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Katsuki felt like shit. His body felt too hot all over, his head felt full, his limbs felt heavy and everything was spinning. Fuck, he felt like he was going to throw up.
“Kacchan?” he heard Deku ask, placing a hand on his back.
“What?” he asked, unable to properly focus on her.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“M fine,” he shrugged her off, staggering forwards a few feet before she caught him. “Said ‘m fine,” he insisted as the world continued to spin.
“Kacchan, stop for a second,” she said, forcing him to sit down on the ground. He sighed as she placed a cool hand against his forehead, his eyes fluttering shut as he leaned into her. “Kacchan! You’re burning up!”
“M-m not,” he insisted with a whine as he felt himself slump forward, Deku catching him in her arms, and his vision went black.
When he woke up, his body still felt hot all over, but he also felt chilled to the bone. His skin felt sticky and disgusting, and he felt sweat pooling beneath him. His stomach was howling with hunger, but he had no appetite, all he wanted was some water to quench his thirst, and something to soothe the burning in his throat.
“Kacchan?” he heard Deku call out, making him slowly blinking his eyes open. His vision was still warped and fuzzy, but he immediately recognized the blurb of green as his partner.
“D-Dek-“ he choked on a cough as he was sent into a fit, his chest aching terribly and his stomach clenching painfully as he continued.
“Shh, don’t talk,” she said as she rubbed soothing circles into his back, which brought little relief to him, but he found it soothing nonetheless. “Here, drink this, it’s tea and honey,” she said as she tucked her hand under his sweaty nape and lifted his head up while she pressed the glass to his lips. The warm liquid splashed on his tongue and ran down his throat, soothing the scratchy sensation that burned inside of him.
“Fuck,” he rasped out, the honey still coating his throat.
“Are you hungry? Do you need some medication?” she asked gently, stroking his hair back from his forehead. He managed a nod, though any movement seemed to make his head pound in protest. “Okay, I’ll be right back,” she whispered as she got up and left the room. Fuck, this sucked. He felt like utter shit, he couldn’t even entertain himself with the idea of Deku being his personal nurse, he just couldn’t muster up the mental energy. It was too exhausting.
“I’m back,” he heard her say as she walked over to him. “I’ve got some medicine, here,” she said, placing the pills at his lips. He opened his mouth up, letting the pills tumble in as she quickly brought the cup to him next. He greedily gulped down the liquid, panting after he swallowed. Fuck he felt short of breath.
“Are you up for eating anything?” she asked as she placed something cool and damp against his forehead, making him exhale in relief. He really didn’t have the energy to eat, and he wasn’t sure he’d even be able to stomach it, but he could feel his stomach tightening from hunger, so he nodded his head. “Alright,” she said as she began to fiddle with something. “Sorry, all I did was heat up that pre made soup in a can. It’s pretty plain, so it shouldn’t upset your stomach too much.”
“Mm,” he grunted, barely even able to open his eyes to look at her. He heard her blow on the soup before she lifted his head and began to spoon feed him. He couldn’t really taste anything, could barely distinguish between meat and noodle, but it began to quell the pain in his stomach. He was gasping by the end, unbearably hot inside and out, having a hard time breathing because his nose was plugged up.
“How are you feeling?” she asked as she set the bowl aside.
“H-hot,” he rasped.
“Let me get you some water,” she said, getting up and rushing out the door, quickly returning with the glass. She lifted his head up and helped him to drink the cold liquid, feeling like he could finally breathe again, despite the burning of his lungs. Fuck, couldn’t he get any relief! “Do you need anything else?” He shook his head, he just wanted to sleep so he wouldn’t feel like this. “Okay, I’ll let you get some rest, okay?”
“N-no,” he coughed, forcing his eyes open so he could look at her. “S-st-stay,” he pleaded.
“Okay, okay,” she soothed as she adjusted his blankets and pillows. “You want the fan on?” He nodded. He heard her pad off, flick the switch, and he felt cool air against his face. It made him shiver, but he was still so hot... fuck... his breathing was so loud despite his plugged up ears, and his mouth was dry from mouth breathing. He must look so damn pathetic. He felt the bed dip beside him as Deku climbed into bed with him, careful not to disturb him, and he felt sleep claim him.
When he woke up, he still felt like shit, but he felt better. Well, at least he didn’t feel like he’s rather die... he still couldn’t breathe through his nose, and he still felt exhausted, but he wasn’t freezing like he had been earlier. He turned his head to Deku’s side of the bed, upset when he didn’t see her there.
“De-Deku,” he called out, his voice raspy and weak. “Deku!” he tried again, his voice no louder than the first time. Frustrated, he groped around for something on the bedside table and lobbed it at the door. “Deku!”
“Kacchan!?” she shrieked from the other side, her footsteps quick as she flung the door open. “Wh-what!?”
