Chapter 72: Must Protect His Cuteness

Varia

After the meeting, I made my way to the medical room in the rebel HQ. Vyran trailed behind me.

"Going to see Deros?" my brother asked as he caught up to me.

My cheeks turned rosy. "Yeah. I'm worried about him."

He crossed his arms and hummed. "Because of the mission, or...?"

I averted my gaze. "Not only that."

My brother chuckled. "Seeing you being all caring is so out of character."

I grumbled. "Hey, I was worried when you passed out from overusing your powers some days ago!" My face heated up. "A-anyway, you should get some rest. You need it after your long day out."

He swung his hands behind his head. "I will after I check in on my bud."

As we approached the medical room, the atmosphere grew quieter, more subdued. The hustle and bustle of the rebel HQ seemed distant, as if the entire base was holding its breath, waiting for news about Deros. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, each beat a reminder of my growing concern for him.

The door to the medical room slid open with a soft whoosh, revealing a sterile environment filled with the faint hum of medical equipment. Deros lay on a cot in the center, his face pale but peaceful. The medics were bustling around him, checking monitors and administering various treatments to counteract the effects of the sedative.

Kaeii wasn't here, but I knew he had done his best before the medics took over. The room was filled with a tense silence. There were no medical devices attached to him, but he did wear a necklace with a glowing stone. It was a light green. Hopefully that meant he was well.

I walked over to Deros's side, taking a seat beside his cot. I reached out, gently taking his hand in mine. His skin was cool to the touch, a stark contrast to the warmth of my own. I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. If only we had been better prepared, maybe he wouldn't have had to push himself so hard.

Vyran stood beside me, his expression serious. "He's strong, Varia. He'll be okay."

I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and lingering anxiety. "I know. It's just... seeing him like this, it's hard."

My brother squeezed my shoulder gently. "We all care about him. And we'll all do whatever it takes to make sure he recovers fully."

As Vyran turned to leave, likely to get some much-needed rest himself, he looked back at me. "Stay strong, sister. We need you too."

"I will," I promised, watching him walk out of the room.

I sat in silence, keeping a watchful eye on Deros, my mind racing with thoughts of the battles ahead and the delicate balance we were trying to maintain. I began to miss my annoying brother.

As I sat there, I couldn't help but think about the bond we all shared. Despite the different planets we came from, our experiences had woven us together into a family of sorts. And like any family, we faced our challenges head-on, supporting each other through the toughest of times.

Deros stirred slightly, his eyes fluttering open. He looked around, disoriented for a moment, before his gaze settled on me.

"Varia?" he murmured, his voice weak but clear.

"Hey," I said softly, squeezing his hand gently. "How are you feeling?"

He managed a faint smile. "Like I got hit by a freight train. But I'll live."

I chuckled, relief washing over me. "Good. You had us all worried."

"Sorry for scaring you," he said, his eyes closing again as he drifted back to sleep.

Just then, the door opened again, and Kaeii walked in, looking exhausted but relieved. "How is he?" he asked, coming over to join me.

"He's stable. He woke up for a bit," I replied, feeling a sense of camaraderie in sharing this moment of concern.

Kaeii nodded, taking a seat next to me. "That's good to hear. He's tougher than he looks."

We sat in silence for a while, both of us keeping a watchful eye on Deros. The weight of our mission and the uncertainty of the future loomed large, but in that moment, all that mattered was that Deros was safe and on the road to recovery.

Although, I did have my doubts if Deros would be completely fine. He had woken up more than once already, followed by a long sleep. His body was still strained.

"I think that I'll pass the night here," I said, eyeing the muscular blond rebel.

Kaeii nodded. He turned around but stopped. A smile dotted his face as he looked at the door. Someone was hiding there, spying on us.

"You can come in, Z. We won't bite," Kaeii called out.

Zane poked his head into the room and sighed. "Uh, hello."

Kaeii grinned. "Deros just woke up for a brief moment."

Deros's Soleon counterpart smiled. "That's good. But... Only a moment?"

I sighed and turned my head back to Deros. "Yeah. He fell asleep soon after he woke up. I don't think he'll be able to join us on our mission tomorrow. Assuming we still go through with it."

