#cherubi was not worth the effort it took to find

[quicksilverlightning]

Rei is chatting with Professor Laventon when Volo walks through the gates carrying –

“Akari!”

He trips on his own feet in his rush to reach Volo, the professor not far behind, asking a thousand questions a minute.

“What happened?! Are you guys alright? Do I need to get Pesselle?” Volo has a split lip and streaks of red staining his apron, but Akari seems unharmed save for being unconscious. Her head rests peacefully on his chest.

“Was it an Alpha? Or was it the bandit sisters again?” Rei clenches his fists. “Who did I need to - “

“Rei!” Professor Laventon shushes him. “Calm down, my boy, let the man speak.” He nods to Volo. “Can you tell us what happened?”

“Peace, both of you. Akari is fine – there was a little incident with a bit of sleep powder.” Both Rei and the professor let the tension loose in their shoulders when Akari shifts in his arms.

“But… but what about your lip? What happened there?” Volo laughs at Rei’s query.

“Akari recently caught a Cherubi and asked to battle with me, but Growlithe scared the little guy. Their game of chase ended with me biting my own lip and Akari getting a face full of sleep powder.”

“A Cherubi, you say,” Professor Laventon rubs his chin. “Quite a rare find, that. I can’t wait to have a look later!” Rei looks at him, aghast.

“Uh, Professor, shouldn’t we get her to Pesselle or something first?” Laventon shakes himself.

“Of course, of course,” he motions to Volo. “Rei, why don’t you hold the door for the good merchant?” Rei hastens to obey and Volo adjusts his hold on Akari, who mumbles sleepily.

“Five more minutes…”

“Afraid not, my dear,” Volo nods to Rei as he enters the hall. “It’s time to get up!” Akari nuzzles at the fur of his collar.

“Warm…”

Pesselle is absent from the medical room, but her Toxicroak chitters at the four of them in concern.

“Oh dear,” Laventon crosses his arms. “Wherever has our favorite nurse gone?”

“I’ll go look for her, Professor,” Rei is out the door like a shot, already calling for the wayward nurse. Laventon shakes his head fondly.

“All you young people… so full of energy.”

Volo moves to lay Akari on the lounge-chair, but despite her sleep, her arms are firmly encircled around his neck. He gives up after only a moment with a sigh, seating himself on the chair to wait for Pesselle, Akari on his lap. Laventon huffs a gentle chuckle, turning when he hears Cyllene’s footsteps coming down the hall to see what all the ruckus is about.

Volo shifts further into the chair, leaning back and nudging his cap over his eyes, Akari snug in the crook of his arm, still hugging tight.

“Mhh…”

Volo grunts something caught between amusement and annoyance.

“You’re a real pain some days, starlight.”

Laventon has just finished explaining the situation to the captain when Akari exhales a drowsy, barely-audible sigh.

“Love you, Volo...”