"It is simply the way things are." He shrugs. "I know I am not...easy to be around," he admits reluctantly. He looks out of his element as he averts his gaze.

The corners of my lips tip up.

"Is that your way of apologizing for your abysmal behavior?"

"Of course not. I never apologize," he huffs out. "And you do have deplorable table manners," he points out matter-of-factly.

I shake my head at him, amused.

"You're a very odd person, Ze," I muse aloud.

"So I've been told," he replies, his shoulder blades angling up. There's that shrug again. It's the only sign that he's less than comfortable with the topic because it's the only time he's not his confident self.

He finally lets go of my hand, and I continue to tend to him. I swipe the compress over his forehead in slow, gentle movements, eliciting a small sound of approval from him—something akin to a kitten purring at being petted.

A hidden smile is on the edge of his lips as his lids flutter shut. His breathing is not as erratic as before, his body slowly relaxing. Even the tension in his muscles evaporates as he makes himself comfortable. His chest rises and falls in a steady rhythm, almost as if it were imitating the motion of my hand. When the compress becomes lukewarm, I lean back, about to get up to wet it again. But once more, he stops me, catching my wrist. The compress slips from my hand, but he simply flattens my palm, bringing it to his cheek and burrowing his face against it.

I'm at a loss for words as I simply stare at him.

His eyes are still closed, and his moves seem to be more instinctual than intentional. He barely looks aware of what he's doing as he nuzzles his cheek against my palm.

"Ze?" I call out his name, but he doesn't answer. "Ze, are you all right?" I repeat, and with a deep exhale, he opens his eyes, dropping my hand.

He doesn't blink, simply staring at me intently. His eyes are almost like a swirling mass of silver, but there's a hint of color too. Curious, I lean forward to get a better look. Another flush stains his cheeks, spreading all the way to his hairline.

"Are you feeling ill again? Your cheeks are so red," I say as I swipe my thumb up his cheekbone.

His mouth opens and closes a few times, his piercing gaze still holding mine.

Before I know what's happening, he shrugs me off him, getting to his feet. Already unstable in my position, his sudden movement makes me lose my balance and fall back, landing on my ass.

"Ouch," I mumble. This is the second time I've fallen because of him.

"You've taken too many liberties, human," he states in his arrogant tone.

"A thank you would be enough." I roll my eyes at him.