The room was still wrapped in the golden hush of morning.
Noel lay nestled into Luca's chest, both of them tangled under the blanket like they'd always belonged there — limbs overlapping, hearts slowing in sync.
The fever hadn't faded, but the tension had. Every touch now was calm, grounding.
Luca traced lazy circles along the curve of Noel's back, his fingers warm and careful, memorizing the shape of him in silence.
"I can hear your heart," Noel mumbled, his cheek resting over Luca's chest. "It's loud."
Luca smiled. "It's because of you."
Noel hummed, lips curving. "I like that."
They didn't talk for a while after that. Just stayed there, held together by the quiet.
Then—
Knock knock knock.
Noel groaned softly. "I swear, if that's the universe trying to test us—"
"It's just soup and meds," Luca whispered, brushing a kiss into Noel's hair. "Unless the universe also delivers Thai food."
