The Troll Flu

Mali was pretty alright with the idea of no champagne toast, she hated the taste of the stuff anyway. It didn't really feel like they were missing out on much, not as long as she was by his side. As much as she wished that he felt better, Theo was rather cute when he sniffled. It was endearing, humanizing the big, strong man and giving him a touch of vulnerability. He looked smaller, more fragile. There was an innocent beauty to people as they slept and she almost hated to interrupt Theo just as his eyes fluttered closed, but his skin was warm to the touch and another round of potions would help him sleep better, anyway. One didn't sleep well with scratchy sounding coughs and clogged noses.

Her smile fell a bit, weighed down by sympathy when he told her he was achy. Her poor little troll, they had potions for that. Upon hearing that Theo was sick she'd stocked up on a plethora of different potions to try and mitigate the nastier symptoms. It was one of the many benefits to having Eoin as a roommate, she always had the right ones on hand. First, they had to ring in the new year and Theo thought that another kiss might serve him better than a potion and she grinned. "Mm, I think I'll save that for when you're not contagious." Instead, she pressed her lips to his warm forehead before stretching to nick a small vial from his bedside table with her free hand.

As much as they'd been through in the past year, as many times as they pulled apart by different things, one thing became undeniably clear. They were better together than they were apart, no matter what it was that they were put up against. Things weren't perfect, they still didn't see eye to eye on her career choices but they had their sweet moments that more than made up for the bickering. "I know it will. Any year I get to start with you is bound to be a great one." She didn't have any wooziness to blame anything on, just the fact that she was beyond smitten with him. Mali took her hand back long enough to uncork the vial and bring it to Theo's lips to help him drink it. There was something about nursing someone back to health that felt very intimate. He was in a vulnerable state, even if it was just a cold and there was an unspoken trust and dependence. That paired with her own lovesickness made her overly affectionate.

When the potion was done and the vial discarded she fit herself into the crook of his arm as he laid propped up on several pillows. "I've read somewhere body heat is good for colds. Germs be damned."

Theo might've thought the new policy of no kissing unless one was free of pathogens wasn't fair, but Mali wasn't keen on catching his man cold. Whatever nasty little bug decided to invade his system seemed to be knocking him for a loop and she preferred them both to be healthy and not to pass a cold back and forth like a hot potato. "Oooh shh." She gently chided, moving to press a silencing finger to his lips but stopping short when she realized that would have rendered the whole 'no kissing' rule useless. "You'll be better in no time, I've heard your Healer is really good." She winked at him with a cheeky smile and a playful wrinkle of her nose.

Theo's own nose wrinkled when the potion hit his tongue, making her laugh. "It's not that bad!" Easy for her to say, when she wasn't the one drinking it. "I'm going to tell Eoin you made that face, he'll never forgive you." Mali was relived that the potion seemed to work it's magic despite not tasting very good, he seemed to feel a little better and she settled in right next to him, wiggling to get comfortable in the crook of his arm. The conversation turned back to the holiday, New Years. Mali bit her lower lip thoughtfully as she turned the question over in her brain before answering. "I don't know if I really believe in the notion of New Years Resolutions. If someone's going to change something why wait for the new year? Why not when you realize there's a problem?"

There was more to say. She did sort of have a resolution, but it was only a new year's one because of the timing. The problem that needed fixing was one that she was ignoring for quite a long time but couldn't be anymore. Mali reached for Theo's hand, pulling it over so she could fidget with his fingers instead of her normal shirt hem or hair. It gave her a reason to avoid looking at him, too. "I think if I did believe in them..." she started cautiously, unsure of how to phrase the problem that needed resolving. "I'd resolute to be better at things. Better at magic, and better at handling pressure." She was very touchy when it came to her level of competency but there were some things she couldn't turn the other cheek too. She splinched herself too often, flubbed up basic charms and lost her head during emergencies. "I'm good at fixing spell damage but really nothing else. I don't wanna be so incapable." Her admission made her feel very vulnerable and she quickly pressed on from the subject, tilting her head to look at him. "You?"

Theo tapped his finger against hers, declaring his Healer the best and Mali melted a little. "Did anyone ever tell you" she started, breaking her own rule as she leaned in, their lips brushing together for a light and quick kiss. Surely the fact that Mali was lovesick would ward off the germs, so the kiss was alright. Just one. "That flattery would get you everywhere?" It even earned him a banned kiss. If she did get sick, Theo would take excellent care of her just like she was taking care of him, that made the prospect of illness a little bit more tolerable.

"I'm so telling him." she teased, grinning. That would be a sight to see, big tall Theo being scolded and glared at by cute little Eoin. "You're in for it. Don't let his size fool you, either. He's inherited his temper from his Irish grandmother. It's scary" Sort've. Eoin was a sweet little muffin, even when he was mad. "Why d'you think we're friends? It's not because we're almost literally the same person." Both worked in the hospital, both Hufflepuffs, both cute as a button. "It's because I'm afraid of his bad side." Enough taunting, though. When she had sufficiently scared Theo off of Eoin it was time for snuggles.

And the snuggles were really the best. She liked when Theo told her that she was smart, because Mali believed him when he said it. It made her feel good, like she wasn't as average as she felt. When he sat up, it disturbed her comfortable position and Mali tilted her head back, asking "You okay?" with an edge of concern to her voice. Mali nodded thoughtfully "I don't think anyone who waits to make changes Is really serious about them." And of course, like always Theo had something to say that made her feel better. He thought she was good at a lot of things and she found herself smiling a restrained, close lipped smile at their hands as she fidgeted with their fingers together. "You'll braid my beard hair for me? Maybe weave some flowers in there or something?"

When Theo spoke, Mali shifted so she was facing him instead of just looking back. "That's cheating." Their hands broke apart so she could instead lay hers against his chest, tracing little shapes over his sternum. "You've done half of that. You already make me happy. " Her hand left his chest to pat his chin. "I don't think you'll pull off the beard quite as well as I will, but I'll braid yours for you. Maybe a French twist." Mali settled back against Theo, laying her head on his chest while she contemplated all the ways he could fix his beard. His heart beat mixed with the deep and slow sound of his breathing could almost lull her to sleep, but then she would miss out on the snuggling so she kept up the conversation. "What would make you happy? Besides fixing the kitchen sink." It was something she genuinely wondered about. Mali thought Theo was happy, but one didn't really know did they?