Chapter 65 - Mouth to mouth

Aok sat hunched near the edge of the cave, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his glare fixed on the figure lying a few feet away. Every time he thought about what had happened, his neck tingled uncomfortably. His gills twitched at the memory. That hybrid. His cheeks flushed as the scene replayed in his mind. Kui's tongue had glided across the tender skin of his gills. The sensation had been bizarre, foreign—infuriatingly vivid.

He shifted uncomfortably, his hands gripping his knees as if to steady himself. "Ugh," he muttered under his breath. His face felt as if it was on fire. "How could he… how could he do something like that?!"

The warmth creeping down his neck irritated him even further. "I can't take this," he grumbled, springing to his feet. His tail thumped against the damp stone floor as he stomped toward Kui.

The hybrid lay sprawled on his back, his arms carelessly splayed to the side. Aok glared down at him, teeth clenched. I can't let him off so easily.

"Hey!" he snapped, his voice echoing sharply in the cave. Kui didn't move.

"HEY!" Aok's brows furrowed as he leaned closer. "Don't ignore me! You can't just… just lick someone and act like nothing happened!" His voice cracked slightly, making him wince. "Ugh, this is all your fault!"

Kui remained motionless, his chest rising and falling shallowly. His lips were parted slightly, soft and pink.

Aok froze. The sight of Kui's slightly parted mouth sent an involuntary shiver up his spine, and his mind betrayed him by flashing back to that moment again. He clenched his fists, trying to fight off the heat pooling in his chest.

"Ahhh! You're driving me insane!" he shouted, grabbing Kui's shoulder and giving him a rough shake. "Wake up so I can yell at you properly and get this over with!"

Kui's body shifted slightly, but he still didn't respond. That's when Aok noticed it—the unusual warmth radiating off him. His hand stilled on Kui's shoulder as the heat registered. "What the…"

Cautiously, he reached out and touched Kui's forehead. The burning heat startled him, and he pulled back instinctively. "Why are you so hot…?" He poked Kui's arm experimentally, his expression twisting with confusion.

"Hey, hybrid. Kui! Wake up!" His voice softened with unease as he shook him again, but Kui only let out a faint, labored pant. His breath came in shallow bursts, his face flushed in a way that Aok knew wasn't normal.

"Is he… sick?" Aok muttered, leaning in closer. He stared at Kui's flushed cheeks and felt his irritation waver. Mers didn't get sick—not the way humans did. But Kui wasn't just a mer. His human blood had always made him a little weaker, a little more fragile.

"Tch," Aok clicked his tongue, a frown tugging at his lips. "So weak… Why'd you inherit all the bad human traits?" His words lacked the usual bite, replaced by a faint tremor of worry.

He placed his hand on Kui's forehead again, more carefully this time. The heat was intense, almost searing. Aok hesitated, glancing toward the mouth of the cave. The sound of distant rain filtered in. "Maybe… a cold soak will help?" he muttered uncertainly.

The thought of dragging Kui out into the rain made him pause. He'd never dealt with a sick human—or a sick hybrid—before. He didn't even know where to start. His hand hovered over Kui's flushed face, unsure of what to do next.

"Wake up," Aok whispered, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "Come on, Kui… I don't know how to deal with this. You're supposed to be the annoying one, not—" His words caught in his throat as Kui let out a faint groan.

Aok's fists clenched tightly at the sight of Kui's pale, helpless face. He hated how weak Kui was. It stirred something uncomfortable in his chest—a mix of anger and something he didn't want to name. He hated the way Kui's vulnerability made him feel.

He sighed heavily and placed his hand on Kui's forehead again, hoping to cool his fever with his touch. But the heat only seemed to intensify. Frustration gnawed at him. What am I supposed to do?

Without thinking, Aok tore a strip from his shirt. The fabric ripped jaggedly, the sound echoing through the cave. He hurried to the cave's entrance, letting the rain soak the cloth until it dripped. Rushing back to Kui's side, he pressed the cold, wet cloth to Kui's forehead. Water streamed down Kui's face, trailing along his jaw and pooling near his lips.

Aok panicked, fumbling to wipe the water away with his hands. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath, his movements clumsy and unsteady. Why can't I do anything right? The frustration built as he tossed the cloth aside, glaring down at Kui as if the hybrid were the cause of all his problems.

