Levihan Family Fluff

Blood Red Roses Pt. 1

Levi and Hanji's daughter is sick but their town has run out of the medicine that she desperately needs. As a winter storm brews, Levi has to make an emergency run to the district that makes the medicine and hope that he makes it back in time. Ava is 8, Remy is 13, Levi and Hanji are DISPLEASED.

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Hanji woke up as the floorboards creaked, signaling that one of the kids had invaded her and Levi's room. Since Remy was thirteen now and would rather die than come into their bedroom, that meant Ava was here. She had probably had a nightmare or something or maybe she was just cold. It was deep winter now, and sometimes the house got chilly no matter how many times they fed the fire during the night.

Levi stirred and put his hand against her back, having obviously heard Ava as well. It wasn't like anything was going to escape him.

"Mom?" came Ava's voice, fainter than usual. She must have stopped at the foot of the bed, which was odd. Normally, she just climbed onto the bed and situated herself in-between them or curled up beside one of them.

"Yeah, baby?"

"Can you open the window in my room? I can't get it unlocked," she whispered, tugging a little on the blanket. "It's too hot."

No, it wasn't. The air was cool in here, and it would be the same way in Ava's room. Hanji sat up and reached for her glasses even as the covers flew back. Levi was already on the move. She turned up the wick of the bedside lantern to get more light into the room while Levi knelt next to Ava, his wrist pressed against her forehead.

"She's burning up, Hanji," he said, his eyes dark as he looked up at her. He picked up the petite eight-year-old and set her on the bed, brushing her hair back from her face and neck. Hanji could see a gleam of sweat on her pale skin. "Why didn't tell us you didn't feel well?"

"I'm just hot," she said, scooting back away from him, bumping into Hanji's legs before Hanji moved, too, gathering her daughter to her. Levi was right. Holding Ava was like trying to hug a small furnace. Levi reached for her again, and she weakly batted at his hand, her little face grumpy. "I'm okay, Papa. Don't fuss."

"Stop lying."

She flinched but didn't deny it.

"You're definitely sick, kiddo," Hanji said, running her hands up Ava's arms before resting her fingers lightly on her daughter's neck. Her skin was radiating heat. Hanji looked over at Levi as Ava huddled against her, her hand circled around Hanji's arm. "We need something for her fever."

"I know," he said, his voice stony. "Ava, does anything hurt?"

Ava squirmed but finally nodded. "When I breathe, sometimes it hurts a little," she said.

"I'll get the medicine," Levi said, his eyes locked on both of them before he left, heading downstairs to the cabinet where they stored their medical supplies.

"Is he mad at me?" Ava asked, looking at the door like Levi wasn't coming back at all.

Hanji smiled faintly and shook her head. "He's just worried. Come on, let's go back to your room."

"Okay..."

Hanji picked her up, settled her on her hip, and headed back to Ava's room, taking the bedside lamp with her. Levi wasn't the only one who was concerned. It wasn't like Ava had never been sick before, it was just that she seemed so hot. A high fever could be seriously dangerous for a kid, but Ava was tough, in her own way. She just happened to be on the small and skinny side.