Chapter Text
Five days have passed since Tari got sick with a head cold, and she has finally recovered thanks to the efforts of her friends and her girlfriend Belle Fontiere to help her achieve a speedy recovery. Tari has woken up and hopped into the shower to freshen up for the day ahead of her.
Tari: It feels wonderful to finally be free of that sickness. I was getting tired of being confined to bed for several hours of any given day.
Tari proceeds to give her hair a rinse to wash the suds out thanks to the shampoo she ran through her blue locks.
Tari: At least I managed to recover quickly. Of course, I wouldn't have done so without the help of the others. Especially Belle...
Tari then blushes upon thinking back to everything Belle did for her over the course of the past few days.
Tari: I never expected her to do what she did for me. It felt... Nice.
A few minutes later, Tari finishes her shower and dries off, taking time to brush through her hair while it's still damp. Eventually, Tari completes her task and proceeds to get dressed, simply opting to wear her standard fair of long pants and a tank top before heading back into her room that she and Belle share. Tari notices that Belle is still under the bedsheets, causing Tari to become concerned.
Tari: Belle?
Tari then hears a muffled groaning sound in response, causing her concern to turn into worry.
Tari: Oh no...
Tari then swiftly pulls back the covers of her shared bed, seeing Belle sprawled out on the bed with a thin layer of sweat on her body, her cheeks a reddish tinge. Tari then places her hand onto Belle's forehead, feeling it's warm to the touch.
Tari: She caught my illness... She's burning up...
Tari then pulls her hand away, rushing off towards the medicine cabinet to find the medicine they had used for her just a few days prior.
Tari: Where is it...?
Tari frantically moves the various items in the cabinet aside until finally finding the bottle of cold medicine and the cup to pour the liquid into before rushing back to her girlfriend's side.
Tari: How does this work...? I don't want to screw this up...
Tari frantically looks all over the bottle until she eventually spots the instructions that tell how to get the proper liquid volume and pours it into the cup, setting the bottle down moments later and carrying the cup full of cold medicine over to Belle.
Tari: Belle?
Belle opens her eyes and looks over to Tari, a pained expression plastered on her face.
Belle: Mmm... Tari...?
Tari: Yes. I'm here.
Belle: W-what's that...?
Tari: You're sick, so I grabbed the cold medicine you gave me when I was sick.
Tari then brings the cup over to Belle's lips.
Tari: I know this won't taste good, but I need you to drink this...
Belle: Ugh...
Belle simply allows her lips to open, allowing Tari to pour the liquid into her mouth, the red-haired cyborg nearly gagging at the bitter taste of the medicine hitting her tongue, hastily swallowing the purple colored liquid concoction, still feeling the bitter taste on her tongue.
Belle: Ech... G-gross...
Tari then grabs an unopened bottle of water and brings it up to Belle's lips, pouring some of it into her mouth in an attempt to help wash down the foul tasting medicine and cleanse the taste off her tongue.
Tari: Is that any better?
Belle: A-a bit...
Tari: Just lie down for now... You need to rest...
Belle: R-right...
Belle then closes her eyes, attempting to get some rest as the medicine slowly begins to take effect. Tari then goes back towards the medicine cabinet to clean up the mess she made trying to find the cold medicine.
Tari: Man, I really made a mess here... At least I found what I needed...
Tari then grabs everything and puts it back into the cabinet, trying to make things orderly and less messy. After a few minutes, Tari finishes cleaning up and closes the cabinet, sighing before going back to check in on Belle, whom by this point has fallen into an uneasy sleep.
Tari: Poor Belle... I feel responsible for this... You caught the same sickness I did...
Tari then sighs again before raising her head again.
Tari: I'd better let the others know about this... She is in no condition to do anything right now...
Tari then leaves the room she and Belle bunk in and heads into the main area where Lamar is currently situated. Lamar looks over in Tari's direction, noticing her coming out alone.
Lamar: Hey, Tari. Is something wrong?
Tari: Belle's come down with a sickness...
Lamar: Same thing you had?
