Matthew high for HarmonyBenderFreak!
Enjoy!

"You're sure this will work?" Sveta asks as she eyes the foul smelling concoction Kraden has brewed.

The scholar chuckles slightly, "Definitely, your highness. Provided Matthew drinks the entire potion it should stave off any infection or illness until we can get him the proper treatment. Although…" The man pauses thoughtfully.

"Although?" Sveta repeats urgently, already hesitant enough about giving the sleeping leader the drink.

Kraden adjusts his glasses on his nose as he studies Matthew's unconscious face, "Though I have made it with the same ingredients as I did years ago, climates and soils have changed dramatically. Though they will have the same medicinal effects there is a chance he might experience… strange side-effects. Nothing to worry about though."

From the smile he offered her, Sveta knew that Kraden was 100% sure that this wouldn't harm Matthew in any real way. Besides, it was to heal him, or help heal him at least. She nodded her thanks to the wizened traveller as he left before she crouched down next to the blonde boy, inspecting the gashes across his chest. She felt a pang of guilt since it was her fault he had been injured. Had she been paying attention in battle he would not have had to protect her.

The beastgirl shook her head before gently rocking the young man beside her. It took about a minute but he finally stirred, his blue eyes opening to the world in a haze of confusion and most likely pain. She pressed a claw to his lips when he tried to open his mouth.

She offered him a warm smile as she presented him with the vial Kraden had given her, "Drink up, it'll help your recovery."

He nodded weakly as she lifted the rim to his lips before slowly swallowing down every last drop of the slimy mixture. A fogged breath escaped his mouth as his head fell back against the pillow. Sveta smiled again, gently wiping any residue from his lips before dabbing his forehead with a wet cloth.

The minutes passed in silence. Sveta continued to gently dab the cloth against the boy's heated skin while she listened to his breath. It was much calmer and controlled than it was before she had woken him so she was greatly relieved. The silence was finally broken though, by a light flurry of breaths from Matthew's lips. Sveta's first thoughts were panicked but as she glanced at Matthew they were eased by the gentle smile on his face.

He was laughing. Giggling slightly. It was such a pure sound. Sveta found herself smiling wider than she had in a while at the sight and sound of it.

"Sveta~ You're sho pwetty."

The words struck the lavender beastgirl still, heat immediately flushing her cheeks a bright cherry red. So shocked was she that she could do little about Matthew's hand which planted itself against her face and gently fell down it back to his side.

"Sho soft." He giggled happily, "Aww, your ears are sho cute too! Boing! Boing!" He laughed as he touched them and they flicked upwards in response.

Strange side-effects…

"And your eyes are so bright and pretty…" His face went blank as he stared at her like a child before giggling again, "Who's that man in them?"

Oh. It clicked and Sveta finally regained control of herself, though her face was still much darker than usual. She fought Matthew's hands back down to his side, trying to think of something to say to the babbling Venus Adept. A feat made even more difficult by him constantly reaching up to her and saying how pretty he thought she was.

"Um… M-Matthew, try to rest. You need rest." She stammers, pushing his hands down to his sides for the umpteenth time that minute. How he manages to wriggle out of her grasp and reach up to touch her again is beyond her belief.

"Nooo… no rest. I wanna stay up with you~" He whined, propping himself up on an elbow to get closer to her.

"M-Matthew, please-"

"Hug!" He proclaims, succeeding in wrapping an arm around her and pulling both of them down onto his bedroll.

Sveta immediately tried to pry herself from his grip to check he hasn't done anything to aggravate his wounds, but doesn't for fear of doing the very same. Meanwhile, Matthew is affectionately nuzzling at the top of her head.

"Mmm, you're so warm and cuddly, Sveta. Can I keep you?" He asks as he snuggles closer to her.

"Will you rest if I do too?" Sveta tries as some final desperate attempt to calm him down, she really didn't want to answer that question after all.

"Mm-hmm…" He mumbles into her hair, his nose still nuzzling back and forth in the lavender silk.

"O-okay…" She swallows as she manoeuvres herself, a task made near impossible due to Matthew's grip around her, into next to him. When she is still, Matthew rewraps his arms around her waist as he buries his face into the back of her neck.

"Nighty-night…" He whispers.

Sveta rolls her eyes, praying to every god there is that no one would walk in on the two of them spooning on the same bedroll. She listens, with gritted teeth, to every single sound her keen ears can pick out, fearing that every snap of a twig, every crushed blade of grass, every rustle of fabric is someone coming to check on Matthew.

She isn't sure how long she stays there worrying before she realises that the only sounds are those of crickets under the moonlight, the only light source now that the fire has gone out. She heaves a relieved breath and relaxes slightly, before remembering what she is relaxing into is the very reason she was worried.

But… all would be well for the next few hours, right? She could enjoy this for a bit longer, couldn't she? After all… Matthew was really soft and warm too…

Yeaaaah…. Not sure where I was going with this. I did have a plan… but it just didn't get stuck to. Ah well…, what can you do?
This one shall have a sequel, by the by.