fic: Cure-All

[bonnefois]

Title: Cure-All
Series: Fire Emblem: Echoes
Character/pairing: Kamui/Leon
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 12,350
Summary: When Leon falls ill, Kamui takes charge and takes over the shop, and takes care of Leon.
Author's note:

Treat for Trick or Treatex.

Post series.

I had Maribelle in mind for the OC Lady Eileen, and Laurent in mind for the accountant sage, and Mozu for the seamstress. Due to timelines and other reasons, they are not these characters. It's just who I had in mild while creating them.

Maybe it's their ancestors.

The OCs were originally a throwaway line that I ended up having to go back and expand, because I was so charmed by the thought of a very generous noble lady who could not stop opining about how much she loved her wife at every given moment.

(To clarify the implied sexual harassment tag: an OC mentions she's dealt with sexual harassment before in a previous job. It isn't on screen or explicit.)

Leon let out a groan as he rose up from bed.

Hangover? No, he hadn't drank in months. Starting a shop left little room for a social life. He kept promising himself that he would catch up on that once the shop backlog got caught up. Except, the more word spread about his clothes, the more orders he got. Which meant even more late nights working on stitches instead of visiting.

Talk about fame being a double-edged sword. And since Valbar was on station training up the troops with his family in tow over in Altea, there'd been nothing but letters. Letters that took far too long to reach Leon, at that.

And of course, Kamui didn't write, or let Leon know anything. Where he was, what he was doing, or anything.

Typical

"I'm getting old," Leon muttered to himself.

Twenty-eight was too young for a body this sore, even if war had given him scars and an injury which meant he'd no longer live the military life.

As much as he wanted to stay under these covers, he had things to do.

Tea would cure this. He'd simply had too many long nights. But with these orders piling up, he'd have to spend a lot more late nights sewing. And even the thought left him exhausted.

After his war injury which made archery quite painful, Leon pursued other dreams.

Well, dreams other than men. Those always went poorly.

Ever since he joined the army, he'd had the idea of a shop which would sell exactly the sorts of clothes Leon wanted to wear. He'd have to make his own, mix his own make up and hair products because no one made them delicate enough for his skin.

And, it wasn't long before his shop was literally the talk of the land. His clothes were worn all the way to Altean castles.

One day he'd plan to branch out a little in products, and hire some staff, but he hadn't made enough yet. Until then, he'd have a lot more late nights spent sewing.

*

It wasn't even noon yet. Leon rested his head against the counter. His head felt like lead. To say nothing of the pounding headache which had begun to form. At least the shop had been slow so far.

"Hey."

He looked up for a moment, and then pressed his head back into the counter. He was not in the mood to deal with the little definitely not gay at all song and dance that Kamui was so good at.

Or every other little thing that Kamui did that annoyed him.

Plus, Kamui had disappeared without a word for ages, only to appear again just as suddenly. Which at this point Leon should be used to. Kamui kept doing it. He'd ship out on some mercenary job for months, wander back to have a drink with Valbar and meet up with Leon.

It never failed to piss Leon off, though. Technically, about everything that Kamui did got on his nerves. But his utter carelessness in keeping up their friendship pissed him off even more than the other, typical Kamui things.

"You okay?"

Leon let out a groan. Which should've been answer enough.

"You must not be, as you would've said about fifty catty things by now."

"Give me an IOU and I'lll say a hundred," Leon muttered.

Kamui reached out and touched his forehead. "You're like the inside of a volcano."

He must be losing it if he didn't even notice how close Kamui had gotten. Or Kamui had seriously leveled up his stealth skills.

"Pretty sure you're sick, Leon."

Leon let out an indignant sigh. "I don't have time to be sick. I have shipments coming in, I have orders which need to be completed, I need to have the shop open and--What are you--"

Leon blushed. Kamui had lifted him up so easily. Which was kind of sexy. All that mercenary work had kept him buff, and as he desperately gripped to Kamui's olive green tunic, he was rewarded with the feel of rock hard chest and abs against him.

Damn, he was ill if he was over here finding Kamui sexy.

"Kamui!" Leon sputtered.

"Look, you're being stubborn. I'm just going to take you to bed."

Leon blushed even harder. "K-Kamui!"

Even Kamui blushed a little at that. "Not like that. You look about to pass out here. You need a break."

Leon tried to protest, but even that left him exhausted.

As much as Leon hated to admit it, he was definitely sick.

He didn't have time for this.

Kamui hauled him in a bridal carry over to Leon's bedroom. Something which had shown up in many of Leon's fantasies...except, that none of them featured Kamui in a starring role.

"There," Kamui said, as he set Leon down on the bed.

"You could've asked," Leon said petulantly.

"I know you. You would've pushed yourself until you were in the infirmary. I had to do some drastic measures."

"When I am feeling better, I am going to give you the lecture to end all lectures, you know!"

"So, it'll be just another day?" Kamui said dryly.

"I've got years worth of lectures to get through for you," Leon said.

"I'm sure you will. Anyways, I'll be back in a bit with some food. Just rest a bit."

"And, the shop? You want me to just leave my goods unattended?"

"They make 'closed' door signs for a reason, you know," Kamui said.

Kamui left without even a goodbye, just like always.

If Leon wasn't so sick, he would've fumed. As it was, he was on the brink of passing out in this warm, soft bed. He could put fuming about the audacity of Kamui along with the other million and one things he had to get to.

*

Leon couldn't say how long it'd been when Kamui returned. He was quite groggy, and the rest hadn't helped.

If anything, he felt even worse now.

"Feeling better?"

"Define better," Leon said.

"Then I'll take that as a no," Kamui said.

Kamui continued on.

"I couldn't find any decent kiosks here, so I just bought the ingredients and made you something," Kamui said.

He carefully carried a heaping bowl of soup. The aroma was quite strong. Leon definitely recognized garlic. Even with how heavy his head felt, and some sense of congestion, which made him even more miserable.

The bowl had quite a bit of thick noodles hidden away in the strong broth. Quite a few greens had been smoothly chopped up, as well as bits of meat. Honestly, it looked delicious, and like no soup Leon had ever had before.

"I suppose I'll get an invoice later," Leon said flippantly.

"If you're going to be a brat, you will," Kamui said.

"Guaranteed invoice, then," Leon said.

"Come on, eat. You need your strength, and it's about to get cold. Do you need me to feed you?"

That required some thought. On one hand, he was still mad at Kamui. Which in itself was not noteworthy, as he was always in a state of being at least somewhat mad at Kamui. He had managed to remain irritated at some level at Kamui for years, which took quite a bunch of talent and nursing grudges.

On the other hand, being spoiled and babied when he was sick was nice, actually.

"I do think if I lift that spoon, I'll die," Leon said.

I can't help but think you're pulling one over on me..." Kamui said.

"Me? Never," Leon said.

Kamui leaned in and balanced the bowl. He blew on the spoon before he brought it to Leon's mouth.