Tari: Looks that way... She has the same symptoms I showed...
Lamar: That's no fun...
Tari: I figured you should know about her condition.
Lamar: I really appreciate it. How's your supply of cold medicine?
Tari: We still have over half a bottle.
Lamar: That's good at least. Sofia and Masa are over at Marco's place right now. You want me to call them and let them know about Belle?
Tari: I would really appreciate it if you could.
Lamar: Then I'll do just that. For now, I think you should stay with Belle and notify me if her condition worsens.
Tari: You're right. She was there for me when I needed her, so I should be there for her now.
Tari then rushes off to her room to rejoin Belle with Lamar soon after calling up Sofia.
Sofia: Hey Lamar. What's up?
Lamar: Hey Soph. Tari just came out of her room and told me Belle's under the weather.
Sofia: Head cold?
Lamar: Based on what she told me, yes.
Sofia: I figured this would happen, but there wasn't any talking Belle out of staying close by her. She really does care for Tari at the very least.
Lamar: Indeed she does. She may be stubborn, but at least her heart is in the right place. I told Tari to keep me updated on her condition. I'll be sure to let you guys know too in case anything changes.
Sofia: I'll let Masa know when I see him again. He and Marco are currently going one on one to see if he can beat Marco without resorting to cheating.
Lamar: Classic Masa. Well, I'll let you go for now. Again, I'll let you know if anything changes once Tari notified me.
Sofia: Much appreciated, Lamar. See you later tonight.
Lamar then hangs up moments later, glancing over to Tari and Belle's room.
Lamar: I do hope Belle recovers in due time. I'd hate for her to be sick for a long period of time... I guess all we really can do right now is hope for the medicine to help her rest and allow her body to heal.
Tari meanwhile has rejoined Belle and taken a seat next to her on the bed, silently watching over her as her girlfriend sleeps, trying to sleep and allow the medicine to do it's job.
Tari: She wasn't displaying any symptoms as far as I am aware... She wasn't coughing, sneezing or anything...
Tari then thinks back to the day before she got sick, remembering she went to bed feeling fine, only to wake up the next day feeling like crap.
Tari: It likely hit her overnight... Unless she was experiencing symptoms and didn't tell me...
Tari then sighs and looks at Belle's sleeping form.
Tari: She's always been stubborn, even when it's caused her problems of her own... But at the same time...
Tari smiles a bit.
Tari: At least she has a kind heart. Even though she ended up sick herself, she didn't care. She wanted me to not be alone while I was suffering from my own head cold.
Tari then lets out a sigh.
Tari: Even still, I wish she'd look after her own well being a bit more than she currently does. She needs to take care of herself just as much as she takes care of others. But then again, I guess it's just what makes her unique.
Tari then places a hand on Belle's shoulder, gently rubbing it as Belle sleeps.
Tari: Regardless, I will do whatever I can to help you make a speedy recovery, Belle. After all, it's the least I could do after you did the exact same thing for me just a few days ago.
Tari then feels her stomach rumbling, causing her to remember that she hasn't eaten since waking up, having forgotten to eat due to finding out her girlfriend was sick.
Tari: I'd better get something in my stomach... I haven't eaten since waking up...
Tari then stands up and makes her way to the door, stopping briefly to turn and look at Belle.
Tari: I'll be back once I get some food, Belle. I won't leave you alone for very long. I promise.
Tari then heads out of the room, making her way to the main area of MD-5's hideout to grab some food, leaving Belle alone while she sleeps. As Tari prepares herself some food, she notices Lamar has left the area.
Tari: Lamar must have gone somewhere else. At least Belle's condition hasn't changed, so there's nothing to report so far.
Tari then finds enough to create a simple sandwich, sitting down in a nearby chair to eat her quick meal in relative silence. As Tari slowly eats her meal, she remembers Lamar mentioning that Sofia and Masa were going to be at Marco's place, the latter wanting a rematch against Masa after the latter had cheated to earn a new Meta Runner arm, only to end up losing it later on during the incident involving Sheridan.
