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It was a usual, ever-boring day in the nation of Fontaine, and the blonde-haired traveller and his (not so) useful companion, Paimon just finished doing some repetitive commissions for the adventurers' guild, y'know, just the usual, finding lost belongings in the depths of the vast ocean, killing a few slimes that infiltrated a nearby village. All of these tasks were simply second nature to the traveller, although, halfway through one of the last commissions of the day, Aether started to feel ill, but naturally brushed it off, after all, he can handle himself with this sort of stuff.
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" Phew! Almost all done with today's commissions, then after that we can get some rainbow macarons at the cafe!! How's that sound, Aether? " The floating pixie queried
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No response.
" Uuh, Traveller?.. A-aether!! Anyone in there?? " She asked, concern becoming more clear in her voice.
//* BANG*//
All of a sudden, Aether collapsed onto the ground, his face seeming to be drained out of any sort of life. Paimon hurridly rushed to his side, panic arising on her face-
" SOMEONE !! H-HELP!! THE TRAVELLER PASSED OUT!! ANYONE !!- "
Her face scanned around the area, and she spotted a familar harbinger lurking around and then proceeded to cry-
" A-ARLECCHINO !! PLEASE HELP!! AETHER- HE- HE JUST SUDDENLY HE- "
Arlecchino appeared at the blonde hair's side in almost a second, and proceeded to look for any sign of injuries or causes of the incident.
" PLEASE TELL PAIMON HE WILL BE OKAY !! CAN YOU HELP HIM ?? " The pixie cried out
// " Rest assured, he will be fine, you needn't worry, it seems he has just fallen ill and pushed his own capabilities.
He should recover rather fast so don't trouble yourself over it"
The white-haired fairy sighed in relief, face relaxing as her floating steadied.
" Phew, thats great, Paimon was so worried he had like, eaten something super duper deadly! Because if Traveller reacted like this who knows what wouldve happened to Paimon if she ate the same thing.. eeer, im getting shivers just thinking about it! "
// ".. May I suggest that I take him under my wing for a few days so I can safely monitor his recovery? I have many experiences in dealing with all sorts of sicknesses, so I will be able to nurse him back to health, and there is no use waiting around for a doctor when he is just sitting out here in the cold. "
" U-um.. sure ? I-I guess.. I mean it would be safer.. B-BUT YOU HAVE TO PROMISE PAIMON YOU WONT LIKE, HAND HIM OVER TO THE FATUI AND DO EXPERIMENTS ON HIM, OKAY!! " The fairy frantically exclaimed
// "Oh, of course, I promise that he will be safe under the roof of the House Of The Hearth. Its not like I'm the only one there anyways, Lyney, Lynette and Freminet will also be there to supervise him when I can't, and you're always welcome to visit him within the 2 or 3 days he is recovering. "
" Alright then.. Paimon trusts you, but not because you're a fatui, just because you've helped us in the past and stuff! And Paimon swears if you do anything bad with him i-ill tell the guardes ! "
// " Of course, of course, well then, it appears noon is approaching rather rapidly, so its best i take him to the Orphanage, pleasure exchanging pleasantries with you, Paimon. "
" Uuh.. yeah,, you too!! Bye? "
In a vast motion, the harbinger and the blonde-haired hero were no where to be seen, and only the sound and rustling of the wind against the trees was heard
".. yeah not creepy at all arlecchino " Paimon said to herself.
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- A few hours later -
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> " mmmmn .. huh.. where am - "
// " How are you feeling, Aether ? " Arlecchino questioned.
> ".. Arle ? What happene- arrugh.. my head.. " the blonde haired man growled in pain
// " Take it easy. You're sick. Lay back down. "
Aether placed his head back down on the pillow slowly, staring at the ceiling for what seems to be an eternity as Arlecchino's gaze lingers on his form for way longer than anticipated.
> "... Thank you. "
// " No need to thank me. Im always happy to help you. "
> "..Really? I never really percieved you as the nurturing type, no offence of course, just sayi- "
// " Only for you, and my children who are deserving of my love, of course "
Aether's face begins to tint red, whether its because of the fact that knowing the 4th fatui harbinger cares for him or whether its the fever consuming his body, he still reluctantly tries to hide it.
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--Silence.--
// " Im going to make you a beverage, or rather something to eat. Do you have any preferences? "
> "O-oh, no not, nothing, not anything in particular, anything is fine. Thank you.. "
Without another world, Arlecchino leaves the room, taking the head towel that used to lay on Aether's forehead with her.
Aether began to re-evaluate the situation, all while in a fever-induced haze, but after a few minutes he realises theres no use thinking about it and just rests his eyes for a bit.
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A few minutes later, he awoke from his short - lived slumber to footsteps echoing down the hallways, then the door to the room opened in a polite manner, almost as if a mouse or a sly fox opened it.
// " Porridge. And I brought some medicine and a cold towel. I would advise you get some rest after eating, as the fever you have is rather serious and uncommon to most folk, so the medicines prescribed won't do a lot. Better to just sleep it out "
> "Oh.. thank you,, it looks delicious. "
In a rather swift motion, Aether ate the whole bowl within a few minutes, all with the harbinger sat on a stool next to the bed he lay in. Once he seemed to be finished with his meal, she took the bowl away and placed it nearby on a side table.
> "Could i maybe ask a few things ? Just- to calm myself down"
// "Sure, if it puts your mind at ease, what do you wish to know? "
> " Oh well uh, is Paimon alright? Where is she ? "
// " Your floating companion? Shes fine. Ive even sent Lyney and Lynette to go watch after her, based on their recent pigeon messages, shes eating away, at both their pockets and the food at the café. "
> "Pfffft.. Yeah, that sounds like Paimon alright ..
Thank you for taking care of me."
// " The pleasures all mine, I assure you, it was just a lucky chance, if it wouldn't have been me that there at that moment, i'm sure one of your friends would've nursed you back to aid. "
> " ..What makes you think we're not friends ? I hold you very close to my heart after all we've witnessed together, Arle.. I think you're a very kind person. "
// " You misunderstand me, Aeth, I see us as closer than friends, as such, it would be unreasonable for me to class us as friends. "
> " //// H-huh?? " the blonde panicked, his face somehow becoming redder than it already was with his flu, as he instinctively raised his hands to cover his face
// " Do you not feel the same way ? "
> " I-I mean.. of course.. I just didn't expect you to be so blunt about it.. I see us as close too. "
A pregnant pause filled the air, only to be abrupted by the harbinger speaking,
// " I see. Im glad. "
A slight smile appeared on Arlecchino's face, but it was short- lived as suddenly she pressed a light kiss on the blonde's forehead, in an instant, he became all flustered, not even able to register that he's watching as she leaves the room.
// " Get better soon, my love. "
As the door shuts and the blonde is left by himself with thoughts, most of which was just pure confusion, and a bit of love, and also a lot of fever.
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The end! (maybe)