The soup had a savory flavor, with an undertone of many different strong flavors.

"Mmm! You really made this yourself? This is delicious. And that's saying something, considering that I'm surprised that I can even taste it with how heavy my head feels."

"You don't have to sound so surprised," Kamui said.

"Well, I don't remember you ever helping out with the camp meals. All this time you were hiding a talent?"

"I was usually busy with guard duty. You don't usually send nothing but archers and mages to do lookout," Kamui said.

"I'd say it's a waste of your talents to be off cooking duty, but you were always pretty good at guarding. Not as good as Valbar, but decent. I don't remember you ever falling asleep.

"Of course," Kamui said under his breath.

Kamui fed him every last drop of that soup. It was actually rather...tender. The kind of thing Leon would've fantasized about. Except, not with Kamui.

When the bowl was filled, Kamui set it aside.

"Well, thanks for all that, I suppose," Leon said.

"Sounds like there's a 'but' to come."

"Mostly, I'm confused what you're even doing here. I haven't seen you in years and suddenly you're here, carrying me back to bed and feeding me."

"I'm here saving you from yourself, apparently."

"I didn't ask. Also, I've got--"

"To rest," Kamui cut him off, and held up his hand. "That's the most important thing. That you get better. The best can be done by other people."

Leon crossed his arms over his chest. He didn't care if he looked sulky.

Leon gave him a defiant look, and pushed himself out of bed. Kamui said nothing and made no move to stop him.

Leon tried to actually get out of bed, but it was like every muscle in his body ached at once. He let out a sigh and eased back into bed and under the covers. Time to admit defeat. Hello, surrender and lots of naps and soup.

Dammit, Kamui was right. Words he didn't say--or think--often, but when he did, damn was it a bitter pill to swallow.

"I don't have time to be sick. I have orders to be fulfilled. I can't even imagine the backlog. I have a shop to keep. I have new supplies coming in today which I have to sign for, I have books to balance, and mice have gotten into my storage room and even destroyed some of my prize cloth. To say nothing of what I still have to sew. If I don't do any of those things right this second, my shop will fail and I will be in financial ruin."

"So, no big deal, right?" Kamui said dryly.

"No, it's just a cakewalk over here," Leon said flatly.

"Calm down, I'll take care of it."

Leon gave him an incredulous look. "Take care of it? I was the one who used to mend all your tunics. Otherwise, you'd just let them be ripped because you didn't want to spend the extra money."

Which made him sound like a wife, now that he thought about it. No wonder Kamui kept crushing on him when he kept mending his clothes, and making sure he ate enough on the battle field.

Not that Kamui would ever admit it. But Leon knew, he knew.

"It was a battlefield, not a ballroom," Kamui said.

"Just because you feel fine going out looking like some ghost from folklore doesn't mean I have to withstand half your chest being exposed with holes," Leon said.

"So sorry for getting ripped up on the battlefield," Kamui said.

"I manage to not look like a ghost out on the battlefield."

"You're an archer. The whole point is for you to not get hit."

"Maybe if you dodged better, and I didn't have to haul half the supplies of vulneraries to make sure you don't die, then your clothes would've been fine too. I spent an awful lot of time watching your back to make sure you didn't get shanked, thank you very much."

"And I was grateful, even if you always found a way to tell me off. Though, there's not a lot of dodging to do these days."

"That wouldn't matter, if you're still on the battlefield. Are you still as careless and getting yourself hurt all that time? Who's mending your tunics without me around? Who's telling you to dodge the arrows coming your way? Do you even remember to eat?"

"I've been fine, as you can see. I haven't died yet," Kamui said.

"By the sheer grace of Mila, certainly, considering how you dive headfirst into battle like you've got immortality on your side."

"Not much battles to be diving into lately. I take out the occasional brigands and do a lot of bodyguard work."

Kamui ran his fingers through his dark hair.

"This is really what you want to be doing? Having the same fight we had over and over four years ago?"

"No, but that's what we're doing. We never finished it, apparently."

"The war's over, Leon."

"Ours isn't," Leon said.

"Apparently."

They stared at each other, in irritated silence. Finally, Kamui turned towards the door.

"Anyways, I'll notify them that you're ill," Kamui said.

"That won't work. I've got some important deadlines coming up, and I can't afford to miss them," Leon said.

"You ever think that maybe you might need someone else? You never used to be this way back in the army. You relied on Valbar plenty. But now, it's like you can't stand anyone getting near. And it's not just you hating me this time."

"I don't hate you," Leon said.

"You really could've fooled me," Kamui said.

"This? This is mild annoyance. You'd be eviscerated if I hated you. Metaphorically, that is. Literally would be too messy for my tastes. Besides, I'm not much of a shot anymore. Not after the injury."

"Sorry to hear about that. Feeling any better?"

"If you showed up more than once a decade, you'd know that I'm fairly fine. I can still even do some light archery, but too much and I start getting pain, so no more army days for me. I'm also not great with lifting using that arm. Long marches was wreaking havoc on my skin and hair anyways."

"Well, that's good, I guess."

"Moving on to what's important: I really don't have the time to vet a new hire. I can't just have anyone working with my stock. I put everything I had into making this line. I only got a small severance pay from the army, and it took almost all that to purchase the supplies and get this place. I already took a hit when the cloth in my storage room got damaged by something that got in there. Any more big hits like that and I'm finished."

"Well, lucky for you, I'm a mercenary. Pretty versatile one, too," Kamui said. He smiled crookedly. Leon hated that it was kind of appealing. All of it, everything. Especially the smile.

"Lucky me," Leon said.

"Give me a list of what you need and I'll do it. Within reason."

"Ugh, I don't have time for this. I have things to do. There's no way you can do this."

Kamui gestured to Leon. "Just look at yourself. You can barely get out of bed. You'd probably make a ton of messes that would cause you trouble for ages. You can't sew stitches or keep the shop like this. You'd pass out."

Kamui had a point, even if he kind of hated it. And Leon didn't need the extra reminder that he was a mess with this illness. At least he couldn't see himself in the mirror at this angle, or Leon would feel even more down.

"Fine, but if you mess up, it's coming out of your pay. And don't even think about touching the sewing. I've seen your lack of skills with a needle."

"Fine," Kamui said.

It was a truce, at most. But to Leon, it might as well have been an impasse.

*

"All right, now I just need to close up shop and head to the docks in time to get those supplies..."

As he exited the shop, he almost ran right into a noble woman.

"Excuse me, young man."

Kamui grimaced. "Young man?"

He was thirty-two He really thought hitting over thirty would mean he no longer longer got that.

The woman fanned herself with a large purple lace fan with growing irritation.

She had a massive, elegant and elaborate hat, and head full of silky blond curls. Her dress was quite intricate, and had to be Leon's own handiwork. Even if Kamui didn't know jack shit about fashion, he could tell Leon's style when he saw it.

She surveyed him with deep, cold blue eyes.

