Chapter Text
Klein’s eyes fluttered open as the morning light filtered through the sheer white curtains. Turning his head away, he saw a short row of empty beds.
The infirmary? He blinked the remnants of sleep away and attempted to sit up before groaning. His head felt as if it was stuffed with cotton. Nausea overtook his brain, and he sunk back down into the white linens. Right, the Demoness’ pathogens…
The young Nighthawk sighed. He couldn’t breathe through his nose, his body ached as if it was on fire, and his throat felt like the desert! Why is it me who’s always ending up in some ridiculous situation!? With a huff of frustration, Klein slowly rolled over onto his side. I’m so parched…
Lost in his own thoughts, he had not noticed the sounds of footsteps coming up the stairs. A knock resonated from the infirmary door. When it creaked open, it was followed by the face of Rozanne peering in. The clerk was holding a tray with a glass of water and steaming porridge.
“You’re awake! Frye filled me in on what happened. I’m glad you’ll only be unwell for a short amount of time.” She made her way beside Klein’s cot to place the tray on the bedside table. Her smile faltered for a short moment after getting a closer look at Klein’s condition.
His face was pale and clammy and his nose glistened with a hint of snot. Noticing Rozanne’s hidden disgust, Klein internally gave a self-deprecating sigh. You don’t need to hide it, I know I look like crap. He opened his mouth to speak and the two were met with a horrid creaking sound. Klein paused. That was his voice! Rozanne blinked the shock on her face away.
“Maybe some water will help… Er, once Mr. Neil arrives, he will brew you a temporary remedy.” Klein nodded weakly. He wanted to reach for the glass but just felt too exhausted. Faced with this dilemma, he pouted. Letting Rozanne spoon feed him was an even worse outcome. There was no way he was going to go through that social death!
Suddenly, he heard a giggle. “Hehe, you’re pouting! It’s been so long since I’ve seen you not use your Clown abilities to control your face!” The young lady covered her mouth as she continued to smile. “The effects of that artifact must have taken a large toll on you if you’re too tired to even control your expressions.”
Klein coughed and attempted to clear his throat before speaking. His creaky, dry voice came out quietly. “Have you… Told my… Siblings?” He coughed again and Rozanne passed him the water in response. Shuffling slowly, he raised his head barely enough to not spill the cup as he drank from it. Once he was done taking the small sips, Rozanne set the glass back on the bedside table. She nodded and spoke, “Yes, we told them that you came down with a particularly severe cold and we didn’t want to cause too much discomfort by forcing you on a carriage ride back.” Rozanne hummed. “Your sister was very worried.”
Of course she is… Sis, you’re too much of a mother hen. Embrace your teenage years and let your brother suffer! Klein averted his gaze to the blankets on top of him. “Sickness… Serious problem—“ He was cut off with a coughing fit before continuing. “In household.” Rozanne’s smile softened, making her look melancholic. It made sense. Recalling Klein’s less than fortunate background, she remembered how disease was a large factor in the causes of death for tramps and the destitute.
“No worry! We’ll take good care of you!” Her voice was confident as she clapped her hands together. “Do you think you can manage to eat on your own?” The seer thought for a moment.
“Give me a second… To fully wake up. Perhaps… I will feel… More energized then.” He sputtered out, coughing again. Rozanne looked down at him with pity. “I’ll go fetch you a cool towel.” She had noticed the increase of sweat rolling down his face.
Klein gave a noise of understandment. Talking was beginning to become painful. Rozanne turned to leave and was about to turn into the hallway before letting out a small yelp.
“Leonard! You scared me! Don’t you know how rude it is to frighten a lady?” She had almost bumped into the poet, who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere once she turned out of the infirmary’s doorway.
Leonard chuckled and apologized. “My sincerest apologies, Miss Rozanne! I suppose I was too eager to check on our friend here.” Rozanne raised a brow at his ‘apology’. “Well, you can help Klein with his breakfast then. I’ll return with some towels… Oh, and take a look at his temperature for me too.” Leonard nodded and stepped into the room.
Approaching the bed, he looked at the poor Klein. “It looks like you’ve gotten worse.” With a frown, he sat down on the stool Rozanne had previously occupied. “You’re in no shape to move about. Heh, since becoming a beyonder, I haven’t been sick in years.” Klein rolled his eyes. Was the man really using this as an opportunity to flex?
“Klein, do you know what that means?” The mood suddenly shifted. The warmth in Klein’s body transformed into a chill that ran up his spine. The look on Leonard's face told him that he was up to no good.
“We get to pamper you!”
—
And that was how Klein ended up with a spoonful of porridge down his throat. Being fed as a grown adult man. By another adult man. Who was probably gay. Definitely what Klein had looked forward to most in this new world.
Leonard held in his laugh, waving the spoon in Klein’s face. “Here comes the choo choo train!” Klein shot him a glare, but Leonard’s teasing look remained on his face. Not like Klein could do anything in this state… Reluctantly, the younger opened his mouth to accept the food. He had skipped dinner due to falling unconscious after the fight.
Rozanne stepped back into the room and immediately, her cheeks puffed up at the sight of Klein being fed like a baby. Holding in her laughter, she handed the towels over to Leonard so he could wipe off lingering sweat and regulate Klein’s temperature.