Tari: I wonder how Masa is holding up against Marco...
As Tari thinks about how things are playing down between the two, Sofia has been watching Masa and Marco go at it for the past few hours with Masa managing to hold his own against Marco, managing to win several matches.
Marco: Are you sure nothing's rigged?
Sofia: For the last time Marco, I checked everything along with your own crew, and we found nothing. Marco has been holding his own against you without needing to resort to any cheating devices.
Masa: I'm not resorting to tactics like that ever again. Especially after the mess it caused.
Marco: Urgh... I still refuse to believe it...
Masa: And yet I have managed to beat you back to back in almost every match.
Marco: Typical golden boy...
Masa: Come on, Marco. You wanted me to play fair, and I have been playing fair.
Sofia: Your own allies agree with Masa on the rulings. Besides, nothing's on the line this time.
Masa: I agreed to do this in exchange for absolutely nothing, Marco. And regardless of how many matches we do, nothing is changing the outcome.
Marco: You're right. Those were the conditions, and they were my own rules that I lost to...
Masa: For what it's worth, you're still a really skilled player, and your own robotic tech is impressive in it's own right.
Sofia: A compliment from Masa? That's rare.
Masa: Hey, I'm trying to better myself!
Marco: Well, regardless, you won, and our time is up.
Sofia: Does this mean we can finally go now?
Marco: Not quite yet.
Masa: What else could you possibly want from us, Marco?
Marco: I've been meaning to tell you this. Remember that new tech I've been working on with Sofia?
Masa: Yeah. What about it?
Marco: I was wondering if you wanted to give it a test run at some point. I doubt Blue would be interested in trying it out.
Masa: Don't you remember what happened with Lucinia?
Sofia: I'm far more skilled than Sheridan could ever dream of being. I've been working on several fail safes in case something goes awry, and I've combed over the code countless times as well to ensure it's safe.
Marco: You don't need to accept it if you don't want to.
Masa: I'll have to give it some thought. I'll let you know if I change my mind.
Marco: You know where to find me. Just let me know if you're up for it. You're free to leave if you so desire.
Sofia: You ready to go, Masa?
Masa: I am if you are.
Sofia: Then let's go. Lamar called me while you were playing against Marco.
Masa: Is something up?
Sofia: Belle caught Tari's cold.
Masa: Can't say I'm surprised about that considering she refused to leave her side for most anything.
Sofia: I'm not surprised either, but at least it isn't anything more serious than a head cold.
Masa: Guess we'd better get back and offer Tari any assistance she might need.
Sofia: Yeah, that'd be best. I know she can handle herself, but we could at least help lessen the stress.
Sofia and Masa then head out of Marco's place and begin making their way back to MD-5's hideout. Tari has continued to watch over Belle as she sleeps, concern and slight worry filling her heart. Soon after, Lamar knocks on the door.
Lamar: Tari? It's me, Lamar.
Tari: It's open. Come on in.
Lamar then enters into Tari and Belle's shared room, looking over at Tari, whom hasn't taken her eyes off of Belle.
Lamar: Any changes?
Tari: No. She's still sleeping soundly.
Lamar: That's good at least. I'd hate for her condition to get worse.
Tari: You and me both... While mine didn't end up becoming worse, I felt terrible on the first day...
Lamar: Belle's a tough woman. She'll pull through this. She's got all our support.
Tari: How do you know?
Lamar: I've seen her pull through hard times before. That, and Masa and Sofia have told me she's pulled through some tough things before. A head cold won't put her down for very long. Especially with you giving her all of the TLC she needs.
Tari: I hope you're right... I just... Can't help, but worry about her sometimes...
Lamar: I know how you feel, Tari. She's stubborn, but determined, and she doesn't back down easily. It has gotten her into trouble in the past, but it's also helped her overcome things most would back down from.
Lamar then smiles at Tari.
Lamar: And honestly, you might not have recovered as quickly as you did had it not been for her efforts and stubbornness.
Tari: You really think so?
