Sickness with the Fox Spirit

A cough tore through me, jolting me awake. Becki sat up instantly, ears flicking, eyes wide. Pale light bled around the curtains, soft against the steady patter of rain outside. Her cyan eyes seemed to glow in the gloom.

“Aym? Are you okay?”

I started to nod - then another coughing fit rattled my ribs. I shook my head instead. Concern washed across her face.

“Are you sick? Oh no, did I make you sick? Did you catch a cold yesterday?”

I tried to shrug, but my throat was too raw for words.

She bit her lip, looking stricken.
“Oh no. I’m so sorry. It’s my fault. I’m sorry.”

I lifted a hand to reassure her, but she caught it, squeezing tightly. Her warmth seared against my freezing fingers.

“Oh, your hands are so cold… wait here. I’ll make you something.”

Before I could protest, she darted from the room, tail flicking out from her nightgown. Anxiety surged through me. She didn’t know how to cook. I tried to follow, but my muscles gave way and I collapsed back into bed.

For the next twenty minutes, I lay helpless, wincing at every crash and clatter of pots from the kitchen. My imagination filled with horrors. Burnt pans, collapsed piles of flour, Becki in flames-

The door creaked open.

She wobbled in, smiling proudly, a tray balanced carefully in her hands. Stacks of pancakes, golden and fluffy, steamed invitingly. I couldn’t smell them through my blocked nose, but I knew just by looking that they were perfect.

She set the tray across my lap as I hauled myself into a sitting position. Hunger won over hesitation - I dug in, and the first bite melted on my tongue, soft and sugary.

Becki’s smile grew at my astonishment.
“I tried cooking normally, but it was too hard… so I used magic.”

I froze mid-chew. Her eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Don’t worry. It’s safe. I promise I’d never feed you something dangerous.”

I nodded and kept eating. Her gaze lingered on me, full of compassion. For the first time, I felt… cared for.

When I blinked awake again, the tray was gone. My back ached from dozing upright, but I wasn’t alone.

Becki’s arms wrapped around me, her head nestled against my shoulder, her breathing soft and even. She must’ve cleaned up and then climbed in beside me.

Her breath tickled my neck. I stifled a cough, not wanting to wake her. Strangely, my throat no longer burned, and my muscles no longer ached. Even my nose had cleared - though the only scent was Becki’s hair, sweet and soothing.

I became aware of the warmth pressed against my arm, the rise and fall of her chest through her nightgown. I could move her… or I could stay.

It was no choice at all. I stayed perfectly still, heart hammering, and tilted my head until it rested lightly against hers, careful not to crush her ears.

For a long moment, there was only the rain and our breathing. Then words slipped out before I could stop them, a whisper against her hair.

“I… I…” My courage failed. “You’re really cute.”

She didn’t stir. Relief and disappointment tangled in my chest.

My hand hesitated, then rose to brush gently through her hair. Silky. Comforting. Too good to be real.

“Yeah,” I murmured softly. “You’re really cute.”

Still no movement. Her breathing stayed steady, as if asleep. My heartbeat slowed.

But my mind spun. What was I supposed to do? My duty was clear: suppress Becki’s magic with the Obereg, before it killed us both. But I’d fallen for her - this impossible, mischievous, dangerous spirit who didn’t want to be bound.

The gem glistened on the bedside table, its surface catching the dim light. I reached for it without thinking. It was so easy. Just press it to her forehead, lean in, and the bond would be complete.

My hand trembled as I brought it close. The gem merged against her skin-

Then slipped loose, bouncing onto the sheets.

Magic shimmered faintly around her hand. My breath caught.

“Not yet,” she whispered.

She squeezed me tighter, her warmth spreading through me. My face flushed hot.

She’d been awake the whole time.

And still… I could do nothing but sink into her embrace, my heart burning with her heat.