(Jing Yuan won the coin flip)

(Anyways— THE LIVESTREAM. WELT. BLADE. KAFKA.)

'I... I can't get up.'

The young woman blinked owlishly as she laid on her makeshift bed of blankets and a pillow. She hardly had space for a spot to rest since she used her room as a weapon collection space, but blankets and pillows always worked out just fine for her.

She was planning on getting up to go about her day. There were so many awesome, amazing plans she had for the day, and she had gone to sleep excited about taking part in them-!

But she couldn't move.

Any attempts sent pain coursing throughout her body like countless knives jabbing into every individual goddamn nerves. EUGH... HOW COULD SHE GET SICK!? SHE NEVER GOT SICK!

"Ma..." she croaked out.

No response, she was probably already busy downstairs.

Y/n feebly rolled onto her stomach, making an attempt to crawl out of her makeshift bed only to find that she was trapped in all the blankets. It was really hot, too. Way too hot. 

"Ma!" she tried again. 

...

Damn it all.

Fortunately, her brother realized something was up when his sister never showed up for that training she'd been so excited about. He left the very relieved group of Cloud Knights to go check on her, and found her already being cared for by their mother.

"Do you know what's wrong with her?" M/n asked anxiously as her son laid a blanket over the h/c haired young woman's body, "She's been complaining about burning up and being in pain, but I'm not sure what exactly she's come down with. Should we call for someone from the Alchemy Commission?"

"No need for that." b/n hummed as he rested his hand against his sister's forehead, uttering a small apology when she grumbled about it being too warm, "We just recently had a run in with some borisin, so..." he moved his hand away to gently take one of y/n's arm out from the blanket and look it over.

M/n waited in silence, looking rather frantic until her son gave her a warm smile, "She'll be alright with some rest, food, plenty of water and medicine. Don't worry about contacting the Alchemy Commission, I'll go to them myself."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" M/n inquired and B/n nodded. "A cool cloth for her forehead might bring her some comfort, just enough to help her get the rest she needs."

"I can go grab one, right now" the older woman exclaimed, before giving y/n's free hand one last squeeze, "I'll be right back, y/n, it won't take long."

B/n watched their mother leave, waiting until he heard her go down the stairs before he lifted y/n's arm so she could see what he'd found. He wasn't happy. "Care to explain this?"

"I broke the damn thing's jaw, I didn't expect it to still bite me..." y/n mumbled feebly.

B/n heaved a sigh, giving the bite mark on her arm a frown, "It may take some time for the Alchemy Commission to prepare something for this, so don't let Mother see the wound."

"Like hell I would, she'd have a heart attack..." y/n mumbled, grimacing as she inhaled a deeply before letting out a shuddering exhale, "Don't worry... I won't let her see... I'd end up being more of a burden to her if I did."

"You're not-" B/n shook his head with a small sigh before leaning over to give y/n a little kiss on her forehead, "I'll send someone over to look after you so Mother can work without worrying. At least until I return with the medicine."

"If they're a Cloud Knight, it'll cause her to worry even more."

"Don't worry about that, just rest."

Y/n couldn't say she was too upset about this.

Being sick meant she wouldn't do anything all day.

...

'Slacking off is different from being too sick to move.' y/n thought irritably before closing her eyes, 'Whatever. I might be able to sleep it off if I just rest well...'

She did not sleep it off.

When she awoke, it didn't feel like she'd slept at all. Her body still hurt, her face was still on fire- scratch that, her whole body was on fire. She couldn't budge, but her inability to move didn't inhibit her already sharpened senses in any way.

There was somebody beside her, and y/n knew exactly who it was before she even opened her eyes. What was it that gave it away, hm? Ah. Yes. The hand holding her's.

"The hell are you doing here, Jing Yuan?" y/n grumbled, brows furrowing ever so slightly as she opened her eyes to give him a glare, "Did you come to make fun of me or something?"

"Make fun of you?" the young man inquired with a playful look, "I wouldn't dream of it."

"I hate that tone of yours..."

"You and I both know you don't mean it."

Damn, it was true. His voice was actually very soothing.

"!!!" y/n silently cursed herself.

Y/n wasn't sure if it was the fever or her embarrassment making her face burn up so intensely as the young man carefully removed the cloth from her forehead to replace it with a cooler one for the time being.

She grimaced, "You could've just said no if b/n asked. You have better things you could be doing with your day instead of taking care of me, you know?"

