(And they were roommates)
Reno stumbled through the rain-soaked street, his vision blurring and his body trembling with each labored step. The icy droplets pelted his face and soaked through his clothes, but he barely noticed, so consumed by the feverish haze that had taken hold of his mind. His thoughts were a jumble of incoherent fragments, snippets of the day's work and the endless to-do list that seemed to stretch on forever.
As he finally arrived at his door, he stumbled with his keys, but managed to get it open.
(Y/n) quickly dried her hand and rushed over to the front door, quickly noticing Reno's unsteady figure. "Reno? Are you... are you alright?" She said, concern lacing her voice. "You don't look so good."
Reno's gaze flickered up at the sound of her voice, his usually sharp eyes hazy and unfocused. He attempted a nonchalant smirk, but it came out more like a wobbly grin. "I'm.. I'm fine," he managed to say, though the words came out slurred. He leaned heavily on her, his body radiating heat with fever.
"Oh no you don't!" (Y/n) declared with determination, slipping under his arm to support him properly. "You're burning up like a microwave burrito left in too long! C'mon Mr. Turk, let's get you horizontal before you become vertical on the floor."
She guided him toward the couch, her small frame surprisingly sturdy as she maneuvered his much larger body. Along the way she kept muttering things like..
"I knew that Midgar rain was suspicious..."
"This is why Shinra should issue company umbrellas..."
"Note to self: invent waterproof Turks..."
Reno let out a weak chuckle, his usual sarcasm coming through even in his feverish state. "Oh yeah, 'cause an umbrella would totally complete my badass Turk look," he muttered, letting himself be steered toward the couch with only minimal resistance.
Once on the couch, he immediately curled into himself, shivering despite the heat radiating off him. "Ugh... shoulda just let Rude handle today's bullshit..." he groaned into the cushions.
(Y/n) couldn't help but roll her eyes good-naturedly at his quip. "I think your 'badass Turk look' can take a rain check," she quipped back, positioning a pillow under his head.
With him now comfortable on the couch, she knelt down beside him, she pressed the back of her hand against his forehead, her eyebrows furrowing at the heat she felt. "You're hot," she muttered, taking his hands in hers. "But cold at the same time."
Reno flinched slightly at the touch of her cool hand, his turquoise eyes blinking up at her with rare vulnerability. "Yeah well... that's what happens when you're dumb enough to work in a damn typhoon," he grumbled, but there was no real bite to it.
His cheeks flushed even darker, though whether from fever or something else was hard to tell, as he turned his face away. "Don't make such a big deal out of it... I'll be fine by tomorrow." His fingers twitched like he wanted to pull his goggles down over his eyes to hide.
(Y/n) wasn't having any of that. She crossed her arms and gave him a look that could only be described as unimpressed roommate mode activated.
"Uh-huh, sure you will," she said, voice dripping with sarcasm. She turned on her heel and marched toward the bathroom. "And while you're busy being all tough and stubborn, I'll be drawing you a nice warm bath whether you like it or not!" she called over her shoulder.
The sound of running water soon followed.
"Hey, wait-" Reno weakly protested, attempting to lift himself up but failing miserably. The room spun, and he collapsed back onto the couch with a weary sigh. He knew arguing would be futile, but he still grumbled under his breath.
"Damn it all to hell..." he muttered, the familiar defiance tinged with a hint of resignation. The sound of running water filled the room, and the steam soon wafted out from the bathroom.
After a few moments, (Y/n)'s head popped back around the corner. "Oh! And don't even think about trying to escape mister! I still have some... questionable leverage from that one time Rude got drunk enough to spill some Turk secrets." She wiggled her eyebrows before disappearing again, conveniently leaving out how much of said leverage was probably just embarrassing but harmless stories rather than actual blackmail material.
Reno's eyes widened at the threat, but then he rolled them dramatically, a hint of resignation in his expression. "You wouldn't dare," he retorted, though there was a playful undertone to his words. His gaze lingered on her retreating form before he relaxed back into the couch, his pride refusing to admit that he secretly loved this side of her.
(Y/n) reappeared a few minutes later, her hands on her hips and a smug look on her face. "Oh, but I would," she replied, her voice filled with mock-sweetness. She motioned toward the bathroom with her chin. "Bath is ready, Mr. Stubborn Turk." She reached a hand out to him.
