Her brows furrowed as she glared at you.

"What's that smirk supposed to mean? You're enjoying this, aren't you? I'm only doing this because I have no choice. But let me tell you something... Once I'm better, we're back to business as usual. And you'll be begging me to take care of you again."

She huffed and crossed her arms, pouting like a child.

"Hmph! You'd better believe it, Chichi Manescau. I may need your help now, but don't think that means I've gone soft!"

She watched as you prepared her tea, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"And what exactly are you putting in that tea? If you think you can take advantage of me while I'm sick, you've got another thing coming!"

Pulling her head back slightly, her green eyes flashed with annoyance. "Get that finger out of my face! I'm not some helpless damsel, and I don't need you 'taking care' of me like that!"

She scowled, snatching the cup of tea from your hand.

"Here's a tip - if you want to help, fetch me some more blankets. It's freezing in here!"

"I'm not going to be in need again, and definitely not from you!" She snapped, tugging her arm free and wrapping the blanket around herself tightly.

"I can handle myself, thank you very much. And I don't need your patronizing advice. Now, if you're done trying to play doctor, could you please turn up the heat? I'm freezing!"

She shivered dramatically, blowing into her cup of tea before taking a tentative sip.

Her face flushed red from both fever and anger.

"Get out of my face, Chichi Manescau! I don't need your help, and I certainly don't need your stupid comments!"

She tossed the blanket at you, hitting you squarely in the face before crossing her arms again.

"And for your information, I'm not afraid of the dark. So you can keep your unwanted assistance to yourself!"

"I told you, I'm not afraid of the dark! You're being ridiculous."

But there was a hint of uncertainty in her voice. She looked away, trying to hide it.

"And what's that supposed to mean, 'we'll see about that'? You're not planning anything stupid, are you?"

She scoffed and rolled her eyes, trying to maintain her bravado.

"I'm not scared of anything! You're just trying to scare me because you know I'm sick and can't fight back."

But she shifted uncomfortably in her bed, and her voice wavered slightly.

"Don't think for a second that I'll let you get away with whatever you're planning. I'll still be watching, and when I'm better, you're going to wish you never tried to trick me."

"I-I'm not afraid! You're just trying to distract me!"

She stuttered, trying to regain her composure as you backed away.

"And don't think for a second that I'm going to forget this. When I'm better, you're going to regret ever trying to pull something like this!"

But despite her words, there was a hint of trepidation in her eyes. She pulled the blankets tighter around herself and looked around the room, suddenly very aware of the darkness that would soon envelop her.

"I don't need you to keep the lights on! I'm not a child!"

She huffed, her face flushing even redder at your concern.

"And don't act like you're doing me some great favor. I know exactly what you're trying to do, Chichi Manescau. You're trying to manipulate me, to make me feel weak and dependent on you."

She glared at you, her green eyes flashing with determination.

"Well, I won't fall for it. I can handle the dark, and I can handle you. So stop trying to play games and just leave me alone!"

"I'm not plotting anything! And I don't need your permission to stay up late!"

She called after you, her voice rising in frustration.

"And stop talking about my dreams! That's none of your business!"

But as soon as you closed the door, she shivered again, suddenly very aware of the darkness and the silence. She clutched the blankets tightly, her heart pounding in her chest.

"I can handle this," she muttered to herself. "I'm not afraid. I'm not."

"I'm not plotting anything! And I don't need your permission to stay up late!"

She called after you, her voice rising in frustration.

"And stop talking about my dreams! That's none of your business!"

But as soon as you closed the door, she shivered again, suddenly very aware of the darkness and the silence. She clutched the blankets tightly, her heart pounding in her chest.

"I can handle this," she muttered to herself. "I'm not afraid. I'm not."

She threw her pillow at the door, her face flushed with anger and embarrassment.

"You can just go to hell, Chichi Manescau! I don't need your stupid comments or your annoying laughter!"

But even as she said it, she pulled the blankets tighter around herself, her heart still racing.

"Alone? What does that even mean? I don't need anyone, especially not you!"

She huffed and crossed her arms, trying to ignore the way her heart was pounding and the way her mind was racing with thoughts of what the night might bring.

She glared at the door, as if she could see through it and into your room.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you? You're getting off on making me uncomfortable!"

She seethed, her fists clenching the blankets.

"And what's that supposed to mean, 'under the moonlight'? You're not planning anything, are you?"

But even as she asked, she felt a shiver of unease run down her spine. She looked around the room, suddenly very aware of all the shadows and the quiet.

"I'm not afraid," she muttered again, trying to convince herself as much as anything else. "I can handle anything you throw at me, Chichi Manescau. Anything at all."

"I would never beg for anything from you! Especially not under the moonlight or any other time!"

She threw another pillow at the door, her face burning with anger and embarrassment.

"And don't pretend like you know my secrets! You don't know anything about me!"

But even as she said it, she felt a shiver of unease run down her spine. What if you did know her secrets? What if you knew how much she hated being alone in the dark? What if you knew how much she longed for someone to hold her when she was scared?

"I'm not afraid!" she said again, her voice cracking slightly. "I'm not!"