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“Kaminari, you’re burning up. Let’s get you back to bed, okay?” Shoto gently moved his hand from Denki’s forehead. He had come into the kitchen stumbling like he was drunk, spouting off some nonsense about how the dragons were out to get him. It appeared Mina had still not learned the lesson of never letting Denki watch fantasy shows when he was sniffling, no matter how hard he insisted it was just allergies.
“Huh? Fire dragon? Where?” Denki turned his head around and quickly regretted the action, grabbing the side of his head in pain. “Mind dragon hurt me,” he whimpered.
“There’s no dragons.” Shoto sighed as he watched Denki trying to find dragons. “You’re really out of it, aren’t you?” He glanced over at the others in the common room. “Recovery Girl can’t help with illnesses, right?” Kirishima shook his head.
“Wish she could. Want me to take care of him?”
“I’ve got it. Let Aizawa know what’s going on if he needs me. I don’t think we can leave him alone right now.”
“Yeah, no. He’s already tried to kill himself twice today and it’s only 8 am. Just get him back to bed, call me if you need anything.” Kirishima shot Shoto a thumbs up.
“Thank you.” He turned his attention back to Denki. “Come on, let’s go.” He gently took his wrist and lightly tugged on it.
“No.” Denki’s face developed a defiant pout.
“Kaminari. Come back to your room. I’m going to take care of you.” Denki took a step and promptly began to crumple. Shoto caught him and pulled him back upright. “No walking. Got it.” Shoto moved one arm around Denki’s shoulders and leaned down to put the other one under his knees. He lifted him up easily and began carrying him up to his room.
“Good dragon,” Denki praised, looking at Shoto. “Nice dragon. Best dragon.” Shoto let a smile slip as he heard Denki talk. He was rather cute when he was sick. As they neared Denki’s room, he realized he couldn’t open the door with the boy in his arms. Luckily, he noticed Oijiro down the hall.
“Oijiro? Would you mind opening the door?” he called out.
“Yeah, sure. You’ve got Kaminari duty this time?” Oijiro jogged over and opened the door for the teens.
“Yes. I’m his favourite dragon.” Shoto smiled as he heard Oijiro laugh. “Thanks for the help.”
“Nice dragons,” Denki muttered quietly.
“Anytime. Good luck with Daenerys!” Oijiro shut the door, leaving Shoto and Denki alone. Shoto moved over to the bed and set Denki down, pulling the covers over his body. He pulled Denki’s desk chair over to the bed and sat down, pulling out his phone to distract himself. After a half hour, Shoto realized Denki had fallen asleep.
“I’ll go get you something to eat,” he whispered. He reached out and moved some of Denki’s hair off his forehead, frowning at the sweat that had accumulated. “When I get back, I’ll take care of this, okay?” Shoto quietly stood and made his way back down to the kitchen.
He soon returned with an array of options for Denki. Rice water, apple juice, a granola bar, a few pieces of fruit, a slice of buttered bread, and a jar of medicine were laid across a tray. Shoto figured he would eat whatever food Denki didn’t want. He set the tray on his chair and crouched down next to the bed. He reached out and gently rubbed Denki’s shoulder until he stirred.
“Hey, you want some food?” Denki weakly nodded. “Alright, you have to sit up.”
“Don’t wanna,” Denki muttered.
“Look. I’ll cut you a deal, okay? You do what I ask you to until you get better, and then I’ll do whatever you want me to for a day. How does that sound?” Shoto didn’t care about the consequences of his deal, he just wanted to make Denki feel better and maybe slip in a nap himself.
“Deal. I listen to you, I get to be the little spoon.” Shoto felt a blush crawl up his face as Denki sat up. The blond leaned against the headboard, grimacing at the pain of moving. He let his eyes slip closed again.
“Denki, are you lucid right now?”
“Yeah. Just feel like shit.”
“So you understand you just asked me to cuddle you?” Shoto stared at Denki
“Do you not want to?” He cracked an eye open, looking at Shoto with a worried expression.
“I just wanted to make sure you meant it.” Shoto smiled in what he hoped was a reassuring way. “Let’s get some food in you, okay?”
“Kay,” Denki mumbled.
“You’re not falling asleep again, are you?”
“Maybe.” Shoto sighed.
“Denki. Eat something, then you can sleep. Open your eyes for me.” Denki slowly opened his eyes and pouted. “Thank you. Do you want to take your medicine first and then eat?” He was answered by a small nod. He grabbed the medicine off the tray and poured the proper dosage into the small cup. He lifted the cup to Denki’s lips and tipped it back, making sure Denki finished it. He set it back on the tray before grabbing the rice water.
“I can drink by myself, you know,” Denki whispered, his face a deep red.
“I know.” He lifted the glass to Denki’s lips, giving it the same treatment as the cup of medicine. He pulled the glass back and set it on the tray as he spoke. “What do you want to eat?” Denki turned his head to look at the tray, then reached out for the orange. “I’ve got it.” Shoto picked up the orange and peeled it. He placed the pieces in Denki’s mouth one by one. Once the orange was gone, Denki spoke.
“Why are you spoiling me?”
“To be honest, I really like domestic stuff like this. Also, you did two dangerous things this morning and it scared me. This helps me.”
“Back up a moment. I didn’t just wake up?” Shoto couldn’t help but laugh.
“No, you were definitely awake earlier. When you first came downstairs you started tumbling headfirst, Ochaco had to float you into the living room to keep you from hitting your head on the stairs repeatedly. Then you went into the kitchen, grabbed a fork, and started to put it in the socket. I said you had a fever and you asked where the fire dragon was. Then you got a headache and blamed it on the mind dragon. I had to carry you back up here.”
“Oh, god. That explains why you asked if I was lucid. I’m so sorry!” Denki brought his hands up to his face and hid himself.
“It’s fine, Denki. It was cute, really.”
“Why do you keep calling me Denki today?” Shoto’s brow furrowed.
“I’m not sure. Would you like me to stop?”
“No, no. I like it. Can I call you Shoto?”
“I’d like that.” He smiled at Denki as he yawned again. “Did you want more food?” The blond shook his head as he closed his eyes. Shoto moved the tray to his friend’s desk and moved his chair a little closer to the bed. “You should lay down. Would you like help?”
“No, I’ve got it.” Denki shuffled until he was laying on his side, facing Shoto. His eyes cracked open, looking up at Shoto’s hopefully. “Will you hold my hand until I fall asleep?”
“Of course I will.” He offered his right hand to Denki, who grasped it with his left.
“Your hands are so soft,” he muttered, rubbing the back of the cool hand. Shoto let out a small huff of laughter.
“Get some sleep now, Denki. I’ll be here when you wake up.” Shoto smiled at their intertwined hands as he leaned back in his chair.
“Thanks, Shoto.” Denki smiled up at him as he let his eyes close. Shoto could’ve sworn he heard a whispered “I love you,” coming from the other boy, but he couldn’t be sure. What he was sure of, however, was that he loved the sick boy sleeping beside him.