Work Text:
Shuichi felt like garbage.
How dare the sun be so cruel. It was so bright. There was a consistent weight on his leg, he peeked open an eye, groaning at the pain it brought him. But his suspicions were confirmed, his and Kokichi's cat was sleeping on his leg. He was now legally not allowed to move.
He had no idea where Kokichi went, and frankly, he was too tired to ask.
Shuichi knew that at some point within the next hour or so he would have to open his eyes despite the impending migraine and call out of work, but he didn't feel that he had the energy for it… and the bed was just so warm….
Shuichi stuck his arm over to the night table and grabbed his phone.
He only had to brave the bright screen for a moment before his supervisor picked up.
"Saihara-san?"
"Apologies, Kirigiri-Buchou. I'm going to have to call out today."
"Aah. It's alright. Let me know if you need something. Good bye."
And with that he was free from the world of adulthood for the day.
He nestled back under the blankets, careful not to disturb Princess at the end of the bed.
Kokichi wasn't there. He was with DICE. For the past few days whenever Shuichi had been home Kokichi hadn't been.
Shuichi was hungry but there was a cat on his leg…
Princess let out a quiet sound, as if sympathetic to Shuichi's plight and sidled up to his head, rubbing against his cheek, purring loudly. He smiled and shook his head fondly. If his cat approved.
Placing most of his weight against the wall he stumbled to the kitchen, finding it empty.
Of course Kokichi wasn't here either. He was at work with DICE. He was always at work with DICE.
Princess hopped onto the counter and mowed at Shuichi, snapping home from his thoughts.
He opened the fridge, finding it empty, the cabinets as well.
And in his current state cooking wouldn't be a good idea…
Take-out.
The solution to all his problems!
Just two of his problems!
Really only one of his problems, take-out doesn't erase sadness.
He dragged his blankets from the bedroom onto the couch and made himself comfortable waiting for his order to arrive, all of the curtains closed, and the lights off.
When the take-out arrived he did his best to look and act like a normal human being even though he felt like a pile of sentient garbage.
A couple bites into his food and he was nauseous, so no more food. The wonders of migraine hell.
Staring up at the ceiling his thoughts clouded his already pain-addled mind.
Valentine's day was this week, and he hadn't seen his own boyfriend in ages.
Shuichi wasn't one to make assumptions but this wasn't something he wanted to overlook… Kokichi was always out of their apartment, he was almost never around anymore, even when Shuichi tried to set up dates for them. Day after day he waited. He would wake up early and be met with an empty bed, he would pull an all nighter and find himself alone.
It was like Kokichi had abandoned him.
Eventually Shuichi fell asleep on the couch.
"Boss! Your boyfriend called out of work!!"
Ace yelled.
"And he ordered takeout!"
Four ran up behind Ace, jumping onto his back.
"Sorry, I'll have to call you back."
Kokichi hung up.
"What do you mean he called out of work!? I have to go!!!"
"But then you can't meet Tana at the airport!!"
Four exclaimed. Kokichi stood up from his desk, piled with various paperwork and mystery novels.
"This was all meant for Shuichi anyways. Tana will understand if I'm not there, Shuichi needs love and support, and I've been a bad boyfriend."
Kokichi ran out the door, and Four and Ace just watched him go.
Kokichi came home to an unconscious Shuichi on the couch.
He huffed softly, smiling. Kokichi brushed Shuichi's hair out of his face. He continued to play with Shuichi's hair as time went by.
Just watching and waiting. He had time to make up for.
"Four, what the actual hell just happened??"
Ace asked, crossing his arms. Instead of falling to the floor, Four held herself up.
"I love how you assume I know anything here bro, I can assure you, I'm innocent, blameless even!"
With that Four dropped herself to the floor, landing on her feet.
"For some-"
Ace paused, coughing into his arm, and for some strange reason it sounded like he was saying 'obvious'.
"-Reason, I think you're full of shit."
"Okay, sucks to be you clown boy-"
"Boss is also a clown boy!!!?"
"That’s irrelevant!”
“It’s not! You’re also a clown!”
“Okay!? And? At least I'm actually funny!”
