Disclaimer: *Sighs* September's creeping up. I'm beating it back with a stick, but it doesn't seem to be doing any good. Is that the 'Jaws' theme I hear?

Question: I can't think of one.

My Answer: Ugh. School. *Shudders*

Characters: Ruby X Sapphire, as requested.

Summary: : )

Fever

"Open up," Sapphire demanded, hovering over his bedside with spoon in hand.

"N-" he began to say, and she stuck the utensil between his lips while she had the chance.

"Swallow," she ordered.

Petulantly, he did.

"There." She settled back. "It wasn't that bad, now was it?"

"You didn't have to spoon-feed it to me, barbarian," he mumbled.

"You're welcome," she answered.

"Thanks," he sighed.

She placed the empty bowl on the nightstand, the hardness draining from her eyes as she looked down on his pallid figure. "How're ya feelin'?"

"Like crap," he groaned in reply. "I'm all sweaty and ugly, and I feel like I'm burning up."

Tentatively, she put the back of her hand to his cheek. It was hard to tell, since his face was already flushed, but it looked as if the redness deepened a shade at the touch. "Jeez, you are. I'll be right back." She darted off and reappeared with a damp cloth. "Here. This'll help."

"Okay. Thanks again," he murmured, his eyes sliding closed. Sapphire chewed on the inside of her cheek for a moment, and then reached over to gently remove the hat from his head, revealing the scar.

He opened his eyes but looked anywhere but at her.

"Sorry," she muttered, "but it'll be easier like this." She laid the cloth across his sweaty forehead, her fingers cool against his feverish skin.

"It's okay," he said quietly as she placed his hat beside the bowl. Then she climbed onto his bed, tucking her feet underneath her as she sat by his head and rested her chin on her knees.

"Hey, Ruby?" Her cautious voice cut through the quiet.

"Hm?"

"Why do ya wear the hat?" she asked, opening one eye to look down at him.

He glanced up at her, his heavy-lashed eyes dimming. "You'll think it's stupid," he hedged.

"Probably."

"Hey!" He whacked her feebly on the knee. "You weren't supposed to agree with me."

Her smile was more melancholy than fond. "Just spit it out, sissy."

He sighed in defeat. "It's just that I think that I look too much like my dad with this hair colour. When I'm wearing the hat, I look like…myself."

She pondered this before moving to stroke the damp strands back from his forehead, her blue eyes oceans of sadness. "The scar's part of it, though, isn't it?" she whispered.

He shut his eyes. "Part of it," he agreed. "It makes me look…ugly."

A few minutes passed in silence, and she continued to run her fingers through his hair. When she finally paused he waited for her to blow up at him, and he braced himself for the explosion.

Instead, he felt her lips touch his cheek.

His eyes flew open in surprise.

"You'll never be ugly," she told him soberly, her cheeks blazing. Then her mouth quirked. "You'll always be beautiful."

He smiled, and tugged her down to nap with him.