Lamar: I do. She didn't want you to be alone while you were suffering from that head cold, and she was determined to help nurse you back to health. She went out of her way for you to make you healthy again. She really cares about you, Tari.
Tari then lightly blushes at the thought of Belle caring for her so deeply.
Lamar: Well, I'll leave you be again. If you do need anything, just let me know. Sofia and Masa will also be willing to help when they get back, so don't be afraid to come to us for assistance.
Tari: I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Lamar.
Lamar: Anytime, Tari.
Lamar then heads out of Tari and Belle's room, leaving Tari behind to continue looking after Belle.
Tari: I cannot deny that she cares deeply about others, even if she doesn't like showing it.
Moments later, Belle begins to stir, indicating she's waking up.
Tari: She's waking up... Does she need something?
Belle then slowly opens her eyes, her throat scratchy and sore and her energy at an all-time low. Belle then groggily looks over and spots Tari looking down at her, a look of concern plastered on her face.
Belle: B-babe?
Tari: Yes, it's me.
Belle: H-hey...
Tari: How are you feeling?
Belle: Like c-crap... Everything hurts...
Tari: I'm sorry... Is there anything I can do?
Belle: I really... need to use the bathroom... My bladder feels like it's gonna explode...
Belle then tries to sit up, struggling to do so as her muscles ache. Tari then rushes over to Belle's side.
Tari: Don't strain yourself... I'll help you get there.
Tari then wraps one of Belle's arms over her shoulder, supporting Belle's weight on her shoulders.
Tari: I'll help you get on your feet and assist you over to the bathroom, okay?
Belle: O-okay...
Tari: On the count of three, Belle. One... Two... Three.
Tari then slowly rises up with Belle shakily standing up with her, slowly taking steps with Tari as the latter slowly brings her over to the bathroom.
Tari: We're almost there, Belle... Just a little bit further...
Eventually, Tari leads Belle to the bathroom, opening the door and guiding her in.
Tari: Do you need any more help?
Belle: N-no... I... Can handle myself for now...
Tari: Okay... If you need anything, I'll be right outside the bathroom.
Belle: T-thank you, Tari...
Tari: You're welcome...
Tari then heads out of the bathroom, closing the door behind her to allow Belle to do her business in peace, standing right outside of the door.
Tari: She's in rougher shape than I thought... Far worse than I was a few days ago... I've never seen her in such a sickly state before...
Moments later, Belle lets out a loud sneeze, causing Tari to jump from the sudden loud noise.
Tari; Belle? Are you okay?
Belle: I-I'm fine...
Belle then begins to cough due to how rough the sneeze was, soon after letting out a loud sniffling noise, due to the mucus buildup in her nose.
Tari: Belle...
Tari feels her heart sink at the sounds of her ailing girlfriend, feeling helpless at not being able to do more to help Belle. A few minutes later, Tari hears the sound of the toilet flushing followed by the sound of running water. A short time after, the sound ceases and Belle slowly opens the door, clutching onto the nearby wall for support.
Belle: H-hey...
Tari: Belle...
Tari then rushes over to Belle's side, placing her arm over her shoulders and propping her up just like she had done a few minutes prior.
Tari: I've got you, Belle. I won't let you fall.
Belle: T-thank you, babe...
Tari then slowly helps Belle back over to their shared bed, gently setting her down and helping her lay back down, making sure she's comfortable and pulling the covers up over her girlfriend.
Tari: Is there anything I can do to help...?
Belle: I... C-could use some water...
Tari then grabs a bottle of water and unscrews the cap, bringing the bottle up to her lips and gently pouring it in, with Belle taking a few sips to rehydrate her dry and scratchy throat. Belle then lets out a sigh before tilting her head back down on the pillow.
Tari: Is there anything else you need, Belle?
Belle: N-not r-right now... I just... W-w-want to rest...
Tari: Okay... If you need anything, please let me know...
Belle: I will... T-thank you...
