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Urbain knew it was over as soon as he felt the scratchiness in his throat. As the day progressed, it refused to go away despite him shoving throat lozenges and chugging hot tea down his throat. All this did was provide temporary relief before the dry throat returned with full force.
By evening, Urbain felt the symptoms all over his body. His muscles ached, his head was throbbing, and his stomach churned. Maybe, he thought as he downed another pair of pills, maybe this was just because of the dry air and he would feel better in the morning.
He did not feel better in the morning. If anything, he felt worse.
The first time he swallowed, it felt as though there were tiny daggers in his throat. The sensation burned, even after chugging more water. He wanted to get up, but he was covered in sweat and his body felt like lead. He wanted to cry over how pathetic he is, but his hoarse throat made even that impossible.
His vision was watery as stray tears built up in his eyes. He needed to go out and help people, but instead he was rotting in his bed refusing to move. Why was he so upset about this, anyways? Everyone gets sick.
Get up. But I’m so tired.
You need to get up. But my stomach hurts.
That never stopped mom, did it? Ah.
That was it. That was his problem.
When his mother’s health began to show signs of wavering, she never complained to him. She always forced a smile even when her appetite dissipated, or even when she collapsed after coming home that one night. No matter the pain, his mother never gave up - even during her last moments, she always smiled at Urbain. She told him to be a good boy and to be brave and to be kind and strong and-
Now he was a crying mess and it wasn’t helping any of his symptoms. If mom could get through the day, then so should he. He has to. Urbain desperately placed his hand on his nightstand for the medicine he left the night before. Arceus, why did he leave it so far away? Oh- he left it in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom.
Fuck why did he leave it there?
He groaned, rubbing his aching head and wincing when he noticed just how much he was sweating. His entire body was drenched in sweat. How could someone be so hot and so cold at the same time? His body screamed for rest and all he wanted was to wrap himself in a blanket, but he needed to get up and work. Just do it. Do it for mom, Urbain.
Do it - you’re so pathetic. Mom never cried about it - why are you crying about it? You should-
There was a knock at his door. It was so quiet that he almost didn’t hear it above all of his self loathing.
“...Urbain?” Harmony called quietly, almost fearful. “Sorry - it’s just… I haven’t seen you come downstairs so I was worried something happened. Is everything okay?” Her voice was so kind and so sweet and it just made Urbain even more frustrated.
He didn’t deserve her kindness, especially when he was in such a sorry state. He couldn’t even reply to her as his throat felt like it was burning. Maybe she would give up and leave him alone so that he could suffer like he deserved.
Instead, Harmony called out again. “Urbain?” Her voice was stronger now, and he swore he heard some conviction in her. “I’m coming in.”
She didn’t even wait for him to protest as he heard the squeak of the archaic door gently swing open. It was an agonizingly long wait as she walked through the entrance and laid her eyes on his sorry state. He winced and closed his eyes, expecting to hear her recoil in disgust - to confirm his worst fears.
But it never came. What Urbain heard was a quiet gasp before she quickly shuffled over to him.
“Urbain?! Arceus, you look… awful.”
He groaned in response and looked away.
“...sorry- I just mean… you look sick.”
A cool and gentle hand landed on his forehead and it felt so good. He wanted her to keep her hand there, but he also scolded himself for wanting this.
Harmony quietly hissed as she slowly pulled her hand away. “You’re burning up! You definitely got a fever.” He watched her with glassy eyes as she began to build a strategy. He recognized that expression - her hand was on her chin and she was tilting her head slightly as she looked away.
“You need medicine for sure. Do you have any?”
Urbain pointed to the bathroom, cringing over how his hand trembled.
Harmony wasted no time in heading over to the bathroom - he missed her already. After obtaining the medicine along with a few other materials, she was back at Urbain’s side. He also spotted a small towel hanging on her arm.
She rummaged through the medicine and fished out two pills per the instructions that she hastily read.
“Okay,” her voice was so quiet even as she rattled off instructions, “you need to take two of these every six hours. Can you sit up for me? Just for a second - I can help you.”
She was so kind and so reassuring. There was no judgement in her voice and it just hurt because Urbain didn’t deserve this. He was so helpless that he could barely sit up. Mom never needed help like this - not at first, anyways.
He barely registered her hand snaking itself behind his back and gently lifting him up. It hurt to sit up like this, but Harmony was right - he needed to take medicine.
After chugging down those two pills, Harmony eased him back onto bed. She even fluffed his pillow for him, too. Oh, she was so nice. He wished she could stay here forever. But Urbain knew she wouldn't. She was on vacation and she would go home and leave him behind - she would forget him soon enough so what was the point?
“Good, “ her voice cut through, “we’ve got that part done.” As she spoke, Harmony began to gingerly dab the hand towel on Urbain’s face and neck. He still felt gross, but at least he wasn’t drenched in sweat. Afterwards, he felt a cool, wet rag land on his forehead. The relief was almost instantaneous and he couldn't fight back the small smile.
He heard Harmony giggling, and it made his already sick stomach do flips. “Alright, now we’re getting somewhere.” The covers are pulled up to his neck, and the action already made him feel warm and cozy despite being on death’s door.
He didn’t trust himself to speak yet, but he offered Harmony a weak smile as thanks.
She seemed to understand this as she gave him a smile of her own.
It was radiant, it was beautiful, it made him want to die.
Could he indulge in this feeling? The need to be taken care of… His mother never asked him to take care of him. Shouldn’t he be brave and strong just like her? Shouldn’t he be doing this stuff on his own? He was supposed to help people, not be helped.
“Hey,” his spiraling thoughts were interrupted when Harmony spoke, “you’re going to be okay, I promise. I’ll even make you a tasty soup once you get your energy back. How’s that sound?”
