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The clock struck twelve o’clock. It had been an hour since Atsumu went to bed, along with Osamu. Though the latter was already fast asleep, while Atsumu kept tossing and turning in the bottom bunk. His restless body just wouldn’t let him drift off to sleep and he was annoyed by it. Sometime later, Atsumu finally found a position which he was comfortable with. But he still could not sleep. He was cold. He pulled the covers over his face, grabbed another blanket to put on top, but nothing seemed to help. Then, he suddenly felt hot, but then again he was shivering like he was lying in snow. The room started to spin and he felt like he was floating, or maybe he was falling? The straw that broke the camel’s back was the sudden stabbing pain he felt in his stomach. Atsumu groaned and rubbed his upset stomach. The only thing that happened by doing that, was that it started to make gurgling sounds. He wanted to go to the bathroom badly, but when he tried to get up, a dizzy spell got the better of him and Atsumu fell back onto his bed.
Nausea raised in his chest and he could feel the back of his throat burning up. Atsumu curled up, his arms around his stomach, listening to the snoring above him. He had forgotten that Osamu was there as well. Atsumu got up a bit and poked the mattress above his head, while calling his brother’s name in a soft and groaning manner.
“Samu.” No reaction. “Oi, Samu!” He raised his voice a bit, though it still wasn’t very loud.
His stomach was cramping.
“Samu!” He hit the mattress with his fist.
He had raised his voice too high and felt a wave of nausea washing over him. He quickly put his hand on his mouth. Osamu had finally heard him this time.
“Hm?” It sounded from the top bunk.
“Samu…” Atsumu said softly trying not to speak too loudly again.
“What the fuck you want, Tsumu? It’s the middle of the night!” Osamu said groaning, wanting to go back to sleep. He closed his eyes but opened them again when he didn’t hear anything below him.
Osamu sat up straight. “Oi, Tsumu?”
Still no sound to be heard.
Worried he looked beneath him. Atsumu was laying curled up, one hand on his stomach, one hand on his mouth, eyes closed tightly. Osamu quickly guessed what was going on.
“If you’re going to be sick, go to the bathroom, you fucking idiot!” His eyes were fixated on Atsumu, who slowly shook his head.
Osamu got down from his bed and grabbed Atsumu’s wrist and immediately let go because of how hot it was. His hand moved to Atsumu’s forehead instead.
“You have a fever?”
Atsumu shrugged and his eyes sprang wide open. The movement of his shoulders caused an even stronger wave of nausea to wash over him. The panic in his eyes made Osamu rush to the plastic trashcan in the corner of the room. He pulled out the trash bag and quickly shoved it under Atsumu’s nose. Not even a second later Atsumu heaved heavily and a mouthful of indigested food spilled into the trashcan. Osamu cringed and wrinkled his nose out of disgust. The poor boy with the trashcan in his lap belched another load of sick before he even got the time to take a breath, tears started to form in his eyes.
Osamu slowly reapproached the bed and sat down next to Atsumu. The first placed a hand on the latter’s back and started rubbing circles on it. He now noticed that his back was covered in cold sweat. The way his shirt stuck to his body because of it made Atsumu feel disgusted. He let out a gag but tried to keep the bulk of food inside.
“Just let it all out, Tsumu.” Osamu instructed him, still rubbing his back.
Atsumu shook his head. “It burns, Samu. It burns so bad.” He whined.
“Yes, I know, I know.”
Atsumu retched again, a loud splash could be heard. The tears of exhaustion started rolling down his face. The trashcan was getting pretty filled up by now. Osamu carefully tried to retrieve it, but Atsumu held on to it like his life depended on it, his knuckles white from the firm grip. Atsumu shook his head when his twin tried to get the trashcan out of his hands for the second time. He spit some saliva in it and practically buried his head in the trashcan.
“Come on, you still got more in your stomach?” Osamu found it unbelievable but waited for Atsumu to let go himself.
Not much later Atsumu retched again and whined. He dry-gagged a few times after that.
“Give me that. Your stomach is empty.” Osamu grabbed the trashcan and stood up. “Wait here, don’t move.” He went to empty the thing in the toilet and came back.
“I’m going to turn the light on now. Close your eyes.”
