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Another day another reckless accident caused by a reckless idiot.
There sat a dinner was a concerned Tanjiro, a beyond annoyed zenitsu, and a temporarily handicapped Inosuke.
Thanks to unforeseen events the trio happened to run into a lesser demon wreaking havoc onto a little village. While not as strong as some of the other demons they’ve faced, she still managed to cause a lot of problems for the three of them. One of those problems being, breaking both the arms of one feral idiot.
The food had been served over half an hour ago and not one of them had said anything to each other. While silence had been something usually appreciated by Zenitsu, Tanjiro could smell something bitter emanating from the blond, he knew it was anger but there was something more, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.
The air felt heavy and Tanjiro not liking the rising tension decided to speak up, “So the food-”
“I can’t believe you did something that stupid, AGAIN” Zenitsu angrily cut in.
Tanjiro signed and looked over to the angry blond.
knowing that any attempts to calm him would only lead to more yelling, so as a last-minute decision, he decided to let him rant.
“Really! Out of everything you could have possibly done you rush into battle and put not only yourself but US in danger!!!” he said gesturing to both his and Tanjiro's injuries.
Tanjiro looked over to the person all this yelling was directed towards and to his surprise, the usually loud spoken boy sat there looking at his rice bowl to even more of his surprise it was left untouched.
Zenitsu not noticing decided to continue, “You dumb boar! At least look at me when I’m talking to you!!” to that he was he decided to slam his bowl down earning a slide glance from Inosuke himself. “Hey come on Zenitsu, he got really hurt today. He's already got two broken arms, try going a little easy on him okay” Zenitsu feeling extra annoyed quickly turned to Tanjiro ready to give him a piece of his mind but all complaints he had died once he was met with the boy’s soft features.
Tanjiro, as usual, ended up doing most of the work during their fights and today he was sporting the bruises to prove it but despite this, something always threw off the blond. No matter how beat up Tanjiro was he always managed to give the kindest smile and never, without fail, produced the softest sound. Not wanting to put the boy through any more Zenitsu just shook his head and returned his attention to his meal.
A few minutes later tanjiro gathered up his bowls and balanced them on his tray, despite not needing to clean up after himself he always enjoyed making the housekeeper’s job a little easier.
“Alright you two I’m going to head out for tonight, please get along” and just like that with a kind smile and his tray in hand, he left the two boys alone.
The tension had lightened up a bit but not wanting to get scolded by Tanjiro he decided to leave as well. Slowly he began gathering up his bowls and stacking them onto his tray just to place them on the side.
After such a long day Zenitsu wanted nothing more than to take a hot bath and get a good night’s rest. Not making eye contact he slowly made his way to the room to gather a robe and towel until...
“M’ sorry”
Zenitsu paused, he had to have misheard that. There’s no way Inosuke of all people would-
“I’m sorry Monitsu”
There it was again. He wanted to just walk right out of there, just wanted to continue with his plans to relax but with a sigh he realized, there’s no ignoring it.
Zenitsu turned and slowly walked towards the injured boy. Hesitantly he sat next to him making sure to leave enough space. “A-are you ok?” he asked. There was a pause, a long pause at that. Zenitsu was almost positive Inosuke didn’t hear him but just as he was about to repeat himself Inosuke quickly turned, leaning in. Too close to his liking.
The blond let out a little yelp, not expecting someone that badly hurt to move so fast, “I’m still weak” Inosuke blurted out, eyes panicked. Zenitsu wanted to say something, but he wasn’t used to seeing this feral idiot this hard on himself, not since their altercation with that weird spider family. He closed his eyes and shivered at the thought of his shrunken limbs but he was soon snapped out of his thoughts, “Gonpachiko’s face” Inosuke said mournfully.
“Your head,” he said, eyes scanning his body as if looking for another injury he could blame for his incompetence.
Zenitsu leaned back suddenly feeling warm with the dark-haired boy’s eyes on him.