Arceus, she was so sweet. The guilt was overwhelming.
First he asked her to help him with a Hotel Z promo, then he asked her to handle Rogue Mega Pokemon, and then he had to watch her do unpaid labor for the loan he foolishly signed on.
When would he get a fucking grip?
“Sorry… I-” He finally managed to croak out before falling victim to a coughing fit. He winced because that felt like hell on his throat. He glanced over to Harmony who was rubbing his shoulder.
“Easy…” Her voice was so soothing and Urbain felt like he might drown in those sparkling grey eyes of hers. “You don’t have to apologize for anything. We all get sick sometimes.” Her voice was so casual, and it was comforting.
“I am such a whiny baby when I’m sick. It’s the worst.” Harmony took the time to gently pull the covers over Urbain a little more. She gave the covers a soft pat, content with her work. “So don’t feel bad about asking me for help. Besides,” her voice wavered, and she spoke so softly that Urbain had to lean in to really hear her.
“I like helping you. I’d do anything for you - I hope you know that.”
Those words were enough to send Urbain over the edge. He hurriedly covers his face, trying to rub his tears away. He doesn’t deserve her, he doesn’t deserve her, he doesn’t deserve her.
“S-Sorry…!” He whimpered. Fuck - he was whimpering now? “I-I… I’m so sorry…!”
His blubbering startled Harmony. She knelt on the floor and took his hand in hers. Even as he trembled, she rubbed soothing circles over and over with her thumb. Her hands were so soft, they were so warm, they were burning him - but he didn't want her to let go. God, he would die if she let him go now.
His ragged sobs made his whole body tremble and it was doing no favors for his throat. But he needed to cry. He needed to sob and sob until his voice gave out again because these feelings of guilt were eating him alive. Why was Harmony so kind? Why was she sticking with him even when he was falling behind? She was rising up in the Z-A Royale; she was already Rank C and he was wallowing down in Rank E. How could she still care about him when he was fumbling through this whole thing? Another sob escaped his throat and it burned him. He enjoyed it - because he deserved this pain for all the trouble he has caused Harmony.
“Urbain…” Hearing his name on her lips is enough to stop his childish sobbing - momentarily, of course. “You don’t have to apologize.” She reminded him again. “I care about you. I wish you believed me.”
She knew he didn’t believe her. Whether it was because of who she was as a person or who he was as a person - Harmony couldn’t tell. But she didn’t care. She would keep saying it over and over until he believed her.
And maybe, she thought wishfully, maybe he would say it back to her.
But that was a problem for another day. Right now she needed to make sure he felt safe right now.
Her free hand reached out. It hovered over Urbain’s face, as if silently asking for permission. When Urbain didn’t make an effort to move away, Harmony let her hand rest on his cheek, and she began to wipe away his tears.
He melted in her touch, and the threat of another sob died in his throat.
“It’s going to be okay, I promise. I’ll be right here with you the entire time.”
“Please don’t leave me.” He blurted out, desperately. His eyes threatened to spill tears once again. “Please, I don’t want to be alone again. Please-”
Harmony’s expression changed. There was shock as her brows raised for a moment when she realized just what he meant. Slowly, a small smile formed on her lips, but he could swear she looked.. sad - as if she might start crying, too.
“I won’t leave you, I promise.” Her words were so earnest and he wanted to believe them, but… “I will do everything I can to stay here with you - if you’ll have me.”
All he could do was give a dumb little nod and sniffle pathetically. When Harmony saw that he agreed, her smile grew. “Being here makes me feel whole again. I can’t remember the last time I actually smiled and laughed like this. I don’t want to let that go - I don’t want to let you go.”
Suddenly, Urbain was filled with a comforting warmth. His eyes began to sparkle.
“The people of Lumiose are so kind, and I want to protect them just as much as you do. I want to greet Lida and Naveen and you every morning. I want to celebrate our victories with croissant curry…” As she rambled, Harmony was breathless. Her smile was so genuine - so radiant.
“I want to hang out on the roof with you and watch stupid videos until the sun comes up. I want to hang out at Nouveau Café with you. I want to be with you. I-”
I love you.
Should she even say it? When he was delirious and in such an emotionally vulnerable spot? Probably not - so she bit her tongue. As much as she wanted to scream those three words at him, she swallowed hard and kept them down.
“...I won’t be leaving anytime soon.” She finished her rambling with a bright smile.
A single tear escaped Urbain’s eye, but Harmony wiped it away. She smiled as he leaned into her hand. He knew he looked like an idiot staring at her with tear stained eyes and a gross, snotty nose, but he couldn’t help it.
She was so radiant.
“You promise…?” His voice was so soft and so hoarse.
“I promise.” And her voice was so gentle and kind.
“Thank you.” Urbain finally managed to say. He let out a heavy sigh, and his chest didn’t feel so tight anymore. Seeing him relax was enough to get Harmony to slump her shoulders finally.
“Good. Then close your eyes and get some sleep. I’ll be right here when you wake up. And afterwards, I can make you a nice chicken soup - I’ll be on kitchen duty tonight.”
There was still a part of him that feared Harmony would be gone by the time he woke up, but she sounded so sure of herself and his body felt heavy. Sleep beckoned him, and all he wanted to do was close his eyes and be engulfed in her warmth. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to indulge just a little?
Besides, Harmony said it was okay.
He didn’t realize that he was already closing his eyes, but he could feel Harmony gently stroking his hair and singing a cute little lullaby. He wanted to hang on, just a little while longer, to relish in this warmth, but the need for sleep was too strong. He could feel himself fading away. Even so, he fell asleep with a smile on his face - because Harmony was here, and Harmony said she would stay with him.
So maybe, he thought finally, maybe things will be okay.