The next few days are a mindless droning that Zye is glad to have gone. The constant work is only so he can be comfortable taking those days off for tomorrow onward. Not to say he isn’t happy that he’s free right now. He’s ecstatic.

He’s just gotten his bangs styled up and out of his face when he hears the door shut. A smile crosses his lips as he straightens the t-shirt before walking out of his room. “Callua?” he calls out, wanting to make sure it’s her that’s on time for once.

“Yeah! In the kitchen!”

Rolling his eyes, he makes his way there. Zye isn’t the least bit surprised to see the bags she’s sat on the counter. There’s an assortment of fruits, healthy drinks, and even pastries. All of which has him heaving a sigh. He crosses his arms over his chest. “I’m not going to be ill, it’ll be fine.”

She waves him off. “Mhm, I hear you. I’d just rather you have some things quick and easy. We both know it could knock you on your ass again.”

“Last time was different.”

Callua shuts the fridge and turns around. Her hands settle on her hips donning a pair of light-colored jean shorts. “How so?”

Zye can’t answer her. Instead, he turns away and begins for the living room to gather his things. Callua is behind him shortly after. She brushes her hair, held back in a messy braid, over her shoulder. The maroon, v-neck t-shirt bunches as she sheathes her hands into her pockets.

“I can come and drive you there and back tomorrow for your appointment.”

“I’d appreciate it. Better than having Dr. Len yell at me to wait so he can find someone to drive me back.”

Callua comes up behind him with a small smile, poking him in the back. “He’s just looking out for you.”

Zye pockets his phone and grabs his keys, not to mention the helmets. He grunts a response before opening the door. “We’d better go. Fine with riding?”

“Not really but I know you only let me drive when you have to.”

“You can tomorrow, remember?”

Callua laughs as they leave the apartment. It’s a quick walk down the stairs, out the door, and into the parking lot. Once there they get onto the bike after it sputters to life. The drive itself is quick and painless save for the heat beating down on them the entire way. Even at the hospital, they don’t say a word.

He leads her inside once they’re parked and straight up to the front desk. The young lady there smiles. Except she doesn’t wave him through, she calls out to him. “Excuse me, Mr. Rigel? May I have a moment before you head in?”

“Go ahead, you know the way right?” He asks, eyes glancing down at Callua.

She smiles with a pat on his arm. “Sure do. It’ll give us plenty of girl time before you interrupt us.”

Callua doesn’t move until he’s flashed a smile. One that’s quickly replaced by a superficial facade made for everyone else. She makes her way through to where she remembers Lyra’s room is. Of course, what Zye doesn’t know is she comes here often to check up on her. Although lately she’s found that Lyra isn’t in the best condition for visitors other than those on a special list.

Something she happens to be on thanks to Zye.

It’s much like today. When she enters the room she can immediately tell there’s something wrong. Normally the atmosphere is gentle and welcoming. But there’s something here today that has her on edge. Perhaps it has most to do with the way Lyra weakly turns her head.

“Hello.”

Callua doesn’t say anything until she gets closer. She’s well aware that Lyra’s hearing is one of the more recent senses to start giving out. Far better to be close before she speaks. She sits down on the chair next to the bed and reaches out. Her hand covers on top of Lyra’s.

“Hey there, how are you feeling today?”

“Oh, he really did let you know. I’m glad you came by. Is he with you?”

“He’s busy with something, probably the doctor.”

Lyra lets out a long sigh. “Ah…good. Then can I be honest with you, Callua?”

She gets a little closer and squeezes back at the fingers clinging to hers. “Always. What’s wrong?”

It takes her a moment to swallow past the lump in her throat. The words are hard to form from thoughts she hasn’t even told Zye. After a few moments, she pinches her eyes shut. “I don’t think this new trial is going to work. I know my body.” She squeezes at Callua’s hand again. “It’s not that I’m giving up. I just…feel very tired.”

Callua is glad, for once, that Lyra can’t see her. It makes it easier to glance about the room in search of this presence, of this beloved that’s been lost to her for so long now. Finding nothing, she places her other hand on Lyra’s. She cups her long fingers around Lyra’s trembling ones.

“I understand.”

“So, you won’t mind me asking you a favor then?”

“Of course not. If I can do anything to put you at ease just say the word.”

“You’ll look after him in my stead won’t you?”

She begins to pull her hands from Callua’s. It’s something that Callua notices Zye doing a lot. When they’re upset they try to recoil away, anything to keep from letting themselves break even a little.

Lyra continues as she smooths her hands out over the blanket draped across her. “I know he’s working himself too hard. It’s been far too long since I’ve even heard from Shae, so I’ll ask it of you. I know it’s not fair to put that on you.”

“It’s fair. After all, that’s my friend. I won’t just leave him when he needs me.”

“Thank you, dear. I’m so glad he’s met you.”

