I had been out and about with one of my younger feline friends, Murdoch, searching for a Christmas gift for L when it happened.

Rain, in sheets.

Typically, I was more aware and could smell it minutes before it occurred, but today I had been too preoccupied.

The thing about rain and most cats was the same with regular water. Their coats weren't insulated. The thing with me and rain/showers was I hated water falling on me, it was enough to send me into a sort of panic mode. I grabbed the little tomcat, Murdoch, and ran. After a short time, I ducked into a shop and bought an umbrella while Murdoch tucked himself into my fleece lined bag, one I brought along in case he got tired of running around with me.

I took the quickest route home, umbrella in one hand and the bag with Murdoch in the other.

It was colder than usual for a December in Japan. The rain was relatively normal but the temperature was not and I worried about Murdoch getting sick.

When I had first found the little thing, he'd had a limp from taking a hard hit on a concrete corner while he was younger. Matlock had found him and brought him to me by his scruff so I could nurse him back to health.

Now, I was sopping wet outside the door of the building. My clothes were just as bad, but I hoped Murdoch hadn't gotten wet.

My steps made squishy sloshing sounds as I stepped inside, letting my umbrella drop to the floor. Relief warmed me temporarily when I saw Murdoch was dry for the most part.

"I'm back." I called lightly, stepping out of my drenched shoes as the door shut behind me.

"Welcome back, Chisuzu." L soothed, distracting me from my cold state as he shuffled into the foyer on bare feet. There was a towel on his arm.

"You should change your clothes before you catch a cold." He continued, eyes following my coat as I shrugged it off and to the floor. I had ventured out without a disguise and had only thrown on a dress before the coat.

My socks were gross and soggy, so I bent forward and yanked them off, adding them to the pile. My teeth were chattering as I shivered. L padded towards me as I stood, drying my hair.

"You should remove your dress, with Watari's recommendation I left a robe here for you. It was just removed from the drier." He suggested softly as he lifted the deep green fluffy article, and I nodded. Slipping the straps of my dress from my arms, I let it drop to my feet before stepping out of it and towards him. Even as I was only in my underclothes, L's face was a mask, seemingly unperturbed by my nudity as he helped me into the robe.

Quickly sliding off my still damp bra, I left my underwear on and pulled the robe around me, nearly burrowing into the soft fabric. My teeth were still chattering as L held his hand out for me to take.

"There's tea prepared in the other room." He was smiling a little now and I properly tied the robe closed before taking his hand.

The scent of peppermint tea reached me as we entered the room and I noted the fireplace going.

This was new.

"Would you like for me to dry your hair more?" At the sound of his voice, I peered at him curiously. There was something odd in his voice I had been hearing more of as of late; uncertainty.

L was trying to do things he wasn't used to and now appeared to be scanning my reaction.

"I would like that." I smiled, encouragingly, noticing his movements were still fluid, but held an ever so slight hesitation before them.

There were even a few packages of peppermint candy on the table. Of course one was open and already about a quarter empty.

"Your dislike for rain is incredible, especially when you consider your love of thunder and lightning." He mentioned as he began, seated on the couch beside me. Whether or not he openly reacted to me naked, I knew I affected him.

When he kissed my forehead after drying my hair, I smiled brightly to assure him he was doing well.

"Don't push yourself, L. Just let things fall where they may. Is cuddling out of the question?" My own voice seemed to startle him as I reached up and caressed his cheek.

"Of course not." His answer was nearly immediate as he snagged the already opened peppermint bag and got comfortable by the arm of the couch, collecting me and pulling me with him. After recovering from his sudden action, I snuggled closer to his warmth.

Sometimes it seemed he just needed someone or something to hold for comfort, like a pet or a stuffed animal.

I was more than alright with being his stuffed animal.

"Your nose is red, are you feeling alright?"

"Yes. I feel fine." Then I sneezed three times in a row.

Shoot!

In the end, it turned out I had a fever and L chose to nurse me back to health, still getting into bed with me even though I was sick.

It may have also been his way of apologizing to me for the steamy hot shower water he'd used to help break my fever. Being already prone to illness, I had all the signs: fever, achy appendages, dizziness upon standing, runny nose, fatigue, coughing, sneezing, but no vomiting (thankfully).

L being like just about every other man I had encountered, appeared to naturally radiate heat and warmth.

I remember my first day lying there, my head on a towel covered pillow after he'd hit me with hot water, under an electric blanket; glaring daggers at him.

"I know you don't like what I did, but I only did it to try and break your fever."

Silence. I had already blown my nose as much as I could, gargled honey and apple cider vinegar, and been drinking more nice hot peppermint tea and water.

"Can we still continue to cuddle? I'll share my body heat with you to keep you warm to further bring your fever down." My ears perked at his words and my eyes widened as he began to remove his shirt.

"What are you doing?"

"My body heat will reach you faster if there is skin contact. If you dislike the idea, I could run another steamy shower and give you a sponge bath while you sit in a chair." My face heated at his flippant wording and I found myself unable to get any words out.

"Since I doubt you will be trusting me in the bathroom with you again, I'll just get under the covers with you. Do you have any objections?" He was on the other side of the bed, shirt off as he waited. His oversized white shirts really hid him well. He wasn't buff but he also wasn't lacking in muscle tone. Plus, he had slight 'guy hips', which I had always found attractive.

Rather than say anything to embarrass myself, I just stared and shook my head vigorously.

"Very well."

For some reason, I was always expecting him to feel cold when his flush met mine, but I was greeted with comforting heat instead.

"How come you never seem to get sick, L?" I uttered and he was contemplative for a moment.

"I can't get sick for a number of reasons, the main two being I get all my shots in secret and I don't go outside when the weatherman says it's going to rain when it is uncharacteristically cold in December. I also take my vitamins but don't ask Watari or he'll know he's not very good at being sneaky around me anymore."

"He puts them in your sweets?"

"Yes, and he doesn't know I can tell the difference now."

"That is rather paternal in its own way."

"It is, isn't it?" I could hear the smile in his voice before I fell asleep.

The next morning, I felt loads better and L hadn't moved much, the heat of his flesh still against mine.

"Good morning, L."

"Good morning, Chisuzu."

"You're not sick."

"No, no, I'm not. How about you? Are you feeling any better?" He looked so tired and I smiled back at him sleepily, snuggling into his warmth.

"Yeah, a little."