"Good morning, my little rei of sunshine!" Nagisa watched Rei's face as the morning light filled the room. They'd managed to get themselves to Nagisa's quarters rather than staying in the sickbay, but Makoto had been in and out all week. This rare moment of alone time wasn't one he intended to miss.

"I'd return the pun, but your name is a bit trickier to wordsmith." Rei smiled, a bit of pink tinting his cheeks.

Nagisa raised a hand to run a finger along Rei's chin, delighting in the morning stubble. Rei with bedhead—Rei sleepy-eyed and just waking up—was a Rei that he didn't intend to share with anyone else.

Rei returned the gesture with a warm hand against Nagisa's cheek, even though Nagisa had never managed to grow more than the slightest bit of peach fuzz. Really, it was a shame. He wanted a big full beard. He could hide things in a beard. And then he could tickle Rei with his face. It'd be hilarious.

"What are you smiling about?"

"Oh, nothing." Nagisa grinned at him. "I just love you, is all." He stuck out his tongue. "And I don't love you just because I took a pretty solid hit to the head."

Rei's hand ghosted over the bandage still secured to Nagisa's temple, and concern tugged at his face. "I love you, too."

It felt nice to hear even after a week of saying it all the time. Nagisa hoped it'd always feel nice.

"How do your ribs feel?"

"Just bruised," Rei said dismissively. He tipped his chin arrogantly. "I'm here only to guard you."

That was a lie, but a sweet one. Nagisa buried his head between Rei's neck and the pillow, breathing deep. "My hero."

Rei rested his hands on Nagisa's back a little too gently to really call it a hug. But with bruised ribs, Nagisa could hardly return it with the back-cracking hug he wanted.

"How's your head?"

"Well, I've stopped seeing halos all over the place." Nagisa laughed against the crook of Rei's neck. "Now the only halo I see is yours."

Rei sighed heavily. "Halos are preposterous. A trick of the light at best."

Nagisa giggled. "I meant your bedhead."

At this, Rei huffed. It was almost a laugh—as much of one as he'd managed since the siege of the palace had banged up his ribs. "Of course."

"Think we could practice writing today?"

Makoto's voice emanated from the doorway, startling the boys apart. "Not unless that gash on your head has miraculously healed overnight."

Nagisa checked that the bandage hadn't budged before grinning. "It's been healed with the power of love."

Rei switched sides of the bed with Nagisa wordlessly, granting Makoto access to look Nagisa over. He'd gotten into the habit of sleeping between Nagisa and the door as if worried that someone would attack in the middle of the night. Nagisa thought it was gallant of him, especially since Nagisa tended to take up the bed all on his own, once or twice crowding him off the mattress entirely and onto the floor. It felt safer with Rei on hand.

That warm, knowing smile of Makoto's always made Nagisa feel safe, too. He submitted to Makoto's mothering as bandaged got checked and wounds got cleaned. Finally, Makoto stood back. "I think that a bit more medicine wouldn't hurt." He looked solemnly at Rei. "I'm going to have to ask you to increase his daily dose of love to about triple what it is is currently."

Nagisa wished he'd been watching Rei's face—he made a truly inhuman sound at the suggestion. By the time Nagisa had twisted around to look at him, he'd hidden his face under a pillow.

"If he loves me any more, I'll combust," Nagisa said sagely. "One person's not meant to handle so much adoration and worship."

"Worship?" Rei choked out, pulling the pillow away to reveal his crimson face.

Nagisa tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Y'know, I could get into that, actually. I think I have some costumes in my wardrobe."

"They wouldn't fit Rei," Makoto reminded him. "I could try to borrow one for you, but I'm not sure they'll want it back after. You might have to buy one."

"Enough, please."

"Aw, all right." Nagisa gave a good impression of a long-suffering sigh. "Only because I love you."

Makoto chuckled. "It's good to hear you two back in good spirits. You're infectious."

"The flu is infectious," Rei said flatly.

Nagisa laughed harder than the joke warranted. "I've caught a truly ter-rei-ble illness, Doctor!" Dramatically swooning against the bed, he put the back of his hand against his forehead. "I've been bitten by the lovebug!"

They both laughed-well, Rei wheezed, at least-and Nagisa felt somewhat better. He couldn't stand to see Makoto sad. And he'd been sad ever since he'd gotten done being angry, Nagisa could tell. He looked far away even when he joked. It took work to get him back to his old self.

Fortunately, Nagisa's entire life had been devoted to the study of entertainment.

Makoto ruffled his hair, and he looked more like himself again. "Good luck with that. I've heard there's no cure."

And then a bit of sadness touched his expression, and he'd gone a million miles away from them again.

"Are the prince and Mr. Nanase all right?" Rei asked, his voice suddenly serious.

Makoto half-turned away, looking past the doorway. "Haru was out of the way for the riot, and Rin's gotten over the flu." He hesitated. "They're fine."

"Do you think they'll come over and say hi?"

"Rin's probably too busy for that, but Haru might." He didn't sound confident, though. "I'd better go help the physicians. I'll have someone bring you your medicine later; we're running low, so I need to put in a new order."

"See you," Nagisa said, waving goodbye with false cheer.

Makoto's returning smile felt flat. "Take care of each other."

The silence barely lasted ten seconds before Nagisa sighed heavily and snuggled back against Rei. "Think he's okay?"

"He's more capable than half the women and men in the palace. I'm sure he's fine." Rei pressed the softest kiss imaginable to the back of Nagisa's head. "For now, let's look after you."