"The king always seems to pick the worst days for me to come here," Zelos muttered to himself. He brushed a strand of wet hair away from his face. He was supposed to deliver a message to Shihna, but he had gotten caught in the rain. "Shihna better have tea ready." He felt a little warmer thinking about Shihna serving him tea. Just like a housewife... He ran towards Shihna's house, eagar to get out of the rain. He knocked on her door impatiently.
"That must be Zelos," Shihna mumbled, getting up drowsily. Training had been more difficult this morning. She couldn't seem to gather enough energy to do much. "Coming," she grumbled when he knocked again. She slid the door open.
"Hey Shihna," Zelos said cheerfully.
"Hey," she mumbled.
"You okay, hunny? You're not looking too good."
"Yeah, I'm fine..." she replied, but she collapsed onto the floor as soon as the words escaped her mouth.
"Shihna!" Zelos closed the door behind him, and bent down next to her. "Geez, your forehead's hot," he muttered when he placed his hand on her forehead. "Well, I guess the great Zelos will take care of you," he said, picking her up bridal style.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
"Mm...what?" Shihna mumbled. She realized that she was lying in a futon. She blinked a few times to adjust her eyes to the light.
"You passed out earlier," Zelos said. He adjusted the cold towel he head placed on her forehead. "What have you been doing lately?"
"Working on stuff," she answered softly.
"Working too much, obviously."
"Well, that's partly your fault, isn't it?" she growled.
"Sorry," Zelos mumbled. "I shouldn't have made you the emissary of peace."
"Well, you can't change that now..."
He stroked her hair gently. "I'm sorry."
"Stop that," Shihna said. "You're starting to sound like Collet."
"Sorry," he said jokingly. "Do you need anything?"
"Well, I'm kind of cold," she answered, pulling the blanket closer to her.
"I'll be right back," Zelos said, leaving her room. He returned with another blanket, and placed it over her. "Better?"
"Not really."
"Hmm..."
Zelos crawled into the futon with her. "How 'bout this?"
"W-What?! Y-you..." She blushed hotly. "Idiot..."
He wrapped his arms around her. "I'll stay with you until you fall asleep."
"O-Okay..."
He's so warm...she thought, as she snuggled closer. "You smell nice," she mumbled.
He chuckled softly. "What do I smell like?" he asked.
"Rain, peppermint...and something else," she mumbled.
"Something else?"
"I don't know," she answered. "But I like it..."
I guess I should wear this cologne more often. "Man, you sound get sick more often," he said. "You're cuddlier this way."
"Sh-Shut up..."
"Shh...go to sleep." He curled some of her hair around his fingers. "I'll have something cooked for you when you wake up."
"Okay..." she murmured. She felt strangely safe and comfortable in his arms. Why can't we always be like this? she wondered. Zelos was always so loud and obnoxious. He didn't seem to care about anybody other than himself most of the time, but...
She stared at him intensely.
"What?" he asked, a quizzical expression on his face.
"I think it's a little strange that you're being so nice to me," she answered, poking him in the nose.
"Is it really that weird?" he grumbled, rubbing his nose. "I just care about you, that's all."
"But that's still weird coming from you," Shihna said. "You barely ever care about anybody other than yourself."
"Do I really look like that much of an asshole?"
"Yes, you do actually."
"That makes me angry," he growled, pinning her under him playfully. "But I really care about you, Shihna. So get better soon."
"I-I will..." she murmured.
"Well, I should go cook something for you. You'll never sleep if I stay with you." He rolled out of the futon, and tucked her in, pulling the blanket up to her chin.
"W-wait," she stuttered.
"Hmm?"
"I'm still cold."
Zelos laughed softly. "Here," he said, putting his hand on her head. "First aid."
Shihna felt a warm current flow through her. "Thanks," she mumbled.
"You're welcome, my darling hunny. Now get some sleep."
"I told you so many times...not to call me that..."she murmured as her eyes drooped.
"Hush," he whispered. "Go to sleep, my wonderful princess..."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
"Awake already, your Highness?"
"Mmm?" Shihna mumbled, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
"Do you want to eat?" Zelos asked, looking down at her.
"Sure," she replied. She tried to sit up, but she collapsed back onto the futon.
"Here," Zelos said, laughing softly. He pulled her up gently.
"I'll go get your food." He got up, and walked into the kitchen. "I'm not sure if you'll like it though. I'm not that good at cooking," he said from the kitchen.
"It can't be worse than the professor's cooking," she answered.
"True," Zelos said, chuckling. "In your current condition, it could kill you."
"I would prefer a less painful death."
"Heh, I wouldn't let you die that easily," he said sitting down next to her with a bowl of chicken noodle soup in his hands. "Here, I'll feed you."
"I can feed myself!" Shihna exclaimed. She could feel her cheeks get warmer.
"You can barely sit up straight," Zelos pointed out. "Just think of it as a special service from the wonderful ex-Chosen of Tethe'alla."
"I don't want your service," Shihna retorted.
"Well, you're getting it. Now eat," he commanded.
Shihna sighed, and opened her mouth obediently.
Heh heh. This makes great practice for when we have kids," he said, grinning.
"K-kids?!" she sputtered. "I'm not having any kids with you!"
"But it would be proof of our eternal love," he whined.
"What love, you stupid Chosen?"
"There you go again, being all embarassed and denying it. Everybody knows that you're in love with me."
"Who the hell would fall in love with you?!"
"You, of course. Now, quiet hunny. You're awfully loud for a sick person," he scolded her gently. He held the spoon up to her mouth. "Eat."
"I-idiot..."