"I don't mind it, really. It's not often that we get idle time together." Jing Yuan replied as he gently placed the cloth back on y/n's forehead, "You haven't ditched training enough for us to chat much on the way back, and you've been very busy recently."

"Mmrgh..."

"If you don't like spending time with me, you can just tell me." Jing Yuan said before sniffling quietly, wiping away invisible tears with a sad little, "It won't hurt my feelings, I can handle it :("

Y/n scrunched up her face, "How the hell did you... no, that's not it at all." she turned her head away. "I just... don't like it when you have to see me in such a sorry state."

"It isn't the first time, and with how you like to operate, it most definitely won't be the last." the young man chuckled, giving y/n a little teasing grin, "Don't you agree?"

"Yeah, I know..." y/n mumbled sleepily.

There had been plenty of other times, far more embarrassing than this one.

Oddly enough, most of these situations involved borisin in some way. Damned dogs...

"Come on, you're going to get us both in trouble...!"

"Then leave me be and go back, idiot! Just pretend you never found me!"

Y/n was desperately clinging to a tree branch with her one good arm, the other in a cast while Jing Yuan tugged at her legs to try to get her down from her hiding spot.

The duo had returned from an expedition which was relatively short, thanks to the efforts of the Cloud Knights' Golden Duo *another dumb🍑 nickname y/n wanted to burn*, but y/n girlbossed a little too hard and manage to deal damage not only to her bioengineering canine enemies, but to herself.

You know how the human body has limits and 💩, even those who have been granted long life. Y/n broke a couple along with some of her bones and was left in a rather sorry state.

Clearly not sorry enough since she felt the need to trespass on private property to hide out for x amount of weeks until she was healed up enough to return to her mother and brother without upsetting them.

"I get that you don't want your mother to worry, but don't you think disappearing for over a week is just making it worse?" Jing Yuan demanded as he gave y/n's legs a tug, the young woman continuing to hold onto the branch for dear life, "She's been searching non-stop!"

"Why the hell were you near my Mom, huh!? You trying to marry her?"

"I'd have to be near her for her to ask me to look for her, y/n. Did you hit your head?"

There was a crack from the branch when the young man pulled a little harder, and y/n got a little idea. It was her turn to pull, ripping the branch right off the tree and whacking Jing Yuan with it, forcing him to let go of her legs.

They both hit the ground, but y/n was the first to hop up while pointing the branch at the other Cloud Knight, "Buzz off, I'm not letting her see me like this!"

"How come you're so concerned about her seeing you injured?" Jing Yuan demanded as he sat up, careful not to make any sudden moves since his comrade wouldn't hesitate to ♀🐶 slap him with the branch.

"She's already scared out of her mind whenever b/n and I leave to go fight the abominations of abundance, she doesn't need any more scares seeing me injured!" y/n snapped, "Until I get strong enough to fight without hurting myself, until I'm sure  I can come home completely safe, I'm not letting her see me like this whenever I'm injured!"

Jing Yuan snickered, "Sounds like that's gonna be a while."

"Hush up!" y/n shot back, lowering the branch as her golden eyed companion got back to his feet, dusting himself off as he chuckled at her reaction.

"Still, I understand. If you're so concerned about it, I'll let you hide out with me for a bit, but we should at least let your Mother know that you're safe." Jing Yuan pointed out.

"With me looking like this?"

"Don't worry, I've got a plan."

...

"I don't like this plan."

"Do you have any better ideas?" 

Y/n pouted a little, "No..."

She'd hitched a ride on Jing Yuan's back, the young man keeping his arms looped under her legs so she wouldn't have to worry about hanging on with one arm broken. Y/n could barely see past his goddamn bird's nest for hair, but she had to admit that it was a pretty nice pillow.

During the long walk, y/n found herself playing around with his white hair. She wasn't sure if she was more confused or concerned about the fact that he had feathers tangled up in his hair.

She rested her head on his shoulder as he carried her towards her home, the nerves in her gut growing ever more frantic the closer they got. Y/n could already imagine the look in her mother's eyes, and it was already making her heart hurt.

"Hey, Jing Yuan." she mumbled in a meek tone, "Can we... just not?"

"Don't worry, you've got this." Jing Yuan turned his head just enough to give her a little smile.

Y/n hesitated before nodding, and only then did the young man continue on his way.

"Ugh... I fell asleep again..." y/n mumbled.

