Eurus

I tried stabilising myself as much as I could for the sake of Florence but I was simply unable. All my systems were going haywire ever since Florence suggested we slept in. All it took was a simple question with an even simpler answer for Florence to wriggle closer and wrap himself around me.

I hated these once suppressed emotions that Florence both awoke and provoked. It was something I myself was still trying to figure out and hopefully put an end to but for now I had to take care of Florence.

Who, as it turned out, was sick. It was almost scary how my body reacted to his coughs. I truly thought he had some sort of terminal illness and it put me through something worse than my weird rash. It caused a numbness to take place, starting at the crown of my head and slowly spreading downwards. Like a wild forest fire, it consumed every part of me.

My thoughts were put to a swift end as Florence groaned and shuffled. I silently thanked the lords above for waking him up. I had known that Florence was a very heavy sleeper but the minute his head hit my chest he was out like a log. At times I had even convinced myself he was in such a deep sleep that he had forgotten to breathe. I was glad he was awake because that meant more time between us that wasn't just sleeping.

Plus, I wasn't sure how much more I could take with him lying on my like this.

"Mm, good morning," he hummed, eyes still half closed as he rubbed at his left vigorously. He propped himself up with the support of his elbows on my chest, making me squirm a bit.

"It's no longer morning, Florence. In fact we probably should've been up a few hours ago." I corrected, a smirk undeniably making itself known.

He didn't comment, only groan as he sniffled. As if forgotten and just reminded, Florence groaned loudly and without warning flopped back down. I sucked air through my teeth as my lungs worked their way around their sudden smaller capacity.

"Are the others back yet?" He asked with a small cough. I grimaced at the sudden reminder.

When Florence had told me that the others were staying the night I sort of had a small panic. The idea of Florence being all alone with those two made my brain fry. I hadn't the slightest clue on why it affected me so but I was also trying to figure out why Florence made me stop hurting.

But laying here made me think of other things. Instead of constantly looking ahead and thinking of all the possibilities and routes that could take place I was figuring out ways to say sorry.

It was rare a moment like this occurred. A moment in which I had no plan- no carefully constructed apology that would enable Florence and get him back in my good graces. Because, as I've discovered, my methods didn't work on Florence. He was different.

Or maybe I was the one acting different around him?

"Hellooo?" He groaned, waving a hand in my face. I zeroed in on his eyes that hid just barely behind locks of his hair. "Earth to Eurus!" He giggled, tapping me lightly on the head before rolling off me and onto the vacant spot where Remus once was.

I felt a faint heat brush up against my cheeks as he stood up and I remembered that he was wearing my clothes.

I watched carefully as he covered his forehead with his palm and haunched over with a small groan. "Oh shit.." he muttered before falling not so gracefully back onto me.

Instead of focusing on my now sore arm I sat up on high alert, fussing over him and making sure he didn't hurt himself. "I-It's just a headache- ow, ow.." he sucked a sharp breath in as he clenched his head. I had no idea how to help him because I hadn't gotten one of these colds in years but from what I remember, you needed to stay hydrated.

I quickly got up and made my way to the kitchen and grabbed a glass. Originally I planned to simply fill at cup with tap water but on second thought I decided to go with bottled water.

"Here, drink." I offered the bottle to him and he took it with a small swipe and a thankful smile. He drank almost the entire bottle in one take, gulping it down like his life depended on it.

Wait... did it?

"Do colds normally last long for humans?" I asked idly. I wasn't sure how long I could stand seeing him like this. "J-Just out of curiosity. Dragons don't normally get colds. Maybe in the first few years of our lives but that's it."

"Depends on the person I guess. I've always recovered quick. And wait- you don't get colds?" He both asked and questioned. I enjoyed watching the seamless switch in his eyes as his groggy and tired eyes lit up with mild fascination.

"We don't. Must be our different body heat regulations..." I thought allowed, my voice trailing off as another wave of faint heat hit my cheeks. I watched as his cheeks flushed as well as I assumed we both silently remembered last night.

"Hm. Weird." He muttered. He held eye contact for a second too long before rolling on his back and letting out a sigh. "It's weird. So weird." He breathed.

I didn't waste any time in joining him, sitting down right next to him. "What's weird?" I asked, watching with both mild curiosity and amusement as he twirled a small lock of hair and frowned while thinking.

"I-I don't know how to word if without sounding.... well sounding ignorant." He laughed. It took him a while longer before justifying himself. "I guess... we're so similar. You and I." He said quietly, glancing up at me with his gleaming green eyes. I felt bad for being compared to Florence. In more ways than one, he was better than me. I felt like he had just dragged himself down to my level. "Yet we're completely two different beings."

"And does that make you uncomfortable?" I asked carefully, the possibility gripping onto me like the fear alongside it. I waited anxiously for his answer as my fingers twitched and I unknowingly reached for my chest.

"Not at all. I find it oh so interesting," he hummed with a cheeky smile, quickly taking my hand in his. "In fact, I want to know more about you."

I felt all needs to scratch fade with his warm touch. "And what is it that you want to know? Hm?" I played along as he took another moment to think. Normally I wouldn't invite such questions but seeing this side of Florence was... almost refreshing. Usually he was timid and kept to himself, now he was more open and felt free to question things.

"Oh, I don't know! Just maybe tell me about what it's like in the mountains!" He said finally. "Oh- oh! And when does one decide to fly? As in... dragon form! Does it hurt when you shift?" He ranted and slowly hyped himself up.

To a dragon shifter, these questions might seem silly or even offensive to some but coming from Florence they sounded almost as innocent as a baby's laugh.

