Hey everyone!

Sorry for the delayed chapter this week, I got a new tattoo on my wrist and it made editing a little difficult.

But here it is! Two days behind schedule, and rearing to go!

Chapter 13: Into the Flame

Maya couldn't quite remember how she'd ended up in Raeger's bed at first, wearing Raeger's clothes, smelling of his cologne, but the conclusion was pretty obvious.

She stretched, a faint blush colouring her cheeks, until she tried to move her injured knee and remembered the events of yesterday with a hard jolt.

Oh. The obviously wrong conclusion, then.

Maya fought against the vague sense of disappointment that followed her realisation, and instead searched the room for Raeger. He was nowhere to be seen- no phone, no wallet, no keys… had he gone out somewhere?

Maya struggled to sit up. Her knee was only scraped and bruised, but it hurt to move. She floundered for a little while, until her feet were safely on the floor and she stood.

Raeger's T-shirt hung off her tiny frame, the hem falling to her thighs. She hugged the fabric around her, loving the way it smelled and felt. Last night may not have gone exactly as she thought it had, but as Maya lifted her bag and made her way to the bathroom, she remembered the taste of Raeger's kiss.

Her heart fluttered wildly.

The bathroom was empty too, so Raeger must be downstairs or out. That was just as well, Maya needed some time to clean up and think.

She hadn't felt this good in a long time. It was like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders the moment Raeger kissed her, even with the lingering sourness from her run-in in the alley.

Maya doused herself in hot water, pawing blindly for Raeger's shampoo. It reminded her of his cologne, woodsy and clean.

The smile on her lips was only threatened by her worry over where Raeger had disappeared to. It wasn't like him to just leave her, especially when they'd been so intimate the night before. Maya couldn't squelch the speck of doubt that had taken root in her stomach. She was probably overreacting, but she would feel a lot better if she found Raeger.

She quickly finished her shower and changed, donning a pair of clothes that she usually kept in her bag for emergencies. Her phone was on the bedside table and as she reached for it, she heard the unmistakeable sound of people in the restaurant.

What time was it?

Maya checked her phone in newfound panic, her stomach leaping into her throat when she realised she'd slept until nearly noon. The animals would be furious with her. She had to get back to her farm.

Purse in hand, and everything else out of mind, Maya bolted down the stairs and into Raeger's kitchen.

She didn't have time to think about the people staring at her, no doubt wondering why she'd come from Raeger's room. The villagers already talked about them, this was nothing new. Besides, after yesterday, Maya wasn't so sure they were wrong.

Raeger wasn't in the main part of the restaurant, or behind the counter, meaning he must be in the kitchen. Maya skirted around a pair of startled tourists, sliding into the kitchen at breakneck speed.

"Raeger- I have to-"

Maya stopped short. Raeger was there, alright, just as she suspected he'd be. She was about to tell him that she had to go, that she'd be back later, but what she saw surprised her into silence.

Raeger was bent over the counter, his chef's apron crooked, his skin the colour of sour milk. He barely reacted when she stumbled into the kitchen, not even glancing up to see who had entered his space. Raeger was usually really protective of his kitchen, not even letting her in there until they were well along in their friendship.

"Raeger?" she repeated, her throat dry. He did look up at her this time, blinking as though it took him a second to recognise her.

"Oh, hey Maya."

Maya rushed over to him, her palms flying to his cheeks. Raeger again didn't react, like his nervous system was on a serious delay. Maya frowned, pressing her wrist to his forehead. He was burning up.

"Are you okay?" She demanded, a crease forming between her eyebrows. She didn't like the feeble smile he gave her, the tired bags encrusting his eyes. Raeger nodded, a deep yawn briefly marring his face.

"A little under the weather I think," he admitted, glancing down at the cooktop. He jumped, almost as if he forgot he was cooking something. The omelet before him looked a little less than his usual standards.

"You look like death," Maya countered, noting the sweat sticking to the back of his neck. "Why'd you open today?"

