“… you tell me to calm down!” Fox roared.

“Fox,” Bones said, “Stop.”

Vision burst into the main room. Fox swivelled, turning his attention to her. From the way that Bones was standing between him and Daisy, the girl must have been receiving the brunt of his rage beforehand. Fox was terrifying. His face was scarlet with fury and cords stood out on his neck as he stepped, drunkenly, towards her. Vision squared her shoulders. She didn’t think he’d hurt her. Probably.

“You called for me,” she said evenly, “I’m here.”

She felt Celia behind her as the courtesan toucher her shoulder, warning her to be cautious.

“You… bitch,” Fox slurred.

Vision just waited.

“You bitch.”

He lunged clumsily, and Vision was able to step back and avoid him. Bones tensed but before he could move, Daisy called out.

“Fox, don’t.”

Her face was white and she hugged her shoulders but her voice was clear. Fox whirled back on her.

“Slut,” he snarled and started back towards her.

Bones took a step towards him, knees bent in a fighting stance.

“Fox,” he said, “think about what you’re doing.”

“You fucked my girl, Bones? Everyone else has.”

Daisy sobbed as Fox continued to stalk forward. Fox shoved Bones, who had been prepared, and didn’t stumble. Fox was moving clumsily, which was making it easier for Bones to deal with him, until Fox threw an unpredictable hook at Bones’ face. Bones swore as the blow connected, and gave ground. Fox used the opportunity to close the distance between Daisy and himself and threw the girl roughly to the floor.

Bones snarled and tensed to leap to Daisy’s rescue, but Daisy shouted for him to stop.

“He’s not well!” she cried, “Something is wrong, don’t hurt him!”

Vision walked slowly towards them. Carefully, gently, she laid a hand on his back. Terrible heat radiated from him and up close, Vision could hear that his breathing was laboured.

“It’s okay,” she cooed.

“Ain’t,” Fox spat.

“Okay,” she said, “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I…” he squeezed his eyes shut, jaw clenched, “I don’t know.”

She stroked his cheek, feeling a cold sheen of sweat on his skin.

“I understand,” she soothed, “It’s okay to be confused.”

Fox whined and grabbed a fistful of his own hair.

“Shut up,” he snapped, “It’s too loud in here. I can’t breathe.”

His eyes had become unfocused and he was shivering violently. Vision looked past him to Celia and raised her eyebrow in a silent question. Celia spread her hands to show they were empty. She didn’t know what was wrong. Suddenly, Fox’s nostrils flared and Vision found herself blinking up at him from where she lay on the floor. Her head ached dully and her eyesight swam. It took several dizzy moments to realise that he had hit her in the stomach, and she’d been knocked back into the wall, hard. Daisy was crying. Bones shouted and jumped forward, pinning Fox with his entire weight. Bones was smaller but not by much, and his better training paired with Fox’s poor health allowed him to get Fox to the ground before blows were exchanged.

Vision rushed to her brother’s side, ignoring her own pain. Fox was breathing heavily, not fighting Bones’ hold for the moment.

“Celia!” Vision called.

The woman hurried over. With a frown of concentration, she rubbed her hands together until they glowed faintly, then placed them on Fox’s side.

“I’m not a healer,” she warned, “But maybe I can tell what’s wrong.”

They sat in tense silence, then Celia inhaled sharply.

“It’s feverfire,” she said.

Fox’s eyes focused and he found Vision’s face.

“Vis?” he croaked, “I’m so cold.”

Then he fell still.