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The morning light peeked through the edges of the curtains and into the dark and quiet room. All was peaceful until someone forced open the curtains, letting the bright sun seep into the bedroom and waking up the only other sleeping individual.
A groggy and sleepy Mika Kagahira stirred in his bed.
“Good morning Kagehira, wake up and get ready for school or we’ll be late as always.” Called his partner, Shu Itsuki, who was unsurprisingly the one messing with his curtains. He said all he needed before walking away to get ready himself.
Couldn’t he just wake Mika up in a normal way? Maybe by just calling his name, or better yet, letting him use an alarm clock? But no, this was the normal every day for the Valkyrie pair.
But the day wasn’t normal. Mika’s body ached as he sat up, this was considered normal after the occasional vigorous training Shu put him through, but as of late his body was growing stronger and getting used to the work outs. A little body ache wasn’t completely strange, what was strange was he felt hot. Very hot.
He sluggishly rose from his sleeping position before being thrust into an unwelcome coughing fit. It was dry and painful. Mika was coughing a little the night before, but that was because he was practicing a new song over and over. He had to get it just right for their live coming up soon. So it would make sense he was feeling a little hoarse.
He's not sick, he doesn't get sick. He CAN'T get sick.
Mika got up from his bed, and with wobbly legs made his way to the bathroom. A drink of water would soothe his dry throat. He made it out of his room and staggered into the bathroom nearby before it all went downhill.
He noticed the tightness in his throat, a cough, a flurry of coughs. It was so dry, every hack made his throat feel raw. It was overwhelming, the fit did not stop as he felt his head get dizzy and his vision blur. That didn’t usually happen. Something was seriously wrong. In a panic, Mika tried to grab onto the sink to steady himself, still coughing as things on the counter began to fall and crash around him. He couldn’t see the mess he was causing and he was surprised he could hear it over his desperate coughs.
The boy sank to the floor, it was the better option over falling and hitting his head. Shu was quickly alarmed to the crashes coming from the room. Mika was clumsy and definitely had a habit of knocking things over here and there, but the crashing of many things was way too concerning to leave alone.
Shu rushed onto the scene and saw Mika sprawled out on the floor. A weak cough escaped from the boy as he looked up to the pink haired man in shame.
“Kagehira?!”
“‘M fine-” he choked out, it was hoarse and raspy and followed by another handful of coughs.
“Obviously you are not! You’ve fallen ill haven’t you? I knew you’ve been working too many of those part time jobs you’re so insistent on doing.”
Mika watched as Shu sighed. He looked irritated, like his imperfect excuse for a doll getting sick was nothing more than an inconvenience. Of course it was.
“Oshi-san…”
“Do not try to speak.” he commanded, his hand on his temple. He looked deep in thought, as if he was contemplating what to do or say next.
Tears welled up in Mika’s mismatched eyes. He quickly blinked them away. He wasn’t about to cause more problems for Shu to have to deal with.
Shu picked the sick boy up into his arms, and swiftly carried him back to bed, seating him upright at an angle. Shu brushed dark bangs upwards as he placed the back of his hand across Mika’s forehead. It felt cold against Mika’s burning skin, momentary relief before it was pulled away.
“Hmm, a cough and a fever…” the man mumbled to himself, “I’ll bring you some medicine and make you breakfast- as well as something to relieve your fever.”
Shu quickly left the room to retrieve what he promised. While he was gone, Mika took that time to shuffle out of bed to get ready for school. They were going to be late if he wasted any more time just laying around.
Mika somehow got his uniform shirt on, buttoning it up completely wrong, when Shu walked back into the room holding a towel and a bowl of ice water. He watched Mika struggle with his buttons for a while before speaking up and alerting the boy to his presence.
“What on earth do you think you’re doing?”
With a raspy squeak he answered; “Gettin’ ready fer school.”
“First off, I told you not to speak, did I not? You must rest your voice so you don’t damage it further. And second, what gave you the idea we would be attending school today?”
Mika sat puzzled, Shu continued.
“You can barely put your uniform on, how do you expect to survive through the day while still paying attention to your studies? There is no merit in attending class if you cannot even participate in it.”
Mika opened his mouth to speak, but Shu shot him a glare. Instead he pointed to Shu inquisitently, as to say; What about you?
“Of course I’ll be staying right here, you’d somehow end up dead by the end of the day if I were to leave your side for more than a moment. I think what happened just now is evident.” He sighed again, moving to undress Mika from his uniform and slipping him back into his pajamas. Mika was then placed back into bed.
