Prompt: Isolation

Title: Sick Days

Fandom: VALORANT

Warnings: Being sick, mentions of guilt, fear and loneliness

Word Count: 1,746 (yes! short and sweet because i desperately wanted to move on!!!!)

Author's Note: A/N = Agent Name 

Synopsis: When A/N falls sick and is unable to lead the Mission she was supposed to be leading, another one of her Teammates must take her place, leaving her with someone who she's not quite all that sure of...

----

Sick Days

You'd figured something like this would happen.

At the worst time.

Right as things are finally ramping up around here...

You mumble something even your own ears can't comprehend as you roll over onto your side, the back of your hand being placed against your forehead.

Hot. Incredibly warm.

Grimacing, you exhale shakily, your groggy thoughts moving far too quickly for your liking.

What do I do now? I can't lead a Mission like this.

Almost as if the universe had heard your thoughts, a familiar sounding knock on your door pulls you back to reality, your gaze skimming over towards the entrance to your dimly lit quarters.

"C'mon, A/N! We've gotta get a move on or we'll never hear the end of it!" The cheerfully optimistic accented tone of Phoenix sounds through the door, muffled slightly.

This just earns a groan from you, your head beginning to pound, your throat as dry as sandpaper.

A beat of silence settles when you make no effort to answer, the sound of a much gentler wrap at the door gaining your attention.

"You okay in there, Y/N?"

That's Jett's softer tone, not carrying its usual teasing and competitive edge to it.

They're concerned.

"N-Not really!" You manage to rasp out aloud, your voice echoing back at you in the empty space.

This time, the pair on the other side of the door make no effort to reply, instead, their footsteps retreat with a haste to them, one that makes your exhausted thoughts spike in confusion.

I don't sound that sick, do I?

Flopping back against your pillows with a heavy sigh, you mentally curse, your bleary gaze wandering the bleak ceiling.

This is unbelievable.

And as you lie there, drifting in and out of a fevered slumber, one last thought crosses your mind.

What now?

****

"You were supposed to be Team leader out there, A/N! Your team needed your skills but you weren't there to cover them!"

"They are gone because of your absence, Y/N."

Your heart hammers against your chest as you bolt upright in bed, your head rushing at your sudden movements.

Though a gentle, reassuring hand rests on your shoulders, gently urging you back down where you'd come from.

And for the first time, you finally survey your surroundings completely.

Three people are at your bedside, two sharing a concerned glance, the other holding your wild gaze in her calm one.

"You're alright, A/N," The comforting voice of the woman sitting at the end of your bed coaxes, easing your body back against the soft pillows as you let out yet another shaky sigh. "Jett and Phoenix came to get me after you didn't open your door."

Confusion pricks your thoughts as you allow your gaze to flick to your friends, standing idle at your side, their evidently loaded Mission backpacks slung over their shoulders.

"Sage used the override code," The fire radiant explains, offering a small, reassuring grin. "KJ'll reset them all again when she's back."

Wordlessly, you nod, your foggy thoughts gradually putting the pieces together as you skim over the healer's figure, clad in her usual attire.

Though her own bag sits by the door, the slight aroma of gunpowder lingering in the air.

"You're leaving?"

At this, Sage turns to face you once more, a compassionate look upon her features.

"I will take your place for this Mission," She assures, nodding to the two other Radiants in the room. "While we're gone, you need to rest. You're fighting quite a high fever."

Surprise and a momentary panic courses through you, though you shove it down, your brain scrambling to ease your worried state.

Sage will be with them. If they show any signs of whatever this is, she'll be able to take care of them. But whoever else is on Base...

"Who else is on Base?" You rasp as the Chinese monk hands you a glass of water, of which you accept eagerly, cradling it to your lips with quivering hands.

The healer makes no effort to answer right away, exchanging an almost knowing glance with the younger two in the room.

"Uh, it's just you and..." The wind Radiant stammers, a slightly apologetic expression creasing her brow.

You merely raise an eyebrow questioningly, urging Jett to continue and answer your question.

Another set of footsteps reach your ears, coming closer with each passing second.

And the next thing you know, your door is pushed open, revealing a new figure that takes you a moment to fully comprehend what you're seeing.

"Chamber?!" You practically cough in genuine surprise and worry, scooting towards the opposite side of your bed, away from where he stands. "What are you doing here?! You can't be here! You can't be getting whatever the hell this is!"

Sage follows your panicked motions, a calming hand being placed upon your knee, almost instantly settling your heightened senses, concern for the newcomer's well-being rippling through you.

