The incessant trembling made his muscles cramp and set his nerves on fire. Feeling every fiber and sinew in his body burn and sting, Steve knew that the poison had to be the cause.
Along with the stranger who forced him to drink it.
The comfortable darkness had helped for the longest time, soothing the flames that were ravaging through his limbs, quieting down the throbbing from his injured leg that spread through the rest of his body like a large magnitude earthquake.
But then he detected motion beyond his own miserable state.
Footsteps, ever so quietly, had approached his position. The rice paper ninja crouched down beside him and a soft hand touched his forehead, not rough enough to be the attacker.
Soothing words were said that he couldn't understand, when a wave of agony rushed through his body, caused by the disappearance of the calming darkness around his eyes.
The hand returned to the side of his face, fingers gently brushing over his cheek and Steve wanted nothing more but to reach for them. Fighting through the painful tremors running through his arms, he tried to lift his hand but found that he couldn't.
"Easy now…easy. Just go back to sleep, Buddyboy. Take it easy. I am here. Get some rest."
The voice.
It was the voice that could make all his worries disappear in an instant. The same one that he was afraid he might never hear again after the way their adventure had unfolded.
Moaning in pain, Steve was grateful to feel the hand return to his face, slowly caressing his cheek as if to lull him back into oblivion.
And perhaps, until whatever was making his body's responses backfire in such a drastic way wore off, that wasn't such a bad idea after all.
Drawing in a labored breath, he forced his mind to forget about the pain for a moment, and focus solely on the warmth and love bestowed upon him by his partner and best friend.
