#:tximidity

“Y-yes. I’m alright…” Though Sullivan’s head shying away from her approaching palm was perhaps too obvious a sign he wasn’t, a soft exhale of breath given as the world spun from that simple motion. Slowly, he was stumbling onto two legs once more, brushing the dirt off his knees as another distraction to her assessing his condition. “I just tripped. We can keep going.”

The fever was not new for the day, but its intensity was, the high temperature beginning to take its toll on the young finder despite his best efforts. It didn’t matter the medication or precautions that were taken when you were sick enough…and when you weren’t giving yourself the proper amount of rest. But they had already stopped too many times last week for him, the same bout of illness striking him then too. It was utterly perplexing. He had always had a poor constitution, but never had he been ill so often as when he joined the Order. It was equally frustrating as he tried his best to be useful.

“We’re almost to the next village, yes? I would hate to keep anyone waiting for information…”

That fever again. Persistent, debilitating - the last thing a soldier needed when a clear mind was one of the only attributes that kept them alive. Plucking her shield off the clasp on her back to reattach it to the strap of the pouch at her side, feeling the weight of the thick metal dig into her skin. Reaching out as if to grab hold of his hand while leader’s tone ( laced with concern ) filled the afternoon air. 

“ Sullivan, if you keep pushing that illness of yours you won’t be able to help yourself when something really dangerous comes our way! ”

The temptation to reach past his hand and pick him up entirely to carry him to the village herself was an option she was tempted not to ignore ( her back already freed up to toss him on should the need require ). Something was going on - the details escaping her no matter how hard she picked her brain. 

love || accepting

@tximidity

“ Sullivan, you didn’t have to! ”

One hardly expected gifts on a normal holiday, but to run across him in the halls after a hard day of work just to be handed a few trinkets? Just to show he had her in his mind while buying them? It wasn’t difficult to see the cheery wash of pink that dusted her cheeks as she reached out to pick up the items. Half tempted to run back to her room to change into the turtleneck sweater he had bought already - a welcome change to the stuffy high rise collar of her typical work cloak. 

Taking a step forward as if to embrace him before pausing, choosing to hug the wares close instead ( not all were as cuddly as she was apt to be ). Holding the packages tight in one arm as she reached out to grab his shoulder with the other. A wide, warm smile gracing her sun-kissed features. 

“W-will it be any trouble for you…?” Sullivan couldn’t help but ask as her hand departed from his forehead. He had been living with Cal long enough to know what her answers would be, to know that he was always encouraged to do what was best for himself. But it never did stop those words of concern from trickling out of his mouth. They were autonomic by his point; it so ingrained to be as little a burden, to take up the least amount of space as possible. The thought of even being troublesome to another person put his mind in a tizzy, even if he was ill.

Bundled in his covers, he put forth the effort to bring them to his shoulders, finding comfort in feeling them tickle his ears as he scrunched his shoulders. In truth, he felt miserable. He had been feverish and cold Sunday, and it was now pushing into Monday with no real relief. Sullivan had been a rather quiet and pitiful lump, falling asleep in his two habitual spots, his bedroom and the living room couch. He would find no joy in dealing with school. It was stressful on its own…however, he would if it meant giving Cal a break from him.

“Um…thank you. I will rest in my room so I don’t disturb you. D-do you mind calling the school?”

A gentle sigh petered out to the open air, the sound of a soul relieved enough to know that her suggestion wouldn’t be fought. She had suspected his fever had not broken since the moment she entered his bedroom - the telltale warmth of his skin against the back of her had solidifying her worries. 

“ I have a few friends I can call in to act as my substitute. Besides, ”

Freed from his forehead, her hand reached up to caress his hair for but a moment. Offering a smile of comfort all the while. 

“ It really shouldn’t be me you’re worried about. Let’s get you rested up, alright? ”

With that, she rocked up onto her feet with ease. Striding towards the door only to pause at the frame, chestnut hair swaying in the dim light of the bedroom as she flashed him a soft grin. 

     The only reason you would disturb me is if I couldn’t help you feel better.

affectionate || accepting

@tximidity​

Palming the strips of thick woven bandages along her knee, checking and rechecking the work as if to commit the muscle tear to memory. A casual error - tearing dislocated muscle after the initial injury hadn’t come to her attention was a mistake she performed more often than she would care to admit ( what was an injury of hers when there were others to protect? ). 

Footsteps rang in the corner of her ears, prying her hands away from the injury in preparation to argue her case to leave to a nurse. Catching the sight of a familiar figure in their stead. 

“ Hey there, Sully! Sorry, I’d get up to greet you … but I think one of the nurses here would have my hide! ”

Bright grin washed across her face, nestling her chin in a pressed up hand. 

“ Don’t worry, I’ll be ready to go by the time we have a new assignment. It was just a bit of torn muscle - it’s not like I broke something! ”

“Cal!” Gathering her attention, he was far too excited to worry about how silly he might have looked, scrambling down the hall to catch up with her–having to offer up a few apologies along the way as he bumped a couple of shoulders. He was obviously in quite the rush, the snow on his shoes not even having the chance to melt off his feet, cheeks still rosy from the cold as well…but oh there was a bright smile across his face. “I’m glad I found you. You like apples, don’t you?”

