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When Finral woke up, he immediately knew he had a fever. The first sign was that he felt incredibly dehydrated. Which didn’t necessarily mean he had a fever every time, but he also had a horrible headache. Which also could be something else. Except he also felt extremely hot and just thinking was overwhelming. As in, everything felt like it was out of reach or too close. Not to mention, the bed was uncomfortable for no reason.
So Finral just instantly knew he had a fever.
He got out of bed, nearly falling over from dizziness. He had to walk downstairs for once, since using magic while being sick was always annoying. Using any type of magic while being sick, unless it was recocery magic that was healing you, usually would end up overloading your senses and would make you feel nauseous.
When Finral got to the kitchen, he immediately grabbed the biggest glass of water and drank it all in seconds. His head felt a bit better, and he noticed it was only 5 am. Which meant no one else was awake to keep him company.
Finral considered going back to his room, but he didn’t want to sleep and there was only paperwork to do in his room. And he was certain that if he had to even try to focus too hard on literally anything, he would probably throw up.
He sighed and wandered to the common room, proceeding to just curl up in a chair by the window. It was barely light enough to see anything, but at least the sky was pretty enough to keep him from getting too bored.
Eventually, he fell asleep again. He woke up, about two hours later to the smell of Charmy cooking something. Whatever it was, made Finral feel even sicker. He was fairly certain it was some sort of meat, as that was usually the main menu choice for every meal. But whenever Finral got sick, he couldn’t stand the smell of most foods.
So his only solution to avoiding this horrid smell, was to cover his head with his arms and groan quietly. He did not feel like moving.
Charmy, however, did not sense his imaginary transmission, which was basically just him begging in his head for her to stop and wishing she was a psychic who could hear it. Instead, she kept cooking.
Finral finally had enough and moved from his spot to head back to his room. If he was gonna do nothing, he would rather do nothing in a place that didn’t make him feel worse.
He was unfortunately woken up again by Asta’s morning cleaning, which made Finral internally curse the fact that other people existed currently.
Normally, he would’ve been able to ignore it. But he was sick, his head hurt way too much, and everything was overbearing. So he opened the door and glared at Asta.
“Could you please be quieter?! I’m trying to rest.”
Asta stared at him like an idiot. “I’m not being that loud! But I’ll do my best to be quieter!”
Finral retreated into his room and sulked under the blankets.
Asta managed to be quiet for a few minutes before probably forgetting and immediately going back to yelling as he cleaned. Finral didn’t feel like getting up again and trying in vain to get Asta to be quiet, so he continued sulking.
Everything only got worse when everyone else woke up. It wasn’t like all of them were loud, like Gordon who was as quiet as a mouse, or Henry who usually stayed in his room, but Luck certainly helped Finral’s headache worsen.
Magna made it even worse, since around Luck, neither of them could be quiet for anything. Vanessa wasn’t too bad, since she usually was too hungover to have any energy whatsoever in the morning. Maybe it was just because Finral was sick, but Vanessa telling them to shut up for once seemed louder than normal.
Finral already felt like he was in hell from all the noise, so it didn’t help anything when 30 minutes later, someone was banging on his door.
Could anyone just knock normally and quietly?!
Finral groaned, lifted his head from his pillow and did his best not to sound annoyed. “What is it?”
Of course, it was Asta. “Charmy sent me to get you for breakfast!”
Finral sighed and rubbed his eyes. “I’m not hungry right now.” He didn’t add that he would probably throw up if he had to smell whatever was in the kitchen.
Asta didn’t seem to want to accept that, however. “How are you not hungry?! Everyone always is hungry in the morning! Plus breakfast is the most important meal of the day! It gives you energy!”
Finral, once again, internally cursed the fact that people existed. Asta was being too loud for his headache. “I just don’t feel well right now-“
”YOU DON’T FEEL WELL?! ARE YOU DYING?! DO YOU NEED A DOCTOR??”
Finral silently groaned again. “No, Asta, I’m just sick! Now leave me alone, please.”
Asta paused. “Oh. That’s it?? Then you definitely need to eat! You need the energy to get better! Whenever I get sick, I always eat lots!”
”Good for you, Asta! Now please go away.”
After several more minutes of trying to convince Asta that Finral didn’t need to eat right now, and he just wanted to sleep, Asta finally left.
Finral sighed in relief as quietness filled the room. Normally, he could handle the yelling and all the unnecessary noise that everyone seemed utterly determined to make, but when his head hurt like hell, he couldn’t even stand the sound of his own voice or thoughts.
Unfortunately, his peace was soon ruined by Asta knocking on his door minutes later. Finral definitely was going to end up crying out of frustration if people could just leave him alone. At least Asta hadn’t been as loud this time.
Finral forced his face out of his pillow. “What is it?? I thought you were going to leave me alone!”
Asta was still too loud for Finral’s illness. “Captain Yami is looking for you!”
Finral couldn’t help but wish Asta had an inside voice. “Tell him I’m sick and I will not be taking him anywhere today!”
Asta didn’t even stop to think and instead got louder. “Come on, Finral! I don’t wanna be yelled at by Yami for not bringing you downstairs!”
Finral really wished people didn’t exist. “Well, that’s too bad, because I’m not leaving my room until at least 1 pm!”
Finral checked the clock. It wasn’t even 10 am yet. But 1 pm usually was the time that the base started to quiet down, since people were usually training outside, or on missions, and wouldn’t be bothering him.
Finral heard Asta walk off, and sighed in relief. He could only hope that Yami would decide to leave him alone. Of course, Finral also didn’t think that would actually happen.
It look two minutes for Finral to hear the sound of his Captain walking towards his room. Finral decided that the best idea, even though it would probably be the worst, was to simply ignore Yami all together, no matter what.
So Finral buried himself in more blankets and laid face down in his pillow.
Finral did his very best not to flinch as his door was slammed open way too loud. Finral couldn’t pretend to be asleep, since Yami’s ki reading literally made that impossible. However, Finral could do his best to ignore the guy.
Yami, of course, wasn’t happy with being ignored. “Oi. Finral.”
Finral decided to just bury himself in more blankets. He could practically feel Yami’s annoyance. But Finral refused to say anything or look at his Captain.
Yami glared at the back of Finral’s head. “Quit ignoring me. Asta told me that you claimed to be sick.”
Finral was now annoyed. Claimed to be sick? Rude.
Yami crossed his arms. “Finral, answer me or I’m making you train with me today.”
Finral decided now was a great time to stop ignoring Yami. So he lifted his head just enough to look at Yami. “I am sick, for your information. So go away.”
”Tch.” Yami grabbed Finral by the hair as Finral tried to melt back into his pillow. “If you’re sick, you need to eat something. It will help.”
Finral thought about eating. It still made him feel sicker. He also ignored how nice Yami’s hands felt and instead focused on the pain of someone holding his head at an awkward angle. So he adjusted his position so it stopped hurting.
“I told Asta I don’t feel like eating!” Finral currently couldn’t care if he was whining, since simply existing was currently extremely overwhelming.
”I don’t care. Either get downstairs and eat something, or I’m dragging you down myself.”
Finral decided he did not want to be dragged. “Fine. But let go of my hair! I can’t walk if you keep my head in one place.”
Yami almost seemed like he wasn’t going to let go, then decided that Finral eating was more important. So he let go and stormed out. Finral was so tempted to just reabsorb into his bed, but he knew Yami wouldn’t wait forever.
So he climbed out of bed and got dressed in his usual outfit. Even though his clothes weren’t really thin, he still felt pretty cold due to the fever. He shuddered and grabbed a blanket, wrapping it around himself as he headed downstairs.
Fortunately, Finral made it through breakfast, since Charmy had made something easier to eat specifically for him. Finral slowly ate his soup and ignored Yami’s glare the whole time.
