caught a cold

By the time Noah stumbled back onto shore, his body was shaking violently.

His skin was cold, his clothes soaked through, and his head pounded.

Great. Just great.

As if nearly drowning, getting bitten, and having his wound licked wasn’t bad enough—now he was sick.

His throat ached. His nose was stuffy. His body burned with fever.

A cold.

Shivering, Noah dragged himself home, barely managing to lock the door before stripping off his wet clothes. He ran a hot bath, hoping the steam would soothe the deep chill in his bones.

But even after he was clean and dry, he still felt miserable.

His cough rattled in his chest as he collapsed onto his bed.

“Ugh…” he groaned, pulling the blankets over his head. Maybe if he just slept, everything would go away.

But just as he started to drift off—

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Noah froze.

His fevered mind begged him to ignore it.

But then it came again—louder. More persistent.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Noah gritted his teeth. “Who the hell is knocking this late…?”

Dragging himself out of bed, still coughing, he shuffled to the door. His head was spinning. His body ached.

The last thing he expected was to open the door and see—

Him.

The merman.

Standing at his doorstep.

But this time—he had legs.

Long, muscular, towering over Noah like a predator cornering its prey.

His black hair was still damp, cascading down his broad shoulders. His piercing blue eyes locked onto Noah’s fevered face.

Noah’s breath hitched.

And then—SLAM.

He shut the door right in his face.

Nope. Nope. Nope.

He turned, wobbled back to his bed, and collapsed.

“I must be hallucinating,” he mumbled into his pillow. “Fever dreams. That’s all.”

He coughed again, curling deeper under the blankets.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Noah groaned. “Go away…”

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Ugh, seriously…?”

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Noah gritted his teeth, ripped off the blankets, and stormed back to the door.

Fever or not, he was about to cuss out whoever—or whatever—was bothering him.

With a deep breath, he swung the door open

“What do you want?!”

The merman stood there, completely unfazed.

His tall frame cast a shadow over Noah’s doorway. His damp clothes clung to his sculpted body. His eyes glowed softly in the dim light.

Cold. Calm. Watching.

Noah’s anger faltered.

He sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead.

“Fine. Just—come in. But don’t do anything weird.”

Stepping aside, he let the merman inside.

As soon as the door shut, Noah felt the temperature in the room shift.

Why… did he suddenly feel even hotter?

Noah dragged his exhausted body back to bed, still feeling lightheaded from his fever. He barely had the strength to argue anymore.

His bed felt warm and familiar, and he let out a deep sigh as he pulled the blanket over himself.

Finally. Sleep.

But just as he closed his eyes—

The bed dipped.

Noah's eyelids snapped open.

Something cold and damp pressed against his back.

A body.

A very wet, very unwelcome body.

Noah stiffened.

Before he could react, strong arms wrapped around his waist, pulling him flush against a firm chest.

Noah's breath hitched.

His wrist was suddenly caught by a larger hand, their fingers intertwining.

"...What the hell are you doing?!" Noah blurted out, his voice hoarse from his cold.

No response.

Only the feeling of a cold, wet grip tightening around him.

Noah twisted in his grasp, kicking his legs. "You stupid merman! You're soaking wet—get off me!"

Still, the merman didn’t budge.

Instead, his grip tightened.

Noah could feel the slow, steady rise and fall of his chest.

The warmth of his breath against the back of his neck.

His heart pounded.

"Hey—seriously—get off me!" Noah snapped, wriggling even harder.

But before he could shove him away—

A hand clamped over his mouth.

Noah’s eyes widened.

“Be quiet.” The merman’s voice was deep, tired, and firm.

“I’m sleeping.”

Noah let out a muffled protest, glaring at him.

But the merman simply closed his eyes, ignoring him completely.

Noah screamed internally.

His wet clothes were making the sheets damp. His grip was strong. And worst of all—

Why did it feel… strangely warm?

His fevered body soaked up the cold contact.

And slowly, against his own will… his body relaxed.

"Ugh… stupid merman," Noah grumbled weakly, his voice slurring from exhaustion.

"...Damn wet idiot…"

And before he knew it—

Noah fell asleep in his arms.

To be continued

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