"I have been sending maids to ask when my dress would be done, but I have heard no word. They told me that the door was not attended to at all, and the shop seemed conspicuously closed."

"Look, lady, I'm busy. Leon's sick and I'm helping out for him. I have to close the shop to go pick up some materials Leon ordered. And after that, I've got dinner to take care of. There's nothing that can done until Leon gets better."

She brought her lacy fan to her mouth.

"Oh? Leon is sick? The poor dear worked himself into it. And making dinner for him, too..."

She looked him over with renewed interest. "I see Leon found himself a reliable man finally. I'm so happy for him."

Kamui sighed inwardly. Why was it that he couldn't take two steps without being mistaken for being in love with Leon? Honestly, not just Leon, but about every other person in the army and also every other person in the army made that mistake.

Because he didn't love Leon, not at all.

Maybe if he kept telling himself that, it'd become true.

Before he could protest that she got it all wrong, she went on. Kamui couldn't get a single word in edgewise.

"Now, my dear wife and I are having an anniversary party and no other will do. I told Leon when I secured this commission that it would have to be done quickly."

"You really don't want me sewing that dress. Leon's the one who always sewed my clothes. I don't know the first thing about it."

"It is not something which can simply be rescheduled. It was the date my wife and I exchanged vows. The happiest moment of my life, followed by the second happiest moment, whenever I see my dear, sweet, beautiful, wife."

"Sorry to hear, but I still can't help you," Kamui said.

She gave him a shrewd look. "I will take care of it."

"Of what? The sewing? I can't hire anyone....probably."

"Oh no. I cannot allow myself to prick these graceful fingers. I have more important uses for them, after all. But, I have a good head for numbers. And I know all the fashions. I don't need payment; I have more than enough money. But, I could get a glimpse into Leon's genius, and plan next year's grand dresses for the anniversary of the first time I met my dear, sweet, wife. Now that would be priceless."

"You know what, sure. Knock yourself out. But not, you know, literally."

Kamui handed her the keys and headed back on his way to get the supplies.

He just hoped this wasn't some gentlelady thief pulling one over on him, because he couldn't be in two places at once. He'd just have to hope this didn't fall down and become a massive disaster.

*

As much as he'd love to relax, he didn't have time even for a drink. He hauled the bolts of cloth, and kicked himself for not thinking about renting a cart, a donkey, or something.

At least it'd been simple enough. Leon had already paid so Kamui just had to get the material and haul it back.

As he came over a corner, Kamui almost ran into a rather tall, lanky man with coppery hair.

"Do be careful," the man said sharply.

"Oh, sorry. Didn't see you."

The man glared, and it was pretty obvious. How could he miss somebody that tall? This guy had definitely been called bean pole at least once in his life.

His glasses fell down his face. He pushed them up with annoyance. His eyes were a deep brown, and filled with irritation. He had coppery red hair and sideburns, a very tall collar of some sort that seemed to brush his chin, and a and pants of a deep brown. He could be a mage, a scholar, or both.

Despite the dusty year they were having, he was spotless, even down to his very tall dark boots that came past his knees.

But, that irritation turned to curiosity as he studied Kamui.

"Hmm. You have the look of a mercenary about you. Have you been to the local place of gathering of mercenaries?"

"I take work there sometimes. Are you looking to hire someone? I'm busy on a job now, but if you're willing to wait, I can be a hired sword for a price."

"No, you misunderstand me. I am looking for work. I am a scholar, as my mother and her mother before her. However, my wife has a rather delicate constitution and I have need of more jobs in order to fund the search for the proper ingredients for her medicine. Once I have them, I can make it on my own, as my father was an apothecary. But, they can be rather pricey and difficult to acquire. The listed jobs see all rather...violent. While with my magic I do believe I could handle the rigors of battle, I would not want to unduly worry my wife. She has quite a temper, you see."

The man cleared his throat and continued on. Sheesh, he was longwinded.

"Is there any libraries which need cataloging? Any books that need balanced, or rooms cleaned? All I ask is some flexibility in hours. I must make potions for my wife, and I need time to gather the ingredients as well, and ensure that she is well before I leave. Some of them cannot be gathered and must be bought."

Right, now that he thought about it, Leon had mentioned something about books in need of being balanced. Kamui sure couldn't help in that regard.

"I just might have a job for you. Though, I've got to warn you, Leon's sick right now so I can't guarantee what he'll pay out, or when, for that matter."

"Well, I could mix up a potion for him as well," the man said.

"That works. He could definitely use some healing potions. I was just going to buy some," Kamui said.

"I promise I will make him the utmost quality imaginable. Oh, and allow me to introduce myself. I am Crawford, son of Meredith. She is the world's utmost scholar of this generation."

He'd never heard of her, but Kamui didn't run with scholarly types, unless they were on a mercenary job with him. And even then, he'd be more busy keeping them from being killed than talking scientific wonders of the gods with them.

"Just follow me, I'll lead you to the store," Kamui said.

"Splendid! Er, do you need help carrying that?"

The guy was so thin, he might collapse under the weight.

"I've got it," Kamui said.

He mentally cursed himself for not getting that damn cart.

*

The store looked distinctly emptier from when he'd come, which Kamui wasn't sure was good or not.

"This is your domicile?" Crawford said. He scanned the room with a critical eye.

"It's Leon's shop," Kamui said.

"Then yes?"

"I'm just...helping out here for a while."

Sure, he'd crashed in one of the storage rooms. He'd already used up most of his gold on the trip back, and he couldn't fit any mercenary work outside of helping Leon. Until this paid out, he'd be barely getting by. And Kamui didn't feel like sleeping in the gutter when there was a perfectly fine unused bed.

Besides, he was taking care of Leon when he wasn't taking care of the shop. And it was pretty hard to do that when he was holed up in an inn across town.

"There you are--it comes to me that I didn't get your name."

"Kamui," he said.

"Kamui of?"

"Just Kamui. Where I came from doesn't exist anymore."

The store wasn't picked clean, though it was noticeably more empty. Lady Eileen fanned herself.

"A place which doesn't exist? How fascinating. You must tell me the story over tea. This was quite exciting! So many ladies came in, and I recommended the dresses already made, and they sold like hot cakes. Speaking of that, there should be cakes for sale here. So many ladies wish for refreshment as they shop."

"I'll tell him later."

"No need. I've already started a wish list, if you will. I may bring my own personal chef and bakers if I grow famished enough. No worries, I won't bill Leon for them."

She glanced to the new arrival.

"Are you here to buy some of Leon's clothes for you, your wife, or your husband?"

"Not quite. I am a new hire as well."

Crawford introduced himself, and there was some kind of back and forth banter of those of noble houses. While Crawford was largely a scholar, it seemed he had at least enough noble ties to know the steps of this dance.

Kamui could never get the hang of such things. He was just a wandering mercenary.

"If you will excuse me, I must get to my task. I hope to finish soon enough to go check on my wife. She's rather ill, you see. I don't like to leave her alone for too long."

