Honey Milk Tea & Ginger

She smiles back at Harold and lets her hands run down his arms to grasp his hands. "Take a break, go rest or better yet, go pack and we will go back to your place where you can sleep for a while before going back to The Center, okay?" She tries to coax him out of his seat and then guides him to the entryway. She looks over her shoulder at Omoide, "Your assistant sent me to let you know that Benjimin is conscious and seems to be quite aware of where he is. He is asking for you." She turns quickly and resumes guiding Harold down the hall.

Omoide blinks a few times, his eyes still a little stiff from his dried tears and trying to keep his eyes from totally transforming and invading Harold's mind a few minutes ago. Once he is fully back to himself, Sumi's words hit him, 'Benjimin is conscious…..' He is about to run out of the kitchen and back to the lab when he stops and picks up the mug of honey milk tea.

Omoide strides are quick, close to a jog as he comes to the lab's doorway. The door is open and he can hear Keibiin's voice asking Benjimin to perform simple motor tasks, humming after each one is completed. Omoide steps into the doorway and just watches quietly.

"Okay, now, Mr. Madelin, please raise your right arm straight out in front of you and then as high above your head as you can manage." Sumi instructs and Benjimin starts to slowly move his right arm. "Please Ms. Shugosha, you can call me Benjimin, I'm not comfortable with all the formalities." He grunts out as he has reached the limit of motion of his right arm. She gently holds his arm and guides it back to the bed.

"I'm afraid she will always be formal. It's something I have insisted upon." Omoide says as he enters the room. A huge smile appears on Omoide's face as Benjimin slowly looks from Keibiin to him as he strides across the room to his bedside.

Keibiin rises from the bedside chair and bows to Omoide. "I trust you have eaten, sir?" She stands upright again reaching out for the mug in Omoide's hand. He passes it over to her as he takes her place in the chair, his eyes never leaving Benjimin's face.

"Oh! Is that honey milk tea?" Benjimin says as he practically lunges for he mug in Keibiin's hands. "Could I? Do you mind Omoide?" He says as Omoide's hand gently lands on Benjimin's chest, keeping him from tumbling out of the bed.

Benjimin looks down at his chest where Omoide's hand connects with his skin. A comforting warmth spreads from the point of contact and throughout his chest. He sighs happily, closes his eyes and settles back onto the mound of pillows on the bed. Omoide moves forward with him as Benjimin had placed his own hands over Omoide's to keep the contact.

Keibiin watches this unfold and turns her attention to Omoide expecting to see his face in a neutral expression but to her surprise, his eyes are also closed and a warm smile is spreading across his face. She quickly realizes that he is unintentionally opening a connection to Benjimin's soul, so she lightly taps on his shoulder.

Omoide turns his head in her direction and slowly opens his eyes. She smiles gently, seeing the swirling blue of his magic starting to pool in his eyes. "Sir, this isn't the proper time and I don't think he is strong enough to let you in, not yet." Keibiin says quietly patting his shoulder a little more firmly. He nods slightly and blinks his eyes to pull his magic back.

Omoide continues to look at Keibiin until she nods firmly confirming that he is back in control and his eyes are back to their normal piercing blue. At the same moment, a content humming sigh comes from Benjimin as he has drifted back into a deep sleep. They both look at him and chuckle at the goofy but completely content grin on the man's face.

Keibiin moves back a few steps as Omoide tries to rise and remove his hand from Benjimin's hold against his chest. The man is still very strong even in this weakened state so Omoide stands so he can lean in close to Benjimin's ear, "It's okay, Benjimin. I'm not leaving, just going to check on a few things. You rest, and I will be back before you wake." And as if Benjimin could hear and comprehend his words, his hands relax around Omoide's.

Omoide slowly pulls his hand away from Benjimin's hold. Turning to Keibiin, he reaches out for the mug, "Might as well drink this so it doesn’t get cold and go to waste." He takes the mug and a healthy gulp of the smooth sweet tea. He smiles as he swallows it down. "Ms. Shugosha, I'm going to head to the basement gym. Would you please locate Mr. Si… Harold and ask him to join me, please?"