Reno stared at her outstretched hand for a long moment, his usual sharp gaze softened by fever and something else entirely. With a defeated sigh that was mostly for show, he reluctantly took it. "Damn woman... you're worse than Tseng when he's in one of his moods," he grumbled, letting her pull him up despite the unsteadiness in his legs. He shot her a look, half glare, half reluctant amusement, before wobbling toward the bathroom.
(Y/n) let out a snort, the corners of her mouth twitching. "I'll take that as a compliment," she replied, steadying him with an arm around his waist as they made their way to the bathroom.
The warm steam enveloped them as they stepped inside, the scent of lavender and honey from the bathwater filling the air.
Reno inhaled sharply at the scent, his nose wrinkling slightly. "The hell is this, some kinda girly spa shit?" he grumbled, but there was no real venom in his words. He eyed the bath suspiciously before glancing back at her with a half-hearted smirk.
"You expecting me to actually get in this flower water? Might as well throw some damn rose petals while you're at it." Despite his complaining, he didn't actually resist when she nudged him toward the tub, his fever-addled brain too tired to put up much of a fight anymore.
(Y/n) rolled her eyes, secretly amused by his exaggerated reactions. "Oh, hush, it's not flower water," she retorted. "It's lavender and honey, you big baby. Now do you need me to help you undress too?" she teased.
Reno's face immediately flushed a shade darker, and he coughed awkwardly, suddenly very interested in staring at the bathroom tiles. "N-No! I got it, damn it," he stammered out, his usual bravado crumbling spectacularly under the simple tease. He made a shooing motion with his hand, clumsy but insistent, while keeping his gaze stubbornly averted. "Out... Get out already before I change my mind about this ridiculous bath!"
(Y/n) couldn't help but laugh at his flustered reaction, holding her hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright! I'm going!" she said, backing out of the bathroom with an amused grin.
Before closing the door behind her, she peeked back in one last time. "Yell if you need anything," (Y/n) added cheerfully before finally shutting it with a click.
Reno let out a heavy sigh of relief as the bathroom door closed, his heart still racing from the brief moment of vulnerability. "Damn woman..." he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
He slowly began to strip off his clothes, his movements uncoordinated and a bit clumsy due to his weakened state. The fever had taken away all of his usual precision and control, leaving behind a man who struggled just to keep himself on his feet.
Eventually, he sank into the tub with a long sigh, his tense muscles relaxing as the warm water enveloped him.
As soon as the warm, lavender-scented water surrounded him, Reno closed his eyes and let out a low, involuntary moan of relief. The heat sank into his skin, easing the shivering and pain of the fever, and the scent relaxed his tense muscles even further as he leaned back against the tub. For a few quiet moments, he simply sat there, letting his thoughts and worries wash away with the steam. But his mind kept wandering back to (Y/n), her laugh, her teasing, her stubborn care...
"Damn it..." he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm in too deep.."
His mind ran through countless moments spent with (Y/n), each one more endearing and infuriating than the last. It all weighed on him, leaving him feeling more vulnerable than he was comfortable admitting.
He sunk lower into the water, letting it lap at his shoulders, hiding his conflicted expression from the empty room around him. The fever only served to amplify his confusion, making his thoughts run wild.
(Y/n) busied herself in the kitchen, humming softly as she prepared some tea with honey and lemon. She had a small smile on her face.. Reno's reactions were always entertaining whenever she teased him just right.
After a while, she tapped lightly on the bathroom door. "You alive in there?" (Y/n) called out, amusement lacing her tone. "Or do I need to come check if you've drowned?"
Reno jolted slightly at the sudden knock, his eyes snapping open. "Y-Yeah, yeah! Still kicking.." he called back quickly, voice cracking just a bit. He ran a hand through his damp hair, shaking off some of the water before reluctantly pulling himself out of the tub with a grumble. "Not like I could escape your damn mother-henning even if I wanted to," he added under his breath as he reached for a towel.
(Y/n) chuckled softly at his response, finding his grumpy demeanor endearing. "Just making sure you haven't turned into a raisin yet," she replied sarcastically through the door. "Take your time, no rush."
She leaned against the wall beside the bathroom door. It was oddly comforting, taking care of him like this.