Lady Eileen's face lit up in complete appreciation at the word wife. It definitely was the magic word to get her attention quickly.

"Oh, that poor thing! I do hope she recovers soon," Lady Eileen said.

"It isn't quite so simple as a mere ague. It is a persistent ailment which has dogged her the entirety of her life. I have studied many herbs to create potions, but she is still rather weak and often bedridden."

"What a shame. But, she is lucky to have such a tenacious husband," Lady Eileen said.

He smiled. "I'd go to the ends of the earth to find herbs for her, if that was what it took."

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe I am keeping our employer's husband waiting," Crawford said.

"I'm not..."

Both gave him rather disbelieving looks at that. As if he had tried to tell them a tall tale. Kamui was too tired to fight this.

"Never mind. Come on," Kamui said.

With that, he led Crawford to the back room.

"Leon mentioned something about having to do something with a ledger. It might be back here," Kamui said.

"Yes, I see it now."

Crawford lifted up the massive tome. He wasn't as weak as he looked, it seemed.

He grimaced as he pieced through the pages.

"This is....what on earth, is this a food stain? And what is this system?"

Crawford looked horrified, as if he'd just stepped in something truly disgusting.

"I wouldn't know," Kamui said.

"And there is so much dust....this is unacceptable. I cannot work in these conditions."

Crawford set aside the ledger and grabbed the broom.

"I will rectify this immediately."

Kamui wasn't about to fight with a wizard with a broom.

"And it's about time I go back to check on Leon," Kamui said.

"Yes, yes, good. Go check on your husband," Crawford said.

"It's not like..." Kamui said.

His protest was lost in the cloud of dusts that Crawford brought up with his vigorous, even vengeful sweeping.

At the front counter, Lady Eileen gossiped with another lady.

"And, it looks like Leon finally got himself a man. I am so happy for him. Now, I am no good measure of men at all. I only have eyes for my beautiful, dear, sweet, wife. But, this one seems awful dependable."

At this rate, the entire land of Altea and Valentia would think he and Leon were an item.

Great, just great.

*

Leon suddenly sat up. It wasn't morning, it was almost dark and...

"The shop!"

Hmm? He was in his room. Perfectly decorated, decently spacious, and regrettably, it only had one person living in it.

Wait, now there was another. Kamui leaned in the doorway.

"I know it's hard for you to fathom, but the shop can actually last for one day while you rest. Amazingly, no necrodragons flew in and destroyed everything," Kamui said.

"Don't tell me you were at my bedside the entire time. I promise I'm not near death," Leon said.

"I come in here to check on you from time to time. Mostly, you're snoring like a lumberjack, so much that I can hear you all the way from the outside. Sounds like you really needed the rest."

He had been working deep into the night to complete the orders of his new line, as well as ordering new stock for his storefront. He'd often have to combine things...like eating, and working. Though that'd resulted in some very unfortunate stains on his ledgers.

Oh well.

Leon smirked. "You know, you might catch my cold at this rate. I'll might just have to take care of you when this is all over."

"Some things are worse than death," Kamui said.

"Is that a suggestion? Because I'd be glad to demonstrate," Leon said.

"Excuse me if I'm not terrified of your threats. You're about as strong as a newborn kitten right now."

"I'll remember that for later," Leon said.

"Can you even get out of bed without help?" Kamui said.

"I'll have you lift me up, then show you my revenge," Leon said.

"I'll pass," Kamui said.

"Then I'll hire someone else to lift me up, so I can enact my revenge," Leon said.

"Good luck with that when you can barely get out of bed. Anyways, I met with your supplier, unloaded the goods, and headed back to the shop after lunch break. Today was a busy day. You sold a lot, apparently. Tomorrow, I'll make sure to notify the orders that you'll be delayed a bit. Though that might already be done, if she got to it. Oh, and I made dinner."

Dinner, too? What the hell, Kamui was being way too competent. It was sexy.

Words that should never be applied to Mr. I'm definitely not gay, as I basically flirt with you constantly. Not gay at all, oh and also maybe talk some more about what you like in a man? Just because?

"This cannot stand."

"You?"

"This! I'm sweaty. I cannot exist like this. And the shop isn't being tended to. Someone could steal my wares."

"Took care of it already. I hired a lady to keep it temporarily. Or to be more accurate, she hired herself."

"What the hell, Kamui?! How do you know she won't steal everything?" Leon said exasperatedly.

"Relax, she's rich. So rich that she's bored and isn't even taking pay. She's going to be paid in new dresses when this is all over. That was why she was here. She wanted to hear about the progress on her new line and offered to be paid in getting to pick her new dresses or something."

"Wait...Lady Eileen, right?"

"That's the one."

Huh, he'd never have thought of asking her to work. She was rich enough that she couldn't spend all her wealth in the entirety of her life, though she certainly tried. While she certainly lived in luxury, she also funded twelve orphanages and two priories in this city alone, and many others across the country. In fact, she'd been a big driving force behind his success. Not just because she valued his work, but Leon always thought she was lifting up someone like her.

Men like him and women like her needed to band together, after all. A kind of solidarity for two like-minded people.

"And the books?" Leon said.

"I got a sage to do it. Some...Crawford, son of Meredith," Kamui said.

"Meredith? That Meredith? Meredith the Red? She's made countless discoveries and potions and is one of the leading scientific minds of our generation."

"He's going to make a batch for you, too."

"But, how do you know he wasn't lying? Anyone could claim noble heritage. I could claim to be the long-lost brother of the Hero King Marth. It doesn't make it true.

"You just called her Meredith the Red, right? Let me guess, she's got red hair?"

"Yes, though not quite Celica's shade. More of a coppery auburn."

"Then I bet he's a relative. Most people don't talk like they ate a dictionary whole."

Leon couldn't help but laugh at that, but he broke out coughing.

Kamui leaned in and pressed his hand to Leon's forehead again. He felt a flutter which was not entirely sickness related.

"Are you warm enough?"

"You put me to bed because I was too hot. What do you think?"

"Hmm. Your temperature hasn't really improved."

"These things take time, I suppose," Leon said wearily.

"If you won't improve, there'll be an ice bath in the future for you, you know," Kamui said.

Leon groaned. "Lovely."

Leon drew back, and pulled the covers up over him.

"What? Did it hurt?"

"I smell. I wouldn't want even you to see me like this."

"We've been through battle. Trust me, I've smelled worse."

"Still no reassurance here," Leon said.

"Well, good thing for you, I drew some bath water for you, if you want to bathe before dinner. I promise it's not the icy kind, either. Can you get up on your own?"

He probably could, but what fun would that be?

Leon pulled the covers up, and reached out.

"Onward, mighty steed."

"You are so paying extra for that," Kamui said.

Still, he scooped up Leon with ease. Which was really quite hot in so many ways.

Look, if Leon was already going to feel miserable and practically powerless, he should at least get to be lifted up like a bride by handsome man.

