Chapter Text
Kukui was floating in a sea of…of purple and red, red, red, so much red. It hurt so much, stinging through his veins. Why does it hurt so much?
And all he could feel was Ash. Ash, everywhere. The deep, solemn sea of russet in his eyes, the sweet and slightly salty smell of his hair, the feel of Kukui’s lips on his forehead, the sound of his voice.
Hakase.
It was pleasant at first. Of course, this didn’t last long.
Hakase, help me.
Help me.
It hurts.
I’m scared.
Kukui was running, running, running, as fast as his legs would take him, to his keiki. He wanted to tell him everything would be alright, wrap him in a hug, and rock him softly until he calmed. But he was getting farther and farther away from him, fading to nothing.
His voice grows distant and is replaced by a new one. The Nihilego’s voice.
Waiwai ʻole, it growls. Kukui. Waiwai ʻole.
I know I am! He screams at the Beast that took his keiki. I know. I know.
Then, as quickly as it came, it leaves. It’s all gray, gray, gray, all muted. The sounds are…strange. Familiar, but strange.
A voice as sweet as honey slides into his consciousness.
…Lusamine, please don’t say that. All I need you to say is that he’ll be fine. I want my husband back.
A new, sharper voice replies.
No, I mean, he will be. I think. It looks like it. Honestly, he was just hit a lot harder than Ash—
Ash. ASH!
And Kukui is thrust into the land of the living, out of the gray, gray, gray and into the white, white, white.
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“Kukui? Kukui, can you hear me?”
Kukui feels a hand on his, gently nudging him to wake up, open your eyes, see your wife.
“…Bur…B’net?” Kukui feels his lips twitch and form a few syllables through the weird mask thing on his face. His first instinct is to launch into Alolan, but something in his mind tells him not to.
“Hi, honey. Don’t try to talk just yet. Just breathe for a second.” Burnet smiles to him…that warm, Sunny Day smile that never fails to make his chest tighten and his heart race.
But he’s a little distracted right now. He can’t just focus on her smile. He can’t just “breathe for a second.” There’s no time for it.
“Burnet…!” He gasps out. He whips off the mask on his face and moves to push himself up on his elbows—he doesn’t get very far, though; his whole body feels like lead. He just shifts awkwardly in the bed.
“What, love? What’s wrong? Are you okay?” Burnet’s hands meet his chest, holding him back with the lightest of touches.
"Ash! Where…Ash, he…” Kukui pants, unable to gasp enough oxygen to form a full sentence. He manages to push himself to sitting, brushing away the pairs of hands that are trying to restrain him. “Ash…Nihilego…need to save…"
“No, Kukui, he’s fine. Kukui, he’s just fine, you and your Pokemon saved him!” Burnet seems to chuckle exasperatedly, smiling in a concerned way. “Calm down. Please, honey.”
“Where…where’s he?” Kukui pushes all the other hands away but leaves Burnet’s palms cupped on his cheeks.
“He’s next door, in his own room,” Burnet soothes and shushes him, letting him sink down into the bed...which seemed very inviting.
“I need to see…see him!” Kukui doesn’t even bother being polite while Burnet fixes the oxygen mask back on his face. “Please!”
“Honey, he’s resting—just like you should be, I should say…” Burnet frowns a little, and doesn't back down when she sees Kukui making intense eye contact with her—he wants Ash now. “The toxin still hasn’t left your body. You’re running a fever and you still have poor blood oxygenation. You broke three ribs, you have severe lacerations that put you into shock, and there’s a corrosion burn on your arm. Just stay nice and still and you’ll get better."
Before Kukui can protest, the door swings open and Lusamine comes rushing in. “Ohmygod, Burnet, Ash is now screaming to see Kukui. He threatened to have Pikachu murder me. What should—Oh! Professor, you’re awake!” Lusamine stops in her tracks when she sees him.
“Hi.” Kukui gives a two-fingered wave, his left hand still clutched in Burnet’s. “Ash? Upset? Can I see him?” His voice is slowly getting more coherent. “No. I will see him. S'not a question."
Lusamine frowns for a minute, finger on her chin. “Fine. That’s probably best for both of you. It’s just...moving him is probably not the greatest of ideas, but I see no other choice. We’re not moving you, Kukui, that’s for sure.” She purses her lips. “I’ll get a nurse to bring him over.”
Kukui grins. “Thanks.” He turns to Burnet, smug as ever, and whips off the oxygen mask. “I get to see Ash!” He sticks his tongue out at her.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” She giggles at him, but her eyebrows turn up in concern. “He’s been so worried about you."
“Ash? Worried? How long have I been out?” Kukui feels a little shocked. It takes a lot to worry Ash.