Reno rolled his eyes at her playful remark, but he couldn't help a small smile creeping across his face as he dried off. He wrapped the towel around his waist, trying and failing to suppress a shiver as the cool air hit his skin. As he stood there, water beaded across his shoulders and chest, his gaze lingered on the bathroom door, knowing she was just outside. He took a deep breath, steadying his racing heart.
"I'm decent enough," he called out, his voice softer than he intended.
(Y/n)'s smile widened as she heard his response. She pushed away from the wall, reaching for the knob and slowly pushing the door open. "Looking better already," she noted, tilting her head up to meet his gaze.
Reno's breath hitched slightly as the door opened, his turquoise eyes locking with hers. His usual cocky grin was nowhere to be found, instead, there was something softer in his expression. "Only cause you bullied me into it," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. The fever might have been fading, but the warmth in his chest definitely wasn't.
(Y/n) shook her head with a playful roll of her eyes. "Oh yes, I'm such a bully," she teased, stepping closer into the bathroom. "Because it was oh so difficult to convince you to do something good for your health."
She reached out to press a hand to his forehead, checking his temperature again. "Still warm. I have some pajamas set out for you in your room." She moved her hand from his forehead to his hand.
Reno's breath caught as she took his hand, his fingers twitching slightly against hers. He swallowed hard, the usual retort stuck in his throat.
"Yeah... thanks," he managed to say, voice rough but sincere.
(Y/n) gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, her gaze never leaving his. "Of course," she replied. She didn't let go of his hand just yet, their fingers gently intertwined. "Come on, let's get you into those comfy clothes," she murmured, gently tugging on his hand to lead him towards his bedroom.
Reno let her guide him, his head spinning a little as they moved. He tried to regain his usual composure, but something about the whole situation, her hand holding his, the intimacy of being led to his own damn room, the vulnerability of being sick.. was setting him off-balance.
When they reached his room, he reluctantly pulled his hand away to begin getting dressed, his movements still a bit uncoordinated due to the fever.
While Reno got dressed in the dim lighting of his bedroom, (Y/n) quietly set the tea down on his bedside table, then busied herself fluffing up the pillows on his bed.
Once satisfied that everything was in order, (Y/n) turned back to him, her gaze softening as she noticed his somewhat fumbling attempts to button up his sleep shirt.
"Here, let me," she offered quietly, gently guiding his hands away and taking over the task for him.
Reno's gaze flickered between her soft features and nimble fingers as they efficiently buttoned up his sleep shirt, one by one.
He could feel the heat rising to his cheeks again, but this time it had nothing to do with the lingering fever. "Y'know, I can do it myself..." he protested weakly, trying to cling to some semblance of his usual stubborn independence.
(Y/n) paused mid-button, looking up with an amused smirk. "Oh, I know you can," she said lightly. "But sometimes it's nice to let someone else take care of you."
With a final playful tug to straighten his collar, she stepped back and gestured dramatically toward the bed. "Now get in before I tuck you in myself."
Reno's cheeks darkened at the threat, his usually quick wit failing him entirely. "You're damn pushy, you know that?" he muttered, but he obediently climbed into bed nonetheless, because if he was being honest with himself, part of him liked it when she fussed over him like this. He pulled the blanket up to his waist with an exaggerated huff.
"Me, pushy? Never," she replied with a mock innocent expression, one hand resting on her chest. (Y/n) chuckled softly as she watched him settle into bed. The sight was endearing, her usually tough Turk roommate reduced to a grumpy convalescent.
She pulled a chair up to the side of his bed, grabbing the jar of honey she had brought in earlier, opening it up and getting a small spoon full, before placing it into the tea she made. She hummed a soft tune, as she stirred it gently.
Reno watched her move through half-lidded eyes, his feverish thoughts swirling. In his weakened state, he found himself content to just lie there and let her fuss over him.
The sound of her humming filled the room, a comforting melody that eased the tension from his muscles. He closed his eyes for a moment, almost dozing off..
Reno cracked one eye open as she stirred his tea, watching the way her fingers curled around the spoon. His fever addled mind latched onto something stupid, something that spilled out before he could stop it. "...You'd make a good mom," he mumbled sleepily, not fully realizing what he'd said until the words were already out in the open. His eyes snapped wide open immediately after, mortification hitting him like a ton of bricks. "I mean. uh. shit."