"He volunteered to stay behind," She explains softly, shock piercing your thoughts and all you can do is pray that your expression doesn't mirror it.

"Indeed I did, mademoiselle," The French sharpshooter chimes in, nearing your side, ignoring your gestures to shoo him away. "Someone needs to ensure your condition does not worsen, non?"

You swallow a lump you hadn't realized had been forming in your throat as you straighten in bed slightly, fevered gaze raising to meet his.

Chamber's gaze holds nothing but sincerity and compassion, both traits that you're now just seeing for the first time.

He's never like this.

"S-Sure," You stammer, automatically agreeing with his earlier statement, following Sage with your eyes as she makes her way to her feet, turning to face you with a soft smile.

"We must be going. Please ensure what we discussed, Chamber," The healer states, heading towards the door, the light from the hallway peeking in as she opens it, casting shadows into your dimly lit room.

"Of course."

And with one last glance towards you, almost seeking a sort of confirmation, you give Sage a nod, mentally wishing the trio well.

With one last wave and a teasing grin that urges a soft blush to your cheeks, Jett is the last to leave, the door closing behind her, once more bathing your quarters in a dim darkness.

Leaving just you and the very Agent you promised yourself you'd never find yourself alone with, let alone completely isolated.

Everyone else is gone - transport off of Base is non-existent until a Team gets back.

"So," You muse aloud with a raspy cough, fighting back an abrupt wave of nausea as you pull yourself forward, glancing at the clock at your bedside. "What now?"

At this, the other person in the room just huffs a breathy chuckle, rounding the side of your bed and wandering towards your window, pulling the blinds up, a rainy sunshine filtering through the looming gray clouds.

"Well, Sage has prescribed you constant supervision and plenty of rest..." He trails off, turning to face where you sit, his figure outlined by the dim light filtering through the window, his gaze peering down at you through his glasses. "Is there anything in particular you'd like to get up to on this dreary sick day of yours?"

Now it's your turn to huff a chuckle, though it winds up sounding more like a cough as you reach for the glass of water, raising it to your lips and taking a hasty sip before continuing.

"I was thinking I might do some reading..." You murmur, the novel you'd bought what feels like eons ago sitting with a thin layer of dust on it on your bookshelf practically calling your name. "Maybe I'll grab my book and go read in front of the back windows in the Common Area..."

The rain always looks the best from those windows.

"That sounds like a perfect idea," Your Partner for the day to come agrees, nearing your side, extending a hand down towards you to which you merely raise your gaze in questioning.

When you don't take his outstretched hand right away, Chamber chuckles lightly once more, nodding knowingly.

"Ah yes, the uncertainty finally shines through," He teases, earning an eye-roll from you.

Begrudgingly, you wordlessly take his hand in yours as he slowly helps you to your own two feet, your fevered headspace swaying slightly at your movements.

But, the man holding you steadies your trembling, shivering figure as your frame almost instinctively leans into his touch.

The pair of you silently continue on, grabbing your book and the box of tissues Sage had brought in before she'd been forced to leave, ultimately ending up in the Common Area.

And, your hunch had been correct.

Rain pours down the large floor to ceiling windows that this area houses, the foliage and trees outside swaying in the wind as the storm continues its gentle rage.

The sounds are almost soothing to your dulled senses, the air out here feeling less stuffy than it had been in your room.

Though as you sit there, your back against the plush cushions of the couch closest to the windows that Chamber had helped you to mere moments ago, the sound of your Partner's movements catch your attention.

The clatter of what sounds to be cups, the dying whistle of a kettle...

Curiosity pricks your thoughts as you twist in your seat, though you almost instantly regret it, your headspace reeling, the room around you beginning to spin.

Blinking a few times, you sink back deeper into the couch cushions, solely focusing on shoving your nausea aside.

Though when the other Agent in the room rounds the side of the couch you sit on, a tray of cups and saucers in his grasp, you inwardly smile, allowing it to tug outwardly at your lips.

"I figured some hot tea would help," The French marksman explains, offering a reassuring, comforting glance your way as he pours two cups, handing one to you.

And you accept it happily, the feeling of the warm liquid against the cup in your grasp a welcome sensation.

"Thank you," You mumble, voice raspy and hoarse.

But, he doesn't miss a beat, taking a seat in the chair across from you, his gaze holding a genuine glimmer of compassion and... something else, you can't quite make out.

But, you don't mind, a light blush tainting your already heated cheeks.

"You are welcome, ma chérie."