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Poli was a respectable leader for Broomstown. A strong willed voice coordinating a plan for a rescue, his voice managing to be the loudest and clearest so it can be heard among many.

Despite his great qualities, sometimes even his throat couldn't even take on the mass adrenaline.

Unfortunately, Poli had found himself in Amber's room. She placed the thermometer back onto the desk, a sigh rolling out of her.

“Looks like you're suffering from a bad case of the sore throat, Poli..” Amber stated in a sympathetic tone, only adding further worry to his friends sitting on the opposite side of the room.

“Will.. he be alright?” Roy spoke, the most worried of them all. He despised seeing his friend like this, knowing the very same sting of not being able to help during a rescue. “He's– Not sick or anything, no?”

“He isn't, I already checked his temperature.” Amber firmly pressed a hand against his forehead. A gentle smile faded into her face. “You don't feel warm too.”

“I–” Poli wanted to sooth his team's worries, it was the one thing he could do. But alas, he was met with a typical coughing fit. A simple yet irritating side-effect of the common sore throat.

“Poli!” His team exclaimed in unison, Jin practically jolting out of her seat to get a glass of water out of the dispenser.

“You guys! Calm down!” Amber placed a hand onto his back, patting it gently. “It's what happens when you try to speak. Poli, please,” Amber gazed her eyes upon his, a sad glint glimmering in her eyes. She was just as worried. Poli hated that face. “Poli, please, I know you want us not to worry but let's also try to get you back on your feet, alright?”

Although grudgingly, he nodded his head. Accepting the glass of water Jin shoved into hands and sipped out of it.

“So what do we do now? We're gonna go quick through all the paper if we make him write..” Jin furrowed her eyebrows, her hand rubbing against the lower side of her chin. It was a huge loss for their team, alright.

“Oh, oh! Me, me!” Helly raised his hand excitedly, waving it into the air.

“..Could I ask what it is?”

“What ifff, we make him do charades!”

“Charades?” The team tilted their head at the solution. Charades, a game where you act out various poses and make others guess what you are. It was great fun, but they pondered on how it could help.

“Just hear me out! We all played it before, didn't we?” Helly flew around Poli, the officer's eyes following the young helicopter. “C'mon Poli, you can do that, right?”

Charades..

Poli set his glass aside and stood up. It wasn't like he was completely striked down by an illness. What's better than doing a stroll in town for a grasp of fresh air?

Poli brought his arms up into the air, directing them towards the door in a repeated motion. His acting skills could bring him justice, right?

“Uhh.. Are you.. trying.. Wait– No..” Amber was clueless. Her idea of it was Poli acting out the daily job of the construction team.

“No, no! I got it! He wants to be a.. bird? He's flapping his arms around, so..” A blonde lock twirled between Jin's fingers, the inventor wanted to build an answer to whatever the officer was doing.

“Hmph, you guys got it all wrong! He obviously wants to go play! I could be your guy for that, Poli!” So close yet so far, Helly.

“Helly, isn't he a bit old for that?” Amber asked with great curiosity.

“C'mon, adults can play too!”

It was only left to Roy, the most silent out of the group. The spotlight basked him in its shine, and admittedly: It made him a little nervous.

Directing your arms towards the door.. He could get that. A door leading to the outside world, the sun managing to find its way through the small creaks of it. Roy noted that Poli always favoured strolls, could it be..

“You want to go for a walk in the town?”

Poli's fist formed into a thumbs up to Roy's conclusion, the only one who got it right.

“Whatt?! How did you get that?!” An inventor and helicopter loudly yelped, circling Roy around with many questions. “Are you a wizard or something?!”

“Haha.. well..”

“Hey,” Amber broke the trance of the two, saving Roy out of pure awkwardness. “What about you go with him? He's not sick or anything, he could use some fresh air!”

“Wh– Really? Me?” Roy literally and metaphorically pointed towards his chest. “I don't think–” Roy took notice of Poli's face. Almost beaming of excitement despite the dire situation for him.

He couldn't say no to that face.

“Alright.. It would be much better for you. Let's go out, yeah?”

–

The town was bustling and full of energy as it always had been, citizens coming and going through the ports and pedestrians on the sides of the streets.

It hadn't really come to mind that he actually fully took in the town's activities and shops. Constant patrols weren't too lenient on the very little time he had for himself. And when the time came, he usually spent it in headquarters.

“What would you like to do, Poli?” Roy loomed over his shoulder, placing his hands on them. “We can do anything you want.”

He could totally kill for something warm right now.

As he was about to use his arms and hands for motions, Spooky and his friends passed by. Eager to always find out what the rescue team is up to, Spooky dashed over the two.

Poli wasn't a fan of Spooky suddenly speeding in the town's circle. What if someone got hurt? He'd just have to strictly tell him off for that.

But his voice..

Poli held up his arm's in the air, crossing them over each other to create a stop sign. The officer went side to side in the same quick manner, his arms not faltering from the pose.

“Uhm… What.. are you doing?” Spooky couldn't get the memo. Posty rolled his eyes, bumping against his tire. “Charades, duh! He's trying to tell you something, you knucklehead!”

“Roy..? Why is he doing that?” The most timid of the friend group, Cleany asked. Roy awkwardly laughed, scratching the back of his head.

