A small cough filled the room that late Sunday morning. It was then followed by another then another, causing the raven-haired project to come out of hiding long enough to view the pinkette lying in bed. Damp, pink strands clung to the smaller teen's forehead and upon further inspection, Ace noticed that his face was flushed.
Tilting his head to the side, Ace knelt on the bed beside the sweating teen and placed his hand on Robbie's forehead. He removed it moments later, registering the temperature before pulling away the covers that covered the sick one. Once that was completed, the red-eyed teen walked over to the window and opened it up, letting in the cool breeze. He took note of the scent of rain in the air so he slid it down a bit before walking back over to the bed.
"Told you you'd get sick if you stayed in such wet clothing," he said quietly.
"We would've…" A string of coughs interrupted the sentence before dying off. "…gotten here sooner if…you stopped stopping every five minute to give me a kiss," Robert rasped out. "I told…you I was fine. What she said was fine. Was true…anyw-"
"That wasn't true!" A hazel eye cracked open to regard the one that just shouted. "What does she know anyway?" Ace asked, kneeling on the bed. "Such a stupid girl. So very annoying. I don't k-"
"Ace…" the pinkette murmured. "Shut up, you're giving…me a headache." Dark red eyes looked away as they started to tremble. 'Dammit…' Robert thought as he slid into an upright position. "Ace, don't cry."
The PDA's gaze went over to the other now sitting up on the bed. "I don't cry."
One pink eyebrow arched itself before the teen lay back down. "Whatever…" he coughed. "Can you bring-" He coughed. "-a fan. It's hot."
Ace watched as he pulled the blanket over his pink head. Shaking his own, the raven reached over and pulled the covers away to watch the pinkette ball up instinctively. Hazel eyes then peered over a shoulder to glare at the PDA though it faltered as he coughed. Looking at his flushed appearance, the red-streaked project couldn't stop the smile that had begun to creep along his face. He scooted closer, watching as the smaller of the pair rolled onto his stomach, holding himself up by his elbows. For one so sick, Ace was a bit surprised for the other to be so wary.
That only succeeded in making him smile more.
"You're hot because of the blanket," he stated, glancing at said item. "Your hair and shirt are clinging to you because you're all sweaty."
"Your point?" Robbie rasped out.
"Lose the shirt."
"W-what?"
"Shirt," Ace replied, inching over. "Lose it."
"No."
The PDA cocked his head to the side before reaching out. The pinkette backed away, only to stop as his back pressed against the wall. He scowled but folded his arms. Finding this all rather cute, Ace leaned forward and grabbed the collar of the teen's shirt.
"Rob, you can either take it off yourself," Ace said quietly, a few inches from the other's face, "or-" He moved over to whisper in the pink-haired teen's ear. "-I will take it off myself."
"Y-you wouldn't dare," Robert stammered, turning his head towards the raven a bit.
A smirk appeared on the PDA's face before he placed a kiss to the teen's flushed and dampened cheek. He then pulled away, putting on a look of sheer innocence as he stared at the pinkette before him.
"Robert…" he drawled, tightening his hand subtly.
"W-what?"
"Shirt. Lose it."
"And I told you no!"
A small twitch in the corner of the raven's eye had the smaller pinkette shrink back though he knew he wouldn't be able to get very far due to the wall behind. With that in mind, Robert wrapped his arms around himself, grunting as the PDA let go.
Scowling himself, Ace eyed the loose, white shirt the other wore before scooting back to give the teen space. He waited a few moments before the pinkette slowly lowered his arms to his sides. Holding back a smile, the raven-haired project then reached out to grab the article of clothing once he was sure Rob's defense was completely down.
His guess was correct though he couldn't suppress the raspy squeak that came from the smaller of the pair as he was pulled forward.
"It's coming off," Ace said demandingly.
He yanked at the end of it though that only gained him a hard smack to the back of the hand. Pulling away said appendage, red eyes regarded the angered hazel-eyed teenager. Dropping his gaze, Ace stared down at his lap, glancing up at the other who had yet to stop glaring.
"Robbie…"
"No!" said person hissed, rubbing his throat.
"Screw this," the PDA growled out, managing to startle the other. "I said it was coming off!"
The pinkette narrowed his eyes and backed away though the raven wasn't going to allow him to get any further. No, instead, he grabbed the white collar of the loose shirt and pulled back, bringing the other forward. With enough distance between him and the wall, Ace adjusted his hold so that he could push an all but willing pinkette onto his back.