Shu sat on the edge of the bed with the towel in his hands. He began soaking it in the icy water. Mika watched, his gaze unmoving. His mind was full of nothing but worries.
He really was sick, and Shu was staying home to watch over him, wasting his precious time caring for him. What sounded like a dream was truly a nightmare. His perfect beloved Oshi-san nursing him back to health was only something Mika dreamed about from some kind of fake fantasy. The real Oshi-san doing all that didn’t seem right, an obligation to care for a broken doll. It was probably the last straw, or a final send off! Once a doll becomes damaged beyond repair, you get rid of it, throw it away, you don’t try to fix the unfixable. Mika didn't deserve such gentle care.
Mika thought to himself, ‘’m such a bother to ya… ‘m sorry ya gotta be wastin’ yer time takin’ care of me…”
Shu placed a cold towel to Mika’s head, “I’m not bothered by taking care of you Kagehira.” Mika flinched, could Shu read his mind? Not that he’d be surprised if that was true, “No, I’m not reading your mind, I can tell by your dejected expression you think I don't want to be doing this.”
Mika averted his gaze, Shu could always tell exactly how he was feeling just by looking at him. Mika was like an open book for him to read.
“Truthfully… this is something I should be doing, not because you say you’re my doll, but because y-you’re-” The ding of a timer sounded from downstairs. The food was ready.
“Excuse me…” He said, leaving mid sentence.
Shu got up to leave. Mika was alone. His mind took control.
What was Shu going to say? Did he just need Mika to get better for Valkyrie? So he can sing once again and be useful? As of late, Shu began reprimanding Mika after mentioning being a doll, but that was all he really was. That's what he did best, and for the longest time Shu made that known. If he couldn't sing and perform the way Oshi-san wanted, then he served no purpose in Valkyrie. What if Mika really lost his voice forever? What if he could never sing the way Shu wanted ever again? All this gentle care was one final attempt to keep Mika useful. Even if he did get better, who says his voice will ever be the same! If he doesn't get kicked out then he’d have to leave out of shame, there was no need for someone like him around. He’d seen it all before. He’d be nothing but a burden on Valkyrie and Shu if he couldn’t sing and dance like the perfect marionette.
This really was the end, it was some kind of punishment. Dolls weren’t supposed to get sick.
The tears from before returned, this time spilling down his face and dirtying his cheeks. He couldn’t even cry right, the tightness of his throat not allowing a single sob out. How pitiful.
Then Shu returned. In his hands he carried a tray holding a hot bowl of porridge and a steaming cup of some kind of tea. His lavender eyes widened once they met Mika’s glossy tearfilled ones. He noticed Mika’s silent sobs and rushed to his side, depositing the tray to the side and giving all of his attention to the crying boy.
“Is everything alright? Does something else hurt? Tell me what's wrong.” he frantically asked, removing Mika’s head towel to get a better look at his distressed face.
Mika sobbed into Shu, grabbing at his shirt and wishing all his bad thoughts away. He didn’t want any of it to be real, he wanted Shu to hold him tight and tell him everything was fine, that he was okay and everything will get better. He could tell how worried Shu was, he had no idea what Mika’s brain could conjure up to make himself feel worthless. He wanted to trust Shu and not his thoughts.
Through tears and shaky coughs Mika finally answered: “‘m sorry fer being sick-”
“This again?” Shu let out a held breath. “You make me worry more than I ever have in my entire life, you know.” he cupped Mika’s cheek, like he suddenly understood everything Mika forced himself into worrying about.
“Everything is going to be ok. There’s nothing wrong with getting sick. All we have is each other, remember? If you get sick I'm here for you, as you always have been for me. You’ll never be a bother.”
Shu gently wiped the tears from Mika’s eyes and placed a soft kiss onto his cheek.
“I’m never going to throw you away. Please let me take care of you.”
Tears spilled over again, all he ever needed to hear was those words. Shu wasn’t going to get rid of him. Even if he was nothing but a broken doll, Shu would care for him and mend him back to perfect condition. With such love and dedication, Mika could become whole again. He let his mind consume him with such terrible thoughts, let him believe how worthless he is, but Shu was there to light the way to what was true and was a lie. He was so quick to spiral and Shu was the one to pull him out.
Mika wiped away the rest of his lingering tears and smiled the best he could, showing Shu he was going to be okay.
Shu smiled softly, happy his words got through to the panicked boy.
Mika’s stomach growled, giving not a second of peace between the two boys, as he eyed the tray of food. All that panicking and crying really made him hungry.