“Poli has a sore throat, hence the charades. It will only be for a while.” While his demeanor was more gentle than Poli, he could still be stern. “Spooky, let's not try speeding in the circle, alright?”

“Woah! You got it from that? You're like a wizard!” Cap beamed. Roy swears he had the same people telling him that this morning. “What's your secret?”

“I– Guess it's just from knowing each other for a while! Aha.. thanks..” Roy brushed off the compliments, the firetruck often flustered at such things. Trying to back away from the constant stares, he turns to Poli. “As I was saying–”

“C'mon, let us have a try!” Spooky stomped his tires. “It's no fun when only you can do it! Give it a try, Poli!”

Why did the one thing he disliked today had to be so important? Poli bit back an annoyed groan. Whatever, might as well.

Poli pinched his index and thumb together, lowering his free hand under and cupping it into a form of a cup. With the hand above, he mimicked a circular motion of swirling tea with a teaspoon.

“Oh, this is so easy! He obviously wants to go on the carrousel!” Spooky bragged, only for his ego to be destroyed by a simple head shake. “Well.. I guess the festival isn't by now..”

“M–Maybe he wants to go on a walk? But– To be fair, he's already having a walk around the town.. Nevermind.” Cleany sheepishly averts his eyes towards the ground.

“I have no idea..” Cap maneuvered his tire against the concrete ground. “I'm not good at these games..”

“Hmph, and I don't have time for these games!” Posty argued, wanting to simply deliver mail than to be stuck in the town square.

“You guys..” Roy held his hand up. “I think he just wants something to drink. Right, Poli?” Poli nodded to that. What a relief, Roy thought. He was planning to make a pit stop at the café for something warm to drink anyway. “We really have to go now, see you next time guys!”

“Oh– Well, get well soon Poli!” The friend group exclaimed loudly as they walked away.

Poli silently rolled an exhausted sigh, which of course caught Roy's attention. Roy placed his hand onto his shoulder, lightly rubbing against it.

“I know you don't like it, but it will be over soon, alright? Just don't strain yourself as often as you do.” A little hypocritical coming from the selfless firetruck. “Besides, I too could go for something warm!”

A weak smile curves onto Poli's face. If anyone could comfort the officer, it was always Roy.

–

Compared to what the town was just moments ago, the café had a nice quiet atmosphere. A small, cozy café lined up with a few others outside.

Only the roaring sounds of coffee machines and waitresses shuffling around the place. Poli desperately wanted to hold a conversation, but to his demise the universe didn't align for his needs.

“Is there anything you want, Poli? This place has a lot of stuff.. I almost just can't choose!” Roy giggled, holding the menu close to him. “Although some tea could be great for your throat!”

“..Mm.” Poli's eyes were set on black coffee instead. Anything to drown his suffering in the bitterness of the drink.

“Come on Poli, coffee can't do well. I know you want it with that stare of yours.”

“..Mmn.”

“How about I pick for you? I promise it will be good. Please?” Roy placed a hand onto his chest for emphasis. Poli couldn't refuse the pleading look of his.

“Good. I'll go order then.”

Shortly after, they had gotten their orders onto a small tray. Poli stared into the contents of his cup, the steam of the beverage lightly hitting his face.

“Amber taught me a little about tea blends. I sure hope it's the right one..” Roy softly blew the steam away, sipping his drink. “It's really good!”

Poli hesitantly took the teacup to his mouth, his reflection staring right at him. He had been nothing but a bother to his friend today, and he couldn't even say thank you.

He'd just have to say his thanks despite his throat protests, Poli thought. Sipping away at the tea. Not only was the honey a great sweetener, it also helped by a slight.

Poli would just have to say thank you at night.

–

What was once the sun basking each and everyone in its glory, now rested and asked the moon to take over the night.

Poli always favoured night. Even with how much the sky was a black void, stars manage to illuminate the lonely skies.

“You sure love the stars, don't you? You're always gazing up at them..” Roy's laughter broke Poli out of his trance. “I do too! The stars are so pretty, you just can't help but count. And also..”

Poli would typically respond back to Roy's rambles. They both love to hold long conversations as they gazed up at anything. Whatever it may be sunsets, the ocean or the night sky.

“There's also the moon! And–”

Poli swiftly grabbed Roy's hand into his. His eyes fixated onto the sudden hand grab.

“Ah–! Poli?”

“T–Tha..” His throat barely mustered sound, but Poli just wanted to thank him for his help. Even a small gratitude would suffice for Poli. “R–Roy, I–”

“C'mon, I know you want to say thank you.” Roy relaxed his posture, a look painted onto his face that he already appreciated the thanks. “You don't have to say it. Just by this, I already know you're thankful!”

Poli felt himself warm up due to those words. He swore, whatever Roy said just managed to have his words bathed in sunlight and handed over to his friends.

Poli finally didn't force a smile like he did all day, a soft grin fading onto an once gloomy face.

“Let's go home, alright?”

Even if the two had their differences and personalities, they always found the key to understanding each other.

Poli had learned today that even without communication, their friendships could strive without being verbal.

The leader was thankful for his team. And it will stay that way until the end.

They were his favourite constellations out of all the possible stars that could exist.