“Well that can’t be true then, since you’re not right-handed on ambidextrous.” Cohen’s lips were quirked in a gentle smile, hoping his silly comment at least made her smile in turn. He knew she was trying to reassure him, and so they were in a dizzy sort of dance now trying to make the other feel better round and round. It wasn’t so bad, he supposed, provided he was holding up his end. His hand certainly wasn’t going to let go of hers, though even as his thumb gently feathered over the back of it he found himself watching her with tender concern. “Do you need anything? Water? Something to eat? Another blanket?” He remembered what Peisinoe had said about his own body temperature then, chuckling softly at the thought. “Provided I’m not doing my job properly, that is,” he added with a smile. He didn’t particularly want to get up and move from her side, but he wanted to do whatever he could to take care of her.
He nearly winced as he admitted to wanting to come sooner, realizing only after the words had left his lips how it must sound. Cohen didn’t want her to think that he blamed her in some way for him having to wait, though she was speaking before he could even try and backtrack. His chest tightened as Peisinoe admitted to not sleeping well, and the quietness to her voice made it feel like his insides were being shredded apart. Oh what he wouldn’t do to be able to assuage those fears, to hold her close as she slept so she wouldn’t have to be afraid. His hand gently squeezed hers, head coming to rest on hers as she turned to bury it against his shoulder. “I understand,” he told her softly, unable to resist the urge to press a gentle kiss to the top of her head. “You don’t have to explain anything to me. You just have to worry about feeling better.” Cohen didn’t expect her to start justifying her actions to him just because they were together. She was very much her own person, and if she’d had no other reason for him not coming over than she didn’t want him to then he would accept that.
“I’m sure you’ve been perfect company,” he argued, though the smile on his face definitely came through in his voice. He could imagine it hadn’t been fun. Nobody was perfect when it came to handling sickness or injury. Not to mention Parthenope had seemed to think her sister was just as amazing, if not more so, than Peisinoe did about her. He was sure neither would ever call the other a burden or feel put out having to spend time together. The feeling of her snuggling into him quickly wiped away that train of thought, and he tried not to sigh audibly at how much of a comfort it was to have her close. Cohen was surprised to admit that, even to himself, considering how he felt about literally everyone else touching him. “I definitely still need to worry,” he insisted, though there was no true contradiction to his tone. “I will always worry about you, but especially when you are nearly killed and therefore have to suffer as you heal.” He pressed another gentle kiss to her head, which was how he heard the sharp inhale of breath that came from her.
Cohen was afraid to move, though he felt a sudden urgency to inspect her for whatever was causing her pain. “Are you alright?” he asked, though immediately wanted to kick himself for such an idiotic question. “Sorry, of course you’re not. But I,” he paused, trying to slow his embarrassment down so he could organize his thoughts better. “I can ease the pain. If you need it.” Of course he didn’t miss her words, and it nearly made him flinch as he remembered all that had happened with the arrival of his sister. Lifting his head from hers, he sighed a little. “My news is definitely not as important as you,” he tried, though his tone wasn’t particularly filled with conviction. Though not because she wasn’t important, of course.