”Didn’t do anything but get hurt” Inosuke continued to sulk.
Zenitsu taking a second to calm down tried to think of the best course of action. Uncertain if this was the right thing to do, placed a hand on the boar boy's head.
“Is that so, but the idiot I know isn’t weak, dumb sure, but not weak” Inosuke let out an annoyed grunt, “BUT-”
“No buts, you’re just dumb, end of story” Zenitsu stated in a stern manner.
Inosuke just sat there all wide-eyed and for a moment Zenitsu was sure he was thinking of how to beat him with both his arms wrapped up, in fact, he tensed up just in case the idiot decided to land a blow but to his surprise, it never came.
“I’m not weak?” Inosuke asked
“No” he said
“NOT WEAK!!” Inosuke screamed
“Yes yes, we all know now let’s g-”
Without warning, the feral boy slammed his face straight into his rice. “WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!?!?” Zenitsu screamed trying to pry his face out of the rice. With Zenitsu’s hands on his cheeks and food in his mouth, all he could manage to say was, “imph humnbry?” Zenitsu now concerned and confused just gave him a disgusted look, “What?”
Nudging his face free from his hands he swallowed the contents in his mouth, “I’m hungry”. Still clearly confused he looked down at his tray and saw that everything other than his now practically destroyed rice had been untouched. “Why haven’t you been eating, the food has been out for a while?” , to this, the dark-haired boy averted his eyes, “I didn’t want to eat”.
Zenitsu sat there for a second, didn’t want to eat, ‘this moron was always hungry, unless’. Oh, how terrible Zenitsu felt, looking back at it he may have taken the yelling a tad bit too far. “You hungry now?” he asked.
To this, Inosuke just nodded and without warning swooped down for another bite, “HeY HEY StoP” Zenitsu squeaked grabbing his face again. “At least eat normally idiot, you’ll die like this!” Inosuke just grunted, “I can’t Motisu!! NO aRMS! ” Zenitsu was about to scold him until he realized, ‘Oh, he really doesn’t have functioning arms does he’ shifting around a bit he tried to think of a plan but unfortunately Inosuke was quickly growing impatient, “Can I eat now? Foods cold cheese stick”
Zenitsu too lost in his own thoughts didn’t respond, ‘I could ask someone to help him, but then again no one really wants to deal with this dunce, there’s Tanjiro, but Tanjiro must be asleep by now, I could’
Zenitsu paled, ‘I could feed him’
Letting out an annoyed groan Zenitsu stood up and walked in the direction of the kitchen, just as he was about to leave he remembered just what idiot he was dealing with. He turned to the halfwit already going in for another bite, “Don’t eat anything yet or else broken bones are gonna be the least of your worries”
To this, the boy quickly closed his mouth and stuck out his lip in silent compliance.
A minute later he returned with a spoon, to which Inosuke sulked even more, “Idiot Monitsu you know I won’t use that” In frustration, the blond smacked the top of his head earning a small growl from the boy, “Be quiet before I let you choke and die”. Cleaning the spoon he stuck it into the boy’s rice and held it out in front of him. Inosuke eyed the spoon suspiciously, “What are you up t-hmMPH”
Zenitsu without warning shoved the food into his mouth. “Just eat already” he plead.
Inosuke quickly chewed his food and swallowed it and to his surprise, there’s another spoonful ready, this time with some meat. He grins and without hesitation, leans in and takes the food.
Deep in thought, Inosuke continued to grin, ‘finally, someone treating me like the king I am! Even dumb Montisu knows just how great I am’ as he watched zenitsu scoop up more food he couldn't help but find this situation all too familiar.
Zenitsu nudged his cheek with the spoon, “Here idiot, open up”.
Without thinking the boar complied, happily taking the food presented to him.
As he continued to chew he tried his best to connect the dots ‘The food, the moment this feeling...OH THAT'S IT’
“You’re a wife!” Inosuke blurts out.
