Mitsuhide Lowen | Kiki | 042

[cavaliering]

[So he sadly didn't hear until much later. Kiki had been assigned to running drills (something she was particularly adept at, considering she could kick the collective asses of the royal guard--) while Mitsuhide, of course, had been at Zen's side.

But when he did hear, he was all panic and concern, leaving Zen without barely waiting for the acknowledgement, to burst into the clinic and--]

Kiki! I heard--are you all right?

[it's probably just a cold, Mitsuhide, chill.]

Comments

[succinct]

[ and there's Kiki, flushed from fever and perched on the edge of a bed with one hand pressed to her forehead. ]

You're too loud. I just got dizzy, and everyone panicked.

[cavaliering]

[and he just comes right over immediately and.

Frets. Quietly. And almost without realizing what he's doing, he gently presses the back of his hand to her cheek--but only to check her temperature.]

You're feverish, Kiki! I'll get Shirayuki. You should really have this looked at--

[succinct]

[ Kiki's left staring at him, only vaguely surprised, and a little annoyed that she's surprised at all that his hand is on her face.

Also, her partner... ]

I'll be fine, Mitsuhide. It's not anything alarming.

[cavaliering]

[Well he's concerned. So. He shakes his head quickly.]

If it's managed to put you down, even just for a short rest, I think it's something alarming.

[but he hesitates because he really doesn't want to leave her augh why these feelings--]

[succinct]

You think-- [ a cough. ] Zen oversleeping is alarming, I don't think you're the best judge here.

[ except maybe he is for this situation. ]

[cavaliering]

[yes...and he's serious enough to not even quibble with her at that.]

Then I'll get Shirayuki's opinion. Hers, surely, is trustworthy enough here.

[NOT EVEN GONNA WAIT FOR PERMISSION one second later and he's gone to retriever the medicinal lady, oops.]

[succinct]

Mitsuhi-- [ it's sharp, for Kiki, but it's also punctuated by a coughing fit.

She'll get you next time. ]

[cavaliering]

[he'll take whatever punishment she throws at him...

for now, he returns with shirayuki, who confirms that kiki is rather sick and needs bedrest and lots of fluids. she also pushes a bunch of medicines onto mitsuhide, telling him firmly to make sure kiki has what she needs, before leaving to give them privacy.

...why do they need privacy, mitsuhide wonders...]

Here...you should take this first, and then I'll see about getting some food.

[succinct]

[ why didn't she take Mitsuhide with her, Kiki wonders...

But she's giving her new pile of medicines a wary glance, before she sighs. ]

At what point did you decide to become my caretaker?

[cavaliering]

[this is serious, okay. He just pulls up a chair quietly and sits and sets to sorting out that medicine carefully, all of his focus on making sure it's done exactly to Shirayuki's specifications.]

... I need to be sure my partner will be in her best condition, don't I?

[succinct]

Even with a cold, I could take you.

[ it would be somewhat defiant, except she's saying it with one palm pressed to her forehead to stave off a headache. ]

[cavaliering]

[oh no, poor Kiki... Mitsuhide just nods, finally offering her some medicine along with a glass of water.]

Nobody doubts that, Kiki. So there's no reason to prove it. Take this instead.

[succinct]

[ ... She may not survive his mothering. But she does take the glass, waiting for a quick coughing fit to pass before she downs the medicine-- and drinks the water even faster.

Go figure. It would be bitter. ]

Were all of these really necessary? I think I have more medicine than symptoms.

[cavaliering]

[always bitter, really. That's the way it has to be.

But he just tilts his head, grinning at her.]

Doctor's orders! You can discuss it with Shirayuki if you'd like, but we both know how she is about her patients.

[succinct]

At least she wouldn't hover... [ yes, Kiki is still very much grumpy about this whole thing, even being fever-flushed and headachey and just weirdly achy in general. ] But fine, I trust her judgment.

[cavaliering]

[don't be like that, partner... Mitsuhide just retrieves the cup and uses the pitcher to pour it full again, setting it aside but within her reach.]

I'm not hovering, am I?

[you're hovering.]

I'm just inspecting the clinic. It's about due for one. [:'D]

[succinct]

Is that it? You'd better go check that corner over there, then.

[ the one furthest from Kiki's bed. ]

[cavaliering]

If I didn't know better, I would think you were trying to get rid of me! But that would be too hurtful.

[but he does get up and make a show of inspecting the corner so.

there you go.]

[succinct]

[ If there's silence in regards to that comment, it's because Kiki is easing herself onto her back and closing her eyes to encourage the dizziness to go the hell away. Otherwise you know she wouldn't pass up the opportunity to be sarcastic at him.

But hey, she at least got him to turn his back so she could flop kind of not gracefully at all and he wouldn't start fussing over a "collapse". ]

[cavaliering]

[He's so onto you--okay so he isn't, but he suspected. And he heard the thump of her flopping, though he restrained himself from whirling around to make sure she's okay.

Of course she is. She's Kiki.]

Hmm...this corner seems to be in proper order.

[And then he turns, meandering back.]

Might as well get some rest while you're stuck in on the doctor's orders anyway, right?

[succinct]

I'm not tired. I'm just trying for a new position.

[ one that looks a lot like curling up. ]

[cavaliering]

Well, I'm sure you'll have to beat all of the palace guard again when you're back on your feet, so there's no harm in resting up to prepare for that exercise now.

It's only logical.

[sleeeeeep, kikiiii.]

[succinct]

[ ... She's half-convinced Shirayuki put something in that medicine for her to suddenly be this tired. Or maybe she'd worn herself out without realizing.

Either way, she only sighs. ]

Don't spend your whole time here, Mitsuhide. Zen still [ maybe ] needs you.

[ but give her a few minutes of raspy breathing and she'll be out. ]

[cavaliering]

[And Mitsuhide just looks at her fondly, shaking his head, and then proceeds to do all of the things he knew she wouldn't have let him do while awake--he pulls off her boots and tucks her under the sheets and organizes the medicine and makes sure her water glass is full. Then he fetches more water in the pitcher and finally goes to seek out Zen--

To tell him Kiki's condition and then quite eagerly follow his orders to make sure she is okay, which of course means that he ultimately ends up in a chair by her bedside.

He's got this worked out.]

[succinct]

[ Thanks to his fussing, she ultimately ends up sleeping longer, though she'll rouse after a couple of hours.

It takes her an additional moment to focus somewhat blearily on the figure in the chair. ]

Mitsuhide... [ wow her voice sounds kind of bad, ignore that. ]