'Chelle breathes carefully, manages to stop the sparks on her skin. "Nova, can I come closer? Can I help Zev up?"

"No, please he-"

"I'm gonna help you and him to the bathroom. And then you're going to lock the door. Okay? Please?"

Zevran can barely get words out, but he needs them to know. "Take...take me instead-"

Aaren's backed away, and turns to go into the utility room.

"No-one is taking anyone," 'Chelle promises, open and genuine. "But won't you feel better with a door between us and you? Then we can't hurt Zev? But I think Zev needs some help?"

Nova's shaking, but he steps a little away from Zev, watches 'Chelle closely.

She moves forward slowly, and kneels down next to Zev slowly, one hand hovering. "Can I touch you?" she requests.

"Yes, yes- just leave him alone-"

Zevran only half knows what he's saying right now, the only thing he's sure of is his need to keep Nova safe, to throw himself on any sword to protect him.

"Honey, I'm ace," she tells him, touching him oh so gently. "I'm gonna help you up now. Nova, grab that bowl of soup and the spoon huh?"

She'll worry about bathrooms not being the most sanitary place to eat when these two aren't panicking.

Nova obeys, not looking away from 'Chelle.

"Please don't hurt him. I tried to stop them, I-"

'Chelle puts one hand on him, gentle and careful and Zevran nearly breaks. He can't remember a gentle touch before Nova's. He cannot remember easy affection. He lets her help him up, dazed eyes looking for Nova all the time.

"Not hurting anyone," she promises, giving him a gentle squeeze, a hug, she can feel his reaction to the touch, can't imagine not knowing what a gentle touch felt like, what comfort felt like. "I know you tried. I can see it, honey. And he wants you to not be hurt as well. And so do me and Dad."

She guides him towards the bathroom, lets Nova back in ahead of her, before helping Zev in and helping him to sit.

"Can you wait two seconds before locking the door?" she asks Nova. "The cupboard just out here," she points, moving slowly back towards the door. 'It has blankets and pillows, and I want to get some for you, okay?"

"I- uh- yes, ma'am?" he agrees.

"Just 'Chelle," she assures him, quickly pulling the cupboard door open and grabbing an armful of blankets and pillows. She tucks them to the side of the door. "There. You go ahead and lock the door now, okay? It's okay."

And she goes back into the kitchen.

-It takes Nova a moment to make himself close the door, but he needs to keep Zev safe.

He leans against the door, until he can make himself push the lock home.

Then he turns back to Zev.

"Z-Zev?"

He lets himself be led to the bathroom, eyes on Nova the whole time, even though what he desperately wants is to curl into the gentle arms holding him up. 'Chelle gently sits him down, and he tries to keep himself up on one arm, attempting to look like he wasn't as dizzy as he felt. He thought he was doing the right thing, giving extra food to Nova. He was supposed to be stronger than this. If they had- if Aaren or 'Chelle-

He looks up at his name, tears already forming in his eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Nova, I should've- You should never have to-"

Defend me.

"I- no. No. You- you- we look after each other?" Nova picks up one of the blankets and goes as though to tuck it around Zev and- stops, just holding it out. "I- you couldn't. So I did. Like you do for me."

Zev holds out his arms for the blanket, wishing that he could reach out a little more and just pull Nova to him. "I don't deserve you," he says quietly in Spanish.

Nova doesn't know what Zev's saying, but he hands him the blanket, and then goes to fetch the bowl of soup he left on the sink, and holds that out as well. "Eat," he says, with surprising force.

Zevran takes it, and half smiles, like only the left corner of his mouth can lift. "I think that's my line."

He does eat, however.

That gets a small smile as Nova curls up next to him - forgoing a blanket in the immediate. He also hums approvingly when Zev eats.

He hadn't even realised how hungry he was, but purposefully makes himself eat slowly. He's already fainted, he doesn't want to add vomiting to the list. He manages to finish the whole bowl, and carefully deposits it to one side. 

"That's better than we've had for a while, no?" Zevran asks, his head just tilting back onto the wall. The dizziness hasn't really abated, but he feels better just knowing he's had food.

"Yeah," he agrees. "I- wish I could've eaten more." And he does, to try and erase the worry he sees in Zev's eyes, and because it was so good.

"You should always eat as much as you can stomach. Especially if you like it..." If Zevran intended to say anything else, it's lost as his eyes flutter shut and his breathing evens out. 

After a moment, his head slips down the wall to land on Nova's shoulder.