Chapter Text
It had been a month since his weird condition began. What started out as a mild headache gradually worsened, sometimes paralysing him and leaving him writhing in pain on his bed. Soon, strange hallucinations that he forgot afterwards began to follow—increasing continuously with each passing day.
[Oh dear, friend. You don’t seem to be doing too well these days. Is everything alright?]
‘I’m fine, Braun. No need to worry’
It didn’t seem like Braun noticed. No, it was more accurate to say he didn’t know at all.
Braun figured out soon after with enough prodding. He sounded worried. The reason why Soleum had not told him at first was because of this.
He wished Braun hadn’t found out.
Soleum, uncaring for his health as usual, ignored his plummeting health and went about his day, donning a straight face.
What could he do about it anyway?
He tried on multiple occasions to use the happy maker and candy but to no avail.
This wasn’t normal. He knew that much.
But if he dwelt on the pain, it’d just slow him down. He had work to do and a wish to do. He couldn’t afford to take too many breaks. If the pain came again, he’d endure. If it got too much to handle, he’d just take a few days off from work. He pretended as much as possible that everything was fine.
He just hoped none of his squadmates noticed.
***
D team’s office was clouded with suffocating silence, contrary to how it usually was.
Mr Badger’s outgoing smile was replaced with a stark frown and furrowed brows. He had his arm resting on his desk and his palm pressed against his chin as if trying to hide the expression.
Ms Falcon fared better at hiding her expression, though a slight eyebrow twitch betrayed her at times.
Roe deer was sitting at his desk typing away normally with a smile on his face like everything was fine and Mr Lizard….
Well Mr Lizard was Mr Lizard. Though that did not help the case, as his unblinking, red eyes pierced through the timid, trembling researcher who was trying to hand him some documents.
That which he did and rushed out of the room, trying not to seem too nervous.
Kim Soleum got up soon after informing his team members that he was going out to retrieve some documents from the research team.
“ Get me something to drink while you're at it, would you?” Eun Haje said, raising her head to smile at him.
He smiled back, “Sure. Would you both like something to drink as well, Supervisor and Squad leader?”
Minseong seemed a little nervous but still smiled as he responded, “I-It’s okay, Roe. I’m not hungry.”
Lee Jaheon stared at him with narrowed red eyes and replied, “Yes”
“Okay then, I'll leave now,” Soleum said, turning his back to them and shutting the door behind him.
Eun Haje sighed.
How could she not?
They’d all noticed. Something was going on with their precious rookie teammate...
Soleum had seemed more exhausted than usual though he’d always tried to put on a smile.
She had caught him once, staring off into space while on his desk, unlike him. And when she’d brought it up with Minseong, he noted some other strange things.
Roe smiled more than usual, and it wasn’t deliberate. It seemed forced.
It rubbed a sore spot in her.
“Is he contaminated somehow?” Supervisor Badger spoke up.
“ I thought of that too. Maybe…” Eun Haje shifted her head to Lee Jaaheon.
“ Squad leader,” She said. “Could you convince Roe to go to the Fox counselling room?.
Lee Jaheon stared at their expectant gazes. “The counselling room would not be effective.”
Eun Haje watched as Park Minseong deflated. “ So he’s not contaminated?”
“No.” Chief Lizard did not elaborate further.
“Then,” she sighed, “ Maybe you could give him a few days off, it looks like he needs it.”
Supervisor Badger brightened up again and looked at the squad leader expectantly. “Yeah, He’d listen to you!”
To which Jaheon replied, “Yes.”
Park Minseong sank into his chair in relief while Eun Haje hummed in appreciation.
Thank God for their captain!
Just then, someone opened the door to their office. It was the subject of their woes. Their precious rookie, Roe deer!
He walked in without a care in the world and shut the door with a smile. Eun Haje smiled as she received the cold can of soda he handed to her. But just as soon as he was about to head over to his desk…
“I suggest you take a two-day leave.”
“What?” Roe deer stood there stupefied.
Eun Haje almost spit out her coffee.
‘Squad leader, isn’t that too straightforward?’