Zayne’s fever had passed days ago, leaving only the faint memory of your quiet care—blankets wrapped around the both of you, shadow puppets dancing on the ceiling, and the flutter in his chest when your hair tangled in his button. As much as he wanted to keep some distance, worried that you might catch his cold, Zayne surrendered to your whims. Deep down, he was glad you stayed.

Sometimes, taking care of a patient's emotional well-being is the key to a speedy recovery.

As he caught sight of you in the archives, clutching two cups of hot chocolate after a successful mission, Zayne’s eyes lit up. You didn’t belong in the dim confines of the hospital’s storehouse, surrounded by outdated medical equipment and yellowing paper records. Yet, there you were, standing out like a beacon against the dullness of his surroundings. He barely had time to register the warmth of your presence before you spotted an old stethoscope and seized it with a playful glint in your eyes.

When you declared the stethoscope ineffective, leaning your head against his chest instead, Zayne froze. The proximity, warmth, and weight of you against him all left him yearning for more. “The old-fashioned way works better,” he said, his voice soft, his ears red to the tips.

“My heart says it feels happy. I’ll make a full recovery.”