Chapter Text
In his pain-induced haze, Tsukishima can hear someone moving around him. The mat he'd been sleeping on feels more comfortable than he remembered, much softer. Maybe he was dying and his body had decided to settle into comfort for his final moments.. Wouldn't that be something. He feels a hand on his forehead that quickly pulls away again and a familiar voice, sounding worried, "Your temperature feels like it went up.. let me get you some medicine," footsteps lead away from where he lies while he realizes whose voice he'd just heard, "O.. Ogata?" The footsteps return, he hadn't gone far, "I'm right here, do you need something?" A soft hand against his hair, sliding down to hold his cheek, "What.. Why are you taking care of me?" There's the feeling of someone sitting next to him. He's on a mattress then, when did he get on a mattress? Why was it so soft, where had they taken him? He hears Ogata chuckle fondly, "I stayed home from work to take care of you since you went and got sick."
That's not.. Right..
Tsukishima cracks an eye open, the room is too bright, but there's Ogata, or at least the man sitting at his side looks like Ogata, sounds like Ogata. Just different. The hair, the scars, and even his eyes are the same, but he looks softer. Tsukishima realizes Ogata looks happy while he looks after him. The hand on his cheek feels comforting, feels right. He wants to pull away, but can't make himself move. "Let me get you some medicine, just give me a moment." And Ogata is off again. Tsukishima takes the time to look around. He doesn't recognize where he is, it's clean, warm, and it's nothing like any room he's been in before. He pats around on the bed, it's soft and high quality. The sheets are clean, and an extra comforter had been bundled around him, keeping him warm. He checks himself next, he's definitely warm to the touch, but the wound on his neck is gone, and the usual aches and stiffness are also gone. He stares up at the ceiling, where WAS he? A moment later Ogata returns, a cup of water in his hand as he sits on the edge of the bed again, "Here, take these and make sure to drink all of the water.." Tsukishima pulls one arm from under the covers and takes the small pills, swallowing them down with the water. It's cold and clean, he drinks greedily. Once the glass is empty Ogata sets it on the bedside table. He takes Tsukishima's hand after, his touch is so gentle, reminding Tsukishima of before all of this, "Feel like you can eat?" Tsukishima looks at him a while, taking in how good he looks in this strange dream, "I could eat.." His voice is rough, his throat scratchy from whatever sickness his body has here.
Why could he not enjoy this strange dream in a healthy body? It's what he deserves, he decides. He can dream about nice lives all he wants, but not comfortably. Just another reminder it's out of his reach. He sighs and grips Ogata's hand in return, he may have to be sick for this, but he will take all that he can get while here. Ogata smiles at him in a way he's never seen before, "What would you like?" Tsukishima holds his hand tighter, aware he'll have to leave to get the food, not ready for him to be gone. It's a dream, he can ask for this, right? "Stay.. Just, stay here. Stay with me. I'll eat later," Ogata doesn't question, doesn't laugh or tease, he just nods and lays down next to him, wrapping his free arm around Tsukishima and his bundle of blankets. He hears a soft sob, a shaky breath, before realizing they are coming from him. Ogata looks worried at him, propping himself up on his elbow, "What's wrong? Are you hurting?" Tsukishima shakes his head, holding Ogata's hand in a tight grip, white-knuckled, "I miss you.. Why did you have to leave.." He only manages a whisper, fearing he'll wake up at any moment and leave this soft dream behind.
Ogata kisses his cheek, his forehead, his nose. Wipes away his tears with a gentle touch, and rests his head on the pillow again once Tsukishima's breathing evens out again, "I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere," Tsukishima struggles his other arm out from the covers and turns onto his side to wrap it tightly around Ogata's waist. He pulls the other man close and buries his face in his chest, he just wants to stay here. Just wants to stay with Ogata in this strange soft dream, far from the real world. No more hunting down convicts and skins, no more of the Tsurumi circus. He doesn't need to see the end of it if this is what he could have instead. Tsukishima wants to kiss Ogata so badly it physically hurts, he tilts his head back to look up at Ogata, whose eyes were already on him. Like Ogata can read his mind he leans down and kisses Tsukishima lovingly, and he feels like his heart might just burst. Tsukishima sighs softly, pressing his face back against Ogata's chest, and turns his head so he can listen to his heartbeat. The sound makes him start to drift off along with the feeling of Ogata rubbing his back. He doesn't want to wake up, can already feel the aches, the cold lingers on the edge of his consciousness. He tightens his arm around Ogata, not ready to go back, not yet, "I don't want to leave.." He feels Ogata start to respond before the cold and pain slam into him.
Tsukishima opens his eyes to see the wooden wall he's facing and sighs. Maybe he'll have a dream like that again, but maybe he shouldn't.
It's best to just forget it.
And then Ogata returns alone from the hospital.