It was a cloudy day, with a faint drizzle tapping against the windows of the dorm. Class VII had been busy with their usual routines, but today was different. Laura had been noticeably absent from class, and word quickly spread that she was feeling unwell.

Fie had picked up on it immediately. Laura was one of the strongest people she knew—physically and mentally—so for her to skip class entirely? That meant it was serious.

Fie wasted no time.

Laura's room was quiet when Fie approached. She had a tray in one hand, a small cloth draped over her shoulder, and a calm, focused expression on her face. It had been a long time since she'd done something like this, but she remembered the routine well. Back when she was a Jaeger, there were times when members of her corps had fallen ill, and in their rough, chaotic lifestyle, someone had to step up.

Fie knocked softly on the door.

"Laura? It's me."

There was a pause, and then Laura's voice, weaker than usual, called out. "Come in."

Fie pushed the door open, stepping inside to find Laura sitting up in bed. Her usually radiant complexion was pale, and her long blue hair was pulled back in a loose braid. She had a blanket draped around her shoulders and looked… exhausted.

"Hey," Fie said, setting the tray down on the bedside table. "You look awful."

Laura chuckled weakly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Thank you for the observation, Fie. I suppose I could say I feel the same."

Fie smirked, pulling a chair over to sit beside the bed. "I heard you were sick, so I brought some stuff. Figured you'd need someone to keep an eye on you."

Laura tilted her head, surprised but touched by the gesture. "That's very kind of you. But you didn't have to go to any trouble."

"It's not trouble," Fie said with a shrug. "Besides, I'm good at this. Took care of a bunch of sick Jaegers back in the day. Trust me, you're in good hands."

Laura raised an eyebrow. "I had no idea you had such experience."

Fie smirked again, reaching for the tray. "Yeah, well, don't get used to it. You're getting special treatment because it's you."

The tray held a steaming bowl of soup, a cup of herbal tea, and a damp cloth. Fie picked up the cloth first, leaning forward to gently press it against Laura's forehead.

"Your fever's not too bad," she murmured, more to herself than to Laura. "You'll be fine after some rest and fluids."

Laura blinked at the sudden closeness, feeling the cool relief of the cloth against her skin. "You're very efficient," she said softly.

"Like I said, I've done this before," Fie replied, her voice calm and steady. She pulled the cloth away and set it aside, then grabbed the bowl of soup. "Here. Eat this. You need to keep your strength up."

Laura hesitated for a moment, then accepted the bowl. "Thank you, Fie. This is more than I expected."

Fie shrugged, leaning back in the chair. "Don't mention it. You'd probably do the same for me."

Laura smiled faintly, taking a small sip of the soup. It was warm and comforting, and she felt some of the tension in her body start to ease.

Fie watched her closely, her sharp eyes taking in every detail. It wasn't like Laura to need help, but Fie could see that she was genuinely worn down.

"You should've told someone you weren't feeling well sooner," Fie said after a moment. "Pushing yourself doesn't help anyone, you know."

Laura sighed, setting the bowl down for a moment. "You're right. Old habits die hard, I suppose. I'm not used to relying on others."

"Yeah, I get that," Fie said, her tone softening.

Laura looked at her, a flicker of gratitude in her tired eyes. "I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Fie."

Fie waved her hand dismissively. "Don't get all mushy on me. Just focus on getting better."

The two of them sat in comfortable silence for a while, Laura slowly finishing the soup while Fie busied herself tidying up around the room. Every now and then, Fie would glance over, making sure Laura was okay. It felt natural in a way she didn't expect—taking care of someone like this.

When Laura finally finished eating, Fie stood up, reaching for the tea.

"Drink this," she said, handing it over. "It'll help you sleep."

Laura accepted the cup, taking a small sip. "You really are prepared for this, aren't you?"

Fie smirked. "Told you. I'm a pro."

Laura chuckled softly, setting the cup aside after a few sips. "I feel better already."

"Yeah, well, don't get used to it," Fie said, though her tone was light. "This is a one-time deal."

Laura smiled, her eyes softening as she looked at her. "Even so, it means a great deal to me."

Fie felt her cheeks warm slightly but quickly looked away. "Just get some rest, okay? I'll check on you later."

Laura nodded, settling back into the pillows.

As Fie turned to leave, she glanced back one last time. Laura was already closing her eyes, a peaceful expression on her face.