“W H A T” Zenitsu screeched
“MY WIFE” Inosuke screamed trying to match his intensity
Zenitsu violently shook his head in attempts to shake the spreading blush and burning heat off his face, “Wait wait wait! Why would-WheN- WHERE DID YOU GET THAT KIND OF IDEA?!?” he continued.
Inosuke scoffed, “The God of Festivities! I’ve seen his wives feed and praise him!!” Zenitsu didn’t know how to respond, he was gonna die, he felt like he was gonna die, “BUT THAT DOESN’T MAKE ME YOUR WIFE!” he argued.
“Why not?” the injured boy asked. Zenitsu shoved another spoonful of food into his mouth in attempts to shut him up, “I’m not going to have this conversation with you” he spat.
Inosuke sat there confused. What’s the big deal, anyone would be grateful if not ecstatic to even be considered his minion, so wouldn’t being his wife be an honor. These thoughts aside, Inosuke knew one thing. He liked the embarrassed look on his face, especially the red that had yet to fade. Sure there was irritation in his eyes but Inosuke found that he rather liked having Zenitsu like this.
Their little exchange continued for a while, Zenitsu would offer him some food, Inosuke would take it. Occasionally he’d hold up some tea to the boy’s lips, slowly tipping it in an attempt not to spill. The blond was even kind enough to hand feed him some tempura, that was until Inosuke’s lips happened to brush his fingers. To Inosuke’s disappointment, the tempura stopped coming after that. Overall the meal continued until Inosuke was satisfied.
“So is that all?” Zenitsu asked
Inosuke simply nodded his head, Zenitsu sighed and put the bowl down, “Good, well I don’t know about you but I’m exhausted so I’m gonna get ready for bed”. The blond stood up and stretched his back, sitting down and constantly leaning in to feed someone was more draining than he thought.
As he slowly made his way to the door he could hear the boy shuffle behind him.
“Wait!” Inosuke spoke up. Zenitsu quickly turned and let out a grunt, “If you need help bathing I promise you I’m not going t-” before he could finish his sentence Inosuke pressed a warm kiss to the corner of his mouth. The gesture didn't last more than two seconds but Zenitsu stood there frozen in place. After a few seconds it finally seeped in.
“Ah HUHHHAAAA” Zenitsu shrieked
Inosuke only let out one of his crazed laughs
“For helping me that shall be your reward, but I’ll make sure to spare some of my food for when you break your arms ok!” he smirked. Not waiting for a response he made his way out of the room but not before delivering a final blow.
“Night Zenitsu!”
And just like that, he was gone.
Zenitsu stood there feeling hotter than he has ever been. The sound of his heart beating in his sensitive ears was too much. Why’d his chest feel so light and full, why’d that stupid boar do that to him and why, why did he like it. He shook his head, no, this was all dumb, he’s dumb.
‘“Night Zenitsu”’ he recalled
‘He got my name right...’ and just like that he felt himself grow even hotter
“AUGGHAAA THAT STUPID BOAR” he screamed hiding his face in his hands
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Tanjiro can't sleep, despite his best efforts he couldn't help but worry about his friends, they had been out there for quite a while and despite how much he cared about them he knew just how hot-headed they both were. Before he could dwell more on the topic he could hear Inosuke's lousy attempt at sneaking into the room but something was off.
But not in a bad way, by all means, Inosuke seemed happier, way happier than when they sat together at dinner. Not wanting to be nosy but needing to know he decided to sniff the air.
There was the scent of pride, happiness and OH that's new, he silently thought to himself.
Not wanting to bud into their business he just smiled and tucked himself further into his blankets.
...
Well he could bud in a bit
"I'm happy you too are getting along," he said.
He could feel Inosuke stop in his tracks, there was a small pause but after a few seconds, he got a small grunt in response.
'Embarrassment' Tanjiro smiled as he mentally added