Their argument devolved into a slap fight with various insults thrown about. Granted, said insults were unintelligible, due to the aforementioned slap fight.
Eventually Shuichi shifted around, and those eyes of gold that Kokichi had fallen for so long ago opened slightly.
This was the man he was in love with. The bookish detective he loved.
"Good morning sleepy head."
Kokichi gently tapped his fingers on Shuichi's forehead to which Shuichi groaned in pain. Shuichi grabbed Kokichi's hand, and buried himself back under the blankets to go back to sleep.
"I'll need my hand back to make you food."
"I'll throw up on you. We'll see how I feel after my eyes stop trying to explode."
Shuichi grumbled, Kokichi sighed.
"Let's get to the bedroom then. It's better than the couch."
"... wanted to wait for you."
"You waited for me?"
"Mmmmnnno. I was waiting for takeout."
Kokichi laughed quietly and helped Shuichi sit up.
"Wooow. Boyfriend of the year."
Kokichi snarked, rolling his eyes, Shuichi's slightly raised spirits fell again.
"I think that title would be yours. Not coming home for…….. days-"
"Shuichi, hold on, wait-"
"No, I'm not waiting-"
"Shuichi I-"
Shuichi leaned into Kokichi's grip, mostly limp, clutching his head and wincing.
"I guess we'll talk more when you don't feel like shit."
Shuichi tried to protest, but Kokichi's only response was to continue to calmly assist him. Eventually Shuichi stopped struggling. He let Kokichi take care of him. All the while Kokichi kept reminding him that his anger was justified, it was well rooted in reason.
Kokichi turned out the lights and shut the door, finally leaving Shuichi to stew in his thoughts. Whether that was a kindness or cruelty was yet to be discovered.
"Call off the appointment."
"Boss!?"
"I don't think it'll be good for him right now, I'm staying with him."
"You sound so mature now Kokichi!!! When'd you go and grow up! Anyways, I'll get on with that, bye-bye!!"
Four snatched the phone from Ace.
"Why'd you do that!?
Ace exclaimed, Four shook her head in exasperation.
"Are you stupid!? Boss is giving his boyfriend the gift he really wanted to give him this valentine's day, love and affection."
Four ran her fingers through the ends of her pigtails, Ace grimaced in disgust.
"That's so cheesy and gross."
"I know. Let them be gross and cheesy in peace."
Four sighed whimsically, patting Ace on the top of the head.
"Seriously Kokichi! I'm okay! The migraine is gone!"
Shuichi insisted, Kokichi defiantly held his phone far out of reach, for his own good of course.
"Suuuureee, and you could definitely tolerate fluorescent lights without wishing for death to strike you."
Kokichi crossed his arms, making his stance known, Shuichi shook his head fondly.
Their cat looked back and forth between them, purring happily. At the very least she had no problems.
"I'm going to need my phone back so I can call off work again, Kokichi."
Shuichi sighed and held his hand out, and Kokichi obliged.
“I missed you Shuichi.”
Kokichi murmured, nuzzled into Shuchi’s neck.
“You were the one working all the time.”
“I know.”
“Mhm… Sure you do.”
“I do!”
Princess bit Kokichi as if to scold him for lying, and Shuichi raised an eyebrow.
“Even Princess thinks you don’t get it, Kokichi.”
Shuichi said teasingly.
“That actually hurt a little bit… Good job!”
Kokichi gave Shuichi a quick peck on the lips.
"Thank you. Now, tell me exactly why you stopped coming home?"
Shuichi asked. Kokichi took a deep breath.
"I saw you bought all of the novels by that one author, and well… one thing led to another and I may or may not have arranged for them to come to Japan and meet with you… but that could be-"
"Kokichi, did you or did you not try to arrange a meeting between me and who you thought was my favorite author?"
"...yes."
"I don't forgive you, but this does explain what happened."
Kokichi accepted his judgment, just glad to be with Shuichi in the moment again, that was all he could ask for, really.
The couple lay on their bed, with their cat happy as could be. They could finish resolving the problems between them after Shuichi recovered, for now it was time to rest.