Belle then gives a sickly smile to her girlfriend before closing her eyes and attempting to get more rest, her breathing falling into a shaky rhythm due to the sickness affecting her breathing. Tari places a hand on Belle's forehead to check her temperature, finding her to still be warm to the touch, indicating that despite the medicine helping, it hasn't completely helped her feel any better.
Tari: She's still really warm to the touch... This cold has really affected her more than I thought...
Tari then frowns as her gaze looks down to the floor.
Tari: Belle... No matter what happens, I will help you recover from this cold... I will see to it that you get better...
Tari then takes a seat next to Belle, keen on watching over Belle in case anything changes with her. A few minutes pass until Tari eventually hears a door opening, followed by the sounds of Masa and Sofia.
Tari: They're finally back... Thank goodness...
Tari then stands up and walks over to the doorway, stopping to look back at Belle.
Tari: I won't be gone long, Belle... Masa and Sofia are back so they can help if need be... I just need to update them on your condition, and I will be right back... I promise...
Tari then heads out into the hallway, finding Sofia, Masa and Lamar not far away.
Masa: Lamar filled us in on everything. How is Belle doing?
Tari: She's still in rough shape... I gave her some medicine, but I don't know if it's helping...
Sofia: It's only really designed to help one relax so their body can focus on healing.
Lamar: Is her fever down at all?
Tari: Somewhat... She's still warm to the touch...
Masa: Which medicine did you give her?
Tari: The same medicine you got for me.
Masa: She must be sicker than you were. I didn't grab the maximum strength medicine, so that might have had something to do with it.
Lamar: Actually, now that I think about it we do have some of the maximum strength stuff.
Sofia: We do?
Lamar: Yeah. I grabbed some for you a while back, remember?
Sofia: Oh yeah... Hold on, I'll go check my own medicine cabinet. I should still have it.
Sofia then rushes off to fetch the stronger medicine, leaving Lamar and Masa with Tari.
Lamar: Other than what you told me, I take it she hasn't worsened at all?
Tari: Not so far... I hope it doesn't get any worse...
Masa: It shouldn't as long as she gets the care and rest she needs.
A short time later, Sofia arrives, clutching a bottle of medicine.
Sofia: I forgot I even had this. It's maximum strength cold medicine. I'd say to use this in case her fever comes back. Since she had some medicine earlier, it's best to wait a while before attempting to give her more to avoid damage to her internal organs.
Sofia then hands the bottle over to Tari, whom takes it within seconds.
Tari: Thank you... It really means a lot.
Sofia: You're more than welcome, Tari. Be sure to keep us updated on her condition, you hear?
Tari: I hear you.
Lamar: Just keep us updated and we'll do what we can. Keep that medicine handy in case you need it.
Tari: I will. Thank you.
Tari then returns to her room to check in on Belle, leaving Sofia, Lamar and Masa in the hallway.
Sofia: Think Belle's gonna be alright?
Lamar: She's tough. She's been through worse than colds and made it through just fine.
Masa: If it's just a head cold, it shouldn't be anything she can't get through, especially with Tari looking after her.
Sofia: Let's just hope she doesn't need a trip to the emergency room if it goes beyond that...
Lamar: I do hope so too.
Masa: I'm sure that everything will be fine in the end.
Sofia: I do hope you're right...
As the three continue to converse, Tari has rejoined Belle, taking a seat next to her, having placed the medicine bottle on the night stand nearby.
Tari: Hopefully she won't need it, but at least it's here in case she does...
Tari then let's out a sigh, glancing over at the clock and finding it to be getting late.
Tari: I think I'd better try and get some rest myself... I don't want to leave her alone, but I should at least stay in the room to keep an eye on her in case she needs anything...
Tari then grabs a spare blanket and pillow and places them on the nearby love seat, laying her head down on the pillow and wrapping herself in the blanket while facing towards Belle.
Tari: Get some good rest, Belle... You'll need it to recover faster...
Tari then falls into an uneasy sleep, trying her best to rest, hoping that Belle's condition won't get any worse. A few hours pass until eventually, Tari stirs in her sleep to the sound of a groaning noise coming from nearby.