"I don't have the luxury of closing up every time I come down with something," Raeger shrugged, as if this were obvious. He flipped the omelet onto a plate, garnished it, and made to bring it out to the waiting table.

"Hold on!" Maya exclaimed, grabbing his sleeve. Raeger looked unsteady on his feet simply standing there, she didn't want to risk him walking out into the restaurant and tripping. "Let me take it, you go back up to bed. I'll just tell everyone you're not feeling well and-"

"No!" Raeger pleaded, his voice hoarse. Maya raised an eyebrow at him.

"Raeger, you're sick…"

"I have more orders to fill," he argued, gesturing to the tickets before him. "I can't just throw them out. That would be unprofessional."

There wasn't a hint of teasing in any of his words, and that's when Maya understood that he was really, really sick. He hadn't joked with her once since he'd seen her, nor had he mentioned last night at all, and that worried her.

She looked from the omelet, back to Raeger, and then to the door.

"Alright," she sighed, chewing her lip. She wanted Raeger to go back to bed, but she knew from experience that fighting him on topics regarding the restaurant was damn near impossible. She took the plate from him, holding it aloft.

"I'll help you clear these orders," Maya informed him, nodding to the stack of receipts, "but I'm flipping the 'Open' sign, and you're not taking any more customers today. Deal?"

Raeger hesitated. She knew what he was thinking, but frankly she didn't care. A sick person shouldn't be making food anyway.

"Okay," he agreed after a pause, turning back to the cooktop. Maya let out her breath, leaving him to his work as she approached the customers.

The fact that he agreed so easily wasn't a good sign either.

There were about six tables to serve before Raeger could lie down. Luckily, some only wanted pastries and ice cream, things Maya could get herself and not bother the chef, but for the more complicated orders Maya found herself watching Raeger like a hawk. His movements were slow and jittery, his balance off, his flourishes sloppy, but he got every plate out in a mostly timely manner. Maya was waving the last customer off, settling the bill, when he finally emerged from the kitchen.

"Upstairs." Maya didn't bother greeting him. Raeger was dead on his feet, he needed to lie down as soon as possible. She clicked the register shut and turned, just in time to see his head dip.

"Raeger!" Maya cried, lunging forward to catch him. Raeger swayed and his knees buckled, tipping forward towards the floor. Maya broke his fall, taking the brunt of his weight into her arms.

"Sorry," he mumbled, his tongue thick in his mouth. That was the last word he got out before unconsciousness overtook him.

Maya sighed, shaking her head in disapproval once the initial fright wore off. It took every ounce of her strength, but she managed to drag Raeger upstairs and into his bed before he woke again.

How had he gotten this sick? Maya tried to think if there'd been any signs the day before. He'd coughed a handful of times, and he perhaps had complained briefly about a headache… but nothing to indicate this level of ailment. She frowned, brushing his damp hair away from his face.

Hanako would be getting angrier by the minute, but Maya wasn't too worried. The cow had plenty of regular feed to get her by, and the dogs could always let her out if need be. Her crops would need some serious watering when she returned, but she could hardly leave Raeger like this.

Maya pursed her lips. She was trying not to think about what happened between them yesterday, but the soft curve of his lips kept reminding her. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so whole, so happy. It made her wonder why she'd been fighting her feelings all this time.

Suddenly everything seemed so superficial. Every worry she'd had, every doubt, every hesitation, faded to inconsequential specks in the back of her mind. Her feelings for Klaus felt like another lifetime, Raeger's relationship with Iris was nothing but a distant memory. Maya was in love with Raeger, and maybe it was about time she told him. Maybe not while he was catatonic, but sooner rather than later.

He groaned in his sleep, startling her.

Maya jumped up to get a glass of water, in case he was waking. Her mother always told her that fluids were important in recovering from any sickness, and she'd taken the advice to heart. By the time she returned to the bed, Raeger's eyes were blinking open.

