Poor X. The lawyer has seemingly been struggling with some kind of chest infection for a while now- it seems like whenever Y passes his office, she can hear him clearing his throat, muffled coughing drifting through the walls as he tries to catch his breath. “I’ll b-be- *wheeze*- f-fine. Just… just need to c-catch my- my breath.” Wiping his mouth, he soon leans back against the bricks. His shallow exhales become steam in the cold air. “I think you might need some stronger cough medicine.” Y murmurs, still rubbing slow circles against his back. “If you want, I could get you some?” His gaze crawls over to hers, dull hope flickering within them. “Y-yeah?” His eyes roll, exhaustion taking over, but a quick tap to the cheek brings him right back, blinking languidly. “M'okay.” He mumbles. “Th-thanks.” Y's hand, still lingering on his cheek, moves to swipe away a sweat-dampened curl from his forehead. “I’m not sure whether ‘okay’ is quite the right word to describe you right now, X… Take a few minutes down here, and then I'll walk you back up to your office, alright? I’m going to tell your assistant- Z, isn't it?- to make sure you get some rest while I fetch you some meds.” X swallows, shaking his head weakly. “I’ll be… I’ll be f- fine.” “I’m the doctor here. Just try to relax for once in your life.” Finally, he sighs, nodding. He's still leaning his head against the brick wall as his eyes fall closed. Y continues to rub his back for a few minutes, a comfortable silence enveloping them. When she looks back at the lawyer beside her, his jaw is slack, lips slightly parted. The quick, shallow breaths of before have slowed and deepened. A small smile creeps onto her face. He's asleep. X starts to lean unconsciously towards her. Soon, as he remains asleep and snoring, his head lands on her shoulder. He's definitely going to drool all over her dress. “Bless him .” Z whispers, cocking his head a little as he watches X sleep. “He's absolutely knackered.” Y isn't entirely sure what that word means, but if it has anything to do with exhaustion, he's completely right. X is curled up on the couch, cheek pressed against a throw pillow Z thrifted, buried beneath a mound of blankets Y brought from home. They're ever so slightly weighted, and the pressure is comforting for X. She's trying to get used to his sensory needs. To not rely on him resolving them himself, especially when he's sick. Judging by the peaceful look on his face, nostrils flaring gently with each slow breath, she's doing something right at least. She