You stirred on the couch, lulled by the soft, almost ethereal humming of a lullaby. The melody was soothing, wrapping around you like a warm blanket, and you felt an inexplicable sense of healing washing over you. The pain from your concussion seemed to ebb away with each note, replaced by a gentle comfort that eased your mind and body.

Then, you suddenly woke, nothing lasts forever. The remnants of the lullaby still lingering in your ears, you realized your headache was gone, as in your concussion. Blinking in the light, you noticed Ysio standing nearby. His masked face was as inscrutable as ever, leaving you confused and a little creeped whether he was staring at you or somewhere else.

"How are you feeling?" Nori asked softly, appearing beside you. Her voice broke through the haze of your thoughts, grounding you in the present.

"Better, actually," you replied, sitting up slowly. "My concussion... it feels like it's gone."

Nori nodded, a small smile on her lips. "Good. Walden is fine, by the way. He's resting now."

You glanced around, noticing the absence of the man who had caused you so much concern. "Where is he?"

Nori sighed. "He mentioned needing to make a trip to another town for extra supplies for a new project, or whatever,I don't even know what medical supplies he'd need as a doctor to go to another town. Anyway It's just like him to worry about work even when he's sick."

With Nori's assurance that Walden was fine, you decided to check on him yourself. Making your way upstairs, the wooden steps creaked under your weight. You approached his bedroom door cautiously, pushing it open with a gentle nudge.

The sight that greeted you almost made you scream. Walden lay sprawled across his bed in nothing but a sleeping robe, the fabric barely covering his chest. His physiqu was exposed, and you quickly averted your eyes, feeling a flush of embarrassment.

He stirred slightly, the robe shifting just enough to reveal more of his chest, which was lightly dusted with hair and...fur?. You swallowed hard, trying to focus on the reason you came rather than the unexpected view.

"Sir," you whispered, stepping closer. He didn't respond, his breathing deep and steady, indicating he was still fast asleep. You took a moment to observe him, noting the slight feverish flush on his cheeks. The tension in your shoulders eased a bit, reassured by his peaceful appearance.

Still, the room felt warmer than you expected, and your earlier panic clung to you. You turned to leave, careful not to make any noise, when you suddenly remembered the court settlement papers you had seen earlier. You glanced around the room, searching for any sign of them but saw nothing unusual.

you heard a rustle from the bed. Walden was sitting up, his eyes locking onto yours. For a moment, you both just stared at each other, the silence heavy in the room. You could see the confusion in his gaze, probably mirroring your own surprise.

"I'll accompany you on the trip to town," you said quickly, trying to break the awkward tension. Walden continued to stare at you, his expression unreadable.

"Why are you looking up?" he asked, noticing your gaze fixated on the ceiling.

"My neck hurts," you replied, trying to avoid eye contact. It was a flimsy excuse, but it was all you could come up with at the moment. "But you should fully recover first," you added, your tone firm. "You need to be at one hundred percent."

Walden shifted on the bed based on the sound, and his clothes too. "right"

You let out a breath you hadn't realized you were holding. "Exactly. You have to be in top shape for this trip," you insisted, hoping he would take the hint and rest more.

He lay back down, and you finally looked back at him from staring at him and you could see the fatigue still evident in his movements. "Alright, I'll rest a bit longer," he conceded.

"Good," you replied, relief washing over you. "I'll be here if you need anything."

"Oh" You stopped in your tracks, a thought occurring to you. "Are we bringing anyone else on this trip?"

Walden paused, considering your question. "Yes, actually. I want you to bring your friend."

"Solaria?" you asked, surprised.

"Yes" Walden nodded. "Your depressed, anxiety-ridden, OCD insomniac friend. And... it might be good for you to have someone familiar with you."

You blinked, taken aback by his suggestion. Solaria wasn't exactly the easiest person to travel with, given his struggles. But perhaps Walden had a point. Maybe the change of scenery would be beneficial for Solaria, and having him around could help you feel more grounded during the trip.

"Alright," you agreed after a moment. "I'll ask him to come along."

"Good," Walden said, as he threw the covers over himself "now go"

You nodded and left the room, already planning how you would convince Solaria to join you on this unexpected journey.

In the privacy of the living room, you pulled out your phone and dialed Solaria's number. It rang a few times before he picked up, his voice hoarse and slightly irritated.

"Hey, Solaria," you began hesitantly. "I have a favor to ask. How do you feel about coming on a trip with me and Mr Darling', We need to go to another town for some supplies."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. "No," Solaria finally said, his voice firm.

"Come on, Sol," you pleaded. "It could be good for you to get out of here for a bit. A change of scenery might help."

"I don't do well with trips," Solaria replied, his tone softening slightly but still resistant. "You know that."

"I know," you said gently. "But I'll be there with you the whole time. And it's not just for you; it's for me too. Having you there would really help."

There was another pause, and you could almost hear the wheels turning in Solaria's head. "I don't know," he said finally. "Ill think about it."

"That's all I ask," you said, relieved that he hadn't outright refused. "Just think about it. I'll call you again tomorrow."

"Alright," Solaria said, sounding tired. "Talk to you tomorrow."

"Thanks"

God, how stressful