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Sero didn’t get sick often but when he did his boyfriend, Shouto Todoroki, dropped everything he was doing to take care of him. Usually Sero was the one to take care of others, a trait he picked up from his mom. He loved to feed his partner and friends. Making sure everyone was happy and comfortable was what he was used to. When he was sick he just felt guilty, that he needed to get up and move.
When he felt his fever coming on he secretly called in sick so he could hide it from Shotou. He was so busy with work that Sero didn’t want to worry him or force him to take care of him. Delaying and dragging out his morning routine so Shotou would leave first, Hanta kissed him goodbye before getting in the shower. “Good bye my baby, have a safe day at work”
“Bye love I’ll text you later” Shotou called as he walked out the door of their apartment at his usual time
Sero quickly shut off the water and put his sweatpants and one of Shotou’s long sleeve shirts back on. He could feel his fever rising and his head was starting to spin. Curling up under the mass amounts of blankets, he settled into Shotou’s comforting scent. He always smelled a little like peppermint and cedar.
Sero was in so much pain he didn’t notice Shotou coming back home into the apartment. “Han, I'm back! I forgot my wallet. Have you seen it?” He called from the doorway hoping to not have to take off his shoes. When he didn’t hear an answer he got concerned and ran inside, kicking his shoes behind.
“Babe!” He called as he ran into their bedroom. His mixed eyes softened from fear to worry when he saw Sero curled up in bed. “What’s wrong my love?” He asked, kneeling next to their bed.
“I think I have a fever,” he mumbled, turning to face his boyfriend.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He pet seros head gently before feeling his forehead. Shotou’s hand felt cold against Sero’s burning forehead.
“I didn’t want to bother you. You’ve been so busy” Sero looked up at him with puppy dog eyes and he couldn’t stay mad.
“It’s never a bother. You’re the most important person in my life” he stood up and started walking out of the room.
“Where are you going?” Sero called out to him
“I'm going to find some medicine for you. Don’t worry I’ll be right back” he said with a reassuring smile from the doorway. Once out of ear shot he called into work so he could stay by Sero’s side. When he finally returned he was carrying one of his sweatshirts and a box of medicine.
“Here, wear this,” he handed Sero a sweater of his that he knew was Sero’s favorite. Sero noticed his cheeks flushed red, a little embarrassed. “This is the one you like right?” He was sitting on the edge of the bed with a glass of water waiting.
“Yeah, it’s my favorite,” Sero smiled, putting his sweatshirt on, which was slightly oversized for both of them. It did smell like him, a nice mix of his cologne and his natural smell. Sero put the hood on so it sat comfortably on his head. He took the glass of water and pill from Shotou. Shotou watched with careful eyes to make sure Sero actually took his medicine. “You don’t believe I’ll take it?” He teased
“No, knowing you if I weren’t here you wouldn’t take it” he smirked tucking sero in making sure he was warm and had enough blankets. Tucking the blankets up around Sero’s shoulders and under his chin he smiled at his boyfriend.
“Alright, I’ve taken my medicine and now I’m in bed. You can go to work now. I love you,” Sero smiled bravely.
“Yeah right. Not gonna happen love” he laughed. “I’m staying home. Already called in sick” After knowing Sero was settled in Shouto brought over one of his floor chairs and a manga from their collection. He created a home base of his own next to Sero.
“Baby you can go in the other room. I’m ok now. I don’t want you to get sick”
“Love I’m not leaving you here by yourself. I know you won’t let me cuddle you cause you don’t want me to catch it so I’ll just stay here. There’s no difference to me reading here or the living room” he insisted.
Sero could see the determination in his eyes so he gave in too tired and weak to argue. He drifted in and out of sleep, waking up periodically to Shouto putting his hand on his forehead to check his temperature. At one point when he felt really warm Shotou used his cold hand on Sero’s forehead and the back of your neck to cool him down the way a wet washcloth would. Having Shotou’s hand on him was comforting and Sero wanted him to hold him. At the same time he didn’t want to be selfish and get Shotou sick.
At lunch Shouto woke Sero up with a cup of his favorite tea. It was a tea his mother had given them, a warm nutty tea. “Here my love, have some tea. It’ll keep you warm and hydrated”
Sero slowly sat up with his legs hanging off the bed sipping the tea from Shotou’s favorite mug. The steam felt nice on his face and the tea helped soothe his sore throat. Shouto adjusted the hood on Hanta’s head and wrapped a blanket over his shoulders before sitting next to Sero. He put his hand on his boyfriend's thigh reassuringly.