When he finished eating, he finally noticed it was quiet. He glanced around and Yami seemed to know what Finral was thinking.
”I sent the morons out to the Capital so it’ll be quieter. You can thank me now.”
Finral glowered at his Captain and tried to go back upstairs, but Yami seemed to have decided that Finral being sick wasn’t an excuse to be lazy.
”Oi, Finral, you’re gonna help Charmy today.” Yami practically dragged Finral away from the stairs.
Finral still wished people didn’t exist. His headache was horrible now and the light hurt his eyes. “Ughh… why? What does Charmy even need help with?”
Yami didn’t answer and just passed him off to Charmy.
Charmy smiled at Finral. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing too bad! I just need help cleaning my sheep.”
Finral decided that maybe that wasn’t too bad.
After two hours worth of cleaning sheep, Finral decided that he never wanted to do this again. The sheep were not cooperative, and they had way too many ‘ingredients’, as Charmy called it, in their fur. Apparently this was something Charmy did every week. Finral did not envy her.
At least once that was done, Yami had left the base to train. Meaning Finral could finally sleep. So when he got to his bed, he immediately curled up and fell fast asleep.
When Finral woke up, he stumbled downstairs and got more water. Usually, Finral didn’t really care about water. It didn’t have much of a taste, but Finral still drank it, since he needed it. But when he was sick, water tasted so good.
When he finished drinking, he noticed Yami in the living room. Finral’s headache was feeling a bit better after some sleep, but he still felt overwhelmed by existence and didn’t want to do anything. So he tried to get up the stairs without Yami noticing. Unfortunately, he was not unnoticed, and he wasn’t aware until Yami grabbed him by the hair again, making Finral nearly fall backwards.
Finral tried to glare at Yami, but when his head was stuck in place, it was impossible. “Yami! Quit doing that!”
Finral got even more annoyed when he heard Yami snicker. “Sorry, not sorry. This is the easiest way to keep you in place.”
Finral grumbled. “You could literally just grab my arm or something.”
”I could, but I would rather grab your hair.”
Finral resigned to his fate and let Yami lead him to the living room. Finral was just praying that he wouldn’t need to work.
If any god is listening to me, please let Yami not put me to work!
Finral didn’t really believe there was a higher power, but if his prayers were answered, he might just convert.
Luckily, Yami did not seem to want to put him to work and instead made Finral lay down on the couch. Finral was somewhat confused, but simply happy that he got to slack off.
”You’re staying down here for now so I can make sure you’re drinking enough water.” Yami sat down next to his head.
Finral definitely wasn’t going to complain about anything for right now. Except for one thing.
”I need a pillow.”
Yami glared at Finral but grabbed one and threw it in Finral’s face. Finral didn’t complain anymore and practically fused with it.
Finral eventually woke up again. It was much later. Yami was reading a book—Finral did his best not be surprised—and also running his empty hand through Finral’s hair. It felt nice enough that he just laid there and nearly fell asleep again before Yami noticed he was awake.
Yami got up and removed his hand from Finral’s hair, which ruined Finral’s comfortableness. But soon, Yami came back and handed him a glass of water. Finral drank it and then curled up on the couch again.
Yami sat next to him and went back to reading, but didn’t put his hand back. Finral decided that it would be too embarassing to ask Yami to do it again, so Finral did the less embarassing option and grabbed Yami’s hand, putting it back in his hair.
Yami looked amused, but returned to running his hands through Finral’s hair, which ended up making Finral fall asleep again.
Finral woke up again, and immediately regretted it. Everyone was back, but at least quieter than this morning.
Vanessa was teaching Asta, Magna, and Luck some card game, which Asta was obviously not getting the hang of. Gordon was showing Gauche how to sew a doll so that Gauche could make one of Marie. Grey was actually not being shy right now, as she was too busy concentrating on braiding Noelle’s hair. Charmy was cooking something which a more appealing smell. Henry was in his favorite chair, which was just far enough away to make sure the mana-drain wasn’t unbearable, but close enough that he still felt included. Yami was nowhere to be seen.
