Prompt: Sick!Rood

The first sign comes when Rood sniffles in class. Dio's head immediately snaps up.

"Are you sick?" he asks, and pokes Rood experimentally on the side. Meanwhile Lidusis turns to stare at him with his customary fretful manner.

Rood swats Dio's finger away. "No."

Dio frowns. "Are you sure?"

"I don't get sick," Rood answers. And it's true, he doesn't.

The second sign comes when he and Lidusis are walking through the corridor. Professor Rowell is prowling around, carefully avoiding her teaching duties. Rood manages to spot her first and pulls Lidusis with him to a darkened corner of the room to wait until she walks by.

And then Rood coughs.

Professor Rowell is upon him in a second. "Rood Chrishi, follow me."

"I can't. I'm not feeling very well right now. In fact, I was planning on going to the Nurse's Office." He coughs again for good measure.

Professor Rowell narrows her eyes. "I don't believe you."

They stare at each other in silence.

"Excuse me, professor," Lidusis interjects. "I think it's time for your lessons. I'm walking Rood back to our dorm." Lidusis tugs at his sleeve, and Rood has no choice but to follow him.

"I'm not sick," Rood protests as he's wrangled into bed, the covers thrown over him. Lidusis ignores him as he tucks in the blankets and adjusts the pillow underneath Rood's head. He only allows it because it's rare for Lidusis to take the initiative. And maybe he's beginning to feel a little tired.

Lidusis places the flat part of his hand against Rood's forehead. "You're running a temperature."

"Anyone would, covered all these blankets," he grumbles.

Lidusis sighs. He walks away from Rood and enters their shared bathroom. From his position on the bed, Rood can hear the tap running. When Lidusis returns he's holding a wet cloth, and he places it on Rood's forehead. "There," Lidusis says. "Do you feel hungry? Are you ready to take your medicine?"

"'M not sick," Rood mumbles, feeling his lids becoming heavier. "I'll just take a nap so you can have your peace of mind, okay?"

Lidusis smiles.

Sometime later in the night, Rood stirs awake. He doesn't expect Lidusis to still be beside him, half of his body draped over the bed and the other half teetering over the edge. After a moment of confusion passes, Rood decides that he can't leave Lidusis there, and pulls him up until both of them fit on the bed.

Rood settles back into sleep, feeling considerably lighter than he did the day before.

It still doesn't mean he was sick.