Chapter Text
Morning arrived, slipping sunlight through the crack in the curtains, and Leorio awoke, sprawled on his back with Kurapika curled into his side, breathing evenly. Leorio touched Kurapika’s face with his left hand, fingers parting his hair from his skin, and cupped his cheek. Still warm, but the difference from the preceding days was almost miraculous.
Careful in his movement, Leorio sat up, trying to avoid jostling Kurapika. When he rose, he exhaled, watching Kurapika adjust to his absence, slow fingers splayed over the wrinkled sheets. A low sound came from his lips as he shifted, reaching, then settled back onto the mattress. For a moment, Leorio stood still, captivated by the soft expression and tender position.
Before long, he tore himself away, washing his face in the bathroom sink with cool water. After casting one last, loving glance at his sleeping husband, Leorio resolved himself to advance to the kitchen.
The wall clock said it was 9am. They’d slept in longer than Leorio usually prefered, but the circumstances demanded it. From the fridge he retrieved milk and eggs, as well as a partial stick of butter. The remaining ingredients he found in the pantry, which he realized was looking a little bare. Kurapika usually made the grocery lists, and while Leorio wasn’t incompetent in the matters of culinary requirements, he had been preoccupied with his work and caring for Kurapika.
But a simple breakfast of pancakes wouldn’t completely consume their food supply. And though Leorio wasn’t the best cook, he rolled up his sleeves and trusted himself to succeed through muscle memory—and a recipe he hastily pulled up on his phone.
He paused. After a moment of deliberation, he plucked Kurapika’s apron from its place on the wall and slipped the curved strap over his head, tying the slender strips of fabric at the back of his waist.
Taking a deep breath, Leorio set to work. Measuring and mixing ingredients was simple enough, and when he was left with a satisfying batter, Leorio wiped his sleeve across his brow. He set the skillet on the stove to heat and sliced a banana while he waited.
Leorio didn’t hear Kurapika approach, only realized that he was awake when Kurapika’s arms wound around his waist, beneath the apron. Nearly dropping the knife, Leorio stiffened only for a moment before accepting the familiar warmth. Kurapika pressed his face against Leorio’s back, closing his eyes, and held him in place.
“Good morning, Leorio,” he murmured, lacing his fingers together.
“Be careful,” Leorio warned, setting the knife down, its blade pointed toward the wall. “You shouldn’t be up and moving just yet.” Kurapika sighed, nuzzling his cheek against the soft fabric of Leorio’s shirt. Leorio grew wary. “You’re acting strangely again. Are you still feverish?”
Frowning, Kurapika pulled back, releasing Leorio from his hold and allowing him to turn around. He reached up and took Leorio’s face in his hands, smiling gently. “I’m feeling much better. My fever’s practically gone. I was in the care of an exceptional doctor, after all.” He searched Leorio’s expression but found only disbelief.
“You must still be sick,” Leorio said. The look in his eyes was that of someone who could not find what he wanted—sad and a little lonely. “You should go lie down.”
“I’m fine, Leorio.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
Leorio lifted a hand to touch Kurapika’s forehead, but Kurapika moved faster. It wasn’t anger he felt, but it certainly wasn’t simple affection that fueled him. He aligned his lips with Leorio’s and held him in place by his jaw, the nape of his neck. As sweet and genuine as the kiss was, it was not gentle; it was insistent, desperate, and more than a little commanding. If Kurapika had exerted any more force, the kiss would have likely resulted in bruised lips. Breathless, they parted, and Kurapika kept Leorio’s eyes locked on him.
“Allow me to repeat myself,” Kurapika said. “I am fine. My fever has gone down, and I slept well with you by my side. I even tooK an appropriate dosage of that disgusting medicine. Provided I rest for another day or so, I will be functioning as usual in no time.”
“Then why—”
Kurapika touched a finger to Leorio’s lips to quiet him, then grazed the skin of Leorio’s cheek. Absently, Leorio covered his hand with his own. “Leorio, I said I would remember one thing—even if I forgot everything else.” His eyes flickered to the band of gold glinting on his finger, sought in his peripheral its match and found it with ease. When he returned his gaze to Leorio’s awestruck face, Kurapika smiled. “I love you, Leorio,” he said. “I want you to know that, and never forget it. I’ll say it as many times as I need to.”
With a short laugh, Leorio blinked away the startled tears which had formed. “I said that you didn’t need to change a thing,” he said, drawing Kurapika in for a tender embrace. “But God is it nice to hear that.” With his face pressed into Kurapika’s hair, Leorio said, “I love you, too, Kurapika. That will never change.”
“Never is a long time, Leorio.”
“I know.” The sincerity and finality of Leorio’s tone shook Kurapika, delighted him in a way he hadn’t anticipated.
He detached himself from the hug just enough so he could plant a kiss on Leorio’s cheek. “I was right, last night, when I said I was lucky,” he said softly. “There are days I feel that I don’t deserve you.”
“You’ve got me whether you deserve me or not,” Leorio said with a grin. “I’m not going anywhere.” They shared a laugh, sweet as dawn and morning dew. Patting Kurapika on the head and returning to his breakfast preparations, Leorio said, “Now go sit at the table while I make you breakfast.”
“I’ll make some tea.”
“You most certainly will not,” Leorio said, turning back with a ladle in hand. “While you are in my care, you will rest.”
Dutifully, Kurapika seated himself at the kitchen table and rested his chin in his hands, watching Leorio work. As he bustled around the kitchen, heating water in a kettle and scraping browned pancakes from the pan, Kurapika couldn’t help but feel as though he were falling in love again.
“Thank you,” Kurapika said as Leorio sat a plate bearing a stack of pancakes before him.
Leorio chuckled before sitting down across from him. “Don’t thank me yet,” he said, grimacing. “You might want to taste them first.”
“That’s not what I meant,” Kurapika said patiently, pouring a small puddle of syrup atop his breakfast. Leorio, poised to dig in, paused and tilted his head inquisitively. “Thank you for taking care of me. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
To hide his flushed cheeks, Leorio shrugged and cut into a pancake, wielding and waving a fluffy bite. “That’s what I’m here for, isn’t it?” he said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
As Leorio raised his fork, Kurapika leaned forward, chin propped on his palms, and opened his mouth. Leorio paused, and Kurapika raised his eyebrows expectantly. After a moment of hesitation, Leorio guided the bite to Kurapika’s lips.
Leorio watched as Kurapika swallowed. After a moment of silence, Leorio grew anxious. “Well?”
“When I’m healthy again, I’ll teach you how to cook.”
Looking away, Leorio said, “Are they that bad?’
“They’re perfect,” Kurapika said gently, drawing Leorio’s eyes once more. “But you should know how to make meals besides pancakes. In case I get sick again. I wouldn't want us both to starve, and as good as these are, no one can subsist on pancakes alone, dear.”
They looked at each other for a few moments, their dining space filled with warm morning light, and laughed a little, treasuring the start of another day spent together.