Finral sat up and Asta noticed him first and came over, grinning like the idiot he was.
”Hey, you feeling better?”
Finral just nodded and yawned. “Where’s Yami?”
Asta shrugged. “No clue. When we came back, he wasn’t in the base.”
Finral felt a tiny bit worried that something had happened, until he remembered it was Yami. “Ok, well, thanks Asta. Can you get me a glass of water?”
Luck glanced over and grinned. “I can get it for you Finral! I know a drink that helps people get better quicker!”
Finral decided that would be a terrible idea. “Uh- I think I’m good with Asta getting me water. Th-thanks for the offer though…”
Luck shrugged and turned back to the card game. Asta soon brought the water back and Finral gladly took it. He kind of missed Yami, but refused to acknowledge that thought or feeling and instead cuddled with his pillow as he watched everyone. When everyone was quiet, it was actually pretty relaxing to observe them.
Luckily Yami came back soon and sat back down next to Finral. Finral glanced up at him.
”Where did you go?”
“Aw, did you miss me?” Yami grinned.
Finral glared at him. “No! I was just curious.”
Yami crossed his arms, clearly finding this funny. “Sure you didn’t.” Yami then finally answered Finral’s question. “I went out to buy some medicine for you.”
Finral blinked in confusion.
”And then I ran into Jack and since you aren’t that sick, we decided gambling would be more fun.”
Finral just looked disappointed. “Of course you did.”
Yami just huffed. “Well, apologies for enjoying myself.”
Finral just shook his head and laid back down. He glanced at the clock. It was 6 pm. Which meant dinner was soon. He could only hope Charmy didn’t make anything that used lemons. Usually, he loved lemons and would even eat just plain lemons sometimes. But when he was sick, he couldn’t stomach it at all.
But dinner wasn’t ready yet, so he slightly moved closer to Yami, refusing to admit that he liked it whenever Yami was close. To be honest, Finral loved physical affection, but most of the Black Bulls was not a good candidate for it.
Luck would usually shock him. Magna, Gauche, Grey and Noelle refused to do it all, claiming it was too embarassing. Asta didn’t get that physical affection was not training. Gordon wouldn’t let go, and Henry was too tiring. Henry also had said before that he wasn’t a massive fan of being touched, since the feeling of draining someone’s mana through their skin was kind of unnerving. Vanessa was actually a good hugger, but she was usually drunk and tended to pass out on people. And if you woke her up by moving, you would get tied up and forced to stay in place. So Finral had long crossed out Vanessa as an option. Which meant Yami was left.
Yami wasn’t even bad at it, Finral was just too shy to ask. Luckily, right now, Yami noticed without Finral saying anything and just put his hand back on Finral’s head.
When dinner came around, everyone besides Finral and Henry crowded the dining room. Finral didn’t feel like moving and Henry didn’t want to make everyone uncomfortable by being too close. So Charmy brought their food to them.
Finral gladly accepted the food, as it was simply a simple sandwich. Finral could stomach this, so he was content. Henry got a plate of pasta, which was one of Henry’s favorites.
Finral was feeling much better now, but still a bit overwhelmed by the light and the noise. Henry did end up talking to Finral. Finral was content to listen to Henry just speak about his day. Most of the Black Bulls were too impatient to listen the whole time, but Finral didn’t mind. Henry’s voice was nice anyway.
Finral did his best not to fall asleep while Henry was talking.
Everyone eventually headed to bed and Finral was getting ready to go to his room. Yami shoved a glass of water into his hands before however.
”Drink this before you go to bed.”
Finral obeyed and tried to hand the glass back. “Thanks.”
”Put it away yourself.” Yami then walked away.
Finral grumbled to himself but put it away and headed to bed.