Tari: Mmm... What's that noise...?
As Tari's vision adjusts, she looks over towards Belle's general direction, seeing her sprawled out on the bed, finding her to be above the covers.
Tari: Belle!?
Tari then scrambles off of the couch and rushes over to Belle's side, finding her above the covers, her arms and legs sprawled out unnaturally with her hair sticking to her forehead, her skin and clothes drenched in sweat with her face having a reddish tint, her mouth agape and her breathing heavy.
Tari: Oh no... Her fever...
Tari then quickly places a hand to Belle's forehead, finding it hot to the touch.
Tari: She's burning up even more... I need to get the medicine...
Tari then rushes over to the night stand, grabbing the bottle of medicine and pouring the liquid into the cup.
Tari: Belle...?
Belle slowly turns her head over towards Tari, her eyes hazy due to her high fever, causing her vision to lack focus.
Belle: W-who are you...?
Tari: It's me, Tari...
Belle: Tari...?
Tari: Yes... I have some medicine I need you to take...
Tari then brings the cup over to Belle's lips and pours the mixture into her mouth with Belle hardly realizing it's even there, subconsciously swallowing it.
Tari: Please lay down and get some rest...
Belle: Okay...
As the medicine begins to take effect, Belle continues to stare at Tari, her face forming a small hazed over smile.
Belle: Heh... Beautiful angel...
Tari: H-huh?
Belle: You're the most beautiful angel I've ever laid eyes on...
Tari: A-angel...?
Belle: Mhm... So beautiful and sexy~
Tari then blushes an intense shade of red, embarrassed and caught-off guard from Belle's words. As Tari blushes from the shock, Belle reaches out a hand and gently takes hold of one of Tari's hands.
Belle: Please don't leave me...
Tari subconsciously takes hold of Belle's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
Tari: I-I won't... I will ensure you get better...
Belle: T-thank you...
Belle then slowly closes her eyes as the medicine finally kicks in, putting her to sleep. Tari then gently places Belle's arms on the side of the bed, letting out a sigh and sitting down on the nearby chair to continue watching over Belle.
Tari: Looks like it's doing it's job at the very least... Thank goodness for that...
Tari then thinks back to what Belle said to her, her blush returning.
Tari: Does she... Really think I'm beautiful... And sexy?
Tari then shakes her head of her thoughts.
Tari: No... That was just the fever talking... I think... How could anyone like me be sexy...? I'm nothing special...
Tari then lets out another sigh, feeling a bit of disappointment that what Belle said likely wasn't her in a conscious state, glancing over to her girlfriend.
Tari: Regardless, I can't let that hinder me taking care of her. We still have that tournament in less than a month, and she needs to be back in good health sooner rather than later.
Tari spends the next few minutes watching over Belle, finding her to be sleeping soundly with no complications. Tari then gets up and heads back over to the couch, laying down while glancing over at Belle.
Tari: Belle... I won't leave you alone while you're suffering from a cold... I will see to it that you make a fast recovery like you did for me... I promise...
Tari then falls asleep a few minutes later, silently hoping the medicine is doing it's job and helping Belle. A few more hours pass by until Tari wakes up again, stretching her limbs before glancing up at the clock, finding it to be early in the morning.
Tari: Morning already...?
Tari then slowly gets up, sitting up on the couch and rubbing her eyes, looking over at the bed and finding Belle to be awake, looking over at her.
Tari: Belle?
Belle: Hey, b-babe.
Belle then sniffles due to congestion, letting out a small cough afterwards. Tari then walks over to Belle out of concern.
Tari: Is something wrong?
Belle: N-no. I just w-woke up a few m-minutes ago.
Tari: Oh. H-how are you feeling?
Belle: Like absolute c-crap. At least my head doesn't hurt...
Tari: That's a relief at least... D-do you need anything?
Belle: I could use some water.
Tari: I'll go grab a bottle.
