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Sun shone through the sheer curtains of Atsushi's apartment and woke Ryuunosuke. He kept his eyes shut, not enjoying how bright the room was so early in the morning. He should have gone home last night, but instead Ryuunosuke had humored his drunken lover in the cold of the night and come home with him, wanting to ensure that the careless fool got into bed safely. Naturally a tucking-in had led to more than that and Ryuunosuke stayed the night out of exhaustion more than anything else. He couldn't complain the gentle feeling he got waking up with the silver-haired young man curled against his chest. Or at least he couldn't on most days.
This morning, as Ryuunosuke's mind awoke - must against his will - he heard a raspy rattling beside him instead of the usual deep breathing. He sat up quickly, looking down at Atsushi beside him and took careful stock of what he saw. Atsushi's skin was clammy and pale with a pink tinge across his cheeks and the end of his nose. Brushing his lopsided bangs from the young man's face, Ryuunosuke felt the fever on Atsushi's damp forehead and was gripped with concern at the unsteady breaths being drawn in through chapped lips.
"Atsushi," Ryuunosuke said softly, and when it didn't stir any reaction he shook him slightly as he said louder, "Atsushi."
The other man groaned softly, eyes squeezing tighter only making the tension Ryuunosuke felt in his chest tighten. Quickly, he got to his feet and went to the small kitchen to find a clean dish cloth to run under cold water. In his haste, Ryuunosuke soaked the cloth heavily and went back to Atsushi's side immediately, kneeling on the tatami next to the futon. The cloth was dripping water even when Ryuunosuke placed it over Atsushi's forehead, but soaking his face in the process.
"Hnn... Nosuke..." Atsushi sputtered, trying to sit up to keep the unknown water from pouring on his face.
"Don't sit up," Ryuunosuke said, putting a firm hand to Atsushi's chest. "You have a fever."
Atsushi laid back down, not awake enough to argue. "Why am I all wet?"
Ryuunosuke flushed at the question, realizing he forgot to wring out the cloth before putting it on Atsushi's forehead. He said as much and the other man laughed before breaking into a coughing fit. "I told you that you were going to get sick," he frowned. "Why do you always insist on ignoring me?"
As the coughing subsided, Atsushi offered a small smile, "You say that as if you always listen to me. You should go home before you catch something from me."
"I'm not leaving."
"Nosuk-"
"I'm not leaving." There was commanding in Ryuunosuke's tone as his hands balled into fists against his thighs. But underneath it there was worry, there was fear.
Atsushi reached over and touched one of Ryuunosuke's hands. "I'll be okay. I can handle a cold, Nosuke. I don't want you to get sick. Your health is bad enough as it is without more to wor-" Atsushi choked on the last word as he coughed again.
"Atsushi..."
"I'm fine," he managed to say as the coughing receded. "Please, I don't want you to get sick." He could tell Ryuunosuke wanted to argue with him while also not wanting to get in the way making sure Atsushi got some rest so he added, "Stay until I fall asleep, but then please go home."
He didn't say anything but as Ryuunosuke took a hold of Atsushi's hand he nodded in agreement. A heavy silence fell in the apartment and Atsushi closed his eyes to sink into it, wanting the weight to be more of a blanket rather than one of unease. He could tell Ryuunosuke was concerned, could tell in the restless grip on his hand that the other man felt more or less useless, but Atsushi was privately pleased that he was there beside him. They had both been alone for so many years. Alone and in pain with no one there to guide them through their own darkness and hold their hand to help them find their footing on uneven ground. The darkness was a monster than demanded isolation, but it took a monster to help another in a time of need. This was only a simply cold, an illness that would go away with rest and care, but the company was a change of pace Atsushi took to heart as he felt sleep take him over.
Ryuunosuke waited until he was sure Atsushi was asleep before slipping his hand free and ensuring Atsushi was covered entirely by the comforter. He didn't want to leave, his concern causing his to hesitate, but Atsushi expected him to go home... The thought hit him about what Atsushi would do when he awoke. The Detective Agency knowingly turned a blind eye to their relationship and kept their distance when Atsushi had time off to avoid running into their "nemesis, Akutagawa". Would anyone think to check in on the tiger? He took the too-wet cloth from Atsushi's forehead and went back to the small kitchen to re-soak it and ring it out properly, going back to his sleeping lover with a dry cloth in his other hand to carefully dry his flushed face before placing the damp cloth back in place on his forehead. The action made him feel better but Ryuunosuke was still concerned about what would happen when Atsushi woke up. He'd need something warm to eat if he could stomach it or at least something warm to drink. The shelves were usually fairly bare in Atsushi's apartment so Ryuunosuke determined he would find something to bring back. After all, Atsushi had never told him he had to stay at home.
