"ACHOO!"

Eric flinched as Misaki suddenly sneezed violently, nearly propelling himself forward. The red-haired boy's face was flushed and his nose was running furiously.

Eric couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. This always seemed to happen to Misaki when it snowed. And he was even completely bundled up!

Misaki shot a glare at Eric, looking much less intimidating with snot dripping from his nostrils. "D-Don't laugh at me!" he snapped.

"But it's cute," Eric snickered, adjusting Misaki's scarf so that it covered his mouth and nose.

Misaki adverted his eyes and huffed, his cheeks turning an even brighter shade of red. "…Thank you," he muttered.

Eric smiled. "You're welcome! Now, come on, we should get back to the base. You need to get warm, alright?"

Before Misaki could respond, Eric clasped his mitten-clad hand around Misaki's. The red-haired boy flinched for a moment before glaring over at Eric. A content smile was placed on the blonde's lips.

"Hmph…i-idiot," Misaki murmured, returning Eric's grip.

Misaki felt terrible.

Now that he was finally within the warm confines of the HOMRA base, he realized just how sick he was. He was curled up upon a couch, his body enveloped in a cocoon of thick blankets. His nose was still running and his face was flushed, but his body was freezing. Even now, his teeth were chattering unceasingly and his body trembled.

Did he ever hate getting sick!

Misaki rested his head back on the couch and closed his eyes. Great, now his head was starting to hurt. This was the worst…

"Misaki."

Eric's voice snapped Misaki back to attention. The red-haired boy slowly lifted his hazel eyes to Eric, the world slightly swinging out of focus as he did so.

Eric must have noticed that Misaki was unsteady, as he quickly supported the younger boy with one hand. "Are you okay?" Eric asked, the concern evident in his voice.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine," Misaki replied, his voice faltering. "I just need to rest, is all."

Eric frowned and placed the steaming mug of hot chocolate he was holding in his other hand onto the floor. "I'll leave you alone, then," he said, preparing to leave. "Your hot chocolate is on the floor."

Misaki blinked rapidly. "W-Wait!" He reached out and quickly grabbed Eric's shirt, stopping the blonde boy in his tracks. He looked down at Misaki, his blue eyes widened, as he waited for the other boy to speak.

"Um, um…," Misaki stammered stupidly. "…I want you to stay with me." He lifted his eyes to Eric, trying to ignore his burning cheeks. "…Okay?"

Eric smiled gently and lightly touched Misaki's hand. "Okay." He sat next to Misaki on the couch and placed his head on the younger boy's forehead. "You're burning up," he muttered.

"I-I know," Misaki replied.

Eric sighed and pressed his lips on Misaki's forehead, causing the other boy to flinch.

"W-What was that for?!" Misaki cried.

Eric smiled. "It's just a little medicine," he answered, moving away from Misaki.

Misaki's cheeks were burning furiously now and his heart seemed to be beating at thousand miles an hour. This…wasn't the fever anymore, was it?

The red-haired boy laid his head on Eric's shoulder and covered his face so the older boy wouldn't see his crimson cheeks.

"What's up?" Eric asked.

"I…like you a lot," Misaki whispered, pulling the blanket farther up his face.

Eric chuckled. "I know." He planted another kiss in Misaki's hair. "I love you, too," he cooed.

Misaki's face was as hot as a furnace.

No, this couldn't be the fever anymore.