Atsumu did as he said. When the light went on, Osamu saw how pale Atsumu really was. Almost all the colour in his face had disappeared except for the flush on his cheeks.
“Wow, you look like shit.” He remarked.
“You’re trash.” Atsumu replied and groaned as he laid himself down again.
Osamu threw a thermometer and a bottle of water at him. “Here.” Atsumu threw aside the water bottle and put the thermometer under his tongue, while Osamu got him a cool pad and sticked it on his forehead. The thermometer bleeped. 39.9°C it said.
“Okay, I’m opening a window.” Osamu walked away from the bed towards the window.
“No don’t, it’s cold.” Atsumu moaned.
“Mhm.” Osamu answered but still opened the window. “You need to drink that.” He pointed at the bottle. Atsumu frowned at it in discomfort.
“All of it?” He almost whispered.
“No, dumbass. Just a few sips is fine.” Atsumu kept staring at it, gulping loudly. “If you’re not going to drink on your own, I’m going to force it down your throat.” Osamu threatened. Atsumu looked angerly at him but complied and opened the bottle. “Also here,” Osamu grabbed Atsumu’s wrist and put two pills in his hand. “Take these. They’re for your fever.” Atsumu looked up at him with glassy eyes and shook his head. Osamu raised his eyebrows in a ‘don’t you dare protest’ kind of way. Atsumu brought his shaky hand to his mouth and swallowed the pills with some water.
“Now lay down with your head on your pillow.”
The sick boy did as he was told and Osamu pulled the covers over him.
“The trashcan is next to your head, so don’t you fucking dare puke anywhere else.” Atsumu nodded. “Try to get some sleep.” Osamu turned off the light and went back into the top bunk.
At about two o’clock Osamu woke up from a dull thud. At first, he thought he had imagined it because of his sleepy state. He was however wide awake when he heard a soft groan. “Tsumu?”
Just a soft groan again. “Dammit.” Osamu climbed down and almost tripped over his own brother trying to get to the light switch.
“What are you doing?” Osamu said while he turned on the light.
Atsumu groaned and closed his eyes abruptly, the light making him dizzy. “Bathroom…” He murmured.
He tried getting up, but his body was so heavy he fell to the ground again. Osamu picked his twin from the floor and put one arm around his neck and put his other arm around his waist. He carried Atsumu to the toilet.
“Don’t lock the door, Tsumu, you hear me?”
He nodded lightly and went to the toilet, bathroom door unlocked. Osamu leaned against the wall, arms crossed and sighed. This was going to be a long night if it continued like this. Their parents were gone the entire weekend and today was only Saturday. He was on his own in this taking care of Atsumu situation. Osamu’s train of thought stopped when he noticed how quiet it had become.
“Tsumu?” Silence. “Oi, Tsumu?” Still nothing but silence. “Answer me if you can hear me, dammit!”
Osamu pushed himself from the wall and stormed into the bathroom to find his brother out cold on the floor. He rushed over to him as a wave of panic washed over him, not thinking a second about whether he should move him or not. He grabbed him in his arms and cupped his face in his hands. “Tsumu!” He lightly shook the boy, but he got no response. All Atsumu was doing was raving, uttering complete nonsense. His fever had gotten the better of him. “Dammit!” Osamu pulled Atsumu up, the half-unconscious boy leaning his whole weight on the other. Osamu headed straight towards their parents’ bedroom, where an empty double bed was awaiting them. He put Atsumu down and ran to their bedroom to get all the supplies. He refreshed the cool pad and put extra blankets on top of him. Osamu decided it was best to get Atsumu’s full attention and he tried waking him up from his delirious state by shaking his shoulders.
“Tsumu, snap out of it, you helpless little child!” When he got no response, he started shaking harder.
“Tsumu, wake the hell up!” Still half out of it Atsumu laid still. “Oi, Tsumu!” Osamu slapped his face with the flat of his hand.
That seemed to do the trick. Atsumu woke up in an instant and desperately grabbed the trashcan beside the bed, making it just in time to have vomit pour out of his mouth and nose. The vomit was more fluid than the previous times, as he had only drunk water since then. Despite the disgusting scene Osamu breathed a sigh of relief.
“Samu?” Atsumu fell back onto the bed.