hopes, also, that bringing him into her workplace was the right thing to do as well, groaned when she half-dragged X through the doors, pale and shakily covering his ears, squinting against the light, but what was she supposed to do? Suppose X had been left alone, and needed to get something to drink? Doing those things alone right now is essentially impossible for him. Y's phone beeps, and she turns it on to find a reminder: X’s antibiotics. She sighs, glancing over at cosy-looking just as his nose twitches in his sleep. Z notes frustration. “Antibiotic time?” “Yep.” With another small sigh of sympathy, she stands and wanders over to the feverish bundle of blankets and gentle snores, placing a gentle hand on the top of his head. Her thumb brushes against the sweat-damp curls that hang over his eyes. “ X? Sweetheart? Wake up for me, pumpkin.” When, after a few seconds of waiting, he doesn't stir, she gently strokes her index finger against his lower eyelashes. It's an age-old trick, and just like always, his eyes gradually open halfway. “Hey, X.” She whispers, smiling reassuringly as he blinks in the light. For once, he doesn't make any attempt to get up. His dizziness is clearly plaguing him again. “I’m so sorry to wake you, but you need to take your meds. Can you do that for me?” He swallows, clearly disoriented. Barely awake. “ Mm.” “Thank you. You don't even have to sit up, alright? Just…” she takes the bottle of pills from the coffee table and unscrews the lid, shaking a couple into her palm. “Just put these in your mouth, sweetheart.” Shakily, he obeys. Y's now empty hand is nearly immediately met with a glass of water filled up moments ago by Z. She moves closer to X and holds the rim of the glass up to his lips. “Now take a few sips, and swallow… Good job.” As soon as his small (yet Herculean) task is complete, X sinks back against the pillow entirely, eyes closing. Y draws the blanket over his shoulders, hand yet again drifting to his hair. “How’re you feeling?” she asks softly. His nostrils flare. He doesn't open his eyes. “ B-bad… Di- dizzy.” “ I bet… the antibiotics will make things better soon, pumpkin, I promise. Just rest.” X swallows thickly. “ C-can I go b-back to sleep now?” T gives him a small smile. “Of course you can.” She leans forward, pressing her lips to his too-warm forehead before withdrawing, still carding through his hair. “Sleep well, sweetheart. Night night.” Within moments, his breaths even out again. Soon, her pager will beep, and somehow X will remain fast asleep, swathed in