(Y/n) paused, the spoon stopping mid-stir as those words sank in. A rush of warmth flooded her chest, making her heart skip a beat. The casual way he said it, took her completely by surprise.
She took a slow breath, trying to keep her composure even as her mind spun with a whirlwind of confusing emotions. "You⌠think so?" she managed to reply, her voice betraying just a hint of surprise.
Reno cursed himself silently, regretting the blurted words that had exposed his thoughts so blatantly. His mind was a mess of feverish delirium, and he found himself strangely unable to lie to her now. "I... yeah," he muttered weakly, his gaze shifting to avoid hers out of embarrassment. "You're... caring, and kind, and you've got that damn nurturing instinct. You'd spoil some brat rotten." He tried to inject some sarcasm into his tone, to salvage some of his tough-guy image, but it only came across as oddly tender.
(Y/n) couldn't help but let out a soft laugh at his attempt to downplay his honest words. It was both incredibly endearing and utterly unexpected. She set the spoon aside, her gaze softening as she turned her full attention to him. "You're a secret sweetheart under all that grumpy exterior, aren't you?" she teased gently, an amused smile playing at the corners of her lips, as she handed him the tea.
Reno's face flushed further, both from the fever and from embarrassment. He hated how easily she could see through his carefully constructed tough exterior. He took the cup from her, mumbling a gruff thanks to mask his flustered state.
"Don't get the wrong idea," he grumbled, still trying to maintain some semblance of his usual snark. "Fever's messing with my brain, that's all.." He took a sip of the tea, the honey slipping pleasantly down his sore throat.
(Y/n) just chuckled again, shaking her head in mild disbelief. "Sure, blame it on the fever," she replied, her voice tinged with affectionate sarcasm. "That's a convenient excuse."
She leaned back in her chair, a small smile lingering on her face as she hummed softly.
Reno's head was definitely spinning more than usual now, but whether it was from the fever, the unexpected show of affection, or that damn lullaby she was singing, he wasn't sure. He leaned back against the pillows, trying to feign nonchalance, but he could feel his heart thumping wildly against his ribcage.
"The hell you humming, anyway?" he grumbled, his hoarse voice betraying some curiosity behind his grumpy facade.
(Y/n)'s grin widened at his question. "It's (Song name)," she said with a playful eye roll. "A lullaby sung by an old friend." She leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand as she watched him over the rim of his cup. "You worried it's some kind of spell casting?"
Reno shot her a half-hearted glare, though the effect was somewhat ruined by his flushed cheeks. "Ha ha, hilarious," he replied sarcastically, setting the now-empty cup aside and sinking back into the pillows with a grumble. "As if I'd let you cast any kind of spell on me. I'm immune to your charms, y'know."
It was a bold lie, and they both knew it. The way he was melting under her gentle teasing proved it, but his damned pride wouldn't let him admit it.
(Y/n)'s smile softened, her fingers gently brushing a loose strand of damp red hair away from his forehead before answering. "Sure you are." Her fingertips lingered against his temple for just a second longer than necessary, before pulling away with a quiet hum. "You should rest now."
Reno's breath hitched slightly at her touch, his fever-flushed face growing even warmer under her fingers. The tenderness of it all was almost too much for him to process, leaving his usually quick wit completely useless.
"Tch... sounds sappy as hell," he muttered weakly, but there was no real bite behind it this time. His tired eyes fluttered shut despite himself, the exhaustion finally winning out over his stubbornness.
"...Keep singing," he murmured sleepily, too delirious with fever to realize how that request sounded.
A soft chuckle escaped (Y/n)'s lips as she gently tucked his blankets in around his now relaxed form. She couldn't help but find it endearing, how his usual rough edges softened in these less guarded moments. She hummed softly, waiting for him to drift off.
Reno's breathing evened out as her voice lulled him deeper into sleep, his usual tense posture finally relaxing completely. The warmth from the tea, the blankets, and, unbeknownst to him, the lingering fondness in his chest chased away any remaining shivers from his fever.
(Y/n) watched him silently for several minutes, her gaze filled with a tender mix of affection and concern. The soft rise and fall of his chest, the relaxed expression on his face.
Eventually, with a final gentle touch to his forehead to check his temperature, she stood quietly and made her way out of the room, closing the door behind her.
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