Which in itself was obviously a symptom of a fever dream, because Kamui didn't compare to Valbar at all.

Except Valbar was married, and overseas, and absolutely did not reciprocate his feelings. While Kamui was here, definitely had a thing for him, and was being dangerously competent and not awful right now. Maybe hitting thirty and then some had matured Kamui a bit.

Leon liked his men mature, capable, and trustworthy. Which was the exact opposite of Kamui. It always meant that Leon could rest assured that he would never, ever fall in love with a layabout like Kamui. But, here he was. Taking care of everything, and helping Leon in his darkest, and most feverish moment.

Which was dangerously hot. Emphasis on the danger, because Leon knew falling for Kamui would just lead to heartbreak. One kiss and Kamui would head out in a I'm totally straight panic and he'd never see him again. Or maybe he'd show up two decades later and pretend like it was just the alcohol talking, when neither of them had been drinking.

But, Kamui had the audacity to be strong, and feel amazing against Leon, and be actually pretty sexy.

Kamui really was making it difficult, in every way possible. Especially the part where Leon should be way angrier at him. (As opposed to their almost friendly at this point bickering. Like foreplay.)

Leon really needed to finally get a date if he was this thirsty for Kamui, of all people.

Though, with how much backlog he'd have to do, it'd take maybe 500 more years before he'd ever get to go to a dinner party. And then he'd have to figure out which one of them was attracted to men, like Leon.

"Can you strip yourself down?"

Leon blushed. "W-What?"

"It's nothing I haven't seen before. I'm just seeing if you're strong enough to do it."

"I-I think I can manage that, at least."

Kamui stepped out and Leon began to undress.

He didn't trust himself not to maybe take things further than he wanted with Kamui. Because it was Kamui. Even if he kissed back, there'd be some annoying, drawn out sexuality crisis where Kamui tried to convince himself that Leon's tongue in his mouth was actually a platonic thing that Special Friends did.

Just guys being guys.

Leon sank into the water. It had an oddly pine scent to it, and was that some kind of herb?

"Kamui, Why does this water smell strange? You didn't just draw some water from some dirty ditch, did you?"

"Give me some credit, would you? I spent a good amount of time to get those ingredients to fill the bath. Crawford gave me the recipe. It soothes the muscles and should help clear your nose up fast."

Hmm, maybe he should try some kind of bath salts and minerals line. Maybe with lavender and minerals to soothe the mind and body. It might catch on. Lady Eileen would probably love a scented bath, and given that she was his best customer, she'd get the entire land hooked on lavender scented baths, too.

Kamui headed out, and returned a few minutes later.

"You decent?"

"I'd say I'm a lot better than just decent."

"You would," Kamui said.

He brought in a steaming cup of tea.

"Drink it down."

"Yes, sir."

"Well, you're not so sick that it affected your tongue," Kamui said.

"There's no sickness in the world which could rob me of that," Leon said.

Leon sipped at the tea. Not only was it the perfect temperature, it was quite soothing and fragrant, too. He recognized the scent of herbs, and were those flowers?"

"Crawford gave it to me for you," Kamui said.

"Well, thank you."

Kamui's gaze lingered on him and he looked away.

"You don't look like you'll faint, so I'll go check on the shop a minute and come back later to get you back to bed.

Leon brought his knees to his chest. Kamui was making it very difficult to dislike him, lately. He had to put extra effort in, for old time's sake.

This was no good at all. He hadn't felt this kind of rush since he'd first fallen for Valbar. Leon had horrible luck with men. The last thing he needed was to wreck this barely-a-friendship with Kamui with awkward feelings and apologies.

With luck, he'd get better and this fever dream would go with it.

He could only hope. Because, gods help him if he actually fell for Kamui.

*

Why was it that every single supplier had to come like this? This was Kamui's third trip this week back, and each one grew heavier.

You'd think Kamui would remember to go get a cart, or mule, or something.

But, he never did. He got so caught up thinking about Leon, and the next thing to do that he just forgot. His mind would be full of what he'd do next. The soups he'd brew up, whether to ask Crawford for more tea, whether he should get some more blankets out of storage for Leon. And then he would be on his way to the docks without any rented mules.

"Oh, Leon. You are getting hit with such a bill," Kamui said.

He heard a crash and clatter behind him. Kamui reached for his sword.

Brigands? The capital city was relatively safe due to King Alm's tight watch on things.

A little calico cat had caught her dinner and rushed down the alley.

Wait a minute, hadn't Leon mentioned something about creatures getting into the storage?

He couldn't just set it aside in the dirt, where anyone could steal. He'd have to come back later.

"Don't go running away, kitty. I'll be right back. And I'll get you some dinner, too."

She disappeared into the alley.

Kamui cursed. If he spent all night chasing some mangy cat, he was going to be pissed.

*

Maybe it was heartening that Leon could get up to get a drink on his own. He noticed the bathroom slightly ajar, and a yowl sounded from in there.

"Kamui? Is everything okay in there? You have anything I should know about?"

"Yeah, shut the door, would you? I don't want her running out," Kamui said.

Kamui had stripped down to almost nothing, and would have quite a few new battle scars with all the new scratches up his arm. It took Leon a few moments to take this all in as he closed the door.

"What are you...?"

Kamui lifted up a white calico cat from the water. The cat let out an indignant meow. Kamui lifted her up from the grubby water, and wrapped a blanket about her.

"You're feeling well enough to get up on her own. That's good."

Leon wasn't about to admit that he'd made an excuse to be lifted up before.

"Just a bit."

"Who's that?"

"Haven't named her yet."

"I didn't think you were the type to get pets, considering how much you travel. If you did, I'd think you'd want a dog. They're easier to travel with."

"She's not mine. Meet your new employee."

The cat let out a long growl and licked her mouth indignantly. She looked positively murderous with her hazel green eyes filled with hate.

"She seems pretty wild. Are you sure she's a good bet? She'd probably run out the minute the door or window was opened."

"She's not that bad, she just doesn't want a bath. But, you wouldn't let her anywhere near your storage room until she was clean."

"Your battle scars say otherwise."

"She came pretty easy when I brought her some fish from the market. But she really doesn't like baths."

Kamui took some kind of ointment that looked and smelled like pine tar and smeared it down on her back. The cat hissed as he combed the concoction through her calico hair.

"I would growl if you put that thing on me, too. What is it?"

"Just some medicine I got from Crawford. It looked like she was prety flea-ridden when I picked her up."

"Hopefully it doesn't kill us too from the stench. This is your cure for my storage woes? Something has been sneaking in there and destroying my cloth. Ripped to shreds. I'm still angry about that. I had such plans for that cloth, too."

"I could try and hunt them if you prefer, but you wouldn't like the invoice you'd get. And this one can be paid in fish and table scraps."

"How nice of you to worry for my wallet," Leon said dryly.

