Work Text:
That day Akaashi was not feeling well, he got out of bed hit by dizziness, he almost fell to the ground, suffering from iron deficiency was a torture especially since he started working as a manga editor; he spent whole nights awake to review the work and this didn’t help his physical weakness and anemia. He missed the days when he was a 17-year-old boy who could afford grueling physical exertion without too many consequences.
He sighed before going to the kitchen and making his usual cup of coffee, it was seven in the morning and he didn't have the slightest desire to go to the office to work; he contacted his boss telling him that he would work from home keeping him updated on the progress of work and he obtained permission, it was not a day to relax, he would still have to work but doing it from home made him feel more relaxed.
...
He had been working for about forty minutes when his phone rang, answered immediately when he saw the name on the screen.
"KAASHI!" Bokuto's voice, perhaps a little too loud, greeted him as soon as the call began.
“Hi Bokuto-san” he smiled.
"How are you? I'm not bothering you, right? I know you are in the office at this time!"
"Don't worry, I'm working from home"
"Oh, why Kaashi? something wrong?"
Keiji's heart warmed a little with concern in Bokuto's voice, they had remained on good terms after high school, they could hear each other pretty much every day even though seeing each other had become difficult, Koutaro had moved to Osaka when he joined MSBY and Akaashi he stayed in Tokyo where he found work.
He lacked the presence of Bokuto in his life, they were used to always being together, it took months to become aware of the distance.
"No, don't worry, I didn't feel well when I woke up and I preferred to stay and work at home."
"YOU'RE SICK!? DO YOU NEED SOMETHING!? I CAN COME NOW- ”He was interrupted by Keiji's calm voice.
"Bokuto-san"
"Yes?"
"It's really okay, it's nothing serious."
"But-"
"No buts, you know that you live in more than five hours away."
"Mmh.."
Honestly Keiji wanted to say yes, tell him to take the first train to Tokyo and reach him but he couldn't make him make such a long journey and he was certainly busy with training.
"Bokuto-san, thank you, I'm fine, really"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes"
"Okay then, BUT promise to call me right away if you feel bad!"
"I will." He smiled softly.
"Okay, so now I'll let you work, love ya Kaashi!" Keiji's heart leapt.
He knew how Bokuto meant I love you, it was a sign of friendship, it was not uncommon for him to tell other people too.
"Love you, bye"
He ended the call and sighed; in his heart he really hoped that I love you had another meaning.
...
He had been working for hours, he looked at his watch, it was already 1pm, he took off his glasses and massaged the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes, he was tired, his eyes burned and he felt fatigued, he needed a break.
He got up from his desk and his dizziness made itself felt immediately, stronger than those experienced in the morning; he put a hand on his face while he tried to keep his balance.
Shit.
It was his last thought before his vision darkened and he passed out.
...
When he woke up he felt dizzy, his head hurt. He slowly opened his eyes and looked around, he was in his room, the blankets that wrapped him, he was wondering how he ended up in bed, the last thing he remembered was that he had fainted in his study.
"Oh, you are awake!"
A familiar voice caught Keiji's attention in the direction of the door.
"Kaashi, do you have any idea how much you scared me? You didn't answer the phone, I entered the house with the spare keys and found you lying on the ground, you could have told me you were so sick- "
“Bokuto-san? What are you doing here?"
“You were sick! I couldn't not come! " Bokuto smiled at him.
"I asked you to not coming..The training-"
"Kaashi, I still wouldn't have been able to concentrate knowing you were sick"
"Sorry.."
Bokuto went to the bed and sat down on the edge, he was holding a bowl with hot rice inside, he placed it on the bedside table.
"Kaashi don't apologize, you know it's not a problem, you are more important than a practice"
Keiji's face took a shade of pink at Bokuto's words, he said a small thank you, receiving in return the dazzling smile of the two-tone.
"Ah, right! I've got a surprise for you!"
