Chapter Text
Lio had only been living in Galo’s apartment with him for a little over a week before he started to get sick. It was definitely an aggravating and miserable experience. This was absolutely a horrible time for him to find himself ill, when he had so many things he needed to get done and so many people relying on him to get them done well and with haste.
It had started with the all-nighters. Galo had offered him the bed, but Lio had been adamant not to take it. The couch was perfectly fine for him. It might be lumpy, but he had, of course, slept on much worse. For much longer. You can’t be picky when you’re on the run. After only one day the area around the couch was flooded with important documents, papers, and files. All set up in piles that Lio found to be perfectly organized even though the set up might have seemed cluttered and messy. He had no computer, so he had to make do with the mess for the time being. He was fine with that. Still the process was long and tiring.
He started to stay up late many nights in a row. Sitting on the couch with the coffee table pulled up close to him. Slumped over with a reading lamp and the luminescence of the appliances in the kitchen being his only source of light. He tried to justify all the long, sleepless nights by reasoning that he couldn’t sleep anyway, surrounded by and thinking about all the work that he had to do. Still, he was human and most mornings he ended up crashing and falling asleep for at least a few hours before getting back to his work again.
He could easily see that he was worrying Galo. It wasn’t very hard to tell. Every night Lio would hear him come out of his room and into the kitchen. He tried to pretend he was just getting water but sometimes he would stand in the kitchen watching Lio anxiously. Usually in silence but occasionally asking if he was planning on going to sleep anytime soon, or if he thought he should take a break. It annoyed Lio to no end, but he recognized that it was kind of him to care. It made him feel bad to worry him. Galo’s face didn’t suit worry at all. At dinner Galo had told him many times before, that all that work and stress would make him sick. Lio hated that he had been right.
He still truly hadn’t expected it. He hadn’t been sick in years. Actually, he couldn’t remember the last time he caught a cold. That was thanks to the promare. When it flowed through him it kept up his body temperature beyond a natural human level, so viruses and bugs weren’t something he had really considered or thought about for a very long time. But suddenly one morning he was hit by it like a train.
He woke up after falling asleep accidently while filling out some more documents and immediately felt the effects of sickness. He was cold, even colder than normal, dizzy, lightheaded, sore throat, stuffy, basically it wasn’t good.
Lio tried to pretend he wasn’t sick, as if that would make it go away, but when Galo got up for work that day the first thing, he told Lio was that he looked horrible. He told him blatantly to stay home and assured him that he’d explain to anyone looking for him that he was sick but would be back up in business again soon. In all of his positivity Galo told Lio to look at it as a good thing, it was the universe telling him to take a break and rest.
Lio certainly didn’t think the same as the firefighter because two days later he was now sitting on his usual spot on the couch, feeling absolutely miserable and still working on. He strongly believed he just had to push through. Even as he just started to feel worse and worse.
He heard the front door swing open, and a voice called out, “I’m back!”
Galo did that every time he got back from work. He’d announce his return. Lio was getting used to it but still thought it was obnoxious. He could hear him come in he didn’t need to yell. He could tell it was him too just by the way he opened the door. It distinctly sounded the same every single time he got home. Lio recognized it immediately. Was that weird? They had only been living in the same apartment for about two weeks, but Lio already recognized the way Galo opened the front door?
“What are you doing?” Galo asked in a very accusing voice as he set something down on the kitchen counter. It rustled like a convenience store bag.
“I’m working,” Lio said. Aware that his voice sounded nasally and sick.
“Don’t do that,” Galo warned, “You look like shit, and you need to rest or you’ll just get worse.”
Lio groaned, “Don’t act like you’re my dad, I’m fine.”
“Don’t act like an idiot and I won’t have to act like your dad.”
Lio’s eyes shot up and he gave the man in the kitchen a very dirty look. He was good at that. Giving people very aggressively sharp looks.
“Hey come on. I brought soup!” He pulled a cylindrical plastic container filled with liquid out of a plastic bag and showed it off like a piece offering. “Chicken noodle, it’ll make you feel better, Aina recommended it!”
“Give it to her then, I don’t like soup.”
“I’m making you a bowl. It will make you feel better.”