“Do you think you wanna try and eat something?” His voice was smooth and gentle.
Sero couldn’t talk, his throat hurt too much, he just nodded his head. Todoroki lightly pet Sero’s head before getting up.
“I’ll make you some soba, just wait here. Don’t get up cause I know you will” he tiptoed across the apartment. It was no secret Shouto loved soba and he made it for Sero every chance he got so he was expecting him to make it for him now.
Sero felt awful that Todoroki had stayed home to take care of him, but having his boyfriend by his side when he didn’t feel good was a new comfort he loved. He wasn’t expecting Shotou to be good at taking care of people, he had told Hanta that his parents didn’t do this for him when he was sick. Sero thought back to the first time that Shotou got sick, he clung to Sero’s side like a baby and loved being taken care of. When he was drifting in and out of sleep he confessed to Sero that this was one of the few times someone had taken care of him when he was sick.
Sero got up slowly, feeling achy and sore as he snuck out of their room. The blanket Todoroki wrapped around him was still draped around his shoulders. Sero snuck up behind Todoroki and stood behind him in the kitchen. Shotou was just finished making the soup broth and was cutting up some green onions for Sero while the noodles finished cooking. He could feel Sero’s presence behind him but ignored him laughing to himself. When he finished cutting the onions he turned around and before Sero noticed he swept his boyfriend up into his arms.
“Hey!” Sero tried to protest but gave in, too weak to fight back.
“I’m just gonna put you on the couch” Shotou explained.
Very gently Shotou sat Sero on the couch and brought the table closer to him so he didn’t have to reach far. Going back into the kitchen Sero observed him from the couch.
Todoroki moved quickly so Sero didn’t have to wait for long. He brought back a bowl of soba noodles for each of them, sitting next to him on the couch. He handed Sero a ramen spoon and some chopsticks. “Make sure you drink the broth ok love?”
He sat slurping his noodles, they were good and he could see how excited he was to see him eating his home cooked meal. “It’s delicious, thank you baby”
“Of course love” he brushed some hair out of Sero’s face, tucking some of the long hairs behind his ear. Sero often caught Shouto observing him, just looking at him with so much love it made his heart melt. He liked to watch Sero doing little things like making the bed or putting his hair back in a ponytail. “Do you want your hair tied back?”
“Maybe later, I’m ok right now” Sero said with a mouthful of food.
When Sero finished Todoroki sat there looking at him like an innocent puppy. “Do you want to go back to bed?”
“Yeah I think so”
Todoroki didn’t pick Sero up this time but wrapped his arms around his waist escorting him back to bed. He tucked Sero in making sure he was settled and comfortable. He saw the raven haired man shiver slightly and immediately got concerned. “Are you cold?”
“Yeah, can we cuddle?” He whispered. Sero very rarely asked for things so Shotou would do anything he wanted.
“Of course babe” Shouto crawled into bed wrapping his arms around Sero. Sero put his head on Shotou’s chest, and he could hear the other's heartbeat. It was beating faster than normal so Sero assumed he was nervous. With his warm hand he started rubbing Sero’s back in little circles.
He drifted in and out of sleep, he felt safe in his boyfriend's arms and even though he wanted to get better, a little bit hoped he’d be sick again tomorrow so the two could repeat today all over again.
Shotou woke him up later around dinner, Sero hadn’t even noticed Shotou getting up or walking out of the room. The apartment smelled delicious, like warm chicken soup. Sero looked around dazed and confused until he felt Shotou’s hand on his shoulder. “How are you feeling love?”
“Better, a lot better” he stretched, turning to put his head in Shotou’s lap.
“Do you want to try and eat some food? My sister taught me over the phone how to make chicken soup. It’s pretty good but not as good as yours” he smiled softly.
“Yeah I’d love some” he stood up with Shotou and walked into the kitchen. The smell flooded his nose and it was amazing. He could feel his stomach rumbling and his mouth salivating.
“I was nervous I wouldn’t do a good job taking care of you today but I’m glad you’re feeling better” Shotou confessed nervously.
“You did an amazing job, baby,” Sero smiled, taking a bite of the chicken noodle soup that Todoroki made. “And this is delicious. I know I’ll have a second bowl”
“Have as much as you want love there’s a lot” he smiled
“When did you go to the store?” Sero asked.
“My sister brought it to me, so I wouldn’t have to leave you” he smiled at him.
“You’re the best baby. I love you”
“I love you to Han I’m glad you’re feeling better”