“C-captain has arrived. The artifact is going to be sent to the Holy Cathedral for further examination…” Rozanne turned her head away. Klein had the strongest grimace on his face with a spoon sticking out his mouth. “I have to maintain the desk!”
She exited the room quickly, leaving the two alone again. Luckily for Klein, she did not overhear the Midnight Poet using baby terms to feed Klein. Otherwise, the seer would make sure Leonard would fall down the stairs again.
“Sorry, I just couldn’t help it!” Klein glared at Leonard again. “Start praying while you can.” Klein creaked out, causing Leonard to chuckle.
Leonard continued feeding Klein, albeit without the baby talking. The sound of knocking on the already ajar door came as the bowl of porridge was finished.
A mature voice echoed out. “Pardon the intrusion.” Captain Dunn Smith stepped into the room and stood behind Leonard. “Are you feeling better, Klein?”
The seer sunk lower into the bed. “I’m still recovering.” Dunn nodded. “Apologies for the inconvenience. The information we had was lacking, resulting in your current state.” Klein shook his head slightly. “You couldn’t.. Have known.”
Dunn’s silver eyes softened. “You three did well, going against a sequence 7 so unprepared. I already issued a three pound compensation for this accident.”
Three pounds? Isn’t that too generous? Klein was a bit shocked at the bonus, but didn’t speak against it. Who would be such a fool to deny free money?
“How is his condition?” Dunn directed his focus to Leonard. “Unfortunately, it’s gotten worse, though that was to be expected. His temperature didn’t increase by much since last night, but the symptoms have become more clear.”
The captain nodded, understandingly. His expression turned serene. “I’ll be returning to my office. Make sure you stay hydrated, alright?” Klein made a sound of agreement, and then counted in his head. Three, two, one… “Oh, and Leonard, go to the armory. Old Neil has arrived. Speak to him about making a remedy for Klein.”
“Yes captain.”
—
After conversing with Old Neil, Leonard returned with a concoction that had an illusory aura. When he stepped back into the infirmary however, there was someone already there. It was the young sleepless, Kenley White.
“Another Demoness? They really have been showing up more often…” Klein nodded at the statement and sniffled. Kenley passed him a tissue. “It’s indeed… Troublesome.”
Leonard held out the medicine which was contained in a small, silvery chalice. “Old Neil said that you should take it again sometime in the afternoon. It should ease the inflammation of your throat.”
Klein nodded and slowly gulped down the liquid. So bitter!
“How about a game of Texas Hold’em?” Kenley smiled at the other two. “Don’t want you getting bored, stuck in bed and all.”
“I’m sure our Seer here wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to win some money.”
Klein feigned annoyance at Leonard's comment and agreed to play in a few rounds. “It’ll be more fun with more people,” Leonard stood up with the intent to go recruit people in the recreation room. “I’ll see if anyone else is interested in playing.”
—
The game, with the participants being Seeka Tron, Kenley White, Leonard Mitchell, and Klein Moretti, resulted in Klein winning a few pence. Rozanne called for some of the members to come down as the police department had moved a new case to them, something about a believer of the goddess being robbed.
Klein blew his nose. Luckily, I can sit this one out. Leonard threw out the tissue for him. “Your voice doesn’t sound as hoarse anymore. That’s good.”
“Yes. I still feel dizzy and lethargic though.” The poet casually leaned his arms on the bed and rested his head on his hands. His demeanor exuded a carefree atmosphere.
“You’ve been frowning a lot, you know.” Klein looked at him with a slightly stunned expression. “Maybe you’ve gotten too used to your clown powers. What’s on your mind?”
Prying his gaze away and toward the scenery outside the window, Klein sighed. “I guess it’s odd to be treated like this. When I was younger, I actually got sick quite often as a child.”
Klein reminisced of his childhood as both Zhou Mingrui and Klein Moretti.
“My mother would spend the day at my side, playing games with me or feeding me until I felt well enough to get out of bed. When she had to take on more jobs as a result of my father’s death, Benson stayed by my side, and then Melissa when he went off to work too.”
Klein paused. In his original life as Zhou Mingrui, his mother and father doted on him in a similar way, making him eat rice porridge with ginger and herbal medicine.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is, it feels strange to be cared about so deeply by others outside my family.” Klein thought to himself. The homesickness he felt as Zhou Mingrui, combined with the experiences of the original Klein, felt almost overwhelming.
“It’s good to let others take care of you. I can’t exactly put myself in your shoes, but it must have been tough to fall ill when living a frugal lifestyle.” Leonard smiled softly. “You don’t have to put up a strong front around the Nighthawks. Haha, this sounds a bit lame when I say it outloud… Klein, you should recognize that as a team, the Nighthawks have each other's back. We’re like family, in a way, so don’t try to handle everything on yourself, alright? That can only lead to madness.”
Klein felt as if Leonard had experienced something similar in the past. His advice was surprisingly touching.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
The pair sat in a comfortable silence. Leonard adjusted the blanket and spoke again. “Get some rest. The others and I will be here if you need it.”
“Alright.”
Klein relaxed his muscles and shut his eyes. Watching his colleague drift off, Leonard couldn’t help but feel a pang of sentimentality.
“Rest well, Klein.”