“It's good to see you have an appetite. To overcome this illness it's best to stay hydrated and eat vitamin rich foods.” Shu said, grabbing the tray, “I made some porridge and some honey tea for your throat.” He placed it onto Mika’s lap.
Mika looked down at the warm food, and then back up to Shu. He smiled, and opened his mouth.
“Oh? How quickly your mood can change Kagehira. You expect me to feed you now?”
He nodded his head.
“You’re going to milk this all you can huh? Very well.” Shu took the spoon full of warm porridge and lifted it to Mika’s open mouth. Mika ate the food, half surprised Shu actually fed him. It was delicious. Leave it to Shu to make even the simplest dish taste divine.
It didn't take long for him to finish off the bowl, and turn to take small sips from the mug of tea. The honey tea was sweet just the way he liked it. Shu knew Mika preferred sweets over anything else, and the drink mirrored that.
He happily sipped his tea, but he noticed Shu turn around and pour a bright orange liquid into a small cup.
Medicine.
“You’ve done very well Kagehira, but I know you’re gonna hate this part but it's necessary to feel better. It’s just a small dose. You'll be better in no time under my care, remember?” Shu turned around holding the small cup after locking the door behind him. No escape.
Mika shot upwards in his bed, like all his grogginess had left him in favor of fight of flight.
“NO!” He shouted out, coughing right after and regretting screaming.
“You will not fight me on this, you are going to take this medicine if I have to hold you down and force you to drink it.” His tone was 100% serious.
Mika crossed his arms with a huff, turning his head upward and mimicking a classic Shu behavior. Like he thought insulting was going to win in his favor.
“If that's how you’re going to be, then so be it. But don’t say I didn't warn you.”
Shu moved forward towards the bed, sitting down again, grabbing Mika’s wrist so the boy couldn’t wiggle from his grasp. Mika tried anyway. Shu stopped his ability to leave the bed with one knee and kept him in place with the other, practically straddling him. Mika thrashed about, trying to find any opening to slip away.
Mika’s eyes widened, there was no escape. He opened his mouth to silently scream. First mistake. Shu took the opportunity to hold open the boy’s mouth and pour the vile liquid down his throat. With no other choice, Mika swallowed all of it.
With a confident hum, Shu had completed his mission and removed himself from Mika’s lap. Mika on the other hand, was still reeling from the disguising taste of medicine coating his mouth and throat.
“See now, was that so bad?” Shu was being cocky. What he didn’t tell Mika was that was going to have to happen every 6 hours.
Mika didn’t feed his ego. The boy had exuded too much energy from his thrashing about and could feel the heaviness of his eyelids. Shu picked up on the fluttering of his eyes.
“If you’re tired it's best you sleep. I won’t reprimand you for napping in the middle day, as you are under different circumstances. So don’t be afraid to rest Kagehira.”
A strained and whiny “Ngahh…” accompanied by another cough left Mika’s mouth. He didn’t really want to go to sleep. But it was getting increasingly difficult to stay awake.
He reached his hand out towards Shu.
“What is it? Do you need another pillow or blanket, heaven forbid you get chills while trying to rest-”
Mika shook his head, reaching both hands out, like he was initiating a hug. He wanted Shu to stay by his side while he tried to sleep. Maybe it was selfish, he would never forgive himself if he somehow got his Oshi-san sick. But apparently the man didn't care, because he laid right down next to Mika. The bed was small, barely fitting both of them, but it didn't matter. They were there together, that's all that mattered.
Shu softly hummed a tune into his ear, stroking the boy's hair, helping him gently fall asleep. His slender fingers weaving between dark strands and petting him the way Mika loved most. The locks were soft and tangle free, thanks to the meticulous care from Shu. It was small acts that were a constant reminder of the love they shared. Anything Shu did was laced delicately with care and passion. Mika could never forget. Soft exhales from the boy served as his proof Shu was soothing him.
“Was this your master plan all along?” Mika nodded with a yes, cuddling as close as he possibly could. Shu removed his hands from Mika’s hair in favor of wrapping them around the smaller boy’s body, reciprocating the embrace.
The sick boy snuggled right up to the other, content that his Oshi-san was next to him, holding on tight and using the crook of his neck and shoulder as a makeshift pillow. The two slotted together perfectly. Mika smiled, shutting his eyes and ready to drift off.
The warm embrace of Shu around him was more than enough confirmation to his previous words of comfort. He was here to stay, forever in his Oshi-san’s arms.
“Sweet dreams Kagehira.” Shu softly spoke as Mika’s world slowly faded to black.