Chapter Text
"Takao, it's that time of year again," Midorima said as he cleared the last of the dinner dishes off of the table.
"What time?" Takao asked hesitantly.
"Time for flu shots," Midorima said, quietly retrieving the syringe he had slipped into the fridge earlier.
Takao froze at the sink. "Do I have to, Shin-chan?"
"Yes," Midorima said, bracing himself for the same debate they had every year. "Especially you. You work with snotty, plague-infested disease vectors all day."
"What if I wash my hands lots and eat my vegetables and everything else you're always nagging me about?"
"They could infect you anyway. You may be able to take a week off sick, but I can't take that long off to take care of you, and I definitely can't afford to have you infect me. Come on. It'll only take a second, and then you'll be protected."
"Shin-chan, I don't wanna" Takao whined, but he let Midorima steer him over to a chair.
"Push your sleeve up for me," Midorima ordered as he fished an alcohol swab and band-aid out of his pocket and went to wash his hands. When he came back, Takao was staring pointedly at the wall over the counter and not moving.
"Relax; I'm just going to clean off your arm first," Midorima said as he tore open the alcohol pad.
Takao tried, taking a few deep breaths, but as soon as Midorima reached for the needle, he flinched back.
"Takao, I'll be quick. It's just a little pinch; you'll probably hardly feel it if you relax."
"It's not the pain that's the problem, Shin-chan; it's the needle."
"Then don't look."
"I can't."
The incongruity of the statement made Midorima freeze.
"What do you mean you can't? Just look at the wall and ignore me."
"It doesn't work like that."
"What?"
"I said it doesn't work like that. You could be behind me and it wouldn't make any difference. Hawk Eye, remember? I can see you no matter where you are, and trust me, when there's a goddamn needle coming at you, it's pretty hard not to look."
"Sorry," Midorima said, adding another item to the list of unexpected consequences of his boyfriend's ability. "Close your eyes for me then."
"It isn't any better, Shin-chan," Takao said, though he squeezed his eyes shut. "Now I know it's coming, but I don't know when, and the anticipation and imagining it are almost as bad as seeing it."
"I'll warn you first," Midorima said as he carefully uncapped the needle. "Now try to relax."
When it seemed like Takao was as relaxed as he was going to get, Midorima took hold of his arm. "Ready?" he asked.
"Just do it," Takao hissed through gritted teeth.
"Little pinch," Midorima warned.
Takao held still, but the moment Midorima finished putting on the band-aid, he pulled his arm back and glared.
"It hurts, Shin-chan," he whined.
"It might be a bit sore for the next day or so. You can ice it or take ibuprofen later if you need to. But it's done now. It wasn't that bad, was it?"
"It's always that bad. There are some things we were never meant to see, and that's one of them," Takao said with a shudder.
"There's ice cream in the freezer."
"Really?" Takao's sulking was quickly replaced by excitement.
Midorima nodded. "Your favorite, rocky road. I picked it up on the way home," he said, gesturing to the freezer.
Takao stayed where he was and made his best puppy dog eyes at his boyfriend.
"Fine," Midorima huffed, and he got up and scooped ice cream for both of them – a big bowl of rocky road for Takao, and a smaller bowl of azuki for himself. He resisted the urge to ask Takao if he'd like a sticker as well.