Tari then gets up to grab a bottle of water for Belle, returning shortly with the bottle in hand, unscrewing the cap and bringing the bottle to her lips, pouring some into her waiting mouth until Belle feels she's had enough, moving the bottle away soon after and putting it down nearby.
Belle: Thanks, babe.
Tari: You're welcome.
Belle then slowly sits up and gets out of bed, turning towards Tari.
Tari: Belle?
Belle: I just n-need to use the bathroom. My bladder feels like it's g-going to explode...
Tari: Do you need any help?
Belle: I m-might... I'm still feeling somewhat l-l-light headed...
Tari then quickly moves over to Belle's side, lifting up Belle's arm over her shoulders and helping her to stand up slowly.
Tari: Ready?
Belle: Yes. I am.
Tari then slowly helps Belle walk over to the bathroom, making it over easier with Belle having recovered some of her strength. Tari then let's Belle go as the latter enters the bathroom to take care of her business with Tari once again waiting patiently on the other side.
Tari: She seems to be doing better overall, though I can tell she's still struggling a bit... At least the medicine allowed her to get some much needed rest. She hasn't eaten in a while, though... I'd better grab her something she can eat so she doesn't starve...
Soon after, the sound of the toilet being flushed and the sink running fill the air on the other side of the bathroom door with Belle emerging moments later.
Belle: Much better.
Tari: That's good. Are you hungry, Belle?
Belle: Now that you mention it... Yeah. I am rather hungry. I haven't eaten anything in hours.
Tari: Is there anything you want?
Belle: I can probably handle some soup.
Tari: I can make you some if you want.
Belle: Go for it. I won't be going anywhere.
Belle then makes her way back to bed and lays down on the mattress, making herself comfortable as Tari heads out of the room towards the kitchen area.
Tari: I don't think anyone else is awake right now... I haven't made soup before... Hopefully I won't screw this up...
Tari then looks around, grabbing a can of soup, a pot, and a mixing spoon. Tari then spends the next few minutes reading the directions on the label and prepping the stove, waiting for it to be hot before continuing.
Tari: Well, here goes nothing...
Tari then gets to work on making a bowl of soup for her girlfriend, doing her best to be careful as to not screw things up. After some time, Tari finishes cooking the soup, taking a small taste of it to ensure it was done correctly.
Tari: I think I did it correctly... Or, at least I hope I did...
Tari then lets out a sigh before grabbing some oven mitts and taking the bowl into her hands.
Tari: Guess there's only one way to find out for sure...
Tari then slowly makes her way back to her and Belle's room, being careful as to not spill the bowl of soup along the way, entering the room and finding Belle to be sitting up on the edge of the bed.
Tari: Belle? Is something wrong?
Belle: I was getting a bit worried about you, since you were taking a while to get back. I was considering going to check on you, but I figured you wouldn't want me doing that, so I just opted to wait.
Tari: Well, you're right. I... haven't made soup before until now, and I don't know if I did it right... I would have asked one of the others, but none of them were awake, and I didn't want to disturb them...
Belle: Well, I'm willing to try it out. I can't really do much else right now. Besides, it actually smells really good.
Tari smiles a small smile and moves over to Belle, holding the bowl of soup in her hands as she grabs the spoon, taking up a bit of soup into it and blowing on it to cool it off.
Tari: I hope you don't mind if I feed you.
Belle: Well, you told me to take it easy, so I am. Besides, I did so for you and you handled it just fine. I should be able to handle it with my dignity still intact.
Belle then smirks and lets out a tiny chuckle before opening her mouth and allowing Tari to bring some soup to her waiting tongue. Belle feels the liquid hit her tongue, activating her taste buds. Belle savors the taste for a bit before swallowing the contents.
Belle: This isn't half-bad, Tari.
Tari: You really think so?
Belle: Hell yeah. You did a great job. I really mean that.
Tari then blushes at the compliment before taking some more soup into the spoon and feeding it to Belle, the two proceeding to repeat the process until the soup is eventually gone.
Belle: That was really good. You might have a hidden talent for cooking, babe.
Tari: Even though it was just canned soup?
