet shook her head. "It's serious, Hisoka."

His eyes shut, and his arm slipped lower. Violet caught it with both palms surrounding his large hand with hers. She kissed the bend of his fingers and heard him hum in comfort.

"I love when you hold my head in your lap, Violet. I want to stay like this..."

"I'll stay with you for as long as you want, my Wild Card."

"Forever it is."

Violet laughed and stroked his cheek. "Maybe a few hours. We still need to eat and live."

"Cruel. Making promises only to break them." He grinned. "I've taught you poor habits, and you're using them against me as punishment."

Violet rolled her eyes. "Stop. Tell your jokes when you feel better."

"I'm fine. You're close and staying with me despite my twisted nature. That's all I need and far more than I deserve."

"I'll always stay with you." Violet frowned. "But you need more than my doting touch. Medicine, professional care and more to start."

"Rest." Hisoka's voice was wavering as he descended back to unconsciousness. "Rest will be enough. Don't fret, my Queen."

"Hisoka, don't sleep yet. I need your help," Violet said. "I have to move you to the bed. I cannot do it alone. Hisoka?"

Groaning, Violet threw her head back as Hisoka passed out. With a deep breath, she prepared to move the giant of a man solo. It took perfect positioning and much grunting to pull him along the floor to the mattress.

Sweat dripped down her nose to the floor after the last push rolled his body into the bed. Violet steadied against the bed, waiting for the dizzy spell to pass. Once recovered, she moved to grab a small bowl and filled it with water before returning to Hisoka's side.

"Maybe all you need is rest." Violet soaked a hand towel and rung it out before dabbing Hisoka's skin. "But I'm not waiting around and risking it. Maybe there is a card I can find or a Nen healer. You mentioned there were whole hospital wings dedicated strictly to Nen doctors and helping illnesses of our kind."

Shifting across the room, she collected the ruby red dress from the floor with black stockings. It was the only outfit Hisoka provided. The remainder of her clothing didn't survive. Wiggling into the skin-tight ensemble was a task itself.

Inside the washroom to tame her unruly hair, she saw her purple eyes shining back. The streamlined dress revealed more cleavage than Violet liked as the red fabric moved from the shoulders, thinning to a triangle over her breasts to meet the black corset that hugged her middle. If that weren't enough, there was a floral design on the fabric on the side, revealing even more breast.

"I understand why this dress affects you so much, but now I have to walk in public alone in it."

Forcing on the black pantihose under the red flared skirt of the dress, she grumbled, spotting several holes and runs in the material surrounding her legs. Going to work on her hair as Hisoka taught her, she styled it as best she could with novice hands. Some longer hair survived near the front, helping to frame her face in a way she was used to seeing. It aided in her getting accustomed to the short style.

Walking out of the washroom, she walked over to place the soaked towel on Hisoka's face, neck and chest and cool the raging skin. With a frown, she stroked his cheek.

"I can't wait and do nothing. I need to help you." Violet bent to press her forehead against Hisoka's. "Please forgive me. I know you didn't want me venturing alone so soon. I cannot watch you die. I won't be long. Keep resting and fighting, Hisoka. I have every faith in your ability."

The door clicked as she opened it. Guilt encouraged one final look back at her saviour, lover, and partner.

"I'm not the world. I'll let it all burn to dust before I will let you suffer."