Work Text:
A week had passed since the Vision Hunt decree had been abolished. Things were getting better day by day, the Resistance even decided to stay formed under Kokomi to assist her in salvaging what was left of Inazuma because of the war. Things were going so well.
Well.
Ka-thunk.
Gorou slammed his head against the desk. His eyes looked bloodshot, his body barely clinging on to stay awake. He couldn’t help but fall in and out of sleep. Things were going great, but he was not doing well. People were relying on him, he couldn’t drop out now..
“General? Kazuha Kaedehara is here to see you.”
“Send him in.”
He was stuck in this room trying to handle some paperwork for Kokomi. Everything was flickering in and out.
Kazuha came in, “Gorou, it’s great to see you. I didn’t expect you to take up a desk job.”
“Her Excellency needs a few things filled out and I decided to take the job. Ever since the decree has gone away and..”
“..and?”
Gorou couldn’t complete his sentence as he slumped against the desk, knocking a cup of pencils and other things over. Kazuha hurried to his aid, “hey, are you okay? Gorou!” his voice roused the general and he mumbled, “I’ll be fine, I haven’t..slept yet..”
He tried to get up and shake Kazuha off, but his legs failed him and he would have hit the floor if Kazuha wasn’t there to support him. The samurai called out for help and other soldiers filled the room to see the situation.
The next time Gorou woke up, he was in a different room and laying in a bed. Exhaustion slammed into him like the blunt end of a polearm.
He sat up in the bed in a hurry, realizing his clothes had been changed to something easier to sleep in. There were footsteps and Kazuha appeared, “you’re awake. I’m glad you’re okay..you scared me when you collapsed like that.”
“Kazuha..”
“I had a doctor on site try to see if anything was wrong. Nothing but exhaustion by the looks of it.”
“Oh..I see. I’m sorry I made you worry. Where are we?”
“We’re in the house Her Excellency prepared for you. Here, take a sip of this.”
Kazuha came into full view and was holding a plate with what looked to be teacups on it. He handed one teacup to Gorou and set the other on the bedside table beside him. He pulled up a chair and sat by his bedside, “you’ve been taking on a lot in these trying times, haven’t you?”
Gorou drank a bit of the tea Kazuha gave to him.
“Mhm. People need my help, that’s why I’ve been working so often.”
“But you must take care of yourself first and foremost! Isn’t that what you told those who are with you? You care so little for yourself.”
A laugh came out of Gorou, “I’ll be okay. I’m strong.”
“You didn’t show that when you collapsed,” came Kazuha’s lighthearted counter. Gorou’s eyes narrowed, almost akin to a cat, he replied, “don’t give me that. I’ll be okay. I have to get back to work as Her Excellency needs the help.”
“My love, that is where you are incorrect,” Kazuha’s voice lowered, “even the lady herself has insisted you rest. She is much more capable than you think she is.”
“I know that! What do you mean she..?”
“She wants you to rest, that’s what I told you. Please listen to her..and listen to me. Rest. You even have bags under your eyes, do not ignore the signs. Will it help if I stay around? I’ll be staying in Inazuma for a while to help out. Maybe that’ll make it easier to relax?”
Sighing, Gorou obliged with that. He was yearning for a chance to kick back and destress, so maybe this would be a blessing in disguise. The tea was nice, but what was nicer was that Kazuha would be around. He wouldn’t be alone!
Kazuha kissed his cheek, “I’m glad you’ll listen. I don’t want your body to finally give in and leave you unable to do anything. A break is good once in a while.”
He was smiling and suddenly Gorou was too. Kazuha’s smile was infectious and even if you glanced at it, you couldn’t help but smile too. His joy was incomparable to anything else.
Gorou’s tail and ears perked up at the sight of it, giving away what he was feeling. There was a bubble of warmth around the two that nothing could pop..and Gorou hoped it would stay that way for a long time.