Zane looked down at the wooden floor and sighed. "I should've stopped him. Pushing the mecha alone was too much for his body."

"Not to mention our additional weight," Kaeii said.

I patted the slumbering Deros's head.

"Don't blame yourself," I said softly, looking at Zane. "Deros made his own choice, knowing the risks. The important thing now is to ensure he recovers and to reassess our plans moving forward."

Zane nodded, though his expression remained troubled. "You're right. But it's hard not to feel responsible."

Kaeii placed a hand on Zane's shoulder. "We all share the responsibility, Zane. That's why we're a team. We support each other, especially in times like these."

Zane offered a weak smile. "Thanks, Kaeii. It helps to hear that."

The room fell into a comfortable silence as we each grappled with our thoughts. The dim light from the glowing stone around Deros's wrist cast a serene glow, providing a small measure of comfort.

After a while, Kaeii stood up, stretching his arms. "Well, I'm gonna get going. Take care, Varia. Don't stay up too late, okay?"

I nodded.

Zane waved and followed his fellow rebel.

I patted Deros again and smiled slightly. "Sleep well, my soldier," I muttered before closing my own eyes.

When I finally opened my eyes, I was greeted with the sight of Deros's slender body as he changed out of his hospital gown and into his usual clothes, now repaired and cleaned.

The underground room was dimly lit by the soft, bluish glow of the bioluminescent fungi that adorned the walls, casting an ethereal light across the space. It made Deros look even cuter.

"Deros?" I said, my voice still tinged with sleep.

He turned to face me, a small, tired smile playing on his lips, but his cheeks were flushed a deep red. "Morning, Varia. How long was I out?"

I sat up, rubbing my eyes. "Long enough. Are you sure you should be up and about already?"

Deros fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, clearly flustered. "I, uh, I didn't realize you were here... I mean, I knew you were here, but I didn't think you'd be awake yet."

"I chuckled. It's fine." I frowned, standing up to approach him. "You need more rest. We can't afford to have you collapse again in the middle of a battle."

He sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly, though his face was still tinged with embarrassment. "I know. But I can't just sit here while everyone else is out there risking their lives."

I placed a hand on his arm, looking him in the eye. "We need you at your best, Deros. Pushing yourself too hard now could mean you're out of commission for even longer. Please, just listen to the medics and take it easy for a bit longer."

He hesitated, then nodded reluctantly, still avoiding my gaze. "Alright, I'll rest a bit more. But if things get bad out there, I want you to call me. I'll come rushing to your rescue."

I smiled, relieved. "Deal."

As he settled back onto the cot, I couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and concern. Deros's determination was one of the things that made him such a vital part of our team, but it was also what put him at such great risk. Same went for my brother, and I guess, myself too.

"Bye, Deros. Try to read a book or something to pass the time, okay?"

Deros nodded and waved. "Take care, Varia. And thank you for watching over me." He raised the blanked up to his face. "You're always taking good care of me."

I chuckled. "How could I not? You're my adorable subordinate."

He hid more of his red face under the covers. "Oh."

Smiling, I walked back over to him and planted a kiss on his forehead. "Take it easy. If not for yourself, then for me."

"I-I will!" I said, jumping out of the covers. "I promise, I'll take really good care of myself. I'll eat all of my veggies and even those disgusting worms they have if I must!"

I chuckled. Seemed my encouragement revived his energy. "Alright, but maybe skip the worms."

He chuckled. "Yeah."

Waving at him again, I left the medical room and made my way to the central chamber, where the rest of the team was already gathering. The atmosphere was tense, but there was a palpable sense of resolve.

Arisa was already at the head of the table, her expression focused. "Good morning, everyone. Let's get started."

We quickly went over the revised strategy, taking into account Deros's absence. The plan was solid, but there was an underlying stress. The thought of going into battle without one of our strongest members was daunting.

As we all prepared for the mission ahead, I couldn't shake the image of Deros's flushed face from my mind. His vulnerability and cuteness had only deepened my resolve to protect him and everyone else. I didn't want to see those pretty blue eyes of his covered in tears of sadness. Not again...