Actually, a shop cat would add a nice ambiance. Leon never had time for a pet when he was stationed in the army. Heavens knows that between King Alm and Lady Celica, he was surprised that there were any stray cats left to adopt. He hadn't had time to go back to the royal castle in quite a time, but from what he heard, there was quite an amount of them.

"By the way, Crawford whipped up a potion for you. I just hadn't had a chance to bring it in. It's on the counter. Drink up."

Leon lifted up the glass bottle and took a whiff.

Leon grimaced.

"Egh. That's some strong stuff."

"I'll have to tell him you prefer sweet stuff."

"You remember that?"

"Of course. You always loved those rations the best."

"And you always wanted the savory things. Quite the meat and potatoes kind of guy."

Leon smiled nostalgically. "I'd totally forgotten for a moment."

"Not surprising, considering it's me."

Kamui's voice sounded almost...sad. But before Leon could respond, the cat let out another yowl. Kamui managed to get her tight against his chest, with some new scratches to add to his battle wounds.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I'm not exactly your favorite person. Now, grab me something to dry her off some more, would you? Preferably one you don't mind getting dirty," Kamui said.

Leon dragged out his oldest towels and handed them to Kamui. Kamui instantly wrapped the cat up like it was a baby.

"I'm going to go drink my potion now."

"Are you strong enough to eat at the table, or do you want to eat in bed?"

Leon yawned. "In bed, I think."

"All right. When I'm done, I'll get it for you," Kamui said.

"You're wrong, you know. You're not my least favorite person. There's plenty of other people lower than you," Leon said.

And lately, Kamui had been moving up the ranks higher and higher. Not that Leon was going to admit that anytime soon.

"Good to know, I guess," Kamui said.

Leon closed the door behind him, before he got himself in trouble. Because Kamui wet, mostly stripped down was doing things to him. Things he couldn't just blame on the fever anymore.

*

I cannot believe I've got more supplies to get," Kamui muttered.

At least it wasn't raining. And he still hadn't thought to get a cart. One of these days he'd remember.

"Excuse me, sir."

Kamui glanced back.

A woman who couldn't be older than twenty looked back at him. She wore plain, olive drab clothes which were dusty from travel. Her hair was pulled back in a long, dark ponytail which had begun to tangle a little. She held a satchel very tightly to her chest.

At least he didn't have to worry about drawing his sword again. She was way too fragile to offer any kind of danger to him.

"Look, if you're searching for gold, I haven't gotten paid yet. I'm down to my last bit. You'll just have to go find work elsewhere."

"Is that cloth I see?"

"I'm bringing it back to Leon."

She cleared her throat.

"I am a seamstress who came to the capital.... But, I am not quite sure where to go. I tried to work in another shop, but the master...he took a liking to me, though I had no interest in him and told him as much. He was persistent, and bothered me at every day I worked. I had to leave that job as quick as I could. But, I'm afraid he's blackballed me from the other tailors as revenged. For days now, I've tried to find work and none will hire me."

Her voice broke. "I learned all I had from my grandmother. She's all I have. But if I cannot pay, then I have no idea what I will do. She's too old to pay the rent on her farm. A-And..."

"Hey, it's okay. If your work is good enough, maybe you could find work at Leon's. Trust me, Leon is guaranteed to never take any sort of interest in you at all. You're definitely not his type."

She sniffed, and looked up at him hopefully.

"Truly? You'd give me a chance? I promise I'll work very hard."

"Sure, why not. You'll fit in with the rest," Kamui said dryly.

"Just follow me."

And he brought another stray back to Leon's.

*

"Hello, miss! Are you looking for a new dress?" Lady Eileen greeted her as she came to the door.

"They're so lovely," she said reverently. "I would love to meet the tailor of these one day."

It came to mind that Kamui hadn't even gotten her name before he'd let her wander along. It really could be a thief this time.

At least he wouldn't be facing her alone. If Leon were here, he'd probably call Kamui an idiot.

Then again, he would've done that all along, whatever he did.

"What brings you here? A party? A trip out with your love? A wedding?"

"No, my lady. I am Mary, a seamstress."

She related the same story she had told Kamui.

"Oh, you poor dear! That's just awful! Come here, come here."

Lady Eileen wrapped Mary up in her arms, uncaring how dusty she was. Mary's surprise turned to sniffles.

"M-My lady..it's so awful...I'm sorry, but..."

"Shh, shh. Trust me, I will take care of everything! First up, we need to draw you a bath, and get you into a nice new dress. This won't do."

"S-Sorry. I know I'm a fright, but I haven't been able to return t-to the farm ever since they turned me out and blackballed me. I've run out of gold and don't know what I will do..."

"As I told you, I will help. You will stay with me. You seem about the same size as my beloved wife. I am sure I can find something that will fit you."

She'd probably be adopted by next day at this rate. Lady Eileen had the air of a mother bear around her. Heaven help whomever would feel her wrath at this rate.

*

"Oh, I see you've got company," Kamui said.

The little calico had already begun to grow new fur, and had put on a little more weight. She purred at the edge of Leon's bed.

"Princess is living up to her name," Leon said.

"Princess?"

"She certainly believes she is one."

"Cats often do. Or so I hear," Kamui said.

Leon leaned down to scratch the little white calico cat behind her ears."She seems a little too tame to be a complete stray."

"Who knows with cats? Sometimes they wander and find other homes. Especially the tom cats," Kamui said.

Kamui leaned in a little and reached out to pet the kitty. Princess gave him a dirty look and moved out of his way, with a sharp meow like a rebuke.

"Well, she doesn't seem too forgiving. I think I'll stay out of claw's reach for her."

"That's probably a good idea. And how is...everything?" Leon said.

"You mean me, or the shop?"

"The shop," Leon said. "Though I do hope you're holding up well."

"Of course," Kamui said.

"Lady Eileen seems to be doing fine. There's been plenty sold. Crawford about lost it when he went to your ledger to balance the books. Claimed there was food stains on it."

Leon's multitasking had certainly caught up with him. At least that was one task he could delegate. He'd gladly pay whatever sum if it meant he didn't have to do hours upon hours of tedious ledger work when he should be sewing.

"They get along, I hope?"

"Last I heard they were vigorously discussing how much they love their wives, so I guess?"

Leon chuckled. "What an eccentric pair."

He stretched in bed, and let out a soft yawn. "The potion has had quite an effect on me. One more day and I should be just fine."

"Good to hear. Oh, and there's another new hire. A seamstress."

Leon lifted one eyebrow. "A seamstress? Another sob story?"

"I couldn't just put her out."

"You're quite a softie, you know?"

"Don't tell anybody, my reputation will be ruined," Kamui said.

"Your reputation for being a layabout? I'm afraid you're wrecking that reputation right now," Leon said.

Kamui put his hand over his heart. "Right in the chest. Bullseye. You never miss, do you?"

"Not even once," Leon said.

*

Crawford's potion put him right in record time. By the next day, he was up on his feet and surveying the shop that he'd reluctantly left in Kamui's surprisingly capable hands.

