As the rain began to worsen, Uno and Denise ran inside North Heathson's Swindon Manor HQ, their soaked clothes clinging to them as they dashed down the narrow hallways. The cold air of the manor felt even more biting after being drenched, and Uno's breath came out in small, visible puffs.
Denise glanced at him with a smirk. "You look like a wet dog, Uno," she teased, her voice light despite the heavy weather outside.
Uno shot her a tired glare. "I'd rather be a wet dog than a loudmouth head spy," he muttered, rubbing his nose. He could feel the slight tickle at the back of his throat, the early signs of a cold beginning to brew.
"Oh, come on, big guy. You’re always bragging about how you're trained to handle the cold. What's this? A little rain, and you're sniffling like a schoolboy?" Denise continued, poking fun at him with a playful grin.
"Shut up, Star," Uno snapped, his voice hoarse and raspier than usual. He sneezed loudly, the sound echoing in the hallway. “I swear if you—” He paused, his legs wobbling beneath him.
"Uno?" Denise's smile faded slightly, noticing his unsteady stance.
Suddenly, Uno’s eyes fluttered, and he collapsed onto the floor, the world spinning around him. Denise's heart jumped into her throat. She rushed to his side, feeling the cold seeping from his skin. "Uno! Hey, wake up!" she called, lightly shaking his shoulder.
When he didn't respond, she let out a sigh. "Oh, for the love of… You always have to make things difficult," she muttered under her breath. She scanned the hallway and then grabbed a notepad from her pocket, hastily scribbling a note: Uno's knocked out. Sick. Dragging him to his quarters. Don't panic. – Denise
Denise taped the note to his unconscious body, then hoisted him up by the shoulders. "You’re heavier than you look," she grumbled, dragging him down the corridor toward his living quarters. "Maybe lay off the mushroom soup for a bit, huh?"
After what felt like an eternity, Denise finally reached Uno's door, fumbling for the key in his pocket. "Of course, you keep it in the hardest place to reach," she muttered, finally managing to unlock the door. She dragged him inside, letting him flop unceremoniously onto the bed.
Denise looked down at him, hands on her hips. "Alright, Uno. Let’s get you sorted."
She grabbed a blanket from the foot of the bed and draped it over him, then started rummaging through his medicine cabinet. "You really should take better care of yourself, you know," she called over her shoulder, even though she knew he was unconscious. "Trained in the cold, my foot. You catch a chill like a kid out on his first snow day."
She found some cold medicine and filled a cup of water. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she gently propped Uno up, bringing the cup to his lips. "Come on, drink up, Frosty," she murmured, her tone softening.
Uno stirred slightly, blinking his eyes open, looking dazed. "What… happened?" he croaked.
"You caught a cold and passed out like an idiot," Denise replied, rolling her eyes. "Now, drink this."
He obediently sipped the water and medicine, grimacing at the taste. "I told you to shut up," he muttered, though his voice lacked any real heat.
Denise chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, whatever, boss. Just rest up, alright? I'll handle things for now."
She watched him drift back into sleep, a small smile forming on her lips. "Honestly, you’re such a handful," she whispered, brushing a stray hair from his forehead. "But someone’s gotta take care of you, right?"
Denise settled into a chair next to his bed, keeping watch. She couldn't help but tease him, even in his sleep. "I guess even tough guys like you need a break sometimes," she murmured, her voice filled with a mix of amusement and concern. "Just don't make this a habit, okay?"
