Snap
Disclaimer: No.
Summary: A collection of short one-shots based almost solely upon requests. Multiple characters, pairings, and alternate universes.
AN: So this is a series of short fics that I like to write at work when I'm bored out of my skull. They'll contain multiple characters, multiple pairings, and in fact you're more than welcome to make a request yourself. Whether it's in a PM, a review, or an ask on tumblr (sword-and-stars), I really don't mind! I'll post them as I write them.
Fever
Raven kisses Estelle. She does not react as expected.
Raven's burning up inside and Estelle doesn't how she can lower the fever without damaging his heart; he's always been sensitive to her artes and she can't risk hurting him worse than the fever already has.
Yuri called her when there weren't any other options and Estelle still wants to hit him for it.
If he'd called for her sooner, this might not be happening. If he'd called sooner, if, if…
But she can't think about the ifs. The ifs won't help her.
All Estelle can do is her best and right now her best is sitting at Raven's bedside with a cool towel and her magic at the ready, just in case it becomes worth it, in case she has to hurt him to save his life. She doesn't want it to come to that.
She's tried all the normal remedies she knows, herbs and medicines and as much magic as she dares to try and burn out the fever that burns him and all any of them can do is wait.
Raven's as strong as any of them, Estelle tells herself, he won't be done in by some stupid sickness.
He can't. She won't let him.
She'll dig in with teeth and claws if she has to, if that's what it takes to keep him there.
"Mmmmm," Raven groans and rustles the bed sheets, and Estelle's hovering over him instantly, hand slipping under bangs matted with sweat to feel his forehead.
"Raven, can you hear me?"
Estelle knows that the longer he's this sick, the harder it will be to come out of it.
"Raven?"
"….Casey?" He mumbles and Estelle's breath freezes the back of her throat. Raven doesn't really talk a lot about himself, only when he thinks it will help her or when she finds him when HE needs to, but Estelle knows that name.
She knows that the owner of that name is dead and can't ever come back.
"No, no, I'm sorry, Raven. I'm not…I'm not her, okay? I'm sorry."
"Quit whispering, you need to talk louder. I can't hear you, Case."
Estelle chokes on a near-silent sob at the tiny shake that goes through Raven's voice and thanks everything that no one else is here to see this. Raven would hate it and she wouldn't be able to explain it. She doesn't want to.
Raven thrashes in bed, clearly agitated and distressed, and Estelle leans over him.
"Calm down, okay? Raven—"
Blue eyes open wide with a snap and Raven looks at her but doesn't see her, and Estelle can't do anything when he leans up and kisses her. She could shriek or shove him away. She could.
But she doesn't.
Instead Estelle remains rock-steady where she is, one hand still braced on Raven's shoulder to try and keep him still. His lips tremble slightly against hers, as if he's fighting the urge to cry. Estelle stays where she is until he retreats on his own, sagging back against the pillows and curling up into a sick, miserable ball. Estelle does cry, then, silently, and keeps a hand in his hair until Yuri comes to check in on her, and then she can't explain to him why she's so upset.
Raven's fever breaks the next morning and he doesn't remember a thing.
Estelle doesn't breathe a word.
AN2: Thank you for reading! If you have any requests or ideas, shoot them my way!