'What is he doing?' the pink-haired teen asked himself, panic clearly evident in his own head. "A-Ace, what-" He went into a small string of coughing, surprised that the raven have backed off for the time. "What are y-"
"I already told you it had to come off," the other replied, sliding his hands down to the shirt's end. "You're sick and it's clinging to you." He pulled the article up to the smaller one's navel. "It has to go."
A harsh cough struck the pinkette, stilling his words for a time before he regain what was left of his already low composure.
"Ace, w-"
"Off," came the one worded response as the shirt slid up further, exposing flushed skin.
The PDA simply smiled down at the smaller one before tugging the shirt over the other's head with a bit of difficulty. The pinkette didn't give the article up willingly but, nonetheless, it came off.
"Now isn't that better?" Ace asked, tracing the smaller teen's collarbone.
Robert shivered at the rather cool finger though he failed to meet the raven's gaze. Frowning inwardly, Ace leaned down until he was sure he had the other's attention. When hazel eyes widened, the PDA placed a small kiss to the sick one's forehead.
"A-Ace…"
"Now, isn't that better?" the PDA asked again, pulling away to get a better view of pinkette either blushing or still flushed from his cold. He placed a hand to one cheek before pulling it away. "You're still pretty warm, you know."
The pinkette wrapped his arms around himself instinctively as he eyed the red-streaked teen above him. A gasp soon filled the room as his arms were removed, a leer on the raven's face. It managed to send the smaller of the two into a frenzy though his body had already tried to stop as it triggered a coughing fit.
"Ace, get away from me!" Robert shouted, pushing the other back.
The PDA sat up slowly, drawing his knees to his chest as he watched the other warily. Sliding one hand through his hair, he then turned his attention to the open window.
"I was just trying to help you."
"A bit much, ya' think?" Rob snapped, rubbing his neck.
"Think about what?" Ace asked, glancing at the pinkette.
Robert merely gestured to his exposed upper half before reaching down to grab the blanket. It was the PDA's reaction that caught his attention once more. His hand caught his right before he managed to pull it around himself, effectively hiding his thin frame behind the warm material.
"What are you-"
"You're going to tire yourself out with all your talking," the PDA murmured, leaning forward. "Do be quiet."
"Ace-"
A single finger placed to his lips managed to silence him as the raven continued to lean forward. When it removed itself, Robert went to finish his statement though another pair of lip pressed to his silence all words. Hazel eyes widened while the darker pair closed to half-mast. As soon as the PDA pulled away, the pinkette squeaked unknowingly before averting his gaze.
Smiling at the reaction, Ace repeated his previous endeavor as he cupped the teen's cheek. "You're so cute." Robert's gaze slid back over to him as he leaned in again. "Did you ever think of a safe word?" the PDA asked softly, his always minty breath ghosting over the other's reddened skin.
"N-no?" Robert answered half questioned.
Frowning for a moment, the raven simply shrugged it off before giving the reluctant pinkette another kiss. Two fingers were used to keep the teen's head up while Ace pulled away to place a kiss to his cheek. Anxiety flitted across Robert's face though it wasn't quite registered by the red-streaked project as he continued. He did stop as a cough broke the silence in the room.
"I really wish you would…" the PDA murmured in the crook of Robbie's neck, sending a small shiver down the teen's back. "It would make me really, really happy."
The pinkette furrowed his brow as he turned his head in the direction of the nestling project. He still wasn't quite sure why the other requested such a weird thing.
"Ace…" Said person hummed his acknowledgement. "Um, why…why do you need one?"
"Need one what, Robert?"
"A safe word." It just felt odd to say. "What's it for?"
"You'd see if you give one," Ace replied, placing a kiss to a flushed cheek. "It doesn't have to be a real word. Just something…Robbie."
The teen's stomach growled. "Soup?"
"Is that the word you wish to use?" the PDA asked, sitting up.
"It's…kinda' what I want to eat…"
Red eyes stared at the pinkette thoughtfully before pulling the smaller teen into a hug. "You're so cute!"
"Ace."
"Forget the stupid safe word then," said person said giddily.
A small wave of relief washed over the hazel-eyed teen though an underlining feeling of dread took place. With the combination of subtle twitches and slight mood swings, Ace was starting to become a bit scary…well, scarier. He still managed to freak the pinkette out from time to time.
"Isn't it necessary?" Robert asked. Ace raised an eyebrow. "Y-you said it was when you required certain…information?" he added as an afterthought. "Right?"
"Yes," the raven drawled as he pushed the pinkette onto his back, "but if you recall, I did say to forget it."
"But you were insistent on it," Robert countered.
