When Ari woke up, Phyrrhus was not on the other side of the bed, something wholly unfamiliar to her. Usually she’d be up first, the sun waking her up as it always had. Looking at the clock, Ari rushes to get up, noticing it already almost 10am, a sleepin unheard of for her.
As soon as they put their feet on the ground and go to stand up, the floor starts spinning and their back on the bed, head pounding in a way unfamiliar to her. Ari can hear herself breathe, nose stuffy and body aching. It isn’t long before Phyrrhus is back upstairs, hearing the slight yelp that escaped Ari’s mouth as she falls back.
“Morning love.” Ari tries to sound casual, despite the fact they can barely see clearly with their glasses on and they sound so stuffy words barely make sense. “Why didn’t you wake me up sooner?”
“I thought you could do with the sleep.” Phyrrhus says, pressing the back of his forehead on Ari’s forehead. She’s warm, usually cold skin burning up. “Seems like I made the right call.”
“I’m fine.” Ari says, standing up again. This time she stays on her feet a few seconds before her knees buckle and eyes close, the room suddenly too bright.
“You’re on bedrest.” Phyrrhus gently commands, pulling the blanket back over Ari. “Don’t even think of getting up.”
“I’m fine, I promise.” At this point Ari is just complaining for show, their body refusing to comply with her brains commands to get up.
Phyrrhus presses a soft kiss to her forehead before continuing playfully. “If I see you get up I will drag you back here myself.”
[something here I’ll think something up]
“Don’t leave.” Ari’s voice is soft, eyes growing heavy. Phyrrhus stops in his tracks, Ari looks at him, semi delirious, with tired and pleading eyes. “Stay with me a while?”
She says it like it’s an option, like Phyrrhus could ever even think of leaving her like this. He turns, sitting on the edge of their bed, hands gent king carding through Ari’s hair.
“Don’t worry, I’ll never leave.” He gives her another soft kiss on the forehead, carefully playing with her hair until Ari falls asleep.
Even then he never wanders far, only leaving for food or to grab a book to read.
The clinic would be fine for one day. This was more important right now.