Just a little break

It was unusually quiet in the body. There were neither erythrocytes running around nor did laughter or the usual conversations liven up the atmosphere. Well, most cells just didn't have the strength right now to make noise, since the organism had shortly overcome a severe infection that had robbed them of all their energy and hadn't allowed them to rest or even sit down for days. And now that everything was over, the fatigue was written all over their faces. The neutrophil U-1146 was no exception. Holding his head low and with his last remaining strength, he was dragging himself along a blood vessel, too tired to cut even one more germ to death and barely able to stand on his feet. He just wanted to reach his bed and rest. On his way, he passed some cells who were sleeping on benches or even on the bare ground and a few red blood cells, tiredly pushing carts with oxygen boxes or carrying baskets of nutrients. U-1146 felt sorry for them for still having to work, but every cell in the body did need oxygen and nutrients at all times, there was nothing you could do. At the sight of the red blood cells, U-1146's thoughts wandered off to his friend AE3803, and he wondered whether at least she was lucky enough to get some rest right now. He hoped so, since he had met her a couple of times during the infection and had seen with his own eyes just how hard she had to work, sometimes carrying up to four oxygen boxes at once while running past him. Unfortunately, there had been no time to even exchange a few words, since the next bacterium had been waiting for him as well. The neutrophil stopped for a moment to adjust his cap that had almost slid from his head. Suddenly, his gaze fell on a slightly aparted bench where a cell was sitting. A red-haired cell. And he knew only one with such an unusual haircolor. Despite all the exhaustion and the fact that his body was almost imploring him to finally go to bed he couldn't help but approach her, as if attracted by a magnet. He had really missed her during the last days. Everything: her stories, her smile, them drinking tea together. Without her, he felt that something was missing in his life. And now, she was sitting on that bench with her eyes closed. "And we're meeting yet again, huh?" he muttered, sitting down next to her without thinking twice. "Hakkekkyuu-san?" He turned his head into her direction and noticed that she had opened an eye. Now, up-close, he realized just how tired she looked: there were dark circles around her eyes, her face was unusually pale and her worn-down and dirty shoes were proof of how much she had to run during the last days. And her hands were trembling slightly, probably from all that carrying of heavy objects. The neutrophil took off her cap and gently stroked her hair. "Did I wake you up? Sorry," he said, feeling slight pangs of guilt for having interrupted her much-deserved break. "It's oka-..." Without even being able to finish her sentence, she dozed off again. Her head landed on his shoulder. The neutrophil was a bit surprised and blushed slightly, but quickly came to his senses and placed her cap on her head once again. As it seemed, his home would have to wait a bit longer for him. But that was alright, no, even more than alright. It was simply amazing to sit beside her like that on that bench. He decided to watch her sleep for a while. U-1146 let out a sigh and closed his eyes as well for a moment, glad that AE was safe and unhurt, because he had been constantly afraid during the infection that something might have happened to her, for he knew exactly about her poor sense of direction. But she had already proven to him a couple of times before, that others could always count on her when it really mattered, during the hypothermia, for example, when she had been delivering oxygen even despite being almost frozen to death. And this time as well, she hadn't disappointed the body at all. The neutrophil couldn't wait to hear her beautiful laughter again. He opened his eyes and turned around to AE once more, trying to not move too much in order to not disturb her sleep and let her be as comfortable as possible. "It's over now. You did really well," he whispered to her. "Now rest." Then he put on a little smile and caressed her cheek, carefully, slowly. "Hakkekkyuu-san…" she muttered in her sleep, with a smile on her lips. The neutrophil stopped for a second, fearing that he had woken her up after all, but relaxed when he realized that he didn't. However, his relaxation didn't last long. Suddenly, his eyes opened wide when he felt something warm wrap itself around his waist, and when he realized what it was, his face became as red as her hair, and he almost jumped up from the bench in surprise, but managed to control himself at the last moment. Despite being quite close friends, she had never hugged him that tightly before. He could feel her soft, slender body press itself against him as if he was a pillow. And since he did have feelings for her that went far beyond simple friendship, that position was making him so nervous he could swear steam would start to rise from his ears any moment, as he sat there, unable to move. AE, in the meantime, was still fast asleep, letting out small giggles from time to time. "How cute," thought the neutrophil, finally starting to relax again. It was really incredible: she was the only cell in that body, who could make him go insane from nervousness, but at the same time also the only one able to calm him down like that with just being the way she was. Like a natural sedative. U-1146 let out another sigh, smiling again. It looked as if he would spend even more time on that bench than he had thought, since he couldn't leave even if he wanted to, because her arms were wrapped very firmly around him, squeezing him. She was pretty strong, way stronger than she looked. But then again, she was a red blood cell and had to carry a lot every day, so it was only natural.  And he didn't mind being her pillow, anyway, not in the slightest. To be honest, now that his shock was gone, he was really enjoying it. Being with her was the most wonderful thing in the world. Even better than finishing off nasty bacteria. Wondering whether she was strong enough to carry even him in her arms, he placed his hands on her hips and his head on top of hers, suddenly feeling all the built-up fatigue attack him with full force again. Oh, well, perfect opportunity to get some rest as well, wasn't it?  And before he realized, his eyelids became heavy and he nodded off himself… A few moments later, one of the bushes nearby started to move out of the blue and a certain green-clothed cell emerged from it, holding a camera in his hands. "What a great shot," said Dendritic Cell with a grin and was about to head home, but then suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around. Meeting one of U-1146's colleagues and best friends, the neutrophil U-4989 and AE's senpai, red blood cell AA5100, who were both glaring at him. "I believe you've done something you shouldn't have, pal," said U-4989, pointing at the camera. Dendritic Cell gulped and rushed away as fast as he could. And while the younger neutrophil was chasing the Dendrocyte and trying to take the camera from him, the older red blood cell hid in the bushes again and continued watching U-1146 and AE3803 with a gentle smile on her lips, while the two of them kept sleeping on that bench, completely oblivious to all the ruckus.