Instead of a disaster, everything was more right than he could imagine.

The shop was spotless, and nigh empty of merchandise at this rate. He'd gotten every shipment of supplies, and Princess, the utter apex predator that she was ensured that no pests got into his storage. Every time he saw her, she was ruthlessly, yet cutely hunting down every little pest in a ten mile radius.

"There you are! I sent out Kamui to go get more supplies. We've sold out of almost everything," Lady Eileen said.

"About your dress--"

She lifted up her elegant, gloved hand.

"No matter. There is no need for apologies; Kamui told me everything, and that's why I'm here. Dear, Leon. if you were so swamped, you should've asked me. I am so sorry that you were worked into such a state to grow so ill. But, no longer! I've had quite a bit of fun. I think I will keep this station, at least a few days a week. Crawford is pleasant to converse with and I must oversee Mary's new education and growth. Of course, you will need to find someone else to tend the shop when I am gone, but it shouldn't be too difficult."

"Well, I'm certainly glad for that," Leon said.

Lady Eileen was a chatterbox in a half, and it was nearly impossible to get a word in when she was talking. But, she was always kind with her wealth and he was ever grateful she'd decided to make him her personal tailor. His business had definitely flourished because of her determination to support a certain solidarity of men like him.

"Still, I'm sorry to let you down about your dress. I know how important your anniversaries are. There's no way I could finish it in time at this rate. If you'd like to replace it with any of the current merchandise, I'd be happy to give you an exchange," Leon said.

"Oh, we've completely sold out, silly. Besides, Kamui hired Mary for that.. She's quite brilliant. She's working on my dress, under my direction, of course. The dress will be done very soon."

Lady Eileen led him to the back where the dress Leon had started was almost completed.

"Mary has so much potential it hurts to see her in such a state. The first thing I'll do once your orders are open are to ensure that she gets some nice new dresses. I gave her some of my wife's old ones, but if she is to be the guest of honor at my wife and my's anniversary party, she must be properly attired."

The stitches were really quite neat and even. The new girl was talented. And from the way Lady Eileen talked about her, adoption papers were definitely in the future for her. Lucky girl.

"There's Crawford now," Lady Eileen said.

She smiled as Crawford ducked beneath the door to enter. Kamui wasn't kidding, the man was the utter image of his famous scholarly mother, right down to his coppery red hair.

"Is your wife better?" Lady Eileen said.

"She varies from day to day. Today is a good day, though I have hope in the new concoction," Crawford said.

"And your wife? Is she well?"

"She is radiant as ever."

Crawford nodded, and looked to Leon this time.

"Ah, you are the boss Kamui mentioned?"

He pushed up his glasses.

"I have prepared more of the concoction. Even if you feel better, please drink it. I would not wish you to relapse."

"Oh, thanks," Leon said flatly. He sure wasn't looking forward to more of the potion, even if it was effective. Once had been enough for sure.

"I took into account Kamui's note that you prefer things sweeter, and slightly adjusted the potency and pungency of the recipe."

"Really? That's kind of you," Leon said.

"Yes, there is one more thing to get to before I forget. I have balanced the ledgers. Whoever did these ledgers prior before should be fired."

"Trust me, he is," Leon said.

Leon had never been so relieved to let go of a task. He'd rather muck out theoretical stables than ever have to balance his ledger again.

"Good. I recently relocated to close to here, as a new domicile opened up that suited my wife very well. It even has a nice back garden for her to sit in when she feels well enough to be up, and for me to grow some plants for my potions. I spoke to Lady Eileen. As well as keeping your books orderly, perhaps I could sell some potions in your shop as well."

"I don't see why not. Give me a bit of a discount when I need them and we'll call it even. I'll even recommend you to anyone else looking for accounting work," Leon said.

"Splendid! I shall tell my wife forthwith," Crawford said.

Kamui came in the door behind them.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have something that needs taking care of."

He motioned Kamui into the back store room with him.

Lady Eileen and Crawford shared a knowing look. He wondered what that was about.

*

Leon scarcely waited for the door to close before he turned on Kamui.

"I told you a lecture was coming. Rest assured I have planned what to say for days."

"Lucky me," Kamui said.

Leon pointed to Kamui's chest.

"First off, you had no right to barge into my life after not writing for so long, and suddenly expect me to allow you to carry me off, and take over my life like that. You ignored my protests and just hauled me off to bed."

Leon blushed at the memory. It was kind of hot, and not just because he was feverish at the time.

"So, I should've just let you collapse in the store?" Kamui said dryly.

Leon held up his hand. "I'm not done yet."

"But, also...thank you. Because I needed help terribly. And with Valbar across the seas, and so many of my fellow comrades elsewhere, I allowed myself to be buried in work. You really helped me out of tough time. If you hadn't swooped in, my entire business would've collapsed and gods knows what I would've done."

"And that's all?"

"Right, send me your invoice and I'll take care of it right away. Lady Eileen's brought in a lot of gold, so name your price. Just don't bankrupt me," Leon said lightly.

Strangely, Kamui didn't light up in a big smile at the potential of getting paid a big amount.

Leon's brow furrowed. "What? Isn't that what you wanted?"

Kamui sighed. "Whatever. Just pay me so I can leave again." He sounded downright sullen. Not what Leon had expected at all.

Leave it to Kamui to get under his skin.

Leon gestured angrily at him.

"You're so infuriating! Honestly, the audacity of you. My money isn't good enough for you now? Hard to think anyone's money would ever get refused by you, considering money is all you care about."

Kamui pointed to his own chest in incredulity.

"The audacity of me? I just gave up so much time and effort and you're going to just dismiss me like I'm nothing but a mercenary to you?"

"Isn't that how you wanted it, Kamui?"

"Is it really that hard to be around me? Honestly. Here I thought we were kind of starting to get along," Kamui said.

Leon rolled his eyes.

"Is it really that hard to write? Why should I put any investment into being friends with you? You go in and out of my life, and for all I know you could've been killed on the battlefield. Then after months without even a note, you expect me to welcome you back with open arms. Friendship works both ways, Kamui. Even now you're talking about leaving right away, when you've just gotten back here. I can't believe I actually started to..."

Leon blushed and bit his tongue, before he said something he'd regret.

"What? Actually treat me like a friend instead of your worst enemy?"

"I'd be much harder on you if you were my enemy. It'd be too much to ask me not to be annoyed with you, Kamui. Not when you keep being so infuriating."

"I get it, I get it. I have the audacity to not be Valbar and you can't stop being incensed that I'm not him. I get it! You're not in love with me. You've told me a million times, and even if everyone keeps mixing it up..."

Kamui let out a sigh.

"I figured we could at least still be on good terms, right? Friends, or something like it."

"Friends? You call this friendship? Leaving me hanging and wanting more?"

"We're mercenaries. That's the kind of life I signed up for. Even if you settled down with the shop life. I don't have the luxury of staying in one place. Where the work goes, I go."