“Don’t scare my like that, boke!” He yelled and Atsumu winced at the loudness of his voice.
“Where…?” He didn’t finish the question, his throat hurt and his own voice sounded raspy.
“We are in mom and dad’s bedroom,” Osamu explained, having understood the unfinished question. “Here we can sleep next to each other. That way I can keep a better eye on you.”
Atsumu smiled faintly. “Don’t go soft on me now, Samu.”
“Oh, I won’t.” Osamu smirked. “Here, let’s check that temperature again shall we?”
Osamu stuck the thermometer in Atsumu’s mouth without a warning and Atsumu winced at the sudden coldness. After a moment it bleeped. 39.8°C it said this time. “Well, at least it went down a little.” Osamu said.
“Ah, ever the optimist.” Atsumu pestered him. Osamu looked at him annoyed but was glad that his twin was talking again.
“Here a tissue to wipe your disgusting face and I brought you a clean shirt, put it on.”
And so Atsumu did with a lot of struggle and a little help from his brother. “And have some water.” Osamu handed him the bottle from earlier. Atsumu drank another few sips, hoping he wouldn’t throw it up this time. “And now, sleep.” He didn’t need to be told that twice. He was exhausted. Osamu went to the other side of the bed and got in. A few minutes later, when he was almost dozed off, he felt something against his back. Atsumu was laying behind him, head against his upper back and a hand clutching at his shirt.
“Tsumu, let go.” He whispered.
When nothing happened, he turned his entire body around, now facing Atsumu. They were still lying very close to each other, but Osamu couldn’t possible back away. He would feel guilty. Atsumu was breathing slowly but heavily, was shivering despite the fact that his body was radiating heat and moaned from pain once every so often. He was searching for some body heat. All Osamu felt was pity, even though Atsumu wouldn’t want his and he didn’t want to give him any. He slowly curled up with him nonetheless, feeling Atsumu’s body finally calm down a bit.
It was half past four. Osamu woke up from the restless movements of the body next to him. They went on for minutes until Osamu decided to wake Atsumu up. “Tsumu, wake up.” After some shoulder-shaking he was awake.
“Having fever dreams, are we?” He got out of the covers and grabbed the thermometer on the nightstand. “Here.” Atsumu grabbed it. When the thing bleeped it read 40.0°C.
“Shit, it went up again.” Osamu stood up, got his brother, and carried him to the bathroom. “That’s it! You’re taking a bath.”
Atsumu felt queasy just thinking about it, but he was too weak to put up a struggle. His body was soaked in sweat, yet he felt so cold. Osamu put him on the closed toilet and told him to take off all of his clothes. With a lot of difficulty he managed to do so, while Osamu filled the bathtub and got a glass of water. He handed him the glass. “Drink this first.” Atsumu complied.
After that he got into the warm water of bathtub with the help of Osamu. “Keep your head above the water at all times. Don’t you dare drown on my watch.” He warned, turning around to clean up the dirty clothes on the floor. Atsumu had trouble keeping himself up. His arms and legs felt like jelly and his head felt fuzzy. Besides that, his whole body ached and he could feel his head starting to slip under water. “Samu.” He called out for help. His soft voice echoing through the tiled room. Osamu turned around abruptly and rushed to his almost drowning twin.
“I just told you not to do that, you fucking baby!” He placed his hand under Atsumu’s head, supporting it. He sighed. “Don’t you fucking scare me like that again, or I’ll drown you myself!”
Atsumu coughed a little and then smiled softly. “Such a good babysitter.”
Osamu scoffed. “Yeah, yeah.” After the bath Atsumu’s fever had gone down to 39.6°C. “Clean clothes are on the heating. Get dressed, I’m going to change the sheets.” Osamu left Atsumu in the bathroom but turned back for a second. “And don’t pass out.”
A quarter past four. Atsumu and Osamu laid in the now clean double bed, their backs facing each other. “Want a new cool pad?”
Atsumu shook his head. “No.” There was a short silence. “Samu, were you lying close to me when we were sleeping earlier?”
Osamu was startled by that question. “Where did you get that idea? Dumbass.” Short silence. “You don’t have to admit it, I already know you were.”
“Huuuh?”
Atsumu smiled a little. “So dishonest.”
