And for the second time that day there was a friendly woman asking about him. If not for the overwhelming negative aspects of this condition, he might not have minded it so much. He glanced up, lowering his hands into his lap and offering the woman a smile. It would only be polite of him to -- holy shit what a cup size.

The chef swallowed, face turning a deep red. "It's nothing! Nothing at all. Just got a bit battered up last night, that's all. I'm healing well." There was the fever as well, but he was sure that was going down too. Hopefully by nightfall it would have run its course.