Lio didn’t try to argue anymore. He might be stubborn, but he was way too tired. He just sighed and pushed his work away, letting himself fall back onto the couch. He felt dizzy again and cold. He already had two blankets around his shoulders, but he was freezing. He shivered slightly. Why couldn’t he have gotten a sickness that at least made him feel warm. He’d already been so cold after the promare left, but with this it was hardly bearable.
Out of the corner of his eye he watched Galo move around the kitchen getting dinner ready. He had made it clear that he didn’t need the other to make him food from the minute he moved in, but Galo completely ignored him. It was just something he was adamant about doing for him. Lio had to admit it was nice to not have to worry about it, but he still felt the need to help. Galo had already done so much shit that Lio knew he could never pay back.
It wasn’t long until a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup was set in front of him, and Galo sat next to him on the couch with a bowl for himself as well. It looked pretty good and Lio may have been lying a little when he said he didn’t like soup. It wasn’t his favorite, but it was good. He watched the other blow the steam away before sticking a spoonful in his mouth. Lio always watched him take a bite of the food first when they ate together. He wasn’t sure why, he just did it.
They ate in silence. The soup was warm, and he was cold, so it actually did make him feel better. It helped with the soreness in his throat as well. The soup was better than what he’d had in the past out of cans. Maybe Aina knew what she was talking about when she recommended this. He was still cold though. It didn’t fix that completely.
He rested his head in his hands and groaned after he had set his finished bowl down. He felt like shit and the sickness made his brain feel foggy. He could feel Galo’s eyes on him even though he couldn’t see him.
“You should sleep in the bed tonight,” Galo said suddenly, “You can’t possibly get a real good night’s sleep on the couch. Especially when you’re sick.”
“I don’t need-“Muffled words spoke into his hands before he was cut off.
“Just take the bed tonight, okay?”
Lio looked up and to the side peeking up at Galo. He looked worried. Lio felt guilty for making him anxious.
“Okay,” he breathed out. His acceptance stuck a quick smile on Galo’s face. Ya, Lio thought to himself, a smile suits him much more than an anxious frown.
By the time the sun set that night Lio felt even worse. He was still way to fucking cold and he couldn’t think properly. His head felt heavy, and he just wasn’t thinking as thoroughly as he usually did. He had to admit, being sick made him feel depressed and very lonely. The past two nights as he had laid on the couch feeling miserable, he couldn’t help but feel a knot catch in his throat. He felt very alone. He had been feeling kind of like that for a while but being sick made the feeling so much worse.
He used to sleep wherever the Mad Burnish had decided to hide out that week and it usually was in very uncomfortable places. Only, back then he was surrounded by people. Someone always up keeping guard, the presence of others sleeping making you drift off to sleep slightly faster than you otherwise might. Ya, he was just a little bit lonely.
With all of this he was feeling much too sick to argue when Galo urged him to go to bed early. That’s how he found himself laying down on Galo’s bed at only nine. With the firefighter setting a glass of water beside the bed for him.
“Do you need anything else? I can get it for you. You can ask for whatever you need.” He urged. His blue eyes searched Lio’s seeming to be trying to pry into his very soul.
Lio didn’t respond immediately so he kept going, “It’s no trouble. Seriously. tomorrows my day off so even if it's in the middle of the night just wake me up. I can get you anything. Anything you want.”
He had never seen Galo act this protective. It kind of made him think of a puppy. A really cute, strong, firefighter puppy. Ready to fetch anything for his owner. God, what the hell was he thinking about!? He really was out of it.
“You’re not talking. I think your fever’s getting worse.”
It surprised Lio when Galo brought his hand down to feel his forehead. He leaned over him slightly making the dim light in the room, coming from the lamp on the bedside table, shine in just the right way to illuminate his face perfectly. Making his eyes glisten and his skin glow slightly. He was so warm, Lio’s eyes fluttered closed. Subconsciously, he pressed his face into the hand against his head. The warmth felt nice against his cool skin.
