"I-" Elias knew he shouldn't. He had no business to. He had a hundred things to do, but somehow... he couldn't get his feet to move. He just stood there for a moment, before making a desicion.
Elias walked to the ensuite bathroom, getting a cloth and a basin of water. He sat down on a chair beside the bed, putting the basin on a table. "I'm just here to make sure your temperature doesn't rise too much, okay? Don't... misunderstand," he huffed, dipping the cloth in water and wringing it out.
Raphael chuckled at that, despite the coughing fit it caused him. He gave Elias a small smile and a nod as he shifted, allowing the doctor to reach his forehead easily. A low hiss escaped his mouth when the cool cloth touched his skin. It felt cold, but it was a welcome relief from the fire under his skin.
"Don't worry, I won't. I wouldn't dare... misunderstand," he reassured, his voice hoarse. But there was a slight teasing hint in his tone, though it was obvious if one listened closely, it was a rather poor cover-up of the undertone of longing and yearning.
Elias began to gently, almost tenderly, dab the cold cloth on the lawyer's skin, his touch gentle and careful. It wasn't long before the heat from the other's skin made the cloth warm, and he dipped it back into the bowl of cold water before repeating the motions. Raphael had closed his eyes and leaned into the cool touch, silently relishing how the cold cloth helped with his feverish, clammy skin. He didn't speak, instead, just enjoyed the other's ministrations.
"Your skin is quite hot," Elias remarked, gently placing the cloth on his forehead. He... missed the other's smartass remarks. And he'd be lying if he said he didn't phrase it the way he did to purposefully give the other an opening.
Raphael opened his eyes, looking at Elias and managed a small, crooked smirk. "Yes... but you're still the... hottest one in this room, a-angel."
Elias chuckled lightly in relief and... something else. "Well, at least the fever hasn't gone to your head. Still the bad pickup lines..."
Raphael let out a raspy, offended laugh that almost turned into another coughing fit. He smiled warmly at the other, shifting slightly just as another wave of chills and aches hit him. He winced but continued speaking anyway, even as chills made him shiver and his voice became even more hoarse and weak. "Please, I could come up with better pickup lines... even if I were half dead. And don't forget, these 'bad' pickup lines were the same ones that swept-" his sentence was cut off by a cough, as he continued, "-swept you off your feet at 22."
That made Elias chuckle fondly, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes. He gave raphael a mock disbelieving look. "Uh-huh, sure. Now, don't try to speak; your throat is sore."
Raphael rolled his eyes at that, wincing slightly at the movement. He opened his mouth to retort, probably with some smartass comment, but another coughing fit took over before he could even speak a word. His entire body seemed to convulse and shiver violently as he hacked and wheezed. When it subsided, he grimaced, looking and sounding utterly miserable as he croaked out, "I... don't have a sore... throat," he wheezed out.
The doctor gave him a disbelieving, withering look as he said sarcastically, "Sure, and I'm Taylor Swift."
Raphael groaned at that, trying to give the other a half-hearted annoyed glare. The effect was ruined by the fact that he was flushed and looked miserable, with beads of sweat on his face and his hair sticking to his forehead, but he still mumbled, "...I'd... love to see you... dress up as... her. You can dress up as her, and I'll... I'll dress up as whoever she's dating right now. For Halloween. We'll go trick-or-treating," he joked.
That made Elias scoff lightly, though he couldn't stop the fond smile on his face. This man, seriously. He reminded him, "You're 35; I'm 32. No one celebrates Halloween at this age."
Raphael looked almost indignant at that statement, as if the other had just called him an old man. "Excuse you, I love Halloween. And you're never too old to celebrate the one day when people give out free candy and sweets. I was never allowed to go trick-or-treating as a kid, so I'll make up for it now," he declared, with the look one would expect of a stubborn child.
That made Elias pause. He thought he was the only one. "...You...weren't?" he asked, surprised. "I thought... oh well. Makes sense, I guess. I didn't, either." He knew his following words were very, very stupid. Ridiculous, even. Still, he couldn't help but say, "Then... let's go together this year. But I'm NOT dressing up as Taylor Swift. Not that I have anything against her, but I'm not crossdressing."
Raphael chuckled, and if he hadn't felt like crap, he would've sat up and given a smartass response like, "Are you asking me out on a date, angel?". But he was too sore, and he didn't feel like saying that either. He was obviously surprised by the sudden invitation... but he wasn't one to say no to free lunch. He nodded. "Alright, let's do that..."
Still, he couldn't help but add, with as teasing of a smile as he could muster while he felt like his body was literally evaporating from the fever, "Since you're saying... you'll not go as her, then... you're telling me to dress up as her?" he asked lightly, even as another cough wracked his body.
For a moment, Elias just blinked, until the statement really registered. He put a hand on his forehead, laughing as he looked up at the ceiling, "Oh god... I don't think the world is ready for a 6'5, brown-haired, muscular Taylor Swift..." The rest of his words were blurred in chuckles.
A small smile found its way across Raphael's face. He couldn't help but think... it was the first time he'd seen the other laugh. Truly laugh, not small, perfunctory smiles. And he liked it. A little too much. He liked it so much that he, a proud and generally aloof man, would happily make fun of himself if only he could hear the other laugh for a moment longer.
"I doubt it. But think about this, I'd look great as... Swift. She's tall... I've got great legs. I'd rock the outfit." Raphael tried to smirk, but he just ended up looking tired and ill.
Elias just shook his head at his statement as the chuckles died down. Though a small smile remained on his face.
The smile seemed to be more contagious than the fever Raphael had, as he also smiled and replied, "But hey, maybe that's not for everyone's eyes. Maybe... we'll think of something else..." he muttered, as his voice grew drowsier before fading into soft breaths. His head lolled to the side as he finally slipped into a dreamless sleep. The medicine had kicked in.