She bows slightly and then straightens while holding out her hand for the mug. Omoide quickly finishes the tea and hands her the mug, "Please make sure to have everything ready to make a fresh batch of tea when Benjimin wakes up again. He really doesn't function well before he has at least one cup." He smiles, looking back at his friend resting comfortably now.

"Yes sir, how does he take his tea?" She questions. "Just like I do, or at least he did when we were roommates." He replies with furrowed brows. How much had Benjimin changed over the years? They had only met up in person a few times and that was right after graduation and they had just started their respective careers. Over time, it was harder to find time to actually visit each other so their contact changed to text, emails and the occasional video call.

"No worries, he still takes his tea with way too much honey and coconut milk up to the brim." Sumi says as she enters the room, smiling at Omoide. His expression relaxes a bit. "Sumi, I must apologize for my behavior in the kitchen. Is Harold okay? It wasn’t my intention to cause any stress or anxiety while I'm here." He bows slightly in Sumi's direction as Keibiin moves back to check Benjimin's vitals and updates his chart.

Sumi waves her hand in front of her to dismiss the issue. "Not to worry, Harold is fine. He lets things get to him too personally and then has a hard time expressing what he is feeling. You just have to distract him enough that his mind lets it go." She smiles at Omoide as he nods and relaxes a bit.

"I'm actually here to let you know that Harold will be heading down the gym in a bit and would like you to join him as he did say he would show you around the facility and spot you in your work out if needed." She smiles brightly with a hint of mischief in her eyes. Omoide will never understand women and their ways of thinking.

"I was on my way to change and head to the gym myself and had asked Ms. Shugosha to invite Harold along. I guess I will be meeting him there anyway." Omoide says as he looks back and nods at Keibiin and then heads out the door.

Sumi and Keibiin lock eyes. Keibiin instinctively straightens and faces Sumi, "Is there something you require, Ms. Masen?" She asks as she sets Benjimin's chart back on the end of the bed.

"Oh, please, call me Sumi, okay?" She says as she takes a few steps further into the room.

"I'm afraid I must remain formal as Omoide requires, but you may address me as Keibiin if you like." She responds and steps to the side as Sumi advances to Benjimin's bedside.

"Alright, I wouldn’t want you to go against what he requires of you." Sumi turns her attention to the man in the bed. "How is he doing this morning?" Sumi asks as she takes one of Benjimin's hands into hers. Keibiin watches the tender actions Sumi takes with Benjimin causing her to raise an eyebrow.

"Mr. Madelin's vitals are much stronger than they were when we first arrived. Respiratory rate has stabilized. I have administer another IV but will try to get him to eat something the next time he wakes up. His white blood cell count is very low even if he seems stronger, he could take a turn for the worse at any time." Keibiin finishes her 'report' to Sumi.

Sumi chuckles lightly as she places Benjimin's hand back on his chest. She turns to Keibiin and sighs. "I think he will be fine and probably recover quickly now that Omoide is back by his side. I don't know how much you know of their past, but from the way Benjimin tells it, they were meant to be together."

Keibiin's posture softens slightly, "Yes, this I do know, but it seems that not everyone is in tune with what should be. Sometimes people fight what they feel because they don't understand it and for someone that has to be careful of how close they get to others, emotionally, it's hard to accept." Keibiin resumes her professional posture as she picks up the empty mug and walks out of the room.

Sumi watches Keibiin leave the room with wide eyes. 'So she does know. I may not have to go at this alone.' She smirks and rubs her hands together like a maniacal evil cupid.

"Just what are you planning on interfering in now, my dear Sumi." Benjimin's rough voice whispers behind her. "Oh nothing really, Benji. Good to see you awake!" She says as she whips around and practically jumps onto the bed to hug Benjimin warmly.

He nods and chuckles quietly which causes him to go into a coughing fit. Sumi quickly grabs the water glass next to the bed and helps Benjimin sit up to drink from it. "You should take it easy, Benji. You just came out of a coma like state. How are you feeling, really?" she asks as she places the glass back on the nightstand.

Sumi watches his face intently, looking for any trace of a lie or not fully the truth. "I feel tired which is to be expected. Weak, like I have been running for days with no food or water. But it's strange, I feel content, not frantic or anxious to try and figure out what's going on with me any longer. And I haven't dreamed at all since Omoide arrived." His expression changes into that goofy content grin again.

