It wasn't everyday on the Bionis that the Colony 9 Defence Force got a day off. The only time that happened was when Colonel Vangarre and his wife had their anniversary. Reyn was suppose to be enjoying his day off; normally he'd be somewhere around the outskirts of the Colony taking in the warm sun. Instead he was at Dickson's house , taking care of his sick childhood friend, Shulk.

"Reyn." Shulk sniffed as the red-headed teen stood in the doorway of his room "You don't have to do this." Another sniff "Go enjoy your day off."

"And leave you here all miserable like? You know that's not how I work, Shulk."

The sickly blond gave a sheepish grin as he coughed into his pajama sleeve. Reyn took a good look at his best friend's state. Shulk's blond hair was cutely disheveled and stood out in various directions. His long sleeved, multi-colored pajama top had several buttons undone; which showed off the frail blond's pale collar bone and bits of his chest. Reyn's eyes lingered on the exposed skin for a few moment as he mind trailed off into rather unfitting imagery. Oh how he wished to mark Shulk's skin and show everyone in Colony 9 who the boy belonged to.

"Reyn?"

No response from his bulky friend

"Reyn?" Shulk tried to gain the Defence Force trainee's attention "Reyn!"

"Wha?" Came the auburn haired teen's intelligent sound.

"You were day dreaming again."

Reyn gave one of his signature smiles as he rubbed the back of his head "Sorry, Shulk. What were you saying before?"

The blond sighed, but it ended up turning into a fit of harsh coughing. The gunlance user rushed to his friend's aid and, as gently as he could, patted the sickly homs' back. Once the fit was over with, Shulk laid down on the bed with a tired and drained groan and placed a nearby pillow over his head.

"I hate being sick."

"That's what you get for falling asleep in the Scrapyard while it was raining."

"It wasn't raining before I fell asleep." Came Shulk's muffled complain.

Reyn held back a laugh. Sure Shulk was extremely smart and all, but when it came to everything else, the swordsman was a little wet behind the ears.

"Say Shulk."

No response.

"Shulk?" Reyn lifted away the pillow to see the hom's dozing face underneath "Well you sure feel asleep fast." He muttered to himself "Must've been real tired to do that." He brushed back Shulk's bangs and gave his hot and clammy forehead a kiss.

Reyn quietly left the room, sidestepping a set of disorganized note in the process. "He'll be hungry when he wakes up." The red-head mussed "I'll go make him some Grub!"

O~F~S~W~O~R~D~S~A~N~D~G~U~N~L~A~N~C~E~S~

A loud crash from downstairs startled Shulk out of his fitful rest. He slowly sat up as his mind tried to piece itself back together. Now he remembered, he was sick and Dickson had gone to run errands, so who was here? That's right it was...

"Reyn?" Shulk quietly asked.

"Everything's fine!" Came the hasty, yelled, reply.

'Something's burning.' The boy thought as he climbed out of is messy, tissue filled, bed and made his barefooted way downstairs to the kitchen "Reyn." Shulk began as his eyes widened "A-Are you cooking?"

"Attempted to." Was Reyn's solemn response as he set a bowl of burnt soup next to an equally burnt sandwich "You don't have to-"

"No, No, I'll eat it." The pajama clad blond interrupted as he approached the bulky teen "I can't let your hard work go unappreciated." He looked as his would be meal and thanked Bionis that he had no taste buds.

"I-" Reyn was cut off as Shulk hugged him.

"Thank you, Reyn."

The teen returned the hug with a grin "You're welcome, Shulk. Maybe you'll take care of me when I'm sick."

"Perhaps." The shorter replied as he left his best friend's embrace to cough "But you don't get sick."

The trainee shrugged "First time for everything."

"Mmh." Shulk bit into the burnt sandwich.

Reyn gave an inaudible sigh as the sickly swordsman dug into his meal "You're a messy eater, Shulk." The gunlancer commented.

"Hmm?" The researcher mumbled out as he swallowed his food "What do you mean?"

"Crumbs." Reyn gestured to the sides of his mouth. Suddenly a devious smile etched its way onto his face "I'll get it for you." Swiftly grabbing Shulk's chin, the defence force trainee licked the crumbs away.

"Reyn!" The blond blushed furiously.

"Yeah?"

"W-Why would-"

"Why not?" The auburn-haired teen interrupted Shulk's babble "You look cute when you blush."

The swordsman stuttered at the complement as Reyn kissed him on his plump lips. The frail blond stiffened for a few seconds before returning the kiss whole-heartily. Dropping the half-eaten sandwich in the now empty soup bowl, Shulk wrapped his arms around the trainee's neck as the kiss deepened. Soon the teenagers became heated as their make-out session continued. Shulk gripped at Reyn's skin tight blue shirt while Reyn began hastily unbuttoning the blond's sleepwear. The sound of the door opening caused the pair to break apart.

"What's burning?" Came Dickson's voice.

"Reyn was cooking." Shulk answered as he quickly did up his top as the elder blond walked into the kitchen.

"Cooking? You call a burnt sandwich and soup cooking?"

"Hey!" Reyn complained "At least I tried!"

"Uh-huh. How are you feeling, Shulk?" Dickson asked as he lit a cigar.

"Better." His adopted son answered "Though I could use some more rest." He glanced at Reyn as he said this.

The teen quickly got the hint "You don't mind if I stay, do you Dickson?"

"This is practically your house, Reyn." The smoking gunner answered "Stay here for as long as you like."

Shulk made his way upstairs with Reyn in tow, sandwich forgotten and ignored.

Dickson withdrew his cigar and exhaled a long and thin trail of smoke "They have too much energy." He muttered as he heard the door close.

The next day, Shulk's cold had passed...only to be given to Reyn.

"Told you first time for everything." Reyn coughed out in a joking manner.

Shulk rolled his eyed, wondering how he had fallen for the auburn-haired teen.