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What a wonderful day to be sick right when he and Akutagawa finally had time for each other.
It was Valentine's Day, a day where lovers would be extremely sweet to each other, giving a box of chocolate, and going on dates. There were people who confessed to their crushes on this day too.
Some couples would use this day to spend time with each other, as they were so busy with their work. Practically attached like skin and nail, as one declared how much they missed the other and wished the work they assigned themselves to, didn't disturb their time with their significant other.
That's what was going on with Atsushi and Akutagawa too.
Personally, Akutagawa isn't that big on these kinds of days for lovers. Well, it's just a simple day for lovers to appreciate each other, no? He appreciates Atsushi everyday, though. So, he didn't know what's so important about the day anyway.
But with the apparent disappointment on Atsushi's beautiful features, he thought that he didn't like this at all and that this day wasn't just a simple, silly day. At least not for Atsushi as he was practically about to cry when he realised that he was really sick.
He forced himself to get up early, although he knew that he is an appalling person when it comes to waking up earlier in the morning. He quickly got ready for the date, taking clothes from the closet that he was really excited to wear because he wanted to look good for Akutagawa. He isn't the best with makeup but Dazai had taught him something simple before, such as how to wear a lip gloss. It's simple and easy, but it still felt like a big accomplishment for him. Wanting to look presentable for your significant other is not wrong, no?
Atsushi had been hard on himself days before Valentine's Day, Akutagawa was just waiting for the day he got sick as that's what always happened to Atsushi when he was being harsh with himself. However he didn't expect for the moment to slap him on the face on the day Atsushi had been waiting for forever.
Right now, Atsushi had been complaining to himself about how much he hated this. He didn't whine to Akutagawa because he knew that at the end of the day, the only person he had to blame is himself. Akutagawa always reminded him to take it easy, but with the easily-panic behaviour in him, it just wasn't as easy as he thought.
Atsushi took the tissue in his hand to his nose, blowing into it so harshly that the tissue accidentally tore. He got up slowly, picking up the glass of water beside him on top of the side bed table. Drinking the water, his throat wasn't as hoarse as before, but nonetheless it still hurt.
Akutagawa isn't a good cook, not saying that he couldn't cook, it was more that he didn't know how to cook. He basically almost could do anything if he really spent enough time to understand and practice the material, that is if the material interested him enough. That's why he could only cook something simple because most of the time he always ordered takeaway.
He's never cooked porridge before, not even when his younger sibling was sick. He cared for his one and only sibling, that's for sure. But the person could cook porridge herself so she practically didn't need Akutagawa's help, and Akutagawa was alright with the silent agreement as well, as long as it didn't burden her even more. What he always does is buy medicine for her and remind her to take her medicine on time, and he's really strict about it.
So, right now, with a phone far beside the stove, he cooked porridge with a tutorial playing on the phone.
This was embarrassing, very embarrassing for him for not knowing how to cook a simple porridge with tiny soft chickens in it. But if it meant that Akutagawa could make Atsushi happy and hopefully could go on a date with him tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, then so be it. He would just swallow his embarrassment until it was nowhere to be found, until it was gone.
He turned off the stove, attaining the ladle beside the cabinet as he put the ladle into the porridge, spinning it through so gently as to not drop anything. He took some into the ladle and blew the hotness before his tongue touched the food, leaving a genuine surprise expression on his face.
It was a miracle that the porridge didn't taste bad even though it was the first time for him to cook the food. It was simple, but could make your mood even worse if it was done badly.
He put some into the bowl, he didn't put a lot to prevent such a waste from happening. Atsushi didn't have a big appetite in general and it lessened even more, much to his dismay, when he was sick.
He walked slowly to their room, opening the door with one hand carefully as the door revealed the person who was laying on the bed, breathing heavily.
Akutagawa put the tray on the side bed table and he lifted up the moist cloth on top of Atsushi's forehead. The cloth was almost dry when he touched it, putting the towel on his lap. He felt Atsushi's temperature by placing the back of his hand on his forehead, thankfully his temperature dropped, but not that much. That meant that he would be sick for 3 to 4 days.
Poor, my love.
He shook Atsushi's arm gently, "Atsushi, wake up. You have to eat." His rough hand caressed his soft chubby cheek so fondly.
Atsushi shook his head, signaling that he didn't want to eat. Akutagawa didn't want to back down, though, "But you have to eat so you can take your medicine afterwards. Don't you say that you want to go on dates with me when you're not sick anymore?"
