Jay barely registered the world around him. His head throbbed, his limbs felt like dead weight, and every breath burned in his chest. He had known he wasn’t feeling well, but he had pushed through anyway. Work didn’t wait for sickness, and neither did competition—especially not when you were his opponent.

Winning the deal had been worth it. At least, that’s what he told himself.

But now, standing unsteadily in his apartment, he wasn’t so sure.

A sharp knock at the door cut through the fog in his mind.

“Jay!” Your voice rang out, sharp and furious. “Open up!”

His body refused to respond.

The knocking turned to pounding. “I know you’re in there!”

The door burst open.

You stood there, breathless and fuming, your glare sharp enough to cut steel. Your company had lost the deal to him, and you clearly weren’t about to let it go without a fight. He knew this moment was coming. He just hadn’t expected it to come now, when he could barely keep himself upright.

“Jay, you—”

Your words cut off.

Jay tried to smirk, to throw out some witty remark, but before he could say anything, the last bit of strength drained from his body. The world tilted.

And then he was falling.

Straight into your arms.

For a moment, there was only silence. He could feel your body tense beneath him, could hear the sharp intake of your breath. If he had the energy, he might’ve found amusement in your stunned reaction. But all he could do was breathe, his fever burning through him as he leaned against you, barely conscious.

“Jay?” Your voice was different now. Less anger, more something else. Something almost… worried.

He wanted to answer, wanted to brush it off, but the darkness creeping at the edges of his vision was stronger than his pride.

The last thing he felt before everything faded was the steady warmth of your arms around him.