"I love you too, baby."
"Sh-shut up!"
"Open wiiiide."
"Urgh..."
He continued to feed her despite her protests until the bowl was empty.
"Do you want more?"
"No thanks," she mumbled. She was feeling sleepy again.
"Then I'll go put this awa-" He started to get up, but he froze. "Hmm?" Zelos looked down at Shihna. She was leaning against his shoulder.
"Can I stay like this for a little while?"
"Of course, darling," he murmured softly. He settled back down on the floor.
Shihna moved closer, resting her head against his neck. She wanted to memorize how it felt. She wanted to memorize how it felt; his scent, how warm he was...everything. She knew that this moment wouldn't last, and they would return to how they usually were.
"You're thinking about our usual habits, aren't you?" he mumbled.
"Why can't you be like this more often?" she grumbled.
"Because you push me away when I try to get closer to you, but if I sit still and wait, you come to me eventually. Besides, I think you would get bored if I was always like this," he answered.
"Mmm," she murmured. "It's really comfortable though."
"Well, you can cuddle with me any time. I won't complain."
"I-idiot." She pulled away.
"Go back to sleep," Zelos commanded. He helped her lay down before picking up the bowl, and standing up. "I'll be right here, watching over you."
"Okay..." She could already feel her eyelids drooping. "Thanks for taking care of me," she mumbled, drifting off to sleep.
"You're welcome, hunny."
-0-0-0-0-0-0-
"Orochi?" Shihna mumbled.
"So you've finally decided to wake up," Orochi answered, trying to hide the amusement in his voice.
"How long have I been sleeping?"
"About four hours," he replied.
She shot up suddenly. "Where's Zelos?"
"He told me to take care of you, and then he left."
"Oh..." She tried to keep her face neutral so Orochi wouldn't get suspicious.
"He told me to tell you that he's sorry, but he had something really important to do."
"Oh," she said, a smile lighting up her face.
"He said that he'd come back later," he continued.
"Okay."
"I see that you like the Chosen much more than you used to."
"W-What?! Of course not!" Shihna blushed in embarassment.
"You don't have to deny it," he said. "You used to complain about him all the time."
"I still do," she retorted.
"But you say those things about him fondly. You're not always mad at him like you used to."
"Well, I could still be mad at him!"
"Shihna, I've known you for a long time. I know when you're angry at someone."
"Eugh, I hate arguing with you," she groaned.
"Well, I'll leave you alone now," Orochi said, getting up. "Do you need anything?"
"No," she mumbled. "Thanks, Orochi."
"You're welcome, Shihna."
"Thanks for taking care of me."
"You're welcome, hunny."
Shihna felt warmer, remembering how Zelos took care of her. "Argh! What am I doing? He's just a friend. I don't feel anything for him!" She got out of the futon, and folded the blanket up neatly. "I can't just sit here, and look forward to him showing up." She looked around the room frantically, trying to think of something to do.
"Talking to yourself again, hunny?" She felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her waist.
"G-Gah! When did you get here?!"
"Just now," Zelos replied, burying his face into her neck. "Did you miss me?"
"N-No!" she stuttered.
"Hmm? But with the way you were talking with yourself..."
"That wasn't-"
"I don't feel anything for him," Zelos squeaked, imitating Shihna's voice. "I can't just sit here, and look forward to him showing up."
Shihna froze.
"You're always denying your feelings for me..."
"Sh-shut up."
"Do you want to know why I left so suddenly?" he asked softly.
"Not really," she grumbled. "I do want you to let me go though."
Zelos pulled a small box out of his pocket. "Here," he said, ignoring her request.
"What?"
"It's for you."
She took the box from him hesitantly, slightly afraid of what might be in the box. She held her breath as she opened it.
"...A ring?" she gasped, letting out her breath.
"Yeah, I had to go pick it up while you were sleeping..."
"And what do you mean by this?" she mumbled.
"I'm wondering if you'll let me take care of you for the rest of your life, and if we could spend our time together the way that we usually are."
"Really?" She felt her cheeks get warmer.
"Yes, gorgeous," he purred.
"Well, you could stop calling me those vulgar nicknames of yours," she grumbled.
"Mm? Is that a yes or a no?" he asked.
"I guess...I'll accept," she mumbled.
"I'll make sure that you don't regret that decision," he purred, sliding the ring onto her finger. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yeah..."
"That's good," he murmured. "Do you love me?"
"Sometimes."
"Only sometimes?"
"Well, I deny it most of the time," Shihna mumbled, her face reddening slightly.
"So you do love me all the time."
"I-idiot."
"Ah, more words of affection," he purred. "I'd kiss you, but I don't want to catch your cold."
"Eugh, you pervert."
"How is it perverted to kiss you? I just want to show my affection for you," he murmured. He hugged her tighter. "I could show my affection for you in another way too, if you know what I mean." He played with her hair, smiling seductively.
"N-no way!" Shihna squeaked. "W-W-We can't just..."
"I know," Zelos said. "I was just kidding. I'll wait until our wedding night."
"O-Okay," she mumbled.
"Or we could do it before. I don't mind."
"Stupid..."
"Thank you."
"Argh! I wasn't complimenting you!"
"It doesn't matter what you say. I'm happy just hearing your voice."
"W-Well, I'm not going to talk to you any more."
"Aww, don't be like that."
And they returned to how they usually were.
SakuMeiMei Says: Whoa, that oneshot morphed a lot. XD;; Taking care of Shihna turned into "Marry me!" And the ending just...blegh. D: But Merry Christmas everyone! (Even though it's late...)
I'll be updating later today too. :3