He was not the type to run or rush, but today was the exception. What he had for the two of them was time-sensitive. Holding a parcel carefully in his arms, he was extending it to her, hoping that she could smell the sweetness from underneath the packaging. Jeryy had treated him to a fresh-baked apple pie. And as easy as it would be for him to eat it all himself, Sullivan thought of no better person to share it with.

“I got a fresh apple pie. Do you like them? I thought it would be a nice meal on such a cold day for the two of us!”

“ Well someone’s on the move today, aren’t they? ”

Catching the sound of his call, she spun in place just in time to catch the extended package in front of her. Cocking a single brow as she felt hidden warmth seep from behind he package’s wrapping. A certain sweetness coming reaching her face - a knowing chuckle gracing the open air. Lifting the parcel from his hands she cast a nod back towards a small side hall. Why not go towards a quieter space to enjoy the treat rather than the bustle of the cafeteria?

“ It’s perfect, Sully! Now come on, I know just the place where we can relax. ”

     Somewhere close enough just so the treat won’t get cold.

sleeping at last || accepting

@tximidity​

“ You aren’t wrong to be concerned. ”

One of the few quiet evenings in the headquarters she called home. Resting on the couch nearest the fireplace, warmth coating her in a blanket as the leader reclined back in her seat. Reaching up with one hand to rub idly at tired eyes, a chuckle almost imperceptible leaving her lips. Tilting her head over to look towards him, hand falling away to gesture to the seat beside her - a silent offering to sit down and relax. 

“ This isn’t something you should have to go through. No one deserves to be in a war. ”

     Least of all those who never wanted to fight. 

“ But you’re getting better. I see it in your determination, your push to find your own way to win. You’re getting stronger, getting faster, getting your own stand in my unit - I don’t think any one of the scouts around could call you someone ‘ new ‘ anymore. ”

Soft grin lining her visage. Sun-kissed skin cast bright from the flame, leaning forwards to rest her arms on her thighs. Chasing away the oncoming night. 

“ Just don’t let your fear consume you. ”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” A frenzied mantra forced itself from anxiety-riddled lungs, Sullivan choosing to apologize over breathing. As her presence grew close, he was pulling further into himself, thighs nearly meeting his chest as his forehead rested on his knees. Fingers sat upon the base of his skull and down his neck, guiding him into a bow of humiliation. “I’m sorry. I’m so stupid.”

But she seemed skilled at this, soothing him. He was not sure why. She had placed herself beside him, but she did not touch. She did not yell, but she put her voice at a volume that he could hear through his panicked breaths. And slowly…he felt himself following her patterns rather than ones that his anxiety had set in place for him. His breathing was slowing, his lungs finally having the change to permit a frustrated sob. Finally, as he was calmed, other emotions were beginning to leak out, a hand crudely sneaking between his face and his legs to rub at his eyes.

“It’s my fault that you got hurt.” Another soft sniffle followed after. “D-did I even heal you well? I’m sorry. I just started panicking. I-I’m a terrible ally.”

Resting her weight on bended knee, withholding her murmur of wonder as she felt bone previously shattered hold her weight without incident. Blunt trauma a saving grace - time would have been far less kind to her had the poison of a demon’s blood entered her body. Keeping steady beside him, warm amber keeping a watchful eye on her companion and their surroundings. The last thing the pair needed was another encounter - no matter her state, she wouldn’t be able to lose the trail of an akuma a second time. Waiting for him to calm before she spoke. 

“ Do I look hurt to you? ”

Sliding up to her feet with practiced grace, torn fabric of cloak and leg the only indication she had ever been hit. Reminded of the clockwork innocence of Miss Lotto’s, tapping her foot on the ground as if to prove her point. Smile faltering only by a hair as she winced - muscle remained strained, if connected. Curable, workable ... leagues above what she could have done on her own. 

“ Your innocence really is something amazing, Sullivan. ”

“Yes, ma’am…” In contrast to her, Sullivan’s posture remained stiff, eyes struggling to match hers, let alone make proper contact. Instead, they found a comfier home down at his shoes, his weight shifting slightly from his heels to his toes. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”

He had been assigned to her for the week, his first assignment outside of the Order. It was enough to make him uneasy–though, there was a great amount of excitement hiding beneath his nervous, initial thoughts. Sullivan had always wanted to adventure. To see what the world looked like outside of the church walls. It was his first real chance of that now.

“This is my first time out scouting. I’ve only been healing within the order.” Most likely to train him and ensure that he was worth their while. “I-I hope that I will be of help.”

“ Just so long as you know how to run, pay attention, and use this, ” crystal clear tone, edges lifted with a soft grin as she pulls out an obsidian sphere - her golem. “ You’ll be a welcome addition to the team! ”

Tossing the sphere up to the air to watch a set of quad wings unfurl. Flapping in the air in an erratic pattern before making a beeline for her cheek, settling in the loops of hair beside her chin with a static chitter that could have been mistaken for something happy. Calera paid it no mind other than a light exhale of a laugh. Taking her talisman, a shield of thick silver metal that gleamed in the light as she clipped it on her back with a single hand. Her other extended to a new partner in welcome.