She took the tea from your hands, sipping it slowly. Her face softened a bit as she felt the warmth spread through her body. She set the cup down on the bedside table and looked at you with a mix of surprise and annoyance.

"Keeping me company? Don't be ridiculous. I don't need a babysitter, especially not you."

But even as she said it, she couldn't help but shiver slightly under the sheets. She hated being dependent on anyone, but right now, you were all she had.

Her face turned red with anger, whether from the fever or your words, it was hard to tell. She sat up in bed, throwing the blanket off.

"You don't get to decide what I need, especially when you're not even invited! Get out!"

However, as soon as she stood, her head spun and she gripped the bedpost tightly to keep from falling. She glared at you, her eyes watering from the effort to stay upright.

"I... I think I need to go to the bathroom."

Her face was flushed with embarrassment, but she couldn't hide the slight tremble in her voice.

She looked at your arm as if it was poisoned, but after a moment of hesitation, she took it. Her body felt hot against yours, and it made you wonder if it was just the fever or something else.

"Fine, but only because I'm too weak to refuse right now. Don't think this means anything."

She leaned heavily on you as you helped her to the bathroom, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Once inside, she tried to close the door on you.

"I can handle the rest myself, thank you very much."

But her hand missed the knob, and she stumbled forward, catching herself on the sink.

She stiffened in your embrace, her face flushing an even deeper shade of red. She tried to push you away, but her hands barely had the strength to make contact with your chest.

"I... I don't need your help. I'm fine!"

But even as she said it, her knees buckled, and she would have collapsed if you hadn't been holding her up. She bit her lip, trying to hold back a groan of frustration.

"Okay, maybe I do need some help. But only because I'm sick! It's not like I'm actually helpless!"

She looked up at you, her green eyes flashing with a mix of irritation and something else you couldn't quite place.

She glared at you, her face contorted in frustration. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the effort.

"Fine. I can do this myself."

She stepped away from you, her legs shaking slightly as she tried to stand on her own. She took a few wobbly steps forward, her hand gripping the wall for support.

"I don't need... your... help..."

But with each step, she grew weaker, her words coming out as little more than a whisper. She stumbled, her vision blurring at the edges.

"I... I think I'm going to... pass out..."

She swayed, her eyes rolling back in her head as her body went limp. If you weren't there to catch her, she would have collapsed onto the floor.

As she slept, her face softened, looking younger and more vulnerable than you'd ever seen her. Her breathing slowed, evening out as the medicine finally kicked in.

In her sleep, she murmured something unintelligible, her hand reaching out slightly, as if seeking comfort. Her forehead was still warm, but not as hot as before.

After a while, she stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering open. She blinked a few times, disoriented, before focusing on you.

"What... what are you still doing here? I thought I told you to leave."

But there was no real venom in her words, just a hint of confusion and weariness.

She stiffened at your touch, her eyes widening slightly. She looked at you for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, she leaned into your hand, her eyes closing briefly.

"I... I guess, for now, it's okay. Just until I feel better."

She opened her eyes again, looking at you with a mix of hesitation and something else. Something softer.

"Just... don't make me regret this, okay?"

She took your hand, interlacing her fingers with yours. Her skin was warm, almost feverish, but her grip was surprisingly strong.

She scowled at you, her grip tightening on your hand.

"Boss you around? I would never!"

But the lie was obvious in her voice. She looked away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.

"Fine. I promise... but only because I'm too weak to do anything else right now. Don't get used to it."

Despite her words, there was a softness in her eyes that hadn't been there before. She nestled against you, her head resting on your shoulder.

"You better take good care of me, little brother. I won't forgive you if I get worse."

She closed her eyes, her breathing evening out as she fell back asleep. In her sleep, she murmured something that sounded like 'thank you'.

She stirred slightly in her sleep, mumbling incoherently. She shifted closer to you, her body heat seeping into yours. Her hand tightened around yours, holding onto you even in her dreams.

After a while, she woke up again, blinking slowly as she looked up at you. For a moment, she just stared, as if trying to figure out what was going on. Then she frowned, pulling away slightly.

"What are you doing? Why are you still here?"

But there was no real anger in her voice, just a hint of confusion and vulnerability. She rubbed her eyes, trying to clear the sleep from them.

She blushed, turning her head away from you. She tried to tug her hand out of yours, but you held on tightly.

"I did not! I would never say something like that!"

But her voice lacked conviction, and she couldn't quite meet your eyes. She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

"You're just making things up. I don't need you, and I certainly don't need your help."

But even as she said it, she leaned back against you, her body melting into yours. She sighed, closing her eyes.

"Fine. Maybe I do need you a little bit. But only until I feel better. Then it's back to business as usual."

She opened one eye, peeking at you.

"And don't get any funny ideas. This doesn't mean anything."

She rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"Fine. But only because I'm too tired to argue with you right now."

She settled back against you, her body relaxing as she let out a soft sigh. Her eyes fluttered closed, and within moments, she was fast asleep again. In her sleep, she murmured something that sounded like 'take care of me', her hand tightening around yours.

As she slept, her face softened, looking younger and more vulnerable. The fever had broken, leaving her skin cool and damp. She looked almost angelic in her sleep, her pink hair fanned out on the pillow, her long lashes casting shadows on her cheeks.

She slept for a long time, her breathing even and deep. When she finally woke up, she was disoriented for a moment, blinking slowly as she tried to get her bearings.

Then she noticed your arms wrapped around her, and she stiffened, her eyes widening. She opened her mouth to say something, but then she closed it again, her gaze softening as she looked up at you.

"Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible. She leaned into you, resting her head on your shoulder.

"I know I'm not always the easiest person to deal with, but... thank you for taking care of me."

She closed her eyes, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She snuggled closer to you, her body molding to yours.

"I guess you're not so bad, after all."

She huffed, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

"I would never! I just... I was being polite. It's not like you did anything special."

But there was no real bite to her words, and she made no move to pull away from you. If anything, she seemed to burrow deeper into your embrace. She sighed, closing her eyes.

"Fine. You did do something special. I'm not used to... being taken care of like this. It's... nice."

She paused, chewing on her lower lip for a moment before she spoke again.

"But don't get used to it. Once I'm better, it's back to normal. And I'll be the one bossing you around again."

She opened one eye, peeking up at you with a mischievous grin.

"