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„Shit how late is it? I need to go meet Michela.” Drift said looking around the hut for a clock without success.
“You’re leaving?” AJ frowned. She was laying on the small bed on top if the bedsheets. The hut felt cold even though AJ felt hot from her fever.
“Yeah I need to go, get well soon AJ!” Drift called and she was already out the door but not before giving Magpie a look as if to tell her to make sure AJ doesn’t do anything stupid.
“Bye.” Magpie said and nodded.
AJ turned on the bed and groaned. They were right, she did feel like a wet cat.
“Are you going to be good here alone?” Magpie asked and grabbed a small blanket from one of the wooden chests and draped it over AJ’s legs.
“I’m not alone I’ve got Flick—” AJ said optimistically but just as she did, she shot up into a sitting position looking around the small hut, “She left with Drift didn’t she.”
Magpie laughed as AJ muttered “Traitor” under her breath.
“I’ll be at the treehouse if you need anything ok?” Magpie said and they were about to leave when AJ called after them.
“Wait! It’s so cold in here, plus I’ll get bored.”
“Are you saying you want to come with me AJ?” They asked and AJ was already on her feet before Magpie could finish their sentence.
At the Tree, Magpie climbed the ladder after AJ scared, she might fall. Even though Magpie was sure she wouldn’t be able to catch her if she did.
“Alright just stay on the couch and take a nap or something.” They said once they were up.
“you don’t need to babysit me or something” AJ flopped down on the couch and closed her eyes. Her head was buzzing as it always did only now it felt like she was under water.
“That’s quite literally what Osteon asked me to do.” Magpie said loud enough for AJ to hear and got to work.
The Treehouse was stable but there were still a few spots here and there they needed to mount to the tree so their home could survive a storm or anything of that sort.
They looked over at the couch where AJ was laying with her eyes closed. Her eyes and nose were puffy red and her skin looked even paler than usual. They were starting to feel bad for her, they couldn’t help but wonder how the cold affected AJ’s magic. Did it make her pain worse?
Magpie took out a hammer and a few nails from their chest and knelt down where the floorboards met the tree bark.
“It’s beautiful.”
They heard AJ’s muffled voice from the other end of the room, she was talking about the view.
“Yeah it is”
Magpie felt a little bad but they liked this sick version of AJ. She was nicer—or maybe more honest, they couldn’t really make it out.
Nailing the boards into the old tree was hard. They had to get the angle right and be careful not to bend the nail otherwise it would be unusable.
The pile of broken or bent nails was growing bigger and bigger with each attempt.
“Ow!” Magpie hit her finger.
AJ sat up when she heard the noise coming from the other side of the room.
“Are you okay Megii?” She asked.
“It’s these stupid nails.” They groaned in frustration and kicked the pile of metal on the floor making the nails slide across the wooden floor, some falling down on the other end.
“Woah calm down Magpie.” AJ laughed and raised her eyebrows, “Let me help you.” She then said and got up.
“AJ—No, you’ve got a fever.” They walked to the couch and pushed AJ back down, a little harder than they had anticipated.
“Megii!” She said with a high-pitched voice and a grin across her face, “You’re in a mood aren’t ya” She snorted.
“I just need to finish up the floors.” Magpie said and tucked the loose strains of hair out of their face and behind their ears.
“I think you need to take a break.” AJ scooted over and patted the empty space on the couch next to her, “C’mon, sit.”
Magie sat down on the couch and took in the view. It was the reason they chose this tree specifically, the way the sun reflected from the water, it looked almost unreal.
They sat there without saying a word and the AJ slowly leaned her head against Megiis shoulder.
And it felt nice, it felt nice and AJ was tired and Magpie wanted to stay like that, but it was like their body didn’t let them. They jerked away, putting distance between them and AJ.
AJ lifted her head and blinked sleepy, “Sorry, I know you don’t want to get sick.” She sniffed.
“No it’s not that—its just—I don’t know.” They tried to explain but couldn’t really put it into words. “Just touching, you know?”
AJ understood.
“Right,” She nodded, “My bad.” She leaned back on the arm rest on the other side of the couch giving Magpie more space.
“It’s fine.”
“I get it,” AJ said rubbing her eyes before looking at Megii, “Now that I think about it, the only times I had touched you was when we beat each other up.”
“We need to do that again sometime.” Magpie snorted.
AJ smiled.
“I wouldn’t beat up a sick person though.”
“You think so?” AJ said, “But seriously, I’m sorry if that made you like… I don’t know.”
“What?” Magpie straightened their back, “No, its not your fault. I’m just—like that, I guess.” They cringed after saying that but there wasn’t any other way to explain it to AJ right now.
The silence after that felt long, too long, filled with the noise of the leaves around them moving with the gentle wind.
“Hey, that’s okay.” AJ said finally.
The silence eased into something that was almost comfortable.
“Do you want something to eat.” Megii stood up. “Drink maybe?”
“Mhh,” AJ said thinking, “Just some coffee.”
Magpie pressed their mouth into a thin line, “Sure AJ” they said knowing she probably had three cups already.
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Magpie came back with a steaming cup with what seemed to be coffee but when AJ took a sip she looked down in surprise.
“Is this Tea?” She asked disappointed.
Magpie nodded, “So you’ll actually get better soon.”
AJ frowned dramatically.
“Come on, drink.” Magpie sighed.
They sat down sideways so they were facing AJ, but instead of drinking the tea Megii had prepared for her, AJ reached into one of her pockets.
She pulled out a small silver rectangle and at first Magpie didn’t catch what it was, but when AJ lifted it to her mug she recognized it.
“Is that—”
“Whiskey, yes.” AJ said sounding proud.
The liquid kept coming out making Magpie wonder how much that little flask could hold.
“AJ, no!” They reached for the mug, but AJ pulled back protecting it.
“Hey you’re going to make it spill.” AJ protested.
“Really AJ?
“What? It helps I swear!” She said annoyed.
Magpie wasn’t sure how true that was but at least it would make AJ drink the tea.
“Fine I’ll allow it this once. At least you’re not drinking from the bottle.” Magpie regreted saying that because after AJ heard them she opened the flask, lifted it to her mouth and took a swig before sliding it back into her pocket.
“You’re starting to get on my nerves AJ.” Magpie gritted through their teeth.
“Sorry” AJ said in a way that Magpie couldn’t figure out was genuine or not.
AJ sipped on the tea containing more whiskey than actual tea and set it down on a small table next to the couch.
They were still facing each other. AJ looked up with her puffy red eyes that looked like they’ve gotten twice the size since AJ got sick.
After moments of silence AJ reached out with her flat hand facing upwards. After seeing the confused look on Magpie’s face, she broke the silence.
“Give me your hand Megii.” Her voice still sounded sick, like her nose was clogged but it made her sound softer in a way.
Magpie lay her hand on AJ’s.
“Does it feel bad?” AJ asked.
Magpie shook her head.
“I don’t want you to be scared of my touch.” AJ said and softly stroked Magpie’s hand with her thumb.
“I’m not.” Magpie replied not knowing what else she could say to that. And right now, that was true, sitting here with their hand in Aj’s, they weren’t scared, not at all.
Magpie let their body relax
After a few minutes of sitting like that, AJ let go and reached for the mug again.
“Thanks for the tea Megii.” She hummed.
“Of course.”
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