Chapter 42 - down with the flu
Declan got his wish to spend the rest of the month just lazing around with Faun in the cottage.
Isla and Lou had shown up early the next day but the issue was long resolved, Faun wasn't the type to hold grudges.
It had been almost two months now since Faun started living with Declan, he had already gotten used to his new life.
Declan watched the days pass with wariness, expecting Faun to bring up the topic of leaving.
He was currently out for groceries, Faun had to pack up a basket for their picnic so he couldn't come along.
Declan was already used to having Faun at his side all the time, at this rate, he would be in deep shit if Faun tried to leave.
He picked up groceries on autopilot, hurrying back to the cottage as soon as he paid for it like he expected Faun to run away before he got back.
Which was ridiculous, Faun was happy here. Declan gave him everything he wanted, even though he never asked.
Picnics were always nice, they would go to their spot in the woods and just lie in the sun, or in the shade. Playing puzzles or taking a nap.
Declan occasionally helped Faun out with his reading and writing, they'd play hide and seek or Faun would just run around. It was like a not so hidden paradise.
The whisper of a smile brushed over Declan's lips as he made his way down the path that led to his cottage.
Unlike him and Faun, Isla and Lou had actually gotten together.
Apparently, Lou had given her an early birthday present; Declan hung up on the call when Isla said that, he genuinely didn't want to hear more.
He was happy for them though, they deserved each other.
"I'm back!" He called out after opening the front door, expecting Faun to hurry over like he always did.
He waited a beat, two beats, three beats. Still, there was no response.
Declan frowned. "Faun?" He called, heading straight for the kitchen. It was just as empty as the living room had been.
The lights in his grey eyes darkened, he quickly dropped off the grocery and headed straight for Faun's room.
He tried the door without bothering to knock, genuinely surprised when it opened easily and just as he feared, there was no one inside the room.
It didn't even look like anything was out of place, sunlight streaming into the well arranged room; Isla's gift stared at him blankly from it's spot beside Faun's bed.
Declan forced himself to take a deep breath, he couldn't let himself get lost in his panic, there had to be a logical explanation for his absence.
Had he gone on to the clearing in the woods? That sounded very plausible, it was just like Faun to playfully leave him behind.
He decided to eliminate the possibility of Faun being at the clearing first, turning around on his heel to stride out the house, leaving through the backdoor.
Even though he had managed to come up with a reasonable argument and a half way sane plan, Declan's mental space was a mess.
Fear was slowly bubbling under his heart, it wasn't possible that he had been found out, right?
"Fuck." He cursed under his breath, breaking out into a run; Faun wasn't the only fugitive, he also had things to fear.
He broke out into the clearing, the once sun filled paradise now a figurative noose around his neck. Faun wasn't here.
With his heart in his throat, he turned around and ran back to the cottage, wildly searching. He checked through every room except his, it was the very last place his expected Faun to be.
He would have checked his room eventually but an odd scent caught his attention, freezing his panic and making him frown.
What was that?
He tried the handle of his door, it was locked and as he fiddled with it, Faun who was fast asleep on his bed woke up.
He fixed his hazy eyes on the door, breathing through his mouth.
He had felt off ever since he woke up that morning, it was why he wanted them to go on a picnic, hoping that a bit of fresh air would fix him.
But he only got worse after Declan left, maybe he had come down with the flu? Because he had a fever and he felt really weak.
How did he end up in Declan's room? He really had no clue, he just opened his eyes and he was here.
Declan's bed was really comfortable too and he was too weak to make the trek back to his room.
He started to doze off again but then a loud sound startled him awake, the door had been broken in.
"Faun?" Declan called in a really fragile voice.
There was no response but there was no missing the fact that Faun was the one lying in his bed.
Declan's sigh of relief was literally ripped out of him, he sagged against the doorway from the force of it.
After putting himself together, he hurried over to Faun's side to find him fast asleep? Blacked out?
The covers were pulled up high around his face and his face looked really warm.
'Did he drink wine again?' Declan mused to himself, reflexively touching Faun's forehead.
His eyes widened at how warm it felt, he was running a temperature!
Faun's eyes slowly flicked open, his gaze unsettled, soft green eyes hazy.
Declan's frown made another appearance, he didn't need a thermometre to know that he shouldn't be that warm.
"Faun?" He tried again, pulling back the covers, he needed to cool him down.
Faun slowly blinked and then seemed to fall asleep again, it only made Declan's worry soar.
He pulled off the covers entirely, he needed to get Faun's temperature down first, then he would think about what to do.
After deciding that, he made his way to the bathroom to grab a bowl of cool water and a towel.
Getting on the bed gingerly, Declan took another of many deep breaths, dipping the towel in the cool water.
He squeezed it properly and folded it neatly, he was doing so well, maybe he should consider being a nurse.
He should have probably started at Faun's forehead but his neck and collarbones looked redder, it was clearly in need of cooling more than his forehead.
A gentle touch of the cool towel against Faun's neck elicited a moan, making Declan freeze in place.
Another try yielded the same response, Faun trying to squirm away from the coldness.
Yeah… after this, Declan might have to worry about getting his own temperature down as well.