Neither notice that the door is opening until Zye has stepped into the room. His hand falls onto Callua’s shoulder while moving past her. He bends at the waist over Lyra. A kiss to the forehead and fingers that smooth back some hair. “Sorry I can’t stay, Mom. I hope you don’t mind Cal keeping you company today.”

“Not at all. What’s going on?”

Zye gives a wave of his hand as he stands straight. “Nothing really. Dr. Len is going to take me today since he won’t be here tomorrow. Emergency something or other.”

He’s already turning and walking back to the door. But Callua catches the expression on Lyra’s face. She hates the thought of her child going through the treatments she can barely make it through. It’s spelled out all over body language. Callua can only reach out, grabbing onto Lyra’s hand all over again.

She glances over her shoulder at Zye. “Take your time. Message me when you’re done and I’ll take you home.”

The door shutting is the only reply needed. The remainder of the visit goes smoothly for Callua. Although, it does end abruptly when she gets a message from Zye. It happens to be around the same time some nurses should come to check on her. At least, that’s what Lyra says. Not that Callua minds. She’d rather Lyra get all the rest she can.

Upon standing, Callua glances throughout the room once more. Despite the light, there’s a dark spot off in the corner. It seemingly catches her eye for a moment. It doesn’t move and there’s no light that pierces this mist that hovers there near the ceiling. She makes a mental note of it— she’ll need to return soon.

Outside of the room is Zye. He’s leaning against the wall with a hand up to his face. Callua steps out and shuts the door. She brushes her hand over his arm, guiding him to move. It’s obvious that it didn’t go as smoothly as he thought it would. The bandage wrapping around his upper arm and wrist proves that.

“How have you been feeling?” She finally asks once they make the first corner away from Lyra’s room.

“Fine, I guess. All my senses seem to still be working for the most part. The pain hasn’t been too bad, either.”

Callua raises an eyebrow at him. “You always say that. I asked how you’re really feeling.”

Stepping out into the heat has Zye huffing. He retraces their steps to his bike. There’s no sense in lying or skirting around the question. Not with Callua. He’s let her in too far into his life to push back now. “I’m losing some taste. As long as I remember to take my meds, the pain is fine.”

He tosses the key to Callua. It’s a simple little square with a chip inside of it. So small and hanging off a keyring. Thankfully she recalls that she just has to swipe it over the console to have it light up.

“And you’re sure you don’t need me to pick up anything else for you?”

“Just take me home.”

She smiles back at him and climbs onto the motorcycle. A moment later and he’s behind her, only after she’s gotten settled. Callua can only imagine what it must feel like to go through this. Especially when he seemed so full of energy when they got here. Now he’s just…exhausted.

Everything about his mood and posture has shifted. It’s easy to tell when he slumps up against her. Not enough to put too much pressure on her, just enough to have someone to lean on. One arm winds around her waist while the other reaches forward, holding onto the front lip of where the seat meets the console.

His forehead hits her shoulder as he sighs, “Just go slow. You don’t have to hurry.”

For the ride home, he has to close his eyes. The nausea is already beginning to set in while his arm is throbbing. If he could rip it off and reattach it later when it stops, he would. But for now, he’s just glad he has Callua to take him back. She’s a cautious and slow driver, unsure of where to go from time to time at that.

It takes longer to return to where the sun should begin its descent soon. A day wasted as far as Zye is concerned. Especially when standing up straight and trying to walk is a hurdle. Regardless, he doesn’t dare think of asking her for help when she grabs her phone.

Callua slips off the bike. Her eyes cut off to the side before rising to lock onto his. “Zye?”

“Hm?”

“You really need to be careful about Daichi. He’s not sweet and can be…possessive. Manipulative, even. He’s not a harmless idiot with a crush.” She gestures toward him. “To him, you’re just a trophy to put on his shelf.”

“I know.” Two words that tumble from his lips with ease and surprise her. She hadn’t expected him to admit it. “But I can take care of myself. Besides, I was thinking of quitting. Maybe go back to my old job since this isn’t going to get any easier.”

A smile touches her lips. One that has warmth flooding his chest just to see. To Callua, he knows he matters.

“I just have to be careful. Daichi calls the shots and I can’t lose my job before then. So try not to worry.”

Normally she’d reach out and give him a playful pat. Not today. Today she holds back. “Good. I’ll worry anyway. But good.”

The phone seems to go off again from how she glances down at it.

Zye has never seen her grab for it while they’re together unless it’s important and she has to leave. This is why he tries to crack a smile when she looks at him. There’s worry swirling in those tangerine-colored eyes of hers. “Go, I’ll be fine. Straight to bed in fact.”

“You’d better or next time we go out you’re buying.”

Callua tosses him his keyring back and swiftly turns. From the way she hurries, he can only imagine who it could be. After all, she doesn’t talk much about her work. Just that she’s with those that have some business relation to Soren and Daichi. He knows she’d never have anything to do with either of them otherwise.

She’s too kind to be around them.