“I’m awake,” he rasped out, making her sigh and let her shoulders fall.
“Kacchan, you scared me,” she said as she bent down to pick up whatever he had thrown, which turned out to be a spoon, after which she gave him an unimpressed look. He tried to grin at her before he choked and began coughing, at which point she rushed to his side and lifted up his head, pressing a glass of water to his lips. He drank the water greedily, repeatedly gasping between gulps.
“Kgh, fuck,” he grunted, clearing his throat as he flopped back onto his pillow. “I feel disgusting,” he complained, his voice thin and scratchy.
“Want me to help you change into fresh clothes?” she asked kindly.
“Fuck, lookin’ for a reason to get a sick man naked? You perv,” he grinned at her, making her cheeks flush in embarrassment. He laughed, coughing again, but recovered quickly.
“I think your fever is getting to you,” she muttered at him as she began to peel away the sticky, damp sheets. Fuck, she might be right... “We’ll wait until you feel better before we change the rest of the sheets. Do you think you’re up to have a quick bath?”
“Yeah, lemme,” he grunted as he made to get up, his head spinning from the sudden movement. “Fuck, nope, ugh,” he groaned as he flopped back where he was, closing his eyes and waiting for everything to stop spinning.
“Are you okay? Do you feel sick?” she asked.
“No, jus’, my head was spinning,” he sighed, trying to focus on not vomiting. “Fuck, I’m cold.”
“I’ll get you a blanket,” she said, walking around and opening up a drawer before draping the fresh blanket over him. He sighed as he buried into the blanket, curling up as Deku changed the rest of the sheets. He still felt kinda gross, but it was much better now than it was before. “Is that better?”
“Mm,” he nodded. “M’ead hurts.”
“I’ll grab you some more meds, okay?” she said as she took the cloth off of his head and left the room.
When he woke up later, he was surprised. Wait, had he fallen asleep? Again?
“You awake?” she asked, a hand brushing his hair out of his face.
“Mm,” he hummed, exhaustion still deep in his bones. Her touch felt nice.
“Your fever seems to be going down,” she said. “You should feel better in another day or so.”
“How long have I been asleep for?” he asked softly.
“Mm, you’ve been sick a few days,” she told him. “Last time you were asleep for about six hours. Which is good, means your body is fighting it off.”
“Mm,” he hummed, his eyes still closed. “I still feel like shit.”
“I know, babe,” she said, a little giggle leaving her. “But you’ll be right as rain in no time!”
“Right as rain? And you call me an old man,” he chuckled as she whacked him playfully in the shoulder.
“Shut up! Jerk,” she snorted as she laid her head down onto his shoulder.
“Ugh, I’m gonna have so much work to catch up on,” he lamented with a groan.
“Don’t worry, I’ll help you with it,” she promised.
“You’ve got your own shit to do,” he said.
“Well, not that much,” she told him. “I’ve brought some work home to do while you’ve been asleep.”
“Sorry you have to do all this shit for me, babe,” he said, looking up at the ceiling.
“Don’t apologize, Kacchan,” she said, pressing a kiss to his cheek as she threw her arm over his chest. “I promised you when we got married that I’d always take care of you. In sickness and in health, remember?” He felt his cheeks heat up in embarrassment as he scoffed at her. “Plus, it’s kinda refreshing to have you like this.”
“You sayin’ you like me as an invalid?” he snapped, making her grin into his neck.
“No! I’m saying it’s nice seeing you take a break,” she clarified. “Even though it wasn’t of your own choice,” she laughed before sighing. “Y’know, Kacchan, I wish you’d be easier on yourself, take more breaks when you need them. I think you got sick because you work too hard.”
“Like you don’t work your ass off too,” he quipped defensively, causing her to push herself up to look at him better.
“Never enough to make myself sick!” she argued, her hair hanging down in front of her face as her brows furrowed. “I, I’m happy with where I am, I don’t need more, but I want you to be happy too, and you can’t be if you’re working so much you get sick!” she choked, looking down so he couldn’t see her eyes. There was a tense silence for a while, before he sighed, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her back onto his chest.
“I don’t mean to make you worry, Deku,” he said as he kiss her hair. “I just, I-“
“Work too hard,” she finished for him, making him scoff as she gave him a little smile. “I, I don’t, I know your work is important, but, I wish you’d take it easy a bit more. I want to spend more time together, and, I’m honestly worried about your health,” she finished softly. He sighed again, rubbing her upper arm with his hand, pulling her closer.
“I, I guess I could work fewer hours,” he told her. “Plus, I think the stress is giving me gray hairs. Can’t have you leaving me ‘cuz I look like an old man.” Deku laughed as she leaned up to kiss his cheek, an amused smile on her face.