Sumi smiles warmly and touches Benjimin's cheek. "I'm so glad you are getting better, if even this little improvement for now. You were right, though, there is something mysterious with his eyes." She removes her hand from his cheek and lays it over one of his hands that rest on this lap.

"And I thought for sure he did something to Harold earlier in the kitchen but Harold played it off like he was over caffeinated and stressed." She says mostly to herself.

"I'm sure that excuse isn't too far from the truth. Even before I fell ill, Harold's balance was very delicate. I can't imagine how he has been keeping himself from spiraling in his own anxieties while trying to keep me from getting worse." He said tapping the back of Sumi's hand.

Benjimin's face is now contorted into a pained expression as he continues to speak, "I don't know how to thank you both for everything you have been doing, everything you have given up lately. Just for some foolish dreams that I had to try and dissect. And now, they don't even mean that much to me anymore, now that Omoide is here." He starts to choke up and sob quietly as Sumi tries to comfort him.

Sumi sits on the side of the bed and lets Benjimin lean into her, resting his forehead on her shoulder. She starts to rub small circles across his back, "Benji, we did what anyone would do for a dear friend who is suffering. You don't have to thank us or feel remorse for what we voluntarily have been doing to keep you alive. We forced ourselves into your life and research, if you remember correctly." She laughs out the last part.

Benjimin sniffles and lifts his head, "Still, I owe you and Harold so much. A debt that I can never repay. Thank you, so much, Sumi." He smiles as he runs his thumb under her eye and over her cheekbone, then he leans in and kisses her on the forehead.

Sumi closes her eyes and accepts the friendly gesture of affection. "You are more than welcome and deserving, Benji. Never doubt that, please." She pulls back and sits back in the bedside chair again.

"Now, lets have some girl talk about your boy!" She says excitedly, bouncing a little in her seat.

Benjimin chuckles but is carful not to over exert himself this time, and leans back and closes his eyes. "You know he's not my boy. And anyway, he isn't a boy at all. We are both grown men. Quite nicely grown in his case. " He starts to blush but quickly changes the subject, "What was all that with Ms. Shugosha? Looked like you two were having a moment." He says raising an eyebrow.

But before Sumi can retort and reject his accusation (because she certainly would), Keibiin enters the room with a tray containing 2 mugs, a steaming teapot, the honey jar and a carton of coconut milk. There is also a small plate containing something covered crystalized sugar.

"Oh good. I was hoping you had woken up. I have brought some tea for you both. I would prefer Mr. Madelin take in some broth first but Omoide said you would prefer tea." Keibiin sets the tray down gently on a cart by the door and carefully wheels it to the bedside.

"Please, Keibiin, call me Benjimin." He sighs.

"It's no use, Benji, Keibiin is totally professional all the time." Sumi says as she winks at Keibiin who internally rolls her eyes and turns her attention back to the serving tray.

"This is what is expected of me by Omoide so, this is how I am. I'm sure you understand, Mr. Madelin and Ms. Masen." She looks solely at Sumi with one eyebrow raised seeming to ask for her to leave it be.

"Shall I prepare your tea, Mr. Madelin? Omoide told me that you have your tea in the same proportions as he does and I have been preparing his tea for quite a while." Her hands hesitate near the teapot.

"Yes, Keibiin, that would be lovely. Oh! And I see you brought some ginger as well. I don't remember Omoide having a taste for crystalized ginger. Does he also take ginger with his tea now?" Benjimin asks while looking at the plate on the tray and then to Sumi, who is closer to the tray than himself. He does this a few times until she finally catches on.

Sumi takes a piece of ginger and nibbles on it while side-eyeing Benjimin. He makes an exacerbated face at her. "Oh, would you like a piece of ginger, Benji?" She grins and holds the plate out to him. "Thank you, Sumi. So nice of you to think of me." He takes two pieces, shoving the first one in his mouth and chewing it quickly, grimacing slightly when he swallows; his throat is dry and raw. He then starts to nibble on the other piece while glaring at Sumi.

Edited 10.15.23