Lio would have been content to fall asleep just like that but when the hand stayed for much longer than necessary, to check for an increasing fever, he willed his eyes back open. He peered up at Galo curiously. He found the other man staring back, eyes slightly widened in surprise and a noticeable warm flush across his cheeks. He pulled his hand away almost immediately and Lio had to force himself to stay put and not chase the heat. Feeling even colder when it was gone. It caused him to shiver again.
“Oh!” Galo’s tone came out slightly nervous and rushed, “Your cold, I’ll get you another blanket!”
As he turned to leave that same knot appeared in Lio’s throat again. He realized very quickly in that moment that he didn’t want to be alone. Not tonight. Not again.
“Wait!” He called, sitting up halfway in the bed, before Galo could leave the room.
Galo stopped and turned to look at him. Waiting for him to speak. With those big, blue eyes staring at him Lio’s mouth felt dry, and all words left his throat. But his mind started screaming.
Please don’t leave. Please don’t leave. Please don’t leave. Please don’t leave.
“Please don’t leave.”
Galo looked stunned. His body frozen in place. Although, Lio shared the exact same shocked and still expression. Even he couldn’t believe he had actually said that out loud.
Wow. Sick Lio had no restraint.
They both seemed to hold their breath. Silence was the loudest thing in the room for quite a few seconds, which felt like minutes. Luckily Lio was sick enough that the embarrassment wasn’t nearly as bad as it otherwise would’ve been.
Galo broke the silence, “I don’t need to leave.” He took a few steps forward toward the bed.
Lio let out a quiet sigh and allowed himself to lay back down on the mattress. Relief flooded him at simply not being laughed at. Although, he knew Galo wouldn’t do that. He was way to good natured. And kind. And amazing. And attractive. And…
Fuck. Why was he having all these weird feelings and thoughts mixing around inside of him. This had to be because he was sick. Normal, healthy Lio would not be acting or thinking like this. He’d defiantly be adding this to his internal list about the top things he hated about being sick. Possibly only second to being so God damn cold.
Galo waited patiently for him to find his words and speak.
“Just…” Lio let out a shaky breath. Maybe because he was so cold or maybe because he was so nervous. “Stay. Please. I want… I want you to stay.”
Galo came closer and Lio moved back on the bed. He lifted up the blanket to make space. It seemed like a very certain action, but he was in fact incredibly uncertain about everything he was doing and saying in this moment.
“Do you want me to?” Galo asked, the question staying unfinished.
Lio just nodded.
Galo didn’t ask anything else. He just carefully slipped into the bed next to him. It was more than big enough for two so they both were a comfortable distance apart, but still close enough that Lio could feel the added warmth of Galo’s body heat near him. He was dreadfully embarrassed. Still, he relaxed just a bit, finding the cold slip away some.
After another moment of silence Lio spoke but didn’t meet the others eyes. He couldn’t bring himself to, “You don’t need to stay all night. Just… for a minute or… whatever.”
“It’s okay,” Galo said. “I’ll stay.”
A blush flooded Lio’s face at the reassurance. It was just because of the fever, he tried desperately to convince himself. No other reason.
He felt the mattress shift as Galo turned to reach over and switch off the light.
“Goodnight, Lio,” That was the last thing he heard before the room was filled with darkness.
He stayed completely still for a very long time, but Galo didn’t get up and leave. After quite a while, long enough had passed that Lio assumed he fell asleep. So, he shuffled closer. He was still extremely cold, and the heat of another body was very enticing.
It was only when he heard Galo’s breath hitch slightly when he got closer, that he knew he was wrong, and they were both still very much awake. But he was way to tired to continue to lay awake and nervous.
So, he kept his eyes closed and very soon he fell asleep.
Daylight sept into the bedroom. Reflecting on the light walls and brightening the small area. It’s what woke Lio up.
Opening his eyes, the very first thing he realized was that he felt much better. The dizziness had left his head and his sore throat was gone. The only thing remaining being a slight fog in his mind from sleep.
The second thing he realized was that Galo didn’t ever leave last night. He was still laying there fast asleep next to Lio. His mouth slightly open and his eyes shut peacefully. Hair fallen messily across his face and pillow.
Lio did realize he was staring. It was probably wrong to, but he was.
Dammit Lio, he thought to himself, you really are such a dumbass.
This was the first time the two shared a bed. And it was certainly not the last.