“I would stay with you no matter what you looked like!” she insisted. “I think Kacchan would look very dignified with gray hair,” she giggled.
“Tch, yeah, right,” he said with a roll of his eyes, a small smirk on his face.
“It’s true!” she said loudly, making him chuckle. “I think it would make you look very attractive,” she grinned.
“Oi, I’m still sick, freak,” he countered, making her lay on his chest with a giggle. “Tryin’ to make a move on me when I’m bedridden, you perv.”
“Eh!? Who’re you calling a perv!” she asked in embarrassment, her cheeks pink as he laughed at her. She pouted and pushed off of him, turning away as he rolled his eyes. ”A-anyways, if you’re feeling better, why don’t we get you washed, and I can change the sheets, s-sound good?”
“Mm,” he nodded as he began to sit up, needing her help to get to his feet. His head still felt light and fuzzy, but it was much better now than a few days prior. With her help, they made their way into the bathroom, where he plopped down onto the toilet seat as she filled up the tub. With her help, and plenty of teasing on his part, he got into the tub, after which she went about changing the sheets. He sat in the tub, just letting himself soak, enjoying the warm water seeping into his muscles, when she returned. She helped clean him off, and he moaned in relief as the sweat, grease and grime was washed off of him.
“Let’s keep this bath family friendly,” she teased as she washed his back.
“Don’t even get me fuckin’ started,” he snapped at her, making her laugh as she grabbed the shower head and began rinsing him off. She drained the tub and helped him up; he felt much better afterwards, able to towel off and dress himself as he walked back to their bed.
“I’m gonna grab you something to eat, and some paperwork to work on. We can play a movie, maybe?” she asked as she helped adjust his pillows for him.
“Sure thing, nerd,” he sighed as he got comfortable. She laughed at him and once she walked out of the room, and he sighed. As much as he hated being bedridden, it was kind of nice having her take care of him. Sure, he felt like a bit of a burden, but now that he felt better enough to sass and tease her, it wasn’t so bad. It made him realize how little time they’d spent together as of late. Sure, they ate breakfast together, went to work together, walked home together, when he wasn’t staying late... and had dinner together, again, when he wasn’t working late, but, they really hadn’t allowed much private time. He’d just been so busy with work, he couldn’t find the time...
He really should take it easy, make more time for his partner, who seemed to be pleased over having him in bed, unable to leave. Not the malicious kind of pleasure, she seemed genuinely happy that they could spend time together. It really had been too long.
“I’m back!” she chirped as she returned, a bowl of chili in one hand and a pile of folders under her other arm. “Here, it should be plenty spicy for you,” she laughed as she handed him the bowl. “Though, if you’re still sick, it’s probably hard for you to taste anything,” she giggled.
“Thanks babe,” he smiled at her as he took the bowl and picked up the remote, scrolling for a movie while she set up on her side of the bed. He put on a horror movie, so she wouldn’t get distracted by it, and they laid together, him enjoying his chili and her muttering to herself while she worked. Once he had finished his food, he set his bowl aside and turned to her, wrapping his arm around her waist as he nuzzled into her side. He heard and felt her chuckle at him as she ran her fingers through his hair in between her scribblings. He felt himself grow drowsy, her warmth and muttering lulling him into a sleep. He woke up later, with Deku spooning him from behind and smiled.
“You up?” she asked, sitting up and leaning over him, her hair hanging around her face, the tips tickling his nose.
“Mm,” he nodded, closing his eyes and puckering his lips at her.
“Oh no,” she laughed, pushing his face away. “You’re still sick!”
“I’m probably not contagious anymore!” he protested. “C’mon! I wanna kiss my damn wife already!”
“Give it another day, love,” she said, her eyes crinkling to her smile. “Then, you can have as many kisses as you want.” He huffed in irritation and looked away with a pout, clearly amusing her. “I love you, Kacchan.”
“Do you?” he asked, cocking a brow at her as he smirked.
“I do,” she nodded, pressing a kiss to the corner of his eye. “I love you very much.”
“Even though I nearly worked myself to death?” he asked, resting their foreheads together.
“Mm, even then,” she agreed.
“Heh,” he chuckled, leaning up to press a kiss to her cheek, “I love you too, Deku.”
Once he was finally better, he emailed his work saying he was going to work less hours. It came as quite the surprise to his coworkers and friends, but the latter group seemed happy now that he was able to hang out with them. He was able to go out drinking with them, tag along for day trips, and best of all, sleep in. He still didn’t like staying out late, but this time he was actually around to hear his friends teasing him about what an old man he was. He didn’t really mind. As he and Deku got older, he took it even easier. Sure, he still enjoyed work, but he really just wanted to spend as much time with his wife as possible. He only had a finite amount of time on Earth, he’d rather be with his wife than at work.