Gold Fever (m×m) ✔

X: Hi lost, I'm Birdy

《 ELIAN PHOENIX 》

I woke up hours before sunrise, my stomach rumbling so loudly it was a miracle no one rang the earthquake warning signal. Somehow my friends slept through it, but there was no sleep left for me. I was ravenous. It wasn't a matter of wanting to eat, but a matter of eating my own arm if I got nothing else to fill my stomach with. 

I tiptoed into the kitchen, taking my backpack with me as quietly as I could. The idea of having a fresh cup of coffee and reading a book in an actual working kitchen was so compelling to me, that I was willing to face the complaints from the others, if I accidentally woke them up.

"I thought I smelled coffee." Rio whispered, leaning against the doorway and gazing at me with a warm smile on their lips.

"Did I wake you?" I whispered back with a slight grimace, and when they nodded, I went on: "Sorry. I'm just so fucking hungry I want to cry."

I expected Rio to lecture me about the waning food supplies, but instead they opened two cans and brought them to the table, which I had cleared from the molded remains of breakfast the previous residents had left behind. I instantly started to shake my head, seeing that they had picked a can of tuna in oil and cut green beans for me.

"I can't eat all that." I told them, although my stomach was rumbling even more loudly at the smell of food.

"We'll figure something out." Rio promised and sat at the table, setting the notebook in front of them. "The magic.. It makes you hungrier."

"Yeah." I sighed, before stuffing a heaping forkful of oily tuna in my mouth, and holding back a moan at how good it tasted.

"And that's why you look so much worse than the rest of us." Rio opened their notebook to write it down when in was still fresh in their mind.

"Thanks." I grumbled with my mouth full. Not that they didn't have a point there, as I had in fact gotten so scrawny I would soon be blown away by the wind if I got any lighter.

I was already done with my tuna and moved on to the green beans, trying to savor each bite so the meal would last longer, but wasn't doing a very good job with it. In the meantime, Rio was scribbling on their notebook, content with the silence. And since they were doing their own stuff, I picked up my book and started to read. 

"Do you think.." I swallowed back the rising panic, then cleared my throat and went on: "Do you think Najwa or Rain would mind stopping by another pharmacy? I need.. something."

"Those pills you take?" Rio looked up from the notebook, their eyes filled with understanding and a promise that if I wanted to talk, they would listen without judgement.

"Is there anything you don't notice?" I asked, frowning. 

"I pay attention." Rio said and shrugged their shoulders like it was no big deal. We grew silent for a little while, Rio making more notes and I staring at the page without internalizing a single word.

"You're a good friend." I whispered, and Rio's eyes darted up to me. Their smile was instant and their cheeks warmed with delight.

"So are you." Rio murmured right back. "And no more coffee magic, you need to practice but it should be on things we need to stay alive. Food and that kind of stuff."

"Roger that, parent." I huffed, rolling my eyes for dramatic effect, but then grinned at them over my coffee mug. 

"Good morning." Rain mumbled from the doorway, then covered his mouth with his hand as he yawned. His hair was a mess, sticking out to every compass point, and he was sporting a beard. "I thought I.." He stopped to yawn again. "..smelled coffee."