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[flyingsolos]

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[flyingsolos]

And now it's my turn to fuss over you. You'd better be prepared, Akira.

[purrtagonist]

[not much to fuss over, he thinks. but he knows that'll just get him into an argument, so. . .]

After lunch, I think I'm just going to go nap again.

[flyingsolos]

Can I walk you back, then? When you're done, I mean.

[ She doesn't really want to get in the way of him resting and recovering, but it's been a good few days since she's seen him. The last phase of her fever had been bad enough to keep her firmly in bed. ]

[purrtagonist]

. . . of course. You can stay while I eat, too. Do you want some?

[he isn't about to send her away]

[flyingsolos]

Might as well. I kind of forgot what it was like to have an appetite.

[ Being sick is terrible, 0/10, do not recommend. ]

1/2

[purrtagonist]

[it comes highly not recommended by Akira too, to be quite honest]

It feels pretty awesome, I'll tell you that much.

[he reaches up to open a nearby cabinet and fetch her a bowl]

[purrtagonist]

[. . . and winds up opening the door and smacking himself in the face with the door]

[he jumps, but it's more out of surprise than pain]

[flyingsolos]

Akira?!

[ oh god what-- ]

Are you okay?? [ Is he bleeding? God, why is she even asking, he can't feel it-- ]

[purrtagonist]

[HE JUST]

[LOOKS]

[SO ANNOYED as he carefully, gently closes the cabinet door]





[. . . anyway yes he's bleeding, from a tiny cut over his eyebrow, but nothing serious]

[flyingsolos]

...

[ spare rag get. ]

Hold still for a minute.

[ And she's just going to pat at that cut. She hadn't thought about it before now, but... losing his touch is actually a worse thing than she realized. ]

[purrtagonist]

Huh? Am I--

[but before he can ask his question, Rion's hand touches the lines of his jaw, and the rag dabs at the cut on his forehead. he freezes in place, putting two and two together to think ah, I must've cut myself, before the belated realization sinks in]

[her hand is on his cheek. he can see it, in the corners of his vision. but he can't feel it. there's no brush of warmth, no gentle caress that makes him want to melt, or tilt his head into her palm for more. there's nothing but cold, empty numbness]

[something funny crosses his expression, his brow furrowing, eyes slipping shut. but he falls silent and doesn't move, which allows her to easily clean his new scrape. it clots fairly quickly, sooo no bandage necessary, really]

[flyingsolos]

[ It's hard to miss a look like that, especially when she's this close and focused specifically on his face. When his eyebrows furrow, Rion almost asks if it hurts.

But that can't be it.

Then...

Almost guiltily, because he seems a little pained, she lowers the rag and her other hand. ]

I'm done.

[ But the look in her eyes is one of soft concern. She might have... made things worse, huh? ]

[purrtagonist]

[Akira's eyes fly open when she speaks, and although Rion drops her hand, he somehow manages to snag her by the wrist before she can go too far. his grip isn't tight, but it's still firm]

[for a moment, he just stares at her hand in his, quietly disappointed at how he can't at all feel the shape of same underneath his fingertips. but then he draws her hand back towards his face, presses her palm against his cheek, and tilts his head into her touch]

[he can't feel it, but. . . he doesn't want her to go]

[flyingsolos]

[ Somehow, despite the nightmares that had left her screaming hoarsely, muffled into her pillow to keep from waking up Kou... and despite the tired way Akira had told her about why he hallucinated gunshots...

This evokes a more bittersweet sadness. They're at the point where they're feeling better, but Akira's still suffering. He can't feel her hand in his, or on his face, but he reaches for it anyway.

Instinctively, Rion's thumb ghosts over his cheekbone. He won't feel it, she knows, but... ]

It's okay, [ softly. ]

I'm right here.

[purrtagonist]

[Akira says nothing to that, although her quiet promise does warm him from the inside out. he opens his eyes again, takes her other hand in his and guides it to the opposite cheek. and then he settles, leaning forward, head bowed as he clings to the warmth he so desperately wants but can't, in any way, actually feel]

[it's frustrating. it's stupid. he thinks that maybe it's just the cherry on top of the whole shitty ice cream sundae, but the fact that he can't even hold his goddamn girlfriend's hands or lean into her when she reaches out to him sends his stomach churning]

[he knows he's just sick. he knows (he hopes) that it will pass. there isn't anyone at whom he can be righteously angry for this. but he sure as shit wishes there was, because at least then he'd have some direction for it]

[flyingsolos]

[ Rion is silent at first, cradling his face in her palms. It's unfair. She can feel his warmth, the softness of his skin, the slight puff of his breath, but he can't feel any of her own warmth in return.

Nonetheless, she doesn't move, only continues to gaze at him firmly. ]

I'll touch you as much as you want. Even when you're feeling better.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . slowly opens his eyes again to stare at her from underneath a lidded gaze. but even then, she can see the way his mouth twitches in amusement, threatening to break out into a full-fledged smile]

Wow.

[Rion!!]

At least let me take you out on another date, first.

[flyingsolos]

I was kinda counting on that.

[ Just as planned. ]

[purrtagonist]

[a huffed laugh, and he doesn't look away from her, like he's trying to search her expression for any indication of where the boundary is, here. in the end. . . he plays it safe]

Next time, I'm cooking.

[flyingsolos]

[ He really could just ask; the look in her eyes is warm and affectionate, with a softness she's acquired since this whole illness started. ]

Deal. I'll look forward to it.

[purrtagonist]

[PROPER ROMANCING FIRST, THEY HAVE ONLY HAD ONE DATE!!]

So will I.

[squeezes her hands and lets go, allowing her to pull back if she wants to]

[flyingsolos]

[ She lingers, pensive, and then goes up on her toes to press a kiss to his forehead. She'll take her hands back after that. ]

That was on the forehead, by the way. For a fast recovery.

[purrtagonist]

If it's you telling me to get better fast, then there's no way I can say no.

[he sounds fond]

[flyingsolos]

I'd hope not! You've still got all of those rain checks to take care of.

[ Good health first. ]

[purrtagonist]

All eleven of them, right?

[he's teasing]