American Royalty III

Part 28: Seriously

Kit stood in the kitchenette of the demigods' dorms, the faint light of the magical torches casting a warm glow over her. She was leaning against the counter, one hand clutching a steaming mug of hot chocolate. Connor's hoodie hung off her frame like a protective blanket, the sleeves falling well past her hands. Her hair, tied up in a messy bun, had strands slipping free, framing her pale face.

At her feet, Rocky, her golden lab service dog, sat watching her intently, his eyes tracking every move she made.

"I know, Rocky," Kit murmured, crouching down to give him a gentle scratch behind the ears. "I'm supposed to be in bed. But come on—it's been over a year since I had anything hot to drink. You can't tell me I don't deserve this." She straightened, lifting the mug to her lips and sighing as the warm liquid chased away some of the lingering chill in her chest. "It's practically a health decision."

Rocky tilted his head, letting out a soft huff, his tail wagging faintly, though his ears twitched at the sound of approaching footsteps.

The door creaked open, and Leo walked in, his ever-present wrench in hand and a distracted look on his face. He didn't seem to notice her at first as he muttered to himself about a project he was working on, but then he glanced up—and froze mid-step.

"Uh..." Leo blinked, his eyes narrowing. "Kit?" He pointed his wrench at her like he was accusing her of a crime. "You're... up. Are you supposed to be up? No, wait, let me guess—Will doesn't know, does he?"

Kit gave him a faint smirk, the steam from her mug curling lazily in the air. "Relax, Leo. I'm not summoning monsters or anything. It's just hot chocolate."

Leo squinted at her, as if trying to determine if this was some kind of elaborate trick. "Yeah, well, you'd better hope Will doesn't walk in, because I am not getting dragged into another lecture about 'enabling reckless behavior.'" He made air quotes with his free hand.

Kit rolled her eyes. "It's not reckless. I'm just tired of drinking water and broth. One mug of hot chocolate isn't going to kill me."

Leo opened his mouth to retort, but the door opened again, and this time, it wasn't a demigod mechanic who entered—it was Will. He had a scroll of parchment in one hand and his healer's bag slung over his shoulder. He was halfway through reading something when he looked up—and froze, his eyes locking on Kit like she was a patient trying to escape the infirmary.

"Kit," he said, his voice sharp and laced with authority. He closed the distance between them in a few strides, his bag landing on the nearest surface. "What are you doing out of bed?"

Kit sighed, setting her mug down on the counter and crossing her arms—well, as best she could with the oversized sleeves. "I'm having hot chocolate. That's it."

Will's eyebrows shot up. "That's it? You're supposed to be resting, not playing barista. You shouldn't even be standing, let alone walking around!"

"I know," Kit said, exasperation creeping into her tone. "But I needed this. I wasn't trying to push myself. It's just—" She hesitated, glancing down. "I needed something normal, okay?"

Will's expression softened slightly, but his concern didn't waver. "Normal or not, you're still recovering from injuries that should've killed you. You can't just ignore that because you want a cup of cocoa."

Leo, sensing the tension, leaned against the counter and muttered under his breath, "Pretty sure she'd argue hot chocolate is medicine."

Will shot him a look. "Not helping."

Leo held up his hands. "Just saying."

Before Will could respond, Rocky suddenly barked—a sharp, urgent sound that cut through the room like a knife.

All three of them froze, the air growing heavy with tension.

"Rocky?" Kit said, her brow furrowing as she crouched slightly to stroke the dog's head. "What's wrong, boy?"

Rocky barked again, louder and more insistent this time. He stood and began nudging Kit's leg with his nose, his entire body stiff with unease.

Will's healer instincts kicked in immediately. "Kit, sit down," he said firmly, stepping closer. "Something's not right."

"I'm fine," Kit started to say, but the words barely made it out before the room began to spin.

Her hand shot out to steady herself against the counter, but her knees buckled. The mug clattered to the floor, and her vision blurred as darkness began to creep in.

"Kit!" Will shouted, surging forward just in time to catch her as she collapsed.

Her body went limp in his arms, her face pale and clammy. Rocky whined anxiously, circling them and nudging her shoulder with his nose.

"Damn it, Kit," Will muttered, lowering her carefully to the floor. His fingers immediately went to her pulse, checking for signs of distress. Her breathing was shallow, but steady, and her heartbeat—though weak—was still there.

"Leo!" he barked, not looking up. "Grab my bag!"

Leo, for once not cracking a joke, nodded and sprinted across the room to retrieve it.

Will worked quickly, his hands moving with practiced precision as he checked her vitals and began administering what aid he could. Rocky stayed close, his tail wagging nervously as he licked Kit's hand, his eyes never leaving her face.

Leo returned moments later, his expression uncharacteristically serious as he handed over the bag. "She's gonna be okay, right?" he asked, his voice low.

Will didn't answer right away, his focus entirely on Kit. Finally, he glanced up, his face a mix of frustration and relief. "She'll be fine," he said, more to himself than anyone else. "But she's not leaving that bed again until I say so. I don't care if I have to tie her down."

Leo snorted softly, though his usual humor was dulled. "Good luck with that. She's about as stubborn as they come."

Will huffed, brushing a strand of Kit's hair from her face as he whispered, "Yeah, well, she's not winning this fight."

For a long moment, the room was silent except for Rocky's soft whines and the steady sound of Kit's breathing. Finally, Will stood, lifting her gently into his arms. "Leo, grab the door," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

As Leo rushed to comply, Will carried Kit out of the kitchenette, his expression set in grim determination. "You've got a lot of people who need you, Kit," he murmured under his breath. "And I'm not letting you go anywhere."