"That's what you're supposed to do when you're sick, besides, you've fallen asleep at worse times." Jing Yuan replied, his features calm and unbothered, "No need to be ashamed about it."

'I'm not ashamed about going to sleep.' y/n thought with a grimace, "That's not it."

"Ah, is it that the ferocious Demon Knight isn't supposed to be cuddly?"

"I'm not cuddly-!"

"I'm sorry, I'll rephrase: you find me cuddly and you enjoy cuddly things."

Y/n scowled, planting her hand against Jing Yuan's face so she wouldn't have to look at him as he laughed at her reaction. Once again, sharp buffoon, he was frighteningly correct.

She'd swallowed her pride and requested that Jing Yuan hold her, since she was feeling cold and hot beneath the blanket. He'd obliged, holding her while she nestled herself close to his chest and eventually fell into a nice and comfortable rest while her friend was saying something.

Upon waking up, she was hit with the shame and embarrassment which didn't go unnoticed by her personal human-sized blanket that seemed to enjoy seeing her flustered.

"I enjoy cuddly things who don't poke fun at me." y/n hissed.

Jing Yuan peeked around her hand, eyes gleaming, "I'm not poking fun at you, only asking questions. You're just sensitive."

Y/n lowered her hand and rested her head against Jing Yuan's chest with a huff and a small, "You'd be a little embarrassed as well if I had to see you in a sorry state."

"Not at all."

"🐂💩."

"No, honestly." y/n blinked in surprise when she was pulled closer so her friend could rest his head on top of hers, "All the times I've been at my lowest, I felt instant relief when you were by my side."

Y/n frowned, "Was there really ever a time..?"

"There was. I don't expect you to remember now, since you're not well, so don't worry yourself over it. Just rest for now." Jing Yuan murmured, closing his eyes as he took y/n's hand in his and traced the few scars there.

Despite her curiosity, y/n still found herself dozing off. Still so tired...

"I'm grateful that you're here." she mumbled through the haze of exhaustion, she wasn't even sure if the words were leaving her mouth, "And I'm glad that I was able to bring you that same comfort as well, friend."

There was a shift in Jing Yuan's breathing, nothing drastic but it was enough for y/n to tell that she had indeed manage to get those words out. He held her just a little tighter. She drifted off once more, this time with a content little smile on her face.

When she awoke, Jing Yuan was gone and her brother had returned with the medicine.

It was so bitter...!

Still, some convincing from her mother and the promise of yummy food had her guzzling it down so quick that her brother rushed to stop her before she took more than the recommended amount.

"The alchemist told me you should continue taking it in small doses with each meal for about a week. The pain will be the first to leave, but the fever and lack of mobility will stick around a little longer. Still, if you continue to take it, it'll be a nine days of recovery rather than three weeks."

"Can I do anything?"

"She figured you'd ask that." B/n smiled, "30 minutes of moderate exercise, nothing more."

"Perfect!" Y/n exclaimed eagerly.

"So... how was your day?" her brother asked not-so-discreetly.

"I can see you haven't strayed from your typical schemes, sending Jing Yuan to take care of me." y/n grumbled before mumbling a quiet, "Thanks, though. It made the pain a bit more bearable."

B/n blinked, her reply somehow surprising to him, then grinned, "I didn't send him."

"HUH!?"

"I didn't send him." the young man repeated, "I was on my way to go ask Yufei if she could come by to look after you, but I ran into Jing Yuan first. He asked about you, I told him how you were feeling, and he volunteered on his own to come help out so you could properly rest."

Y/n blinked, "He... he didn't..." suddenly, her face was on fire again, "That scoundrel-!"

B/n chuckled, "Always so quick to blame me."

"You two are plotting together, I just know it!"

"Yeah, yeah, settle down and get some rest. The fever is making you delirious."

Y/n huffed and shuffled about to turn her back to her brother, "Whatever."

...

"Can... can he possibly come by to visit while I recover?"

"I can ask."

"Don't!!!"

B/n chuckled, ruffling his sister's hair, "I won't be obvious about it, trust me."

Y/n averted her gaze, lips twitching up into a small smile.

"As long as you're subtle about it..."

(This man right here😩 the image is low quality asf but he's still fine)

(I REWATCHED THE STREAM, THOSE EARS, ISTG IF I'M RIGHT.)

(Suspicious details aside, Dan Heng is up next. But who comes after him?)