"Well, maybe I want more than hearing from you more than once every four years!" Leon burst out.

Kamui said something which he didn't quite catch. It sort of sounded like you're beautiful when you're angry.

Which couldn't be Kamui, because he'd make up some excuse how he totally wasn't flirting with Leon, at all, when he was.

Except the fight got quiet. Real quiet. Hard to scream at each other when their lips were pressed together like that.

Which come to mind, was actually a good thing to remember.

Maybe it was just that he hadn't had a man in well, ages. Due to his bad luck, and how he kept falling in love with straight men. But that kiss was searingly hot. He didn't care that the wall he was pushed up against was cold. He pressed his hands against Kamui's chest in sheer desperation to hold on.

The fact that his chest felt real damn good against him was just an added bonus.)

He'd expect Mr. closeted layabout to be a worse kisser. Had he been practicing all this time? Leon wasn't sure how to feel about that, or anything. The world might as well have turned upside down, because here he was making out and liking it with the man he thought least likely to ever admit his feelings, let alone act on them.

Kamui cradled his face so tenderly as he kissed him.

He was reluctant to part for air. Their lips were still tantalizingly close. Maybe he could just keep kissing and avoid the inevitable part where Kamui left and pretended this too, was just some kind of special friendship thing.

"Yes...well..." Kamui cleared his throat. His cheeks were flushed. Leon was surprised he had any blood left to spare, considering. Leon sure couldn't manage a blush right now.

"Don't tell me you're going to run off again," Leon said coldly. "I'd never speak to you again if you did."

"What is your problem?"

"Did it ever cross your mind that I missed you, you jackass? That it was a slap in the face that you'd come, blatantly flirt with me and then just wander off? I'm not a heartless bastard, you know."

"...I think you might be right."

"That you were in love with me all along? Your desire for men could be seen from the skies, Kamui! Or at least your desire for me! Everybody but you knew already! Do you know how long Valbar just assumed we were a couple? That was real fun, seeing the guy I was in love with at the time telling me that he was glad I'd finally found someone!"

Kamui touched to his lips, like he couldn't believe the way they felt. Leon had to agree, on some level. And not just because it'd been a long time since those lips had seen any action.

"Gods above, I feel like I've been touched by magic."

And Leon kissed him, not just to shut him up.

Though it was a big part of it.

A good strategy for when Kamui pissed him off. Though that'd probably mean they'd spend a lot of the day making out.

Which Leon was fine with.

"Leon, I need help with the--"

The door opened. They pulled apart, only to see Lady Eileen in the doorway.

"Never mind, I'll leave you to it," she said.

The door closed. Leon pulled back and brushed his lavender colored hair back with a sigh.

"Lady Eileen is a massive gossip. The entire island of Valentia, and even the entirety of Altea will think we're an item by noon," Leon said.

"Too late; they already do," Kamui said.

"What?"

"Lady Eileen assumed, and so did Crawford for that matter," Kamui said.

"And you didn't think to correct them?"

"I couldn't get a word in with either of them! Especially not when Lady Eileen got reminded of her wife! And everything reminds her of her wife!"

Ah, the Wife Monologues that Lady Eileen was so famous for. Anything could distract her and remind her how much she loved her wife, and then it'd just be hours long speeches about how her wife was the most beautiful, wonderful, incredible being in the entirety of the universe. There was no distracting Lady Eileen when she got in that state.

Well, Lady Eileen's wife was known to kiss her to distract her.

A good plan, that one. Leon planned to do that plenty as well.

"Where do we go from here?"

"You saved my entire business, and managed to grow into quite a sexy and competent man since the war. I'm sure you'll figure something out," Leon said.

Kamui smiled slowly. "Wait, you think I'm sexy?"

Leon glanced away, a little embarassed. "Obviously the illness severely affected my reasoning. And I do mean severely."

Kamui sighed. "Back to this again."

"Did you expect anything less? This is me we're talking about," Leon said.

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised," Kamui said. "Anyways--"

Leon cut him off. "Don't start something you can't finish, Kamui. Do you have any idea how long it's been since I had a date?" Leon said sharply.

"Probably not as long as me," Kamui said.

"Settle this, then. You started it. Finish it," Leon said.

"Fine."

"Fine."

And all other bickering was silenced when their lips met again.

*

Two weeks later, when it was just about dawn, Kamui rolled over and groaned.

Princess gave him an indignant look. Then again, she always seemed a little indignant. At least she usually worked the night shift, and gave them a little privacy.

The past him, who demanded luxury and thought that one day his bed might be filled by a wonderful, handsome man to call his own, no matter how bad his luck in love, had certainly done Leon a favor. He didn't have to order a new bed or deal with constant bickering about knees to the back or how someone kept stealing blankets.

Instead, he had just enough room. And a whole lot more warmth. Get Kamui tired enough and he'd pull Leon close and they would fit so well together...

"You okay over there?" Leon said.

"No," Kamui said.

Leon leaned in and rested his palm on Kamui's forehead.

"Oh dear. It seems like you caught my cold. Looks like it's my turn to nurse you."

Kamui groaned. "Lucky me."

"You're with me, so you best tell yourself that every day," Leon said.

"I do," Kamui said.

And for once, his voice wasn't filled with sarcasm.

"I don't know that recipe, but I could make you some soup. I'm not completely hopeless in the kitchen, though you seem to surpass me in that regard."

"I can teach you sometime. Preferably when I'm not sick. At this rate, I'd sneeze in the food," Kamui said.

"And if you get up, I'll drag you back to bed. It's only fair," Leon said.

"Good luck with that; you couldn't carry me if you tried," Kamui said.

"You!"

Leon playfully smacked him with a pillow.

"You know it's true," Kamui said.

"Fine. I'll hire someone to lift you to bed. Or use a cart of some sort. I mean it. If I had to be bedridden, then so do you."

"I'll drink one of Crawford's potions and be good as ever by nightfall," he said.

"You have an awful lot of faith in him."

"It sure helped you get better," he said.

"I don't know about that. Your nursing me back to health certainly helped," Leon said.

"If I had to be bored and aroused and miserable in bed all day, then so do you. Suck it up, Kamui."

"What exactly am I supposed to be sucking?"

"S-soup! Which I'll make for you!"

Leon got up, to hide his blush. Which was an exercise in failure, as Kamui would surely know.

He paused at the door and turned back.

"You'd better get better fast, because I rely on you, and I am going to miss kissing you. I mean it," Leon said.

"I'll be fine," Kamui said.

"You'd better. I've gotten my heart broken enough already. I'll never forgive you if you break my heart by carelessly dying."

"It's a minor cold; I'm pretty sure it won't kill me," Kamui said dryly.

"I'm not taking chances," Leon said.

And he left, before things got too heated, he lost his nerve and made out with Kamui. Because too much temptation and Leon would catch Kamui's cold.

Even if he knew he'd be in good hands, if he ever got sick again.