When Atsushi next awoke, his apartment felt quiet. He didn't feel as feverish as he had before but he could feel the rattling still in his chest. He reached up and took the only slightly-damp cloth from his forehead and sat up slowly. The room only shifted a little bit as he did so but he figured he was probably dehydrated and hungry. After drinking too much the night before, he needed some liquids in his system.
That's when the smell of chazuke filled his nostrils and Atsushi looked over to see a tray next to him with the steaming bowl alongside a mug of steaming tea and a glass of water. Looking up further, he saw Ryuunosuke sitting a little ways away with a book in his hands.
"I thought you were going to go home," Atsushi said, his tone teasing to take away from how scratchy his voice was.
The other man didn't look up as he said, "I did."
"But you're here."
"I came back."
Atsushi sighed and shifted his position so he could eat. He reached for the chazuke first but his hand stopped when Ryuunosuke said, "Drink the water first. You need it."
Rolling his eyes, Atsushi did as he was told and drank the whole glass before he went for the chazuke again. This time when he hesitated, it was because he said, "You're not going to eat too?"
Ryuunosuke's nose wrinkled a little as he lowered his book and said, "I already ate."
Atsushi didn't believe him but his stomach was growling so he said nothing more and ate the meal so generously set out for him. Ryuunosuke wasn't one to cook, so he had probably gone to the shop down the street to bring it back. And recently too given how hot it still was. The warmth of the food filled Atsushi with a cozy feeling that he closed his eyes and reveled in while he ate. For most of his youth, the warmth of chazuke was the only comfort he had. Even now, few things compared to a good bowl of the simple dish.
"How... are you feeling?" Ryuunosuke asked after Atsushi put the bowl back on the tray. He'd watched closely at how Atsushi's expression changed while he ate, how his muscles relaxed so completely. Not enjoying the dish itself, Ryuunosuke found himself curiously mesmerized by how it affected Atsushi.
"Better," Atsushi replied with a dry cough into his elbow. "If I'm not one-hundred percent tomorrow, I will be the day after. Seichou wouldn't be happy if I came to work sick and made a mess of things. Well... maybe not outwardly, but Kunikida-san would be mad."
"..."
As Atsushi sipped at the tea that was left on the tray, he looked over at Ryuunosuke. Something felt off as he avoided eye contact while definitely not actually reading the book in his hands. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Nosuke..."
"Atsushi, nothing is wrong."
Atsushi crossed his arms over his chest and stared at Ryuunosuke until the man sighed and crossed the room to sit next to Atsushi on the futon. He rested his head on the other man's shoulder and Atsushi took Ryuunosuke's hand as he asked, "What?"
Dark eyes grew slightly darker as Ryuunosuke replied quietly into Atsushi's shoulder, "I want to take care of you."
"You are taking care of me. You brought me chazuke."
Ryuunosuke made a low grumbling sound. "From down the street. I didn't make it."
"Nosuke, there's no difference. You cared enough to bring it for me. I'm just happy I woke up before it got cold."
Ryuunosuke winced slightly. Atsushi had been whimpering in his sleep when he'd come back so he had made tea and set it next to him, hoping the smell would wake him up and wouldn't cause him to tell Ryuunosuke to just go home again. It had been selfish when the other man was suffering and his brow furrowed again thinking about it.
Atsushi noticed his partner retreating inside of himself and ran his fingers over Ryuunosuke's cheek, making him sit up and face Atsushi. Atsushi leaned in and covered Ryuunosuke's mouth with his other hand before pressing a kiss to the back of it. He felt Ryuunosuke kiss his palm in return and when he pulled away, the man's eyes were closed, lips still pressed to Atsushi's palm. "Thank you for the chazuke," Atsushi said quietly as he brought his hand down.
"Are you going to tell me to go home now?" The question was whispered and a small flush of shame spread across Ryuunosuke's pale cheeks.
Atsushi let out a sigh but smiled all the same, "I guess not. I don't want you to be upset and I am feeling better." He paused for a moment. "No kisses until I know I'm not sick anymore."
Ryuunosuke rolled his eyes but there was no malice behind it, he knew Atsushi was just thinking of his own condition worsening if he caught something. He leaned over all the same and kissed Atsushi's cheek. The fever seemed to have broken, but his skin was still warm. It still bothered him that none of the detective agency would have checked in on him, but he kept that to himself. There was no need to upset Atsushi and there would be other times to fight the agents over their apparent disinterest.
"好きだ," Atsushi said, leaning against Ryuunosuke.
"好きだ," Ryuunosuke replied.