"Useless! You're so damn useless!" His voice cracked with desperation as he shook Kui's shoulders again. "Kui! Tell me how to help you! How do I fix this?"

For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of rain outside and Kui's faint, labored breaths. Then Kui's eyes fluttered open—a small, glassy sliver. He blinked up at Aok with unfocused eyes, his expression disoriented.

"K-Kui!" Aok leaned closer, his tone softer now, a trace of relief breaking through his frustration. "Hey, how can I help you? Tell me!"

Kui's lips parted slightly. He whispered something faint and inaudible, his voice so soft it was almost swallowed by the rain.

"What?" Aok leaned down, so close he could feel Kui's shallow breaths against his cheek. "Can you say that again? Kui?"

"Wa…" Kui's voice was no louder than a breath before his eyes fell shut again, his body slackening back into unconsciousness.

Aok froze, his ears twitching as the sound registered. "Wa?" he echoed, his brow furrowing. What the hell does that mean? His gaze flickered to Kui's face, searching for any clue.

It was only then he noticed how dry Kui's lips were, the pale skin cracked and chapped. The realization hit him like a wave. "Water," he murmured, his voice laced with urgency. "You need water!"

Scrambling to his feet, Aok rushed to the cave's entrance, cupping his hands beneath the falling rain. The cold droplets gathered quickly, and he hurried back, kneeling beside Kui. Gently, he tilted Kui's head up, his heart pounding as he brought the water to Kui's lips.

The water trickled uselessly down Kui's chin, soaking into the fabric of his shirt. Aok growled under his breath, his patience wearing thin. "You asked for it. Why aren't you drinking, huh?" His voice cracked, frustration bubbling into something raw and unsteady.

Kui's head lolled limply as Aok lifted it onto his lap, his hands trembling slightly. He tilted Kui's face up and tried again, carefully trickling water into his mouth. Still, nothing. The water dribbled out, useless as ever.

Tears pricked at Aok's eyes, hot and unwelcome. He bit down hard on his lower lip, trying to suppress the lump rising in his throat. "You idiot," he muttered hoarsely, glaring down at Kui's pale face. "Can't even drink water properly. What the hell am I supposed to do with you?"

His gaze darted around the cave, desperate for something—anything—that could help. It landed on a small nest tucked into a corner of the rocky shelter. A mother bird perched delicately on the edge, dipping her beak into the open mouths of her chirping chicks, feeding them directly.

Aok froze, his breath catching. The realization struck him hard, sending a wave of heat rushing to his face. "No. No way. Absolutely not," he muttered, shaking his head violently.

His hands tightened into fists on either side of Kui's head, his mind racing. "You…" he hissed through gritted teeth, glaring down at the unconscious hybrid. "You're making this regal prince stoop to such nonsense."

Kui didn't respond, of course. His chest rose and fell faintly, his lips still dry and cracked.

Aok groaned loudly, the sound echoing in the cave. "Fine! But only because you're pathetic right now, got it?" He leaned over Kui, grabbing the cup of his hands to catch more rainwater. His hands trembled as he brought the water to his mouth, taking a small sip.

The cold liquid pooled on his tongue, sending a shiver through him. His cheeks burned as he lowered his head toward Kui's parted lips. This is ridiculous. This is beyond ridiculous.

"Just wake up already, so I can punch you for making me do this," Aok muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible.

He hesitated for a heartbeat, his face inches from Kui's. Then, swallowing his pride—and a good portion of his dignity—he pressed his lips gently to Kui's, letting the water flow from his mouth to Kui's.

It was awkward, clumsy. Aok's heart pounded so loudly he was sure it would wake Kui up. But after a moment, he felt Kui's throat move faintly, swallowing the water. Relief flooded through him, almost making him dizzy.

"See?" Aok muttered, pulling back quickly and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Not so hard, is it?"

Kui stirred faintly, his brows twitching as if he were dreaming. Aok stared at him, his face still red, his emotions a chaotic mess he didn't want to examine too closely.

"You owe me for this," he grumbled, cradling Kui's head carefully in his lap. "Big time."

The rain continued to patter softly outside, the storm easing into a steady rhythm. For now, Aok stayed where he was, watching over Kui with a strange mix of anger, worry, and something he wasn't ready to name.