Belle: You still cooked it correctly, and for your first time cooking, that's really impressive.
Tari: T-thank you.
Belle: You're more than welcome.
Belle then lets out a yawn and stretches.
Belle: Man, that was really good. I think its made me sleepy.
Tari: Going to lie down and rest more?
Belle: If you don't mind, yeah. I really could use it.
Tari: I don't mind at all. The more rest you can get, the sooner you can recover.
Belle: Well, in that case, I'll be heading back to sleep.
Tari: I'll be back in a bit. I need to wash the bowl.
Belle: That's okay. I know you'll be back.
Belle then lies back down on the bed, pulling the covers over her body before closing her eyes. Tari then heads out to the main area to wash the bowl out, making sure it's clean before making her way back to her and Belle's room. Tari finds Belle to have already fallen asleep.
Tari: Sleep well, Belle. You'll need all of the rest you can get.
Tari lets out a content sigh, taking a seat on the couch and continuing to watch over Belle to ensure she makes a speedy recovery. A few days go by until Belle eventually fully recovers from her sickness, happy to be free from the illness and back in good health, spending some quality time with Tari as the two finish up a long overdue gaming binge.
Belle: Feels nice to get back in the game after being out for so long.
Tari: No kidding.
Tari and Belle share a high five before leaning back on the couch, relaxing in relative silence. Eventually, Tari breaks the silence, having remembered something from a few days ago.
Tari: Hey, Belle?
Belle: Yes, babe?
Tari: When you were really sick, I woke up to find you in absolutely horrible shape. You were burning up and were drenched in sweat. After I gave you some medicine Sofia had given me, there was something you said to me...
Belle: Oh? What did I say?
Tari: You said I looked like an angel. But not just that. You also said that I was... Sexy...
Belle's face then turns a deep shape of red as her eyes widen.
Belle: Oh crap, she remembers that...
Tari: Considering you were really sick, I think that was just the fever talking.
Belle: Uh... Tari?
Tari: Yes?
Babe: That...wasn't the fever talking...
Tari: H-huh?
Belle: I was semi-conscious when the medicine was kicking in... I...I ended up admitting a deep secret to you that I was embarrassed to think about...
Tari: Wait... You...think I'm sexy?
Belle: Y-yeah... I do...
Belle then looks away, her blush getting deeper from embarrassment at her secret being revealed thanks to her running a high fever.
Belle: As for the angel part...
Tari: Huh? Oh, right. You did ask me if I was an angel.
Belle: When I saw you, I could have sworn that I saw a pair of angel wings behind you... That was likely just a side effect of the fever hampering my vision, but in that moment... You really did look angelic...
Belle then rubs the back of her head in embarrassment, the air becoming awkward due to neither of them knowing how to continue the conversation. Eventually, Tari breaks the silence again.
Tari: Well, if you really think I'm sexy, then... That's actually really flattering.
Belle: Huh?
Tari: I never really saw myself as attractive... You're the first person who has complimented me in such a way that's felt...genuine.
Belle: Well of course it'd be genuine! We're dating and romantically involved with one another!
Tari: Well, I really appreciate the compliment, even if it is a bit embarrassing.
The two share a laugh before Belle pulls Tari close.
Belle: Well, since it doesn't bother you, I guess I can now call you my sexy blue jay~
Tari then blushes and lets out a squeal. Belle chuckles before pulling Tari into a kiss, which the two melt into, both happy to be able to be intimate again after several days of being unable to. After several seconds, the two pull away and Belle pulls Tari into a hug.
Belle: In all seriousness, I really missed being intimate with you. Being unable to kiss you felt like torture.
Tari: Well, now we don't have to worry about that.
Belle: And I couldn't be happier.
Tari: Neither can I, miss phoenix~
Belle lets out a chuckle at the nickname Tari has chosen for her, giving her a loving and gentle squeeze as the two continue to hug. With the sickness behind them both, Tari and Belle are eagerly looking forward to the upcoming competition, both eager to show the world what they're capable of and continue to honor Lucinia's legacy.