"And you aren't being very cooperative in giving one," the PDA stated, placing a hand at either side of the other's head. "So, as I had said before, forget it." He leaned down to close the gap between them. "Besides, it'll be more fun without one."
"Fun?" the pinkette asked, regretting it soon after as a lecherous grin crossed Ace's face.
"So much-"
The sound of ringing cut him off before he got to finish. Letting out an aggravated sigh, he placed two fingers behind his ear, the same thing he had done a few days back, before turning his attention over to the teen laying beneath him.
"It's Neroma," he stated, interest clearly gone in his voice.
"Put him on."
"You're busy," Ace replied, giving the other a quick kiss. "Call him later."
"I said-" A harsh cough. "Put. Him. On." Dark eyes stared down at the hazel ones that had not been hidden beneath a pair of glasses. "Now!"
Rolling over huffily, Ace stared up at the ceiling as he slid his fingers back a bit.
Sitting up, Robert stared down at the PDA on his back. "Hello?"
"Hey, Rob."
It was Kaito.
"H-" A cough had him rubbing his sore throat. "Hey, how was the party?"
"Didn't stay," the purplette replied. "Are you ok?"
"I…" The pinkette shrank back a bit as burgundy eyes turned their gaze from the ceiling over to him. "…caught a cold."
Stretching, Kaylen ran his fingers through his brown hair as he entered the lab. He was a bit surprised at how much sleep he managed to get after seeing the little display the wet PDA had given in the street the night before. Lifting someone up was definitely not written in its programming but he brushed it off since no harm was truly done. Even more, he was able to enjoy his night knowing that Jayce could not pester him while being tied up.
Rubbing one violet eye, he stopped as he saw the small metal coils left at the center of the floor. Looking around, he spotted the tables, computers, maps, several textbooks, files, and papers though no greenette. A bit uneasy at being shocked for a second time, Kay walked slowly on alert to any sudden movements that did not come from him.
"Hello?" he called, careful not to let his anxiety be known.
Nothing.
He was actually alone.
Content with that, he pulled out a chair and took a seat to look over some of the papers that had been neatly stacked. Taking a look at the bottom of the sheets, he noticed, with neat penmanship, the name of Elle Harukana.
"Heh, she's been doing my work," he mused aloud. "I should take off more often."
"I wouldn't recommend it." Violet eyes looked up to see the red-haired woman walking towards him. "Next time I'll leave it for you to fill out. This is your sector anyway." The woman blew a strand of hair from out of hair fair face. "By the way, Jayce is in the bathroom." Purple eyes rolled. "Why the hell did you leave him like that?"
"He was fine."
"He had to pee."
"And now he went," Kay stated, gesturing for her to look back at the main entrance.
The greenette had walked in with a relieved look on his face. That soon changed as blue eyes took note of the seated brunette. Something along the lines of frustration registered in his eyes though an underlining threat caught the violet-eyed man's attention.
"You better not shock me," Kaylen warned.
"Come on, you two," Elle said to intervene.
"I'm not going to shock you," Jayce replied, earning him a quirked eyebrow from his seated associate. "No, it'll be something else."
"Like…?" the brunette asked.
Jay merely shrugged. "You'd just have to wait and see."
The redhead massaged her temples before adjusting her white lab coat. "I'm stepping out for lunch. In the time that I'm gone, do try not to maim, shock, or kill each other."
"Sure…" Kay said, eyes never leaving his green-haired partner.
"Alright," Jay replied, crossing the length of the room to get to the larger computer screen.
"Want anything?" Elle offered.
"No…" the brunette replied slowly.
"I'm good," the greenette responded. "See ya' soon."
The woman nodded and glanced back at the purple-eyed man that had yet to stop watching the other man's movements.
"Ha, good luck," she whispered as she crossed the room and made her exit.
"Jay…?" The man hummed his response. "What are you doing over there?" he asked as he watched said scientist typing away.
"Oh, nothing really," came the reply. "Just checking up on the PDA's whereabouts since I couldn't last night." Blue eyes shifted towards the other man before going back to the screen. "It seems to be stationary at the moment."
"Oh, about the PDA." Jay glanced back at him, eyebrow quirked. "It got wet."
"Are you sure you're ok?"
The pink-haired teen nodded as he slipped on a fresh blue shirt. Kaito had stopped by as soon as the PDA hung up. It surprised Robbie, though Ace didn't seem exactly thrilled when he was told to open the door. The taller teens exchanged glances and a simple of the head sufficed for both before they turned their attention over to the sick one. Kaito would've asked about the lack of shirt though he decided against it.
