A gift fic for Dragon'sHost for the adorable MinMax.
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail.
Minerva was a strong mage, as well as a very proud mage. She had relied on her power and ruthlessness for so long, that even if her heart had softened, she could not relinquish her image. So of course, the Territory mage did not get sick. She was not susceptible to such weakness.
"Why won't you just put on your big girl panties and let me take care of you?!" shouted the scruffy blond-haired man. When the call on the lacrima came from the blond master of Sabertooth requesting he come, Max had not imagined his job would be so difficult. Obviously, he had underestimated the raven-haired Lady of Sabertooth's obstinacy.
"I am perfectly fine. There is no need for you to 'take care of me'. Now, let me get up!" replied a trembling Minerva. She was not going to admit that she did not have enough power to stand up on her own, let alone blast this annoying babysitter out of her room as she normally would have.
"No. You're sick. Now sit and drink your tea and stop complaining! It won't get you anywhere!" He was not blind to her powerlessness, nor to how defensive she was about hiding it. He picked up the cup of chamomile tea resting on her bedside table and held it out to her. "Drink. It will help with the soreness in your throat."
"My throat is not sore!" She pouted and pushed the tea away. In reality, her throat felt like a desert and she would love to rip it from her body so she did not need to feel the discomfort anymore.
Max pushed closer, forcing the ravenette to press into the pillows behind her to create a semblance of space between them. "Why are you being so stubborn? It's only going to make your illness last longer!"
With the last dregs of her strength, Minerva pressed herself up from the bed to get into the blond's face. "I am not being stubborn! This argument is pointless! I am in perfect health!"
Suddenly, the two realized just how close their faces were to one another. Minerva had a perfect view of herself reflected in his eyes, and she could see just how disheveled and exhausted she looked. It was not a sight she wished to study in depth, so she lowered her eyes, focusing in on the Sand mage's mouth. Max, for his part, tried to keep his eyes on hers, but looking at the dark circles underneath her dulled gaze hurt. So he too lowered his gaze to her mouth, which somehow still appeared soft despite her illness.
The two were quick to snap out of the daze brought on by their closeness. Minerva turned her head to look out the large window near her bed and Max straightened, placing the still full cup of tea on her bedside table once more. With a slight cough of embarrassment, he turned to exit the room. "I'll go put another pot of tea on," he called. "This one's already cold."
Minerva stopped protesting his nursing for the rest of her illness. Once she had the strength to leave her bed, however, her guild master was going to be on the receiving end of one of Lady Minerva of Sabertooth's punishments.