Work Text:
It was a bad night.
The fever was always higher in the evening but it was becoming more and more difficult to get Reigen to take any water. That would be the tipping point, the doctor said if he wouldn't drink anything they had no choice. But with the delirium and confusion the line between what was real and what wasn't had blurred and the nightmares came hard and fast, wringing him out, taking more than he had left to give. Hisao was worried they'd be in the hospital by early morning.
“Shhh,” he soothed, murmuring in a low voice, he knew Reigen could hear it from where his head moved fitfully on his chest. “It's okay, shh, drink a little water for me?” There was no recognition in his eyes when they opened, bright with fever, and worry tripped steadily down Hisao's spine, he'd always known them before. “Reigen?” He wiped his face with a damp cloth and the man shuddered, quiet save for the wheeze in his chest, eyes wandering over the room, looking for something. Hisao tilted his head back gently, trying to draw his attention, hissing through his teeth at the fever that, if anything, felt higher than before. It was burning him away to nothing. “Do you know me?” Waiting, running the cloth over face and bare arms, counting struggling breaths as had become habit. “Come on, Reigen.” Anxiety edged his urging voice, he couldn't hide it. “You know me.” Roaming eyes once again took in the shadows around them, coming finally back to look him in the face, dazed fear naked in his expression, but in a whisper, painfully small:
“‘Sao?” Letting out the breath he'd been holding in a rush, Hisao embraced him gently, petting back the damp bangs and laughing softly in relief past the panic in his throat.
“Yeah, good, yeah it's me.” He held the glass to his lips, supporting his head, “You did so good, can you do one more thing for me?” Reigen managed a few sips before his cough got the better of him, but he settled soon enough. “Good, that was so good,” Hisao praised, running fingers through the sweaty hair, “try and sleep now.” Tired eyes slipped shut but he could tell he’d fallen almost directly back into nightmare and Hisao kept up his gentle touch, hoping it would reach him, somehow, through the dark.
He woke in a panic, he’d fallen asleep on accident for he didn't know how long, they'd both been so tired lately between work and caring for Reigen through these long nights. Rubbing away the sleep with the heel of his hand he looked down at his charge and noticed that they were both soaked with sweat. He palmed Reigen’s forehead, it was markedly cooler than before and he was resting easier against him: the fever had broken. Hisao let his head fall back, fully relaxing for the first time in almost a week and just letting his hand lay on Reigen’s forehead, taking comfort in the cooler temperature.
“A quick rinse I think.” As he shifted him forward, Reigen came awake, more lucid than he'd been for days.
“Hmm?” Blearily, he tried to sit up but was too weak, laying back on the pillows Hisao stuffed behind him, wrinkling his nose at the sweaty mess his shirt had become.
“We’re going to clean up.” Hisao checked his forehead one more time, smiling at the exhausted but clear questioning gaze. “I’ll be right back.”
He kissed Akane softly awake, excited to share the good news, and had to stop her from going downstairs herself to check.
“I’m just grabbing a change of clothes, we need a shower.” He kissed her again, “I promise he'll be there in the morning.”
Reigen was asleep again when Hisao bundled him up in his arms, taking the blanket with them to prevent a chill, only blinking awake long enough to see who was holding him. Hisao helped him undress, talking him through it, pausing briefly at the scars etched into the pale skin, sitting him solidly on a stool with a towel before stripping down himself and adjusting the shower head to a warm spray. The hot water relaxed Reigen completely, steam breaking up some of the congestion in his chest, and Hisao caught him gently before he could fold completely forward, drawing him into his side while working shampoo into the auburn hair, catching the suds before they could slip into sleepy eyes. The man was drowsing, humming in a content sort of way as the water flowed over his head and shoulders. Hisao could identify, it was always nice to be clean after being sick.
A short time later found them both warm, dry and settled back in clean linens on the couch, with Reigen tucked up, sleeping deeply, restfully, against Hisao and breathing better than before. He checked his temperature one more time, more than satisfied with the relatively cool skin, and slept.