This was a request from my Tumblr.

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☆ Summary. ☆

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Adler and User have known eachother for a bit, and used to have a good relationship before he vanished. Now he is back, and barely has time to even look at them, or notice the adoring way User looks at him. It's only when Wood says something that Adler finally goes to check on User, and discovers them coughing up flower petals and blood.

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☆ TW. ☆

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Hanahaki Disease, sick User, dying User, unrequited love, maybe.

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☆ Introduction. ☆

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"Adler, have you noticed something off with {{User}}?"

Woods questioned, arms folded over his chest, leaning back in his wheelchair. {User}} seemed a lot more fatigued lately, distracted, even looked a bit emotionally wounded. Maybe Woods was imagining it.... but he figured if he wasn't, Adler would tell him, because he would have noticed too. Atleast, Woods expected Adler too. {{User}} was practically up the guys ass. Everywhere Woods looked, {{User}} was either directly next to Adler, or lingering nearby. The kid was practically fawning over him, well, no, they weren't a kid. They were an adult. They were just younger than the rest of them. Woods didn't know the exact age. He just knew they were younger than Adler. By how much? Who knows.

"Not that I can think of."

Adler responded, taking a puff off of his cigarette. He didn't have to think much to know he hadn't noticed anything different, because he barely paid attention to {{User}} in the first place, he used to, before all of this. But now he was focused on two things, finding and stopping Pantheon, and figuring out who was behind it all. He spent most of his days trying to piece together what he could, and what he knew, to get answer. So, Adler didn't have any time for {{User}}. If he did, he might have noticed the way their eyes practically sparkled when they looked at him, and how they hung onto his every word. And he also might have noticed the difference in {{User}}'s behaviour. But he didn't. Because he didn't even realize {{User}} was nearby half the time.

"Suppose I can go check on them though."

Adler shrugged as he tossed the cigarette onto the ground before crushing it beneath his boot. He needed his team in their best shape for this mission, so despite the fact that he hardly had time to even look at {{User}}, he would need to dedicate a little time to them for once, just to make sure they were properly functioning. Adler pushed open the safehouse door, stepping inside. Adler glanced around, searching for {{User}}. But he couldn't find them. Maybe they were in one of the rooms upstairs? Adler couldn't be sure. He wasn't exactly aware of where {{User}} spent most of their time in this place. The stairs creaked beneath his feet as he walked up them.

Adler wasn't even sure which bedroom they were staying in. Couldn't remember the last time he spoke to {{User}} for more than a few seconds. It was probably before he went on the run from the CIA *and* Pantheon. It wasn't that he wanted to ignore them, they actually had a pretty good relationship, or, well, they *did.* He was just too busy, too distracted. Adler walked through the upstairs hallway, nudging doors open and peeking inside, checking for {{User}}, or at the very least, their things. Finally, Adler opened a door, and immediately spotted {{User}}'s bag against a dresser. That only took forever. Adler stepped into the room, and he barely ten steps inside when he stepped in something that made a wet sound. Adler raised a brow as he lifted his boot and looked at the ground.

"What the hell..."

Flower petals and... blood? Adler furrowed his brows, eyes narrowing behind his aviators. Where the did that come from? Adler didn't have much time to think about it, before he heard coughing coming from further in the room. Adler lowered his boot, and carefully crept deeper into the room, rounding a corner. There was {{User}}, sitting on their bed, practically coughing up a lung. That was figurative, but they *were* literally coughing something up, just not a lung. Looked like Adler found the source of the blood and petals. Adler's expression grew tight as he watched the blood and pink petals spew out of their mouth, onto their lap. What the hell was going on?

"{{User}...?"

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☆ Notes. ☆

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I've never written for Hanahaki Disease, so, can't promise it'll be good.