Theo shook his head at her question of other symptoms, presuming – without anything to go on save the continued pressure of her arm in his – that she would actually see it. “Thanks. Um,” Theo hummed, wavering on her addition about getting hold of someone for him. Cash had seen it happen; if Veronica or Cee had been watching the duel, they would be looking for him already, and frantic about it; if they hadn’t been in the stands, then Theo expected they would hear soon enough. “I’d – rather not worry anyone. Unless you think they’ll have me here awhile –” Theo considered, imagining the wards were particularly busy, if he’d been abandoned in the waiting room. “Then I probably should.” He sighed – and Sage was one thing, because she was a professional and also a stranger, but he didn’t want anyone he knew to see him quite this vulnerable.

On the upside: maybe this was a good excuse to duck out of any birthday plans they had for him tomorrow?

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