"Holy shit you scared me," Maya huffed, seating herself on the bed next to him. Raeger struggled to focus, his gaze drifting around the room until his eyes found hers. He smiled, making her stomach flip.

"Hey," he rasped, fighting to sit up. Maya helped him, if only so he could drink. "You're still here."

"Of course I'm still here," Maya scoffed, offering him the glass. He took it and drank eagerly, soothing his burning throat. "You passed out. The only way I was leaving was to go get Marian."

"Sorry about that," Raeger laughed sheepishly, already feeling a bit more like himself. He was embarrassed that Maya had seen him so weak, but it couldn't be helped now. "I don't know what came over me. I woke up this morning and I felt terrible."

"Why didn't you wake me?" Maya pouted, pressing her fingers to Raeger's forehead. He was still warm, but not burning up like he had been before.

"I didn't want to worry you," he assured her, laying back down. Maya shook her head. "Besides, you went through enough yesterday. I can handle a little cold."

"You helped me a lot yesterday," Maya pointed out, "the least I can do is help you too."

Raeger forced a smile.

"I'm used to taking care of myself, Mia," he insisted, meaning for the gesture to be reassuring, but he saw Maya's frown deepen.

"So what if you're used to it?" Maya challenged, rooting through her bag for some Advil, "that doesn't mean you have to keep it up forever."

"I mean, I've been doing it for a long time," he continued, trying to make it better. Too late he realised he'd said the wrong thing, but he couldn't turn back now. Maya already caught what he'd said.

"How long?" she pushed, dabbing at the sweat around his neck with a tissue. Raeger gave himself over to the gentle pampering for a moment, letting his eyes close again.

"As long as I can remember, I guess," Raeger shrugged.

Maya didn't like the implication of that.

"Even when you were a kid?" She imagined a young Raeger, coughing and weak, with no one there to care for him. The image made her want to cry.

"My mom was really busy," Raeger defended, afraid to open his eyes and see Maya's face. "My grandfather was a great person, but he was older. He could barely take care of himself and the restaurant, let alone me. They tried to hide how much crap they were dealing with, but kids are way smarter than anyone thinks they are. I always knew when they were having a hard time.

"And I mean, it's not like I could do much. I was little. I couldn't work or do many chores, so I felt pretty useless most of the time. One thing I could do was take care of myself, so whenever I was feeling gross, I kept it pretty quiet."

Maya felt a hard pit form in her stomach. Whenever she got sick, the only thing she wanted was for someone to be there, to hug her, to tell her everything was going to be fine. For Raeger to not have that… to never have had that…

"Not even any of your girlfriends?" She had to press. There must've been somebody. "Iris?"

Raeger snorted.

"Iris doesn't have a caring bone in her body," he laughed, then realised how harsh it sounded. "I mean, she's a wonderful person, but she's not exactly the TLC type. And I don't really get sick much, so I was never with anyone else long enough. Not that I would've told them anyway."

"That's…" Maya paused, chewing her lip, "really sad, Raeger. I mean, I don't mean that offensively. I just mean that I know what it feels like to have someone taking care of you, and I can't imagine being lonely when you need someone the most."

"Lonely is kind of like my default setting," Raeger laughed, trying in vain to lighten the mood. Sensing the tension in Maya's silence, Raeger hurried on.

"It's not like I mind or anything," he clarified, pausing to cough. "I've always been fine on my own. But I have to admit, it's been… nice, having you here. Kind of reminds me of what I've been missing, you know?"

He was blushing now, he was sure of it. Maya smiled sadly to herself. She'd never known how lonely his childhood had been.

"Wow," Raeger laughed nervously, pushing his hand through his damp hair. "That got real, didn't it? Sorry."

Embarrassment rushed through him as he replayed what he'd said over in his mind. Raeger rarely let himself slip up like that, and the mistake was eating him alive. Maya was helping him out of the kindness of her heart, she didn't need to hear a sob story.