blankets and yet still shivering. She'll check the little device to find that she's needed down at the hospital for a delivery. She'll know that it's okay for her to leave, because there's a whole team watching over. Keeping him safe and comfortable. For now, however, she listens to the murmurings of her colleagues about how adorable X is (she knows, it's why she loves him so much) and traces his features with her thumb. “That’s it, X. Sweet dreams.”

ᴾᵃʳᵗ ᴼⁿᵉ ᔆᵖᵉⁿᵈⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉ ᴰᵃʸ ⁽ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᴮᵒᵇ ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜ⁾ "ᵂʰᵒ'ˢ ᵃ ᵖᵉʳˢᵒⁿ ⁱⁿ ⁿᵉᵉᵈ ᵒᶠ ᵃ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈ ᴵ ʰᵃᵛᵉⁿ'ᵗ ˢᵗᵃʸᵉᵈ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᶠᵒʳ ᵃ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ?" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ'ˢ ᵒᶠᶠ ʷᵒʳᵏ⸴ ˢᵒ ʰᵉ ᵈᵉᶜⁱᵈᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᶠⁱⁿᵈ ᵃ ᵖᵉʳˢᵒⁿ ᵗᵒ ᵛⁱˢⁱᵗ ʷⁱᵗʰ‧ ᴴⁱˢ ᵃⁿˢʷᵉʳ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵐᵉ ᶜˡᵉᵃʳ ʷʰᵉⁿ ʰᵉ ˢᵃʷ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧ "ᴴᵉʸ⸴ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ! ᵂʰᵃᵗᶜʰᵃ ᵈᵒⁱⁿᵍ?" "ᴵ'ᵐ ˢᵖᵉⁿᵈⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉ ᵐᵒʳⁿⁱⁿᵍ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵗʳʸⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵇᵘˢⁱⁿᵉˢˢ ᵇᵉ ᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ᵐʸ ᶜᵒᵐᵖᵘᵗᵉʳ ʷⁱᶠᵉ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ʷᵃⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᵐᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᶠʳᵉˢʰ ᵃⁱʳ‧‧" "ᴵ ˢᵉᵉ‧ ᴴᵉʸ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᵉᵛᵉʳ ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰᵗ ᵒᶠ ˢᵉˡˡⁱⁿᵍ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ʲᵉˡˡʸ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᶜʰᵘᵐ? ᴵ ᵇᵉᵗ ⁱᵗ'ᵈ ᵃᵗ ˡᵉᵃˢᵗ ⁿᵒᵗ ʰⁱⁿᵈᵉʳ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵇᵘˢⁱⁿᵉˢˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷᵉ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵍᵒ ᵗᵒ ʲᵉˡˡʸᶠⁱˢʰ ᶠⁱᵉˡᵈˢ ᵗᵒᵍᵉᵗʰᵉʳ; ᵗʳʸ ⁱᵗ‧‧" "ᴵ ᵍᵘᵉˢˢ; ˡᵉᵗ'ˢ ᵍᵒ!" ᔆᵒ ᵗʰᵉʸ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᵗᵒᵍᵉᵗʰᵉʳ ᵗᵒ‧ "ᵀʰᵉ ⁿᵉᵗ'ˢ ᵗᵒ ᵇⁱᵍ!" "ᴵ ᵍᵒᵗᵗᵃ ˢᵐᵃˡˡᵉʳ ᵒⁿᵉ‧‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ˢᵃʸˢ⸴ ˢʷⁱᵗᶜʰⁱⁿᵍ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʰⁱᵐ‧ "ᴴᵉʸ ᴵ ᵍᵒᵗ ᵃ ʲᵉˡˡʸᶠⁱˢʰ!" "ᵂᵒʷ; ⁿⁱᶜᵉ! ᴵ'ˡˡ ˢʰᵒʷ ʸᵒᵘ ʰᵒʷ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ʲᵉˡˡʸ‧‧" ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʰᵉˡᵖᵉᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵍᵉᵗ ⁱᵗ⸴ ᵐᵘᶜʰ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ᵐⁱˡᵏⁱⁿᵍ ᶜᵒʷˢ‧ "ᴺᵒʷ ʷᵉ ᵍᵒᵗᵗᵃ ʲᵃʳ ᵒᶠ ʲᵉˡˡʸᶠⁱˢʰ ʲᵉˡˡʸ!" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ˡⁱᵏᵉᵈ ˢᵉᵉⁱⁿᵍ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢᵒ ʰᵃᵖᵖʸ ⁿᵒʷ⸴ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ'ˢ ⁿᵒᵗ ˢᶜʰᵉᵐⁱⁿᵍ ⁿᵒʳ ᵗᵃᵘⁿᵗⁱⁿᵍ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᵃ ˢᶜᵒᶠᶠ ᵃˢ ᵘˢᵘᵃˡ‧ ᴬˢ ᵃ ᵐᵃᵗᵗᵉʳ ᵒᶠ ᶠᵃᶜᵗ⸴ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ⁿᵒʷ ᶠᵉˡᵗ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ʷʰᵃᵗ ˡᵉˢˢ ʳᵉˢᵉʳᵛᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ˡᵉᵗ ʰⁱᵐˢᵉˡᶠ ᵍᵒ ʷⁱᵗʰ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ‧ "ᴵ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏ ʷᵉ'ᵛᵉ ᑫᵘⁱᵗᵉ ᵉⁿᵒᵘᵍʰ ʲᵉˡˡʸ ᶠᵒʳ ⁿᵒʷ‧ ᴸᵉᵗ'ˢ ᵗᵃᵏᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜʰᵘᵐ ᴮᵘᶜᵏᵉᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ˢᵉᵉ ʷʰᵃᵗ ᶜᵃⁿ ᶜᵒᵐᵉ ᵘᵖ ʷⁱᵗʰ!" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢᵐⁱˡᵉᵈ‧ "ᔆⁱⁿᶜᵉ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ᵐʸ ⁱᵈᵉᵃ ᴵ'ˡˡ ᵗʳʸ ⁱᵗ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵃᵐᵉ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ‧"‧ ᵀᵘʳⁿˢ ᵒᵘᵗ⸴ ʲᵉˡˡʸ ᵐᵃᵈᵉ ᶜʰᵘᵐ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵒⁿˡʸ ᵉᵈⁱᵇˡᵉ ᵇᵘᵗ ᵃˡˢᵒ ᑫᵘⁱᵗᵉ ᵗᵃˢᵗʸ! "ᵂᵉ ᵍᵒᵗ ᵃ ⁿᵉʷ ᵖʳᵒᵈᵘᶜᵗ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵐᵉⁿᵘ!" ᵀʰᵉʸ ᵍʳⁱⁿⁿᵉᵈ⸴ ˢʰᵃᵏⁱⁿᵍ ʰᵃⁿᵈˢ‧ "ᴵ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʸᵒᵘ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ʲᵉˡˡʸᶠⁱˢʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴵ ᵉⁿʲᵒʸᵉᵈ ᵈᵒⁱⁿᵍ ʷⁱᵗʰ ʸᵒᵘ‧ ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ˡⁱᵏᵉ ᵃ ᵖʳᵒ! ᔆᵒ ᶜᵃⁿ ʷᵉ ᵍᵒ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗᵉᵃᶜʰ ᵐᵉ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵗʳⁱᶜᵏˢ?" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵃᵍʳᵉᵉᵈ⸴ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗʰᵉʸ ᵇᵒᵗʰ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵉⁿʲᵒʸᵉᵈ ᵗʰᵉᵐˢᵉˡᵛᵉˢ‧ ᵂʰᵉⁿᶜᵉ ᵗʰᵉʸ ʳᵉᵗᵘʳⁿᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜʰᵘᵐ ᵇᵘᶜᵏᵉᵗ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ⁱⁿᵛⁱᵗᵉᵈ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ⁱⁿ‧ "ᵂᵃⁿⁿᵃ ʷᵃᵗᶜʰ ᵗᵛ?" "ᔆᵘʳᵉ‧‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵃⁿˢʷᵉʳᵉᵈ⸴ ˢⁱᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵈᵒʷⁿ‧ ᴴᵉ ᵐᵒᵗⁱᵒⁿˢ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵒ ˢⁱᵗ ᵇʸ ʰⁱᵐ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜᵒᵘᶜʰ‧ ᵂʰᵉⁿᶜᵉ ᵗʰᵉʸ ᶠᵒᵘⁿᵈ ʷʰᵃᵗ ᵗʰᵉʸ'ᵈ ʷᵃᵗᶜʰ⸴ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵖᵘᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ʰⁱˢ ʰᵃⁿᵈ ᵒⁿ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ'ˢ⸴ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˡᵉᵗ ᵗʰᵉᵐ‧ ᔆʰᵉ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵃˢ ᵗʰᵉ ᵖʳᵒᵍʳᵃᵐᵐᵉ ᵉⁿᵈᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ˢᵉᵉ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ʰᵉᵃᵈ ˡᵉᵃⁿⁱⁿᵍ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ'ˢ ᵃʳᵐ‧ ᔆʰᵉ ᵗᵘʳⁿᵉᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ᵗᵉˡᵉᵛⁱˢⁱᵒⁿ‧ "ᴴᵉʸ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᴵ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵇᵒᵗʰ ᵐᵘˢᵗ ᵇᵉ ᵗⁱʳᵉᵈ ᵃⁿᵈ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ᵇᵉᵉⁿ ᑫᵘⁱᵗᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ˡᵒⁿᵍ ᵈᵃʸ‧" "ᴵ ᵇᵃʳᵉˡʸ ᵐᵃᵈᵉ ⁱᵗ ᵗʰʳᵒᵘᵍʰ ᵗʰᵉ ʷʰᵒˡᵉ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵃˢ ᴵ ᵗʳⁱᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʷᵃᵗᶜʰ ⁱᵗ‧ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ʸᵒᵘ⸴ ᴵ ᵐᵉᵃⁿ⸴ ᶜᵃⁿ ᴵ‧‧‧" "ᴵ ᵗʰⁱⁿᵏ ʰᵉ'ˢ ᵗᵒ ᵉˣʰᵃᵘˢᵗᵉᵈ ʳⁱᵍʰᵗ ⁿᵒʷ‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢᵉᵗ ᵃ ᵖⁱˡˡᵒʷ ᶠᵒʳ ʰᵉʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ‧ ᵀʰᵉʸ ᵇᵒᵗʰ ᵉᵃˢᵉᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵒⁿ ⁱᵗ‧ "ᴵ'ᵐ ˢᵒʳʳʸ‧‧" "ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʸᵒᵘ'ᵛᵉ ⁿᵒ ⁿᵉᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵃᵖᵒˡᵒᵍⁱˢᵉ! ᴵ'ᵐ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒⁿᵉ ʷʰᵒ ⁿᵉᵉᵈˢ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵃⁿᵏ ʸᵒᵘ ᶠᵒʳ ˢᵖᵉⁿᵈⁱⁿᵍ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧" "ᴮᵘᵗ ʷᵃⁱᵗ ʷᵒⁿ'ᵗ ʰᵉ⸴ ʷʰᵉⁿ ʰᵉ ᵃʷᵃᵏᵉˢ ᴵ'ˡˡ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵍᵒⁿᵉ‧‧‧" "ᴵ'ˡˡ ᵍᵉᵗ ʰⁱᵐ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱˢ ᵇᵉᵈ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵗᵉˡˡ ʰⁱᵐ ᴵ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ᵗᵒ ʰᵉᵃᵈ ᵒⁿ⸴ ᵒʰ⸴ ⁱᵗ ⁱˢ ᵍᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ˡᵃᵗᵉ! ᴸᵒˢᵗ ᵗʳᵃᶜᵏ ᵒᶠ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ‧ ᔆᵒ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵇᵉˢⁱᵈᵉˢ⸴ ᴵ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ʰⁱˢ ᵈʳᵒᵒˡ ᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵍᵒᵒᵈ ˢᵒᶠᵃ! ᴮᵘᵗ ʸᵉᵃ‧‧‧" ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱˢ ʷᵒʳᵏ ˢʰⁱᶠᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ⁿᵉˣᵗ ᵈᵃʸ⸴ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵗᵉˡˡⁱⁿᵍ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ⁿᵒʳ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜʰᵘᵐ ʲᵉˡˡʸ ˢᵃⁿᵈʷⁱᶜʰᵉˢ‧ ᴵⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ᵐᵉᵃⁿ ᵗⁱᵐᵉ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ˢᵃᵗ ʰⁱᵐˢᵉˡᶠ ᵘᵖ⸴ ᵒᵖᵉⁿⁱⁿᵍ ʰⁱˢ ᵉʸᵉ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ʷᵒᵏᵉ‧ "ᴹᵒʳⁿⁱⁿᵍ⸴ ᔆʰᵉˡᵈᵒⁿ‧‧" ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ˢᵃʸˢ‧ 'ᴵ ᵈᵒ ⁿᵒᵗ ʳᵉᵐᵉᵐᵇᵉʳ ᵍᵒⁱⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ᵇᵉᵈ‧‧‧' ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵇˡⁱⁿᵏᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ᵖᵒⁿᵈᵉʳᵉᵈ‧ "ᴸᵉᵗ'ˢ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵍᵒⁱⁿᵍ⸴ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ‧ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ'ˢ ᵃᵗ ʷᵒʳᵏ ᵇᵘᵗ ʷᵉ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ʲᵉˡˡʸ ᵇᵘʳᵍᵉʳˢ ᵒᵘʳˢᵉˡᵛᵉˢ‧‧" ˢᵃʸˢ ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ‧ "ᔆᵒᵘⁿᵈˢ ᵍᵒᵒᵈ ᵇᵘᵗ⸴ ʷᵃⁱᵗ ʰᵒʷ'ᵈ ᴵ ᵍᵉᵗ‧‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗʳᵃⁱˡᵉᵈ ᵒᶠᶠ‧ "ᴵ ᵐᵘˢᵗ'ᵛᵉ ᵗᵉˡᵉᵖᵒʳᵗ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵈⁱᵈ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵗʳᵃⁿˢᶠᵉʳ; ᴵ ᵈⁱᵈ‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ⁱⁿˢᵗᵃⁿᵗˡʸ‧‧‧" "ᴵ ᵖⁱᶜᵏᵉᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ᵘᵖ⸴ ᵈᵉᵃʳ ʰᵘˢᵇᵃⁿᵈ⸴ ᵃⁿᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ʳᵉᵐᵃⁱⁿᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵈᵉᵃᵈ ᵃˢˡᵉᵉᵖ ᵃˢ ᴵ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᶜᵃʳʳⁱᵉᵈ ʸᵒᵘ‧‧" "ᔆᵃʸ ʷʰᵃᵗ‽" "ᴬˢ ᶠᵒʳ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ⸴ ʰᵉ'ᵈ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵍᵉᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ᵗᵒ ʷᵃᵏᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᵘᵖ ᵃⁿᵈ ˢᵒ ᴵ ˢᵉⁿᵗ ʰⁱᵐ‧‧‧" "ᴷᵃʳᵉⁿ ᵖˡᵉᵃˢᵉ⸴ ʲᵘˢᵗ ᵍⁱᵛᵉ ᵐᵉ ᵃ ᵐᵒᵐᵉⁿᵗ⸴ ᵗʰᵉⁿ ʷᵉ ᵐᵃᵏᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵒᵒᵈ‧‧" ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ʰᵉʳ‧ 'ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ⁿᵒᵗ ʷʳᵃᵖ ᵐʸ ʰᵉᵃᵈ ᵃʳᵒᵘⁿᵈ ⁱᵗ' ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ⁿᵒʷ ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰᵗ ᶠᵉᵉˡⁱⁿᵍ ᵉᵐᵇᵃʳʳᵃˢˢᵉᵈ‧ ᴴᵉ ˢⁱᵍʰᵉᵈ‧ 'ᴵ ᵈᵒ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʷʰᵉⁿ ᴵ ʷⁱˡˡ ᶠᵃᶜᵉ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉ ᵇᵒᵇ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴵ ʷⁱˡˡ ʲᵘˢᵗ ᵗʳʸ ᵗᵒ ᵖᵘᵗ ⁱᵗ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵐʸ ᵐⁱⁿᵈ‧‧‧' ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵍᵒᵗ ᵗᵒ ᵐᵃᵏⁱⁿᵍ ˢⁱᵍⁿˢ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ʷᵒʳᵈ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ʲᵉˡˡʸ‧ ᶜᵘˢᵗᵒᵐᵉʳˢ ᶜᵃᵐᵉ ᶠˡᵒᵒᵈⁱⁿᵍ ⁱⁿ! ᴬⁿᵈ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ⁿᵒᵗⁱᶜᵉᵈ‧ "ᴹᵉ ᵉᵐᵖˡᵒʸᵉᵉˢ; ᶜᵒᵐᵉ ⁿᵒʷ⸴ ᶠʳᵒⁿᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ᶜᵉⁿᵗʳᵉ!" ᴴᵉ ᶜᵃˡˡᵉᵈ ᵇᵒᵗʰ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵃⁿᵈ ˢᑫᵘⁱᵈʷᵃʳᵈ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱˢ ᵒᶠᶠⁱᶜᵉ‧ "ᴺᵒᵗ ᵒⁿˡʸ ⁱˢ ⁱᵗ ᵃ ˢˡᵒʷ ᵈᵃʸ⸴ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ᵍᵒᵗ ᵃ ˡⁱⁿᵉ ᵒᶠ ᶜᵘˢᵗᵒᵐᵉʳˢ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ᵈᵒᵒʳ‧‧‧" "ᔆᵒ ʷʰᵃᵗ‽" ᔆᵃⁱᵈ ˢᑫᵘⁱᵈʷᵃʳᵈ‧ "ᔆᵒ ᵗʰᵉʸ'ʳᵉ ᵖᵃʸⁱⁿᵍ ᵐᵉ ᵉⁿᵉᵐʸ ᵍᵒᵒᵈ ᵐᵒⁿᵉʸ! ᴵ'ᵐ ⁿᵒᵗ ˢᵘʳᵉ ʰᵒʷ ᵒʳ ʷʰʸ⸴ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴵ ᵈᵒ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ᵇᵃᵈ‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵃʸˢ ᵃˢ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵃᵛᵒⁱᵈᵉᵈ ʰⁱˢ ᵍᵃᶻᵉ‧ "ᴳᵒᵗᵗᵃ ⁱⁿᵛᵉˢᵗⁱᵍᵃᵗᵉ ᶠⁱʳˢᵗ ᵇᵘᵗ ᴵ ʷᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᵍⁱᵛᵉ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵃᵗⁱˢᶠᵃᶜᵗⁱᵒⁿ ᵒᶠ ᵐᵉ ʲᵘˢᵗ ᵐᵃʳᶜʰⁱⁿᵍ ᵘᵖ ᵗᵒ ʰⁱˢ ᵖˡᵃᶜᵉ!" "ᵁⁿˡᵉˢˢ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵍⁱᵛⁱⁿᵍ ᵗʰᵉ ᵈᵃʸ ᵒᶠᶠ⸴ ᵗʰᵉⁿ ʷʰʸ ᵃʳᵉ ʸᵒᵘ ᵗᵉˡˡⁱⁿᵍ ᵘˢ?" "ᔆᑫᵘⁱᵈ ʷᵃʳᵈ⸴ ʸᵒᵘ ᵐᵘˢᵗ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵐⁱⁿᵈ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵒ ˢᵉᵉ ᵗʰᵉⁿ⸴ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵍᵒ ᶜᵒᵐᵉ ʳᵉᵖᵒʳᵗ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵗᵒ ᵐᵉ!" "ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ‧‧‧" "ˢⁱʳ?" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ˢᵃʸˢ ᵗᵒ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ‧ "ᵂᵉˡˡ ᵖᵉʳʰᵃᵖˢ ⁱᵗ'ˢ ᵃ ᶠᵃᵈ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷⁱˡˡ ᶠᵃᵈᵉ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ʷᵃⁱᵗ‽ ᴺᵒ⸴ ᶜᵃⁿⁿᵒᵗ‧‧" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵈⁱˢᵐⁱˢˢᵉᵈ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵗᵒ ᶠʳʸ ᶜᵒᵒᵏ ᵏⁱᵗᶜʰᵉⁿ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿ ᵃˢ ˢᑫᵘⁱᵈʷᵃʳᵈ ʳᵉᵗᵘʳⁿˢ‧ "ᵂᵉˡˡ⸴ ᴹʳ‧ ᔆᑫᵘⁱᵈʷᵃʳᵈ?" "ᵂᵉˡˡ⸴ ᴵ⸴ ᵗʰᵉʸ ˢᵉˡˡ ʲᵉˡˡʸ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᶜʰᵘᵐ ᵃⁿᵈ ᴵ ᵗʳⁱᵉᵈ ᵃ ᵇᵘʳᵍᵉʳ⸴ ʷʰⁱᶜʰ'ˢ ᑫᵘⁱᵗᵉ ᵈᵉˡⁱᶜⁱᵒᵘˢ ⁱᶠ ʸᵒᵘ ᵃˢᵏ ᵐᵉ‧‧" ᔆᑫᵘⁱᵈʷᵃʳᵈ ʳᵉᵖᵒʳᵗᵉᵈ‧ "ᴵ ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ᵍᵒᵗ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᶠˡʸᵉʳˢ ᵗᵒ ᵍⁱᵛᵉ ᵒᵘᵗ‧‧‧" "ᶠˡʸᵉʳˢ? ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ʸᵒᵘ ᵇᵒᵗʰ ᵃⁿᵈ ˢᑫᵘⁱᵈʷᵃʳᵈ ᵃʳᵉ ⁿᵒʷ ᵒʳᵈᵉʳᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ʳᵉᵐᵒᵛᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵈᵉˢᵗʳᵒʸ ᵃⁿʸ ᵃᵈˢ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ᶜʰᵘᵐ ᴮᵘᶜᵏᵉᵗ‧ ᴳᵒ ᵒᵘᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ʳⁱᵈ ᵃⁿʸ ᵖʳᵒᵐᵒᵗⁱⁿᵍ 'ᵉᵐ!" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᶜᵃˡˡᵉᵈ ʰⁱˢ ᵈᵃᵘᵍʰᵗᵉʳ ᴾᵉᵃʳˡ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ʰᵉʳ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉᵗ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵒᶠ ʰᵉʳ ᶠʳⁱᵉⁿᵈˢ ᵗᵒ ᵃˡˡ ˡᵉᵃᵛᵉ ᵇᵃᵈ ʳᵉᵛⁱᵉʷˢ ᵒⁿˡⁱⁿᵉ ʷʰⁱˡˢᵗ ˢᑫᵘⁱᵈʷᵃʳᵈ ᵃⁿᵈ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ˢᵉᵗ ᵒᵘᵗ‧ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᶠᵉˡᵗ ˢᵒ ᵍᵘⁱˡᵗʸ ᵉᵛᵉⁿ ᵗʰᵒᵘᵍʰ ˢᑫᵘⁱᵈʷᵃʳᵈ ᵈⁱᵈ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵒᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ᵃᶜᵗᵘᵃˡ ʷᵒʳᵏ ᵗᵃᵏⁱⁿᵍ ᵈᵒʷⁿ ᶠˡʸᵉʳˢ ᵃˢ ˢᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉ ᵇᵒᵇ ᵖᵒⁱⁿᵗᵉᵈ ᵗʰᵉᵐ ᵒᵘᵗ‧ ᵀʰᵉʸ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ᵒᶠ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵍᵉᵗᵗⁱⁿᵍ ᵃˡˡ ᵒᶠ ᴾᵉᵃʳˡ'ˢ ˢᶜʰᵒᵒˡ ᵗᵒ ˡᵉᵃᵛᵉ ˢᵒᵐᵉ ᵃⁿᵒⁿʸᵐᵒᵘˢˡʸ ⁿᵃˢᵗʸ ⁿᵒᵗᵉˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ʳᵃᵗᵉˢ‧ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵍᵃˢᵖᵉᵈ⸴ ᵃˢ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᶜᵃˡˡᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ᵃˡᵒⁿᵉ ⁱⁿ ʰⁱˢ ᵒᶠᶠⁱᶜᵉ‧ "ᵂʰᵃᵗ ᵈᵒ ʸᵒᵘ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ᵃᵇᵒᵘᵗ ʲᵉˡˡʸ?" ᴴᵉ ᵃˢᵏᵉᵈ ʰⁱᵐ ᵃᶠᵗᵉʳ ʳⁱᵈᵈⁱⁿᵍ‧ "ᴵᵗ'ˢ ᶠʳᵉˢʰ⸴ ᶠʳᵒᵐ ʲᵉˡˡʸᶠⁱˢʰ‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʷʰᵉʳᵉ ᶠⁱⁿᵈ ʲᵉˡˡʸᶠⁱˢʰ?" "ᴵⁿ ʲᵉˡˡʸᶠⁱˢʰ ᶠⁱᵉˡᵈˢ⸴ ˢⁱʳ‧‧‧" "ʸᵒᵘ ⁿᵉᵉᵈ ᵗᵒ ᶜˡᵒˢᵉ ᵒᶠᶠ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠⁱᵉˡᵈ ʷⁱᵗʰ ᶠᵉⁿᶜᵉ ᵗᵃᵖᵉ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗʰᵉ ˢⁱᵍⁿ‧‧‧" "ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ'ᵗ!" "ᴰᵒ ⁱᵗ⸴ ᵒʳ ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ᶠⁱʳᵉᵈ!" ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ʸᵉˡˡᵉᵈ ᵃᵗ ʰⁱᵐ‧ ᔆᵖᵒⁿᵍᵉᵇᵒᵇ ᵏⁿᵉʷ ʰᵉˡᵖⁱⁿᵍ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵇᵃᵈ ᶠᵒʳ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ⸴ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵃˡˢᵒ ᵗʰᵉ ᵒᵗʰᵉʳ ʷᵃʸ ᵃʳᵒᵘⁿᵈ‧ ᴴᵉ'ˢ ᵃ ᵖᵉᵒᵖˡᵉ ᵖˡᵉᵃˢᵉʳ ᵃⁿᵈ ᶜʳⁱᵉᵈ ᵃˢ ʰᵉ ʷᵉⁿᵗ ᵇᵉ ʰⁱⁿᵈ ᴾˡᵃⁿᵏᵗᵒⁿ'ˢ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ ᵗᵒ ᶠᵒʳ ʰⁱˢ ᵇᵒˢˢ‧ ᴮᵘᵗ ᵃᵍᵃⁱⁿ⸴ ᵈⁱᵈⁿ'ᵗ ʰᵉ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵍᵒ ᵇᵉʰⁱⁿᵈ ᴹʳ‧ ᴷʳᵃᵇˢ ᵇᵃᶜᵏ? "ᴵ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ⁱᶠ ᴵ ᶜᵃⁿ ᵈᵒ ⁱᵗ‧‧" ᶜᵒⁿᵗ‧ ᵖᵃʳᵗ ᵗʷᵒ