"A surprise?"
"Yes!" Bokuto whistled and in no time a small ball of white fur entered the room wagging its tail; Keiji immediately sat up leaning his back against the headboard.
"Bokuto-san did you bring Yuki with you?" He asked surprised.
"Yes! You haven't had the chance to meet her yet so I brought her here!" Bokuto took the little dog in his arms and placed her on Keiji's lap who immediately caressed her, enjoying the softness of the fur.
Bokuto had recently taken a dog to keep him company, living alone he often complained of how the loneliness of his house irritated him; They hadn't seen each other for months, Akaashi had only seen the dog in the picture.
Bokuto laughed to see how Yuki wagged her tail happily while Akaashi cuddled her.
"She seems to like you"
"You say?" Keiji smiled softly as he watched the dog.
And here it is, Koutaro's weak point, every time Akaashi smiled his heart started a wild ride, he loved that rare smile, the way his blue eyes became thinner and shinier, he loved the little dimple that was created on keiji right cheek and loved how tenderly the raven's nose curled up.
The two-tone cupped Keiji's right cheek surprising him; at first the raven remained still but instinctively leaned against Bokuto's hand, enjoying that pleasant contact.
"I would like to see you smile more often .." With his thumb Koutaro was stroking Keiji's cheekbone.
"Mmh.." he replied as he stroked the dog now perched on his lap.
Those little moments of affection were special to Akaashi, he kept them as a treasure and bitterly remembered them when he was alone.
"Keiji" he opened slightly his eyes that moved to those of Koutaro, rarely the two-tone called him by his birth name.
"Yes..?" Asked the raven hesitantly.
"Why don't you come live with me?"
"Eh?"
"Come and live with me Keiji, you would no longer be alone and I would be calmer, I know that it happened to you several times to feel bad while you were alone, I don't want that-"
"Bokuto-san what are you saying?" Keiji was visibly confused
"Don't you want ..?" Bokuto's tone had grown sadder.
"No it's not- Listen, I have my job here, my life is all here, how can I-"
"Keiji"
Akaashi looked at him again, the solid blue in that gold so confident, he could see Bokuto's determination in his eyes.
“Your life is all here, but what about me? I'm not part of your life too?"
"Of course you're part of it but-"
"Then nothing but." This time he cupped Akaashi's face with both hands.
"I'm tired of living away from you, I love you and I want you more present in my life." Keiji's cheeks turned pink and he sighed.
"Bokuto-san, you shouldn't say I love you so easily"
"Why?"
"You should tell the person you really love not-"
“But I do! I always do it! I always tell you I love you! "
"What-"
"Keiji, I love you, I really love you, is it possible that you haven't understood it yet?"
Bokuto was smiling at him, he was sincere, damn sincere, Akaashi felt the tears struggle to come out, he had waited so long for that I love you to have that meaning but he never thought it would ever happen.
"R-really?" He asked as the tears got the better of them and started to come out. "You really love me?"
“Sure” Bokuto wiped his tears away “How could I not? You are the most important person in my life Keiji, am I too for you?”
Akaashi nodded, unable to say other words, Bokuto had always been the most important person in his life, he had understood this many years before and knew that it would always be like this.
Bokuto smiled at him before approaching his face to him and making their lips collide in a tender and sweet kiss, it was short, but the sensation he left them both was one of the most intense they had ever experienced. As they parted, Bokuto left a tender kiss on Keiji's forehead.
"Now rest my love, you need it" And it was true, Akaashi was clearly tired, his eyes were barely open. "Eat the rice I left you and sleep, Yuki will stay here with you."
Akaashi nodded smiling at the two-tone, the tears had stopped; they kissed again before Bokuto left the room reminding him to think about the proposal.
Keiji took the bowl with the now colder rice, but he didn't care, the warmth that Koutaro had left him and what the little dog was giving him were enough to make him feel the happiest person in the world.