“Shut up, trash.”
“What did you call me?” Atsumu turned around. “You’re the trashy one.”
Now Osamu turned around as well. “Huh? So ungrateful!”
“I’m not ungrateful!”
“You are, just like a pathetic child!”
Atsumu didn’t respond. He closed his eyes instead, having used energy he didn’t have arguing with his twin. “Thank you.” He whispered.
Osamu let out a scoff. “Hmph. Don’t thank me yet.”
Half past eight. It was finally morning. Atsumu had woken up first, his stomach gurgling. He was hungry. He reached for the thermometer and leaned over a still sleeping Osamu, as the thing was on his nightstand. Just when he finally had it in his grasp, he lost his balance and fell on the sleeping boy. “Argh!” Osamu woke up with a cry of pain mixed with utter surprise. “What are you doing, you fucking pig?!”
Atsumu tried getting up, but Osamu pushed him before he got the chance. “Samu, don’t yell. My head hurts.” Atsumu whined.
“Then don’t fall on top of me!” Osamu looked at the time, while Atsumu checked his temperature again.
“Ah, it only went down with 0.1°C.” He said disappointed.
“Well at least it went down and not up.” Osamu answered and got out of bed. “I’m going to brush my teeth and put on some clean clothes. Don’t do anything stupid while I’m gone, Tsumu.” He left the room.
Atsumu thought about making him some breakfast, to thank him for taking care of him. And of course to eat because he himself was starving. He went to the kitchen where he found soup in the fridge with a note from their mom. She made it for them to warm up. Atsumu grabbed a cooking pot, poured the cold soup in it and put on the stove. He had done this once or twice, so he knew how to do it. Though usually it was Osamu who handled reheating food. After a short time steam came rising from the pot. It warmed Atsumu’s face while he was stirring. At first it felt nice, but after a while he started to feel light-headed. Osamu came downstairs, following the smell of warm food and found Atsumu in the kitchen. He was still stirring the soup. He turned around and greeted him. “Samu, look. I made us some s-“
The last words came out slowly and the sentenced wasn’t finished. Atsumu’s grip on the spoon loosened and he fell forward. Osamu ran towards him, thinking for a moment that he wouldn’t make it in time. He however did and caught him with his left arm, that punched into Atsumu’s organs. Atsumu’s hunger immediately made place for, the at first suppressed, nausea. Osamu pulled him up to look at his face, grabbing his shoulders firmly. Atsumu was still conscious.
“Huh? What happened?” He said in a weak voice.
“Tch. Just after I told you not to do anything stupid. I can’t let you out of my sight for even a second, can I? Stupid Tsumu.”
Atsumu looked up at him sadly. “But I just wanted to make us breakfast.”
Osamu scoffed. “I don’t think you’re in any shape to do so.” He pulled Atsumu up and guided him to the couch. “Just stay still and let me take fucking care of you until you get better so I can beat your ass again without having to feel guilty.”
“Ha? When have you ever beaten my ass? I think you’ve got things turned backwards in that head of yours.” Atsumu laid down and pulled a blanket over him.
“If you feel well enough to talk such nonsense like that, hurry up and get better already, you pain in the ass!” Osamu walked away annoyed. He finished heating the soup and poured a bowl for each of them.
“On second thought, I don’t think I should eat that.” Atsumu pointed at the bowl Osamu was handing him.
“And why the hell is that?” Osamu asked still annoyed. Atsumu just looked at the bowl and gulped. His head was pounding and his vision got blurry. It only increased the nausea that had ‘awakened’ when Osamu caught him earlier. The strong smell of the soup in front of his face was the last drop. Atsumu felt acid liquid rising in his oesophagus. He covered his mouth with the back of his hand, letting out a burp while slightly heaving without anything coming out. Osamu put away the bowl with soup and started running to the kitchen. Atsumu knew he wouldn’t make it in time and formed a cup with his own hands. Just when he did, he retched and gastric acid accompanied with bile, poured out of his mouth. His hands were just able to contain the amount, though drops were slipping through the small cracks between his fingers. He was almost relieved, until he felt more sick crawling up his throat. Osamu still wasn’t back. Atsumu could hear him searching in the kitchen through the ringing that had filled his ears. He started to panic, breathing heavily through his nose while keeping his mouth shut tight. His hands could never contain another load. He kept suppressing but it did not help. From the pressure, the vomit gushed out of his nose, tears forming in his eyes because of the burning feeling. Atsumu quickly opened his mouth, where the rest of it poured out. He still held his cupped hands under his face, above the floor. And even though his hands were entirely filled with the disgusting liquid, the floor still had more on it.