"Well, to answer some one of your numerous questions, it doesn't hurt when shifting. The feelings akin to hopping into a nice warm bath," I teased as I tried my best not to laugh at how he contorted his face. Shifting was hard to explain to hatchlings let alone a human!

"It sounds painful, but it isn't. Maybe for the first time but after that you get used to it. And to answer your other question; there is a dedicated spot on our mountains where flying in dragon form is required. Normally we send first time shifters and elders who prefer to stay in dragon form there."

"So you just shove the old people over there so you don't have to deal with them?" He quizzed with probably a little too much seriousness.

"No! Of course not!" I laughed just as we began to fall into hysterics. Even when sick, Florence still had a nice laugh.

"Tell me about your family?" He wondered aloud as he calmed down from his small laughing fit. I grimaced at the sudden though of my uncle and then had my mood soured further by the reminder of my parents. I didn't want to warp the atmosphere into something somber so I decided to just skip the morbid and mention the basic.

"I was raised by my uncle more than my father and mother. He was... strict, to say the least." I said quickly, not bothering to register the pitying look he was giving me nor did I allow him to ask the question that he most likely had on his lips. It was the question everyone had.

"Anyways, back to my life in the mountains..." I quickly felt intercepted, effectively halting whatever was on his mind.

I told him all about my home and the beautiful open spaces. I mentioned the large marble statues and the palace that hid on the side of the mountain. There was never an enclosed space so the salty sea breeze blew softly wherever you went. The best part about it was the sheer fascination and wonder that shone from Florence's eyes.

"It sounds amazing, Eurus." He breathed dreamily, almost in a daze. I felt pride and passion bloom in my chest at his appreciation of my home. It was something a little foreign to me. Sure, I was always prideful of my birthplace but knowing Florence thought it was amazing made my head tingle.

I bit down on my lip in an attempt to stop myself from letting the idea slip but in my own excitement I was stupid enough to say it. "Would you want to... maybe come see it? I-In the future, of course."

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

How could I be so careless? Normally I was careful enough- no, smart enough not to let something as stupid as that out! Florence probably thinks I'm an idiot-

"O-Oh! I would love that." He chimed hopefully, sitting up. "But won't the, uhh, altitude like, I dunno, kill me?"

I sat up alongside him as my dread dissipated and was refuelled with relief. "No, Florence!" I snickered. "You might get altitude sickness but you won't die."

He blushed slightly and looked down bashfully. "O-Oh, well that's good I guess." He muttered before laying back down again with another sign of a headache.

For once in my life I wished Remus and Rian would hurry up and get back. For the medicine, of course.

I found myself being locked in a trance with Florence as we just settled and remained silent for an unspecified amount of time. It was nice to was him study my eyes as I did the same to him, always catching the sparkle or gleam of an unknown and unexplored emotion. There were many things I knew about Florence because of my... well my snoopy nature but there were also a few things I, at first, didn't feel the need to indulge myself in but now there were a few things I wanted to explore with him.

Such as what team he batted for...

"So.." he started, ridding me of my intrusive thoughts. "Does this mean you'll stay?"

My breath caught in my throat. Not because I didn't want to answer but because I didn't know what answer to give him. I didn't want to give him something he'd like to hear, I wanted to give him the truth but I didn't even have an answer.

One thing was certain, I felt some type of way with Florence and for once I didn't feel the need to run away. It was something my body wanted to explore and hopefully Florence would want to explore it with me.

I didn't even have to answer him as the hotel door opened, announcing the arrival of Remus and Rian.

"Florence!" Remus shouted excitedly, quickly running over and practically falling on the bed. Florence gave me one more unreadable look before switching his attention to the buzzing man. "Look what I got us!"

I watched the two carefully as Remus handed him a... sleeping mask?

I got up and took it that our little moment was over and unknowingly drifted towards Rian and helped him unpack.

Rian was one that I hadn't bothered to study past his battle techniques. Unlike Florence who I had been getting to know and Remus who I had a past I didn't like to mention, Rian was an odd one.

"Is Florence doing well?" He asked as he held a quizzical look my way. I ignored it and tried pushing my slight anxiousness down.

"Yeah. He isn't terminally ill like I had originally thought." I noted, eliciting a snicker from the man as he began putting away a few things in the small refrigerator.

"That's for sure..." he muttered, sorting through the cupboards. "Anyway, Remus is preoccupied with his bunny masks so you'll have to do."

I glared daggers at him, shock setting off my alarms. What was he getting at?

"You want me to help you?" I clarified, studying him closely. He only spared me one, single lazy glance and breathed a small laugh.

"What's that matter, too much of a priss to cook yourself?" He snickered.

I frowned as my anger flared and replaced any shock I had. Who was he to call me a priss? I've cooked many meals in the past and never- not once have I got a complaint! If anything I could probably best him in-

"Hey, before you have a hissy fit why don't you give these to Florence." He said before shoving a few pills in my hand and walking away and setting the stove.

Instead of putting up more of a fight I simply walked away and mumbled to myself. Then I found myself wondering why my first thought wasn't innately anything violent.

Maybe Florence's sickness was starting to affect me too...

woooo, a Eurus chapter! I hope y'all enjoyed this one because, as much as it seems like I tend to skip him, I like writing in his POV. It challenges me since Florence's thought process is almost completely different to his. Actually, all the guys have different thought processes! It's fun!

Well anyways, welcome to 2021! Hopefully this year bears more.... fruitful endeavours! The guys all wish you a happy new year!

Thoughts and predictions on Eurus' strange family? What's up with his parents?