Atsushi opened his eyes, gradually trying to arise as he laid his back on the headboard. Only for a second before he pushed himself into Akutagawa's chest weakly, earning a shocked yelp from the other man.
"Are you alright?" Akutagawa worriedly asked as his slender fingers ran through Atsushi's surprisingly soft hair. However, the worried tone in his voice wasn't obvious. but regardless, Atsushi knew that he was troubled.
Atsushi nodded, "Just need a hug is all. This sickness is so terrible." He replied, not loud enough for Akutagawa to hear but gratefully he did catch what Atsushi said.
So they stayed still like that for a while, Atsushi with his cold body greedily tightened the hug to feel more of Akutagawa's warmth, meanwhile Akutagawa patted and caressed Atsushi's back, occasionally massaging the sides of his waist.
"C'mon now, you need to eat and rest so you'll be healthy quickly." Akutagawa tried to peel himself off of Atsushi softly, but he whined as he gripped his shirt.
"No, please just stay like this, please." It appeared clearly that he was feeling so upset to the point he didn't realise he said "please" two times in one sentence.
Akutagawa genuinely didn't know what to do, he was punching himself mentally for not taking care of his sister whenever she was sick. If not, he would have at least mild experiences on how to take care of a sick person.
He got an idea, he wished that it would help to soothe Atsushi, "I'll feed you, you don't have to move any fingers. I wanna go on dates with you too, but you have to be not sick first, okay?"
Atsushi nodded wimpily, placing his back on the headboard. Akutagawa proceeded to take the porridge on the table and feed it to him.
He ate it slowly as one sick person should. The porridge was still kind of hot so Akutagawa blew the porridge before feeding him.
The whole room sounded so silent, but it was a comforting silence with regular eating noises by Atsushi. He looked so happy while eating, which brought a small sweet smile to Akutagawa's lips.
Atsushi was chewing his food joyfully with his hand grasping on Akutagawa's shirt, earning an expression of strangeness from the shirt's owner. He didn't question anything, though.
Akutagawa felt a little bit selfish for wanting this to never end. Taking care of Atsushi gave him a proud feeling in his heart, he felt so glad to be able to care for his significant other.
It was terrible, Atsushi sometimes cried once in a while when the sickness got under his skin, making him want to yell out how frustrated he was. And surely, Akutagawa didn't, or should we say, don't like that kind of emotion in his beloved's heart.
Not that he would be that one person who spreads around why we should be positive all the time because such a mindset is so toxic. If Atsushi wants to cry all night long, he doesn't care. He would stay by his side even though the shirt on his body was already damp because of his endless tears.
Subconsciously, Akutagawa patted Atsushi's head before sliding it behind his neck as he leaned to kiss his forehead with no expression on his face. It surprised Atsushi, but he enjoyed it nonetheless as he closed his eyes and felt the sensual, but not sexual, kisses that now scattered around his face to his jaw and to his neck.
He didn't kiss his lips, though.
Atsushi furrowed his brows, almost whining that Akutagawa purposely left his lips behind and continued to kiss his exposed shoulder.
"Why didn't you kiss my lips?" was what Atsushi said in a rather obvious sulk. It's so cute to Akutagawa, but he didn't intend to do it other than to prevent himself from getting sick as well.
He replied, pulling away from the sick male, "Who's gonna take care of you if I am sick as well?"
The furrows deepened, earning a low laugh from Akutagawa as he kissed his cheek, "Don't be mad at me now. Are all kisses around your face to your shoulder not enough?"
Atsushi shook his head.
"Even after I kissed your cheek earlier?"
He shook his head again, more snappily this time.
"Guess I'm not giving you any kisses anymore if nothing pleases you." Akutagawa dramatically sighed, about to stand up to bring the bowl and the towel to the kitchen before Atsushi quickly pulled him back to bed.
Atsushi tightened his hands around Akutagawa's neck, "Enough with the teasing. Just give me more kisses."
"If I'm sick, will you take care of me?" asked Akutagawa rhetorically, raising his brow in his still teasing manner.
However, Atsushi with the stubbornness in him, although he knew that Akutagawa still didn't take him seriously, didn't want to back down, "Of course!"
"Well then."
And began Akutagawa's kisses attacks towards Atsushi, which he had to punch his stomach rather weakly.