Osamu came back just before another wave of vomit arrived in Atsumu’s mouth. He shoved the bucket under Atsumu’s face and held it up and steady for him, avoiding the puddle on the floor. Atsumu dropped the liquid in his hands in the bucket and threw up again. The brown fluid in the bucket made him hurl again. Then he dry-gagged two times, before backing away. He sat himself up straight without using his dirty hands and started sobbing at the pain in his throat and nose and the helpless situation he was in. Osamu guided him to another spot on the couch, putting the bucket under his dripping hands. He left the still sobbing Atsumu to get some wet wipes. He then kneeled in front of him and started cleaning his hands. Atsumu looked down at the act. His vision even blurrier because of the tears.
“Tsumu, stop crying.” Osamu practically begged, feeling the sobbing-sounds weighing on him. Atsumu didn’t respond. His body was aching and even his eyes burned now. He just wanted it to stop. He couldn’t eat feeling like this, he probably couldn’t even rest decently. Osamu had finished cleaning Atsumu’s and his own hands and he threw the dirty wipes in the bucket. Next was the floor. He wanted to get up and walk back to the kitchen, but a weak grasp around his wrist prevented that. He looked into Atsumu’s blurry and watery eyes. “Samu…It *hic* hurts.” Atsumu sobbed. He looked exhausted of being sick and having a fever. Osamu’s earlier annoyance made room for sympathy. He grabbed the blanket from the couch and put it around Atsumu’s shoulders.
“Where does it hurt?” He asked while crouching in front of him so Atsumu could look at him without straining himself.
“Everywhere.” Atsumu groaned. Osamu started rubbing the side of Atsumu’s upper arm. “Let’s do something about that then.” He stood up and gently pushed Atsumu back so that he would lean against the backrest of the couch. Atsumu nodded lightly and watched as Osamu walked out of the room, pulling the blanket around him as far as possible. Osamu came back after a few minutes, with the bucket he emptied, medicine, cold pads, a towel, a cloth, the thermometer, a bottle of water and another bucket filled with water. Atsumu thought he looked like he was going into some kind of battle with all those supplies. It made him chuckle, though faintly. Osamu put everything down on the ground and coffee table.
“First, let’s clean you up a bit.” He grabbed the towel, put it in the bucket with water and started wiping Atsumu’s face, that still had some vomit on it. He cleaned the towel in the water and wiped the sweat off Atsumu’s neck and forehead. Atsumu winced a bit at the coldness against his warm skin but didn’t complain. Then Osamu stuck a cold pad on his forehead. “Here you go.” After that he grabbed a small box and the bottle and handed them to Atsumu.
“Take a few sips of water first, then swallow two of these OTC pills with a bit more water. Okay?”
He tried to make eye contact with the ill boy but he kept avoiding his gaze.
“Okay, Tsumu?”
Atsumu slowly shook his head. He was still feeling nauseas, he could never keep it in even if he took the medicine.
Osamu sighed. “Look, I get that you don’t want to but if you don’t take them, this fever and the sickness will stay longer than they need to,” he tried to explain. “I know you understand that, so stop being stubborn for once.”
Atsumu looked at him with a pleading gaze, not to make him take the medicine but Osamu didn’t give in, even though and because he felt so sorry for him. Atsumu took the small box and bottle out of his hands. Osamu started cleaning the floor with the cloth and bucket with water. He glanced back at Atsumu a few times, making sure he actually took the medicine. When he did and Osamu finished cleaning, they both sat on the couch.
“You are going to eat some soup later too.” Osamu said while eating his own soup. Atsumu shook his head “Tsumu, I mean it. You’re going to eat something. Not eating is not healthy, especially in your condition.” All Atsumu did was pout like a child. “But let’s first watch a movie so your nausea can subside.”