Raeger turned his face away, staring at the window with the same fake smile stuck to his lips. Maybe if he changed the topic, he could still salvage-

Maya's palm pressed gently against his cheek, the warmth from her skin startling him.

"Raeger," she coaxed softly, guiding his gaze back to her. Raeger blinked at her encouraging smile, her kind eyes. "You don't have to hide things from me, you know."

Did he know? Raeger swallowed heavily, fighting the dizziness swaying his thoughts. Of course he knew that. Maya was the only person in the whole world he could be himself with. He wouldn't dream of hiding things from her.

"Sorry," he smiled sheepishly, "force of habit, I guess."

Maya shook her head, tenderly rubbing her thumb across his flushed skin.

"I wish you wouldn't be so stubborn," she sighed, oblivious to the way his heart pounded at her touch. "If you need help, you can always ask me. Everyone needs to be taken care of sometimes. Even you."

Raeger closed his eyes, too afraid to watch Maya's reaction to his next words. They were flowing freely now, the fever loosening his tongue.

"You're the only person I ever want to take care of me," he whispered, sincerity dripping from every word. "As selfish as that is. If it were up to me? I'd steal you away and keep you all to myself for the rest of my life."

Silence met his confession, and Raeger felt a wave of nausea. He wasn't sure if it was the sickness or the intense panic flooding his veins, but the urge to collapse was suddenly so overwhelming that he couldn't lift his head to look at the damage he'd done. Maybe-

"Do you really mean that?"

Maya's quiet words startled him. Raeger opened his eyes to find her staring at him, hesitation written across her face.

"Of course I do," he swore, struggling to sit up in bed. Maya helped him, until their faces were much closer than they'd been before. Raeger took her hands in his, clutching them to his chest. "Damnit Maya, I don't know how else to prove it to you."

"Prove… what?" Maya prompted, sudden hope sparking in her eyes.

"I-" Raeger choked, his heart seizing in his chest. What was he doing? He'd just decided against this path, and now here he was, spilling his guts. His resolve faltered; the heavy cloud in his brain providing a cushion between his heart and his rationale.

Whatever came out of his mouth now was anyone's guess.

"Maya, I need you," Raeger mumbled, his words slurring with fatigue. "I can't imagine my life without you. Whenever you're gone, I feel so cold and I can't explain why. All I want right now is to pull you into this bed with me and stay here for as long as I can, holding you and just feeling you next to me. I've never wanted that before, and it scares the hell out of me, and what's worse is that it can never happen."

The hope that had been in Maya's eyes faltered, sparking a surge of fear in Raeger's chest.

"It… can't?"

"No! Don't you understand?" Raeger groaned, falling back onto the bed. His heart was beating hard, his head swirling with thoughts that he barely understood. "I can't do it! I I'm not- this isn't- it's just not going to work."

Maya fell silent, her expression as blank as a new sheet of paper.

"Klaus." Raeger mumbled, feeling his consciousness waver. "You should be with Klaus. He can handle you much better than I can."

"Handle me?" Maya repeated, fury slipping into the word. Raeger immediately understood his slip, scrambling to re-word the sentiment.

"No! I mean, yes, but like, not in the bad way, you know?" His head pounded, reminding him of how sick he was. "I mean he's like an adult-adult, but I'm not even like a half adult, you know? And you need an adult-adult. Klaus can take care of you and-"

"I don't need someone to take care of me, Raeger." Maya snapped, standing so quickly that her chair tipped. She could barely understand him, but the sentiment was clear: he wasn't interested. "But if that's how you feel, then okay I guess. Maybe I'll stop at Klaus's on my way home."

"Wait, what?" Raeger grumbled, furrowing his brow. She was leaving? What did he say?

"Goodnight, Raeger." Maya said flatly, gathering her things as swiftly as she could. Tears were hovering just behind her lids and she couldn't bear to be in that room any longer. "I hope you feel better."

Before he could formulate a response, Maya fled the restaurant.

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