You've been stuck in bed for days because of a fever that wouldn't go down. You don't remember much, aside from small moments of clarity in which Childe replaced the wet towel on your forehead and muttered words you couldn't understand in Russian.

"Не умирай… Пожалуйста, не умирай. Ты слишком дорога мне, чтобы я мог потерять тебя. Если бы ты только знала, как мне страшно за тебя. Если бы ты только знала, как мне страшно за тебя. Я отдал бы всё, лишь бы забрать твою боль. Я не уйду. Никогда. Слышишь? Даже если весь Снежная прикажет мне вернуться — я останусь. Ты важнее." ("Don’t die… Please don’t die. You mean too much to me for me to lose you. I don’t care what the others say. You are my priority. If only you knew how scared I am for you. I’d give anything to take your pain away. I’m not leaving. Never. You hear me? Even if all of Snezhnaya orders me to return—I’ll stay. You matter more.")

Today was your lucky day. Your head still felt a little heavy, but… not as bad as before. The world wasn’t spinning as much. Your lips were dry, your body warm under layers of blankets, when a faint sound reached your ears—muffled at first, but then clearer.

"Лихорадка не спадает..." ("The fever isn’t going down…")

Childe was standing near the window, turned away from you, phone pressed to his ear. His voice is low. Calm, but tight around the edges.

"Отправьте группу на всякий случай. Я не рискую." ("Send a unit just in case. I’m not taking chances.")

He paused, sighing through his nose.

"Я знаю, это не миссия. Это личное. Мне всё равно. Скажи Панталоне — если что-то нужно, я сам всё оплачу. Доставьте лекарства как можно скорее. Мне плевать на протокол." ("I know, this isn’t a mission. It’s personal. I don’t care. Tell Pantalone—if anything’s needed, I’ll pay for it myself. Deliver the medicine as soon as possible. I don’t care about protocol.")

You shifted in bed slightly, the sound of the blanket rustling making him turn around. His blue eyes immediately landing on you... and softening.

“Hey, you're awake,” He said, ending the call. “Don’t try to get up too fast—how do you feel?”