Atsumu seemed pleased with that plan and shambled to the television where a pile of DVDs awaited him, while still wrapping the blanket around him. Osamu watched him closely from the couch, making sure he wouldn’t fall and wouldn’t choose a movie he absolutely hated. Atsumu chose a movie Osamu agreed with watching and played it. Back on the couch, Atsumu sat and leaned against Osamu, laying his head on his shoulder. “I can go sit in the chair if you want to lie down.” Osamu said, wondering if he would prefer that.
“No.” The short answer came out of Atsumu’s mouth in a soft voice. He preferred his brother’s warm shoulder to the cold couch cushions.
About half an hour into the movie, Atsumu’s head started pounded. He closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Osamu could feel the movement, as Atsumu was still leaning against him. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?” He paused the movie.
“Nothing…Just my head.”
“Drink something and look at something a bit further away than the television.” Atsumu nodded and Osamu got up from the couch. “And since we already paused the movie, I’m going to reheat that soup for you.”
Atsumu sighed, looking at the water bottle in his hand with a blurred vision. Because everything he saw was out of focus, he felt nausea bubbling to the surface. He closed his eyes as a precaution. Closing his eyes however only sharpened his other senses. The pounding in his head got more intense as well as the lingering pain in all of his muscles. He leaned back into the couch, the blanket sliding off of him. Atsumu slowly opened his eyes and blinked a few times. He tried focussing his vision on the ceiling, which seemed to help a bit. Osamu came back with a bowl of soup and some onigiri. “Where did you find that?” Atsumu pointed at the onigiri.
“In the kitchen.” Osamu replied, trying to get any kind of reaction out of his energy-drained brother. Atsumu however did not respond, only letting out a short ‘mmm’ before sighing again. Osamu handed him the food and he ate it slowly but surely, trying not to provoke the nausea even more. After some time, he stopped eating, but still had some onigiri left. He slides the plate over the coffee table towards Osamu. Normally Osamu would gladly accept his offer since he liked onigiri very much. But not this time.
“No, you have to eat it all.” Atsumu lightly shook his head. “Tsumu, I’m telling you. I didn’t even get that much for you. Just eat it.” Atsumu still refused. “If you’re not going to eat it yourself, I’m going to stuff it down your throat.”
Atsumu looked him straight in the eyes. His were watery from sudden pain and cramps in his abdomen, Osamu’s were annoyed and angry, contrary to his soft voice. “Please…” Atsumu almost whimpered, his arms clutched around his middle. Osamu glared at him some more before sighing.
“Cooperate with me a bit here, Tsumu. You need as much nutrition as possible.”
“I know…” Atsumu let himself slide to the left, his head falling on Osamu’s lap.
“Get off, you pig.” Osamu sounded more surprised than angry but tried to push his twin away anyway. Atsumu however didn’t budge an inch, his full weight being too much for Osamu to push in this position. He gave up and leaned back. “Don’t you dare drool, stupid Tsumu, these are my favourite sweatpants.” Atsumu nodded in confirmation and let his eyelids drop, immediately falling into a deep slumber despite the pain rushing through his body. Osamu finished the movie alone, making sure he wouldn’t move to much, as that could wake the sleeping boy.
Ten o’clock. Atsumu had been asleep for about an hour and a half. Osamu had not moved an inch since then. After having finished the movie, he had grabbed his phone. Checking if Atsumu was still alive once in a while, since he was laying awfully quiet. A sudden movement on his lap made Osamu jump. The moving body groaned and slowly got up. “Took you long enough. My legs are tingling all over from your weight.” Osamu complained as he stood up to stretch his legs. He saw a hand reaching for the thermometer. The hand didn’t reach its destination. The arm dropped. Atsumu had lost his balance and before Osamu could react he fell off the couch onto the cold floor. “Ouch…” His sleepy voice was soft but clear. Osamu helped him up and sat him on the couch again.
“You klutz, just ask if you need anything!” He stated sternly, grabbing the thermometer and handing his over to Atsumu. 39.0°C. “That’s a huge improvement. I told you that all you needed was enough nutrition.” Osamu finally realised that Atsumu was awfully quiet.
“Tsumu?” Atsumu looked at him with cloudy eyes. “I’m hungry…” Those words made Osamu glad. “Let’s get you some more onigiri then.”