Slowly, Mizuki stirred awake. The shy light coming in through the window revealed that it was already well past morning. He groaned.

“Mmh..?” Settia’s voice cut through the silence.

Everything came back to him, crashing over Mizuki as he threw his head around to cast his worried gaze on the other man. “You’re awake? How are you feeling?”

“Better,” Settia replied hoarsely. “Throat is dry though.”

“Here,” Mizuki sat up, reaching over him to refill the glass on the table. This time, Settia took it when offered, and drank by himself. It seemed some of his strength had returned. Relief washed through Mizuki’s tense body.

“Haven’t you overslept?” Settia glanced at the clock.

“I guess.”

“Aren’t you going..?”

“No, I…” Mizuki’s face felt hot. “I don’t want to leave you again. I should have noticed yesterday that—“

“Give it a rest,” Settia pushed himself up off his elbow, sitting up. “You’ve done everything right. I’m fine now.”

That was a lie. He still looked pale and fatigued.

“I saw your calendar. Go to uni,” Settia urged. “It’s only for a few hours. I’ll probably sleep most of the day anyway.”

Mizuki hesitated. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. But I appreciate your concern.” Settia drank more water.

With a sigh, Mizuki relented, reluctantly standing from the bed.

“Noel’s gonna have a field day…”

“Hm? Noel?”

“He’s in my revision group. And a friend.”

“His name means—“

“Yeah I know. Thought you’d like that.” Mizuki gave half a smile. “Sure you’ll be fine?”

“Yes,” Settia sighed. “Get dressed already.”

“Okay, but stay in bed. No more sleeping on the floor for you.”

“You bought me a heater.”

“Still.” His guilt resurfaced. How could he have let Settia sleep on that floor for so long?

                                                      ❋❋❋❋

As expected, Noel had been amused rather than annoyed about his late arrival. For Mizuki, who was always so serious about his work, being anything but punctual was a sensational event in his book. He’d even insinuated it had something to do with the friend from before. When Mizuki inquired how that conclusion had come about, his friend had simply replied; “You just look a lot happier lately.”

Maybe that was true? His disposition had probably changed a lot over the past few weeks, much thanks to Settia’s appearance and disarming ways. It was odd, how close they’d grown. Somehow, it hardly felt real. After yesterday, even less so.

As he walked home that afternoon, Mizuki contemplated Noel's words, and the recent events in his life. He acknowledged the lightness that had decended on him; he didn't feel as stressed or irate anymore, not about uni or much else. Even stranger; how little attention he paid to the hustle and bustle all around as Christmas drew closer, maybe because he was so caught up in own personal mystery.

The cold spell showed no sign of ending, so he made sure to crack open the front door only enough to allow himself to slip through, careful not to let out the heat.

“I’m home.” He said softly, removing his coat and shoes, and making his way into the room where Settia was still in bed. He looked better though. His hair looked bouncier, brighter. His skin had regained some of its reddish tint.

“Welcome back,” Settia greeted him, sitting up with a smile. “You look cold.”

“I am. It’s awful again today. Slippery too.”

Settia pulled aside the covers, scooting over towards the wall. “Come on then, get in.”

Mizuki hesitated. “I’m cold, I don’t want to—“

“It’s okay, I’m not cold.”

Hesitantly, he lurked over, slipping in next to him. Without the urgency from yesterday, it felt even more intimate, even if he was fully dressed. Settia’s warmth spread out to envelope him under the covers.

“You had a good day?” Settia asked, tilting his head softly so it came to rest against Mizuki’s.
He allowed it, merely adjusted his position.

“All things considered.”

“How was Noel? And your session?”

“As expected,” he snorted. “And you?”

“Much better now,” Settia assured him. “That thing you put in the water really helped, I think.”

He grabbed that cue, drawing in a sharp breath, and a pine-like scent. Settia’s scent.

“About that… The florist said it was a remedy for sick plants…”

“Yeah?” laughter seemed to bubble underneath the surface as Settia responded.

“So, does that mean… Are you really telling the truth?”

“About?”

“You know!” Mizuki struggled to form the words. “Are you really…a plant?”

Mirth glittered in Settia’s tired eyes. He laughed for real this time. A soft giggle escaping his dry lips.

Mizuki’s fingertips gently brushed over them, and onwards; up his cheek bone. Compared to his lips, Settia’s skin was soft, smooth to the touch, but somehow also very delicate, almost brittle.

“Yesterday,” Settia’s voice dropped a notch, “You were afraid for me, weren’t you? What was that you said…?”

“That…cold can kill plants…”

“Yes. So perhaps you already know the answer to your question.”

“Is that a confirmation? Are you really Poinsettia?”

“What do you think?” Settia pursed his lips.

He was teasing him.

“Augh, you’re so…” Mizuki grumbled. He turned to look at him properly; at this mystery person at his side, only inches away. With his alluring fragrance, his rose-tanned skin and slightly leaf shaped ears, clearly visible with his hair pulled away.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m human now.”

Their faces were awfully close together. His hand was still resting on Settia’s jawline.

“Poinsettia…” he started. “Is poisonous…isn’t it?”

“A little bit.”

His breath felt warm.

“…you too?”

“Want to find out?” Settia countered, his lips curving slightly upwards as he leaned even closer touching them to Mizuki’s own.