#elana

Whatever his cheek was pressed up against was wonderfully soft and warm. It didn't quite feel like a pillow, but there was a rhythmic thump that echoed through it that kept threatening to pull Mariano back down into sleep. It was nice. His arm was draped over something just as soft, and something else was wrapped around his hand.

It almost felt like someone was holding his hand, actually. Something slid delicately along the back, as though someone were sliding their thumb along it. There was another comfortable pressure behind him, against his back. If Mariano didn't know any better, he'd say that someone was curled up at his back, spooning him. He'd even say that he was lying in a bed, tangled up in a pile of legs and arms, with blankets piled over him.

He'd perhaps dare to think that his head was resting on Archer's shoulder. If he had to be specific, with a gun to his head, he'd guess that his face was pressed against Archer's chest. The smell of sandalwood and and cedar and sawdust filled his nose, soothing him like he'd had another awful nightmare and sought safety in the blankets of Archer's bed again.

Something soft and delicate and blindingly hot pressed to his neck, just under the curve of his jaw.

"How is he?" That almost sounded like Fletcher, from somewhere near where his hand was possibly being held. His voice was tight with what had to be nerves. "He--he hasn't started shivering yet."

"Still far too cold, but his pulse is steadier." That had to be Jewel. The warm thing slid over to rest in front of his lips. "He's breathing better, too. I think the ice shocked his body, more than anything."

"He was mumbling something earlier, so he might wake up soon." Elana's voice rolled through Mariano next, through his back. It almost felt like she was the one curled behind him. "Still feels like he's frozen, though. Dunno if his fire means the cold is worse for him."

"If he's responding, it's a good sign at least." Archer's voice was louder, even as it seemed to come from right beneath Mariano's ear and just over his head at the same time. "Need to tap out, Elana? I can still stay for a bit." Something burrowed deeper into Mariano's hair, and he belatedly realized it might've been Archer's hand, warm and soft as he cradled Mariano close.

Mariano didn't mean to groan at the thought of her leaving, the pathetic noise escaping as even more heat worked its way closer to his body. He did, though, and Elana cut herself off. "Hey, you with us yet, Mariano?" Her voice was almost painfully tender.

Mariano nodded, managing to get his eyes open again and pull his face away from Archer to look up at everyone. Elana, Archer, Fletcher, Jewel, even Wren. Her legs were draped over everyone else's as she waved from where she was sat on the bed. It looked like almost every blanket in the clinic were piled onto them.

The whole team was there. They all looked so relieved--Fletcher looked like he might start crying. "...Hi." Mariano managed, his voice sounding embarrassingly weak and hoarse. "What...what happened?"

"You took a blast from Deepfreeze for Fletcher while we were out on patrol. It just about froze you solid." Archer said, still cradling Mariano. "Had us worried."

"Oh." It was all Mariano could manage, and Fletcher held his hand tighter.

"There shouldn't be any frostbite, luckily." Jewel said, reaching to feel Mariano's forehead. "But Izan is fixing something warm for you to eat and drink, and you're on bedrest until your temperature stabilizes more."

"I...did we get Deepfreeze?" Mariano asked, every word feeling like caramel in his mouth. "They said...something about the water treatment plant."

"We did." Elana said, making no move to get up. "And we finally got hold of the head honcho to tell 'em why Deepfreeze attacked. They're gonna work on replacing those old, nasty pipes now." She almost sounded proud. "Archer said something about how we stopped this attack, but we might not manage to stop all the future ones so it'd be safer overall to just go ahead and revamp the stuff."

Mariano laughed, soft and tired. He squeezed Fletcher's hand. "Good, maybe we can stop buying so many water filters soon."

Fletcher spoke up, hesitant and sweet. "Do you need anything, Marito? We have water here."

Mariano rested his head against Archer again, his energy draining too quickly to fight. "No." He said, his body already starting to melt back into the comfort and warmth that couldn't quite make it past his skin. "No this is...this is enough. If you guys are busy, though, it's okay to go."

Archer shook his head, and Elana pressed in a little closer to squeeze Mariano between them both. "No can do, firecracker." He said, the nickname pulling more scant heat into Mariano's cheeks. "You were a human popsicle a few hours ago, so we aren't going anywhere. Besides, Laredo promised he'd bring us anything we needed."

"Yeah, you're not even getting this bed to yourself tonight, not unless Jewel says you can." Elana chimed in. "We're the best heat packs in the city."

"...Alright." Mariano's chest burned for a completely different reason as the rest of the team piled in closer and Jewel left to tell the others that he would recover with enough time and rest. He could hear Dimitri, Laredo, and Manuel playing cards in the other room. The smell of Fletcher's abuelita's black bean soup drifted in from the kitchen, smelling just the same as when Fletcher would make it--Izan always did remember everyone's favorite recipes.

Maybe this was okay. Maybe it felt nice to be surrounded like this. Maybe this was what it felt like to love.

Maybe this was what it felt like to be loved.

Mariano could get used to this.

@whump-captain @whumpr @whumperofworlds @lektricwhump @cyberwhumper