A faint smile then flitted across the grey-eyed teen's face as he heard the pink-haired teen's stomach growl.
"You really should eat something," Kaito said, sliding his shoes off, ignoring the watchful red eyes. "Want me to make you something?"
"No," Robert said. "You're a guest." He paused to allow a small coughing fit, much to the purplette's displeasure. "Don't worry about it."
Hazel eyes shifted to see the PDA staring at the guest. When the raven averted his gaze, he saw the pinkette staring at him. As one pink eyebrow arched itself, Ace sighed quietly.
"I'll…go make you something to eat," he said, heading out of the foyer and to the kitchen. He then stopped and came back, much to the other teens' confusion. "I forgot something."
"And that is?" the one with violet hair asked.
The PDA stared at the purple-haired guest, not saying anything since he was already forced to tolerate him, but then turned his attention to the pinkette. A warm smile crossed his face as he leaned down to be at eyelevel with the smaller one. He heard Kaito shift in place though he said nothing to stop the raven. Pleased with that, Ace cupped Rob's cheek and gave him a chaste kiss, not relenting until he felt the smaller of the two fidget.
Standing upright, the red-streaked project made his way out and to the kitchen to prepare something suitable enough to give the small hazel-eyed teenager.
Opening his eyes, not knowing that he had shut them, Rob looked over to see Kai in a slight daze before his grey eyes darted away. Looking down, Robbie shifted in place, hoping the other would say something to break the silence.
"Did…did he stay the night?"
A heavy sigh filled the room, adding more tension to the already tense atmosphere.
"Yes," the pinkette finally replied. 'Let's not start this again…'
He registered the sound of footsteps before feeling a cool finger slide under his chin. When it began to tilt his head, he was expecting to see PDA standing there. However, his gaze was met by a pair of dark grey eyes.
"Hey, Robert?"
"Y-yes?" said person stammered.
"Want to go up to your room and play a videogame?" Kaito offered, gesturing towards the stairs
"Um, sure," the pinkette replied, walking ahead.
His advancement stopped as he coughed. He felt a bit nauseous though he dismissed it. A slight pang in his head resurfaced though he pushed it away as he glanced at the worried look his friend was giving him.
"Are you ok?" Kai asked, placing his hand on the pinkette's shoulder as he went into a small coughing fit.
"I'm. Ok," Robert replied between his wheezing. Once he finished, he straightened up and threw his companion a smile. "Ready to go play?"
"Sure," Kai replied, matching the smile with his own though he sounded a bit wary.
Turning, Robbie made his way up the stairs with the purplette right behind him.
Hearing the noise coming from the stairway, Ace came out holding a bowl in his hands. He looked around the lower level, not spotting anyone, before hearing a door from upstairs closing. Hunching his shoulders, the PDA sulked as he made his way back into the kitchen. Setting the container down, he leaned against the countertop as he turned his attention to the graying sky out the window.
His gaze then drifted to the ceiling as he heard the television cut on. Sounds from the game were picked up soon after. After hearing a few laughs, and harsh coughs, Ace walked over to the table and took a seat, tapping his fingers along the surface as he stared out ahead.
"Just…a small setback," he murmured to himself.
His gaze drifted up to the ceiling once more as he heard a rather loud sound coming from the game. Rising from his chair, he walked back over to the counter and returned to collecting items necessary for cooking; all the while his gaze stared out at the now raining environment outside the window. That simply meant the purplette would be around a bit longer.
Rummaging around in the cabinets, he pulled down the flour then went to the fridge for eggs as well as a few other ingredients. Scanning everything over for good measure, Ace then washed his hands prior to picking up an egg.
Cracking one, he allowed its contents to fall into the bowl before tossing away the shell. Picking up another, he watched the rain fall from within the window. His hand tightened at the sound of the purplette's voice as he called out to Robert from the kitchen.
"What are you doing?" Kaito asked as he pulled out a bottle of water from the fridge.
"What are you doing?" Ace replied.
The other teen held up the water. "Rob's throat was bothering him so I came to get him something to drink." He closed the door. "What are you doing?" he countered.
"Making noodles for soup," the PDA replied.
"Heh." That made the raven look away, bristling. "Well, at any rate, make sure you don't get eggshells in them," the grey-eyed teen said as he exited out.
Looking back down at the bowl, crimson eyes picked up on the bits of shell that had slipped inside before looking over at his messy hand. Yolk and egg whites were dripping out from the hand he had unknowingly closed. Groaning inwardly, he tossed the ruined egg into the trash before going to the sink to wash his hands again.
"Just…a small setback…"
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