“Two days. Two days too long.” Burnet sighs and rubs his cheek with her thumb. “But Ash’s been awake since…since the, um, incident. He hasn’t been letting himself rest, not while you’ve been out. Ash…God, poor kid. He blames himself for…”
She gestures over Kukui’s body. He was in one of the Aether hospital gowns, and he could feel the rustle of bandages all over his body rubbing on the thin fabric. His chest felt tight and achy. His arm was caked with gauze and stung like a bitch. And his whole body felt…heavy. He thought he would sink through the bed.
“But…s’not his fault, Burnet. I’m not surprised, though.” Kukui sighs, rubbing his eyes. He was so tired. But he had to stay awake for Ash, no matter what.
“And I told him that. But you know how he is.” Burnet squeezes his hand. “He needs you to tell him that."
Before he can reply, the door swings open to reveal what looked like Ash, but…well, he looks better than when he was in the Nihilego, at least. But he seems too thin in the Aether hospital gown, too pale, too tired. That being said, he practically leaps up from the gurney he’s on when he passes through the doorframe.
“Professor? You’re awake?” Ash cries out in surprise, eyes wider than saucers. He slides off the gurney and starts to stagger over, causing lots of yelling—hands of Aether orderlies go flying and Burnet leaps up to hold him still.
“Ash. Breathe. He only just woke up, and both of you need to rest, or no visiting hours for either of you. You hear me, sir?” Burnet mutters to him firmly in her Wife tone.
He nods but reaches out toward Kukui, who was having trouble keeping his eyes open. “Hakase…You’re okay?”
“I’m so much better now that you’re here,” Kukui is able to form a full sentence after a long breath. He manages to lift his arms off the bed, welcoming him in. “Please, come here. Let me hold you.”
Ash beams and tries to slide off the gurney again, but Burnet steps in to support his frail frame. She braces him as he limps toward the bed, arms reaching out.
“Kukui-hakase!” Ash reaches the edge of the bed and crawls up to nestle into his side, IV line tangling with Kukui’s. “Missed you. So much.”
“Oh, keiki…” Kukui pulls his IV hand away from the tangle and instead wraps it around Ash’s bony shoulder. He lets his head loll over and rest on Ash’s mop of tangled hair. “Missed you too. I was so worried.”
Ash murmurs incoherently into Kukui’s chest.
“Hm?” Kukui rubs his cheek. “What'cha say?”
“…Hontoni gomennasai!” Ash looks up at Kukui, tears streaming down his face. “I hurt you! This is all my fault!"
“Oh, Ash...S’not your fault. Don’t cry.” Kukui shushes him gently. “Please. Don’t be sorry. E mālie.”
“No, Hakase. It is my fault. I said I would try not to hurt you and…and…I thought you died…I thought I killed you...” Ash bites his trembling lip, and the skin in the area turns white with a lack of circulation. He shakes all over.
Oh, shit.
“Burnet.” Kukui points to Ash, mouthing Help.
“Ash. Ash, hold my hand.” Burnet grabs his hand, and he squeezes back. “Now, look at Kukui. He’s right here. He’s holding you, y’see?”
“…Yeah.” Ash runs a finger over one of the veins popping out of Kukui’s forearm.
“Listen to me. Both of you are still sick. In order for you two to recover fully, you need to be calm. No tears, no guilt, no come-to-Jesus moments until you’re better.” Burnet kisses the top of Ash’s head, then kisses Kukui’s lips. “I, for one, am incredibly happy right now. I have both my boys back safe! There’s plenty of time to work out negative feelings when you both are better, don’t you think?”
Burnet gives Kukui a pointed look—the one that says you better say you agree with me, or I’ll make sure you stay in that hospital bed for the rest of your life. She has a point; getting Ash worked up and anxious (which is most definitely what will happen) while he’s hurt and hasn’t been getting enough rest as it is would be bad, to say the least.
“I agree. We’ll have plenty of time to talk later, once we’ve all gotten some rest.” Kukui nods slightly and tilts his head down to Ash. “Are you okay with that?”
Ash leans a little further into Kukui, letting out an earth-shattering yawn. “...Yeah. I’m so happy you’re better, Hakase…I was so worried...”
Kukui smiles. “Shhh, keiki. It’s all gonna be okay. Come on. I’m tired, and I bet you are too. Let’s take a nap, okay?” He curls up against Ash slightly, positioning himself so his ribs and arm aren’t aggravated but so he’s still maintaining skin-to-skin contact with him.
“Mm, ‘kay.” Ash ducks his head into his chest and shuts his eyes, smiling contentedly. “Oyasumi, Hakase."
“Mana’o nani.”