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He's going to kill Kiba.
Shino never gets sick. He could count the amount of times he's fallen ill in his entire life on one hand.
So of course he managed to get sick after a very sick Kiba had essentially broken into his house and forced him to care for him.
He isn't really surprised. It was bound to happen, given their close proximity when he was taking care of Kiba. Still, he can't help but be a little angry about it.
Kiba, whiny as he had been, had recovered rather quickly once he'd gotten some medicine in him and plenty of rest. He was mostly back to normal not 24 hours later.
Shino isn't sure he's going to be so lucky.
It's been a day and a half since he started showing symptoms of being ill, and he's progressively feeling worse and worse as time goes on.
His father stopped by that morning and offered to let him come back home with him until he felt better, but he had refused.
He almost regretted it, but not quite. The reason was because he did not want to be a burden. His stubbornness also likely played a factor.
Nonetheless, he now sat alone in his empty home, restlessly trying to get comfortable in his suddenly rather uncomfortable bed.
Tossing and turning isn't something he does often, given that he usually sleeps flat on his back. But now he can't stop. It's very annoying.
Almost as annoying as the fact he cannot muster the energy to get out of bed.
He feels too weak to do much of anything for himself. He knows he should drink some water, perhaps eat something light. He knows these things, but they all seem far too monumental a task to complete right now.
He's almost asleep when he hears a loud 'thump' followed by the sound of Kiba calling out his name.
Ah. So that's how he's been getting in. Shino needs to reinforce the locks on his window.
"Shinoooo? Are you dead?" Kiba's loud voice echoes throughout the apartment, and, as fond as Shino is of him, causes him to feel like nails are being hammered into his skull.
It's not long before Kiba finds him in his room. "Oh good, you are alive."
"Is it so difficult to use the front door?"
Kiba's nose scrunches up. "I come all the way out here to check on you, expecting to find you dead, and the first thing you do is insult my method of entry?"
Shino sighs. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to check on you. I just said that."
"Why?"
Kiba stares at him like he's stupid. "'Cause I haven't heard from you in days? And neither has anybody else?"
"That isn't true. Why? I've spoken to my father multiple times."
Kiba rolls his eyes at him. "How am I supposed to know that? It's not like I'm best friends with your dad."
"You aren't. The reason I pointed that out was simply to show that other people have heard from me."
Kiba narrows his eyes a bit, clearly getting frustrated with him. "Why are we even talking about this?!" He walks closer to Shino, taking in his appearance. "Anyways, you look awful. Is that why you're holed up in here? You sick?"
"I feel like that is pretty obvious." Shino sniffles a bit, slightly humiliated by the sound.
"You shoulda told me! I'd have come and taken care of you like you did for me!"
"I don't need to be 'taken care of'. Why? I am not a child and am fully capable of fending for myself."
Kiba looks at him as though he doesn't believe him, the look on his face reminding Shino of more of Kiba's mother than Kiba himself.
"When was the last time you ate anything? Or drank water?"
Shino wracks his brain, but finds himself unable to remember. He hasn't moved much since he started feeling ill. His father had brought him water when he had stopped by, but he had made no move to get up and get more.
As for when he'd last eaten, he truly has no clue. The idea of eating food sounds like a daunting task as of now and all food sounds bad.
His silence seems to be enough of an answer for Kiba, who is now shaking his head at him. Shino blinks and somehow Kiba is now standing at his bedside holding out a glass of water to him. He's not quite sure how that happened. Perhaps he'd dozed off. Perhaps he's actually sicker than he thought.
He feels like it takes forever for him to sit up and reach for the water, but eventually he does so, his hand shaking a bit. He feels Kiba's eyes on him, likely filled with concern, if he has to guess. "You seem sicker than I was."
Shino's voice is a bit hoarse when he responds. "The same strain of a virus can manifest differently in different people. The reason is because we are built quite differently." Shino was built even more 'differently' than most. "Thank you for the water." He adds the last bit as an afterthought. As much as he did not feel he needed help right now, he doesn't want to seem ungrateful. He keeps his hand as steady as he possibly can when he moves the glass to his lips to take a sip, much smaller than Kiba probably wants him to judging by the way he narrows his eyes.
"I didn't take you for the mother hen type." He sets the glass on his side table, a bit upset that he doesn't have a coaster in his bedroom to place it on instead. He doesn't want a ring stain to be left behind.
"Well I didn't take you for the type to stop taking care of yourself when you get sick."
"I am taking care of myself."
"God, you're stubborn. You haven't done anything to take care of yourself this whole time! You've just been rotting in bed for, what, two days?"
"Rest is an important part of the healing process."
He ignores Kiba's frustrated groan in favor of burrowing himself deeper into his covers. He is cold and his head hurts and he does not want to talk to anyone right now, even Kiba.
"I'm guessing you haven't taken any medicine either?"
"Traditional medication does not work as intended on me due to my insects."
"Ah. Makes sense I guess. Well, at least let me make you soup or somethin'."
Shino's nose scrunches up in displeasure at the idea of eating anything right now, but logically he knows he should definitely take Kiba up on the offer.
Since he is very cold, something warm like soup actually does sound quite nice. Although he isn't quite sure he trusts Kiba to make it.
He doesn't really have any other option though, he supposes. He very likely won't be able to taste much right now anyways, so it's probably fine.
He sighs and sounds very congested when doing so. "Fine."
Kiba gives him a bright smile. "Doctor Kiba at your service! I'll have you feeling better in no time!"
This was doubtful, but at least it would get some food in his stomach. Shino's eyes drift closed again as Kiba leaves the room.
When he awakens again his shoulder is being shaken roughly. He groans and sits up, almost rubbing at his eyes before remembering that his goggles are still in place.
"Oh good, you didn't die while I was gone."
"You seem to think that this illness is far worse than it is."
"It could be if you don't let me take care of you." Kiba sets a tray over his lap that he definitely doesn't remember owning. He would have no need for such a thing because he doesn't eat in his bed. The reason is because if he were to drop any crumbs he would be unable to sleep.
After he sets up the tray Kiba reaches over to the nightstand and grabs a bowl of plain looking soup and the cup he had filled with water earlier and sets them atop it.
Shino stares at it for a beat before lifting the spoon and eating a small spoonful of soup. He can't taste very well right now, but he can tell that the flavor isn't overpowering. Good. Kiba knew he didn't like strong flavors and had taken that into account. It was much appreciated. He eats a bit more and drinks a bit more water as well. It does make him feel a tad bit better, although not enough to make a huge difference right away.
"Do you want crackers or anything? Or is that too scratchy for your throat?"
Crackers actually would probably be fine, but the idea of crumbs in his bed crosses his mind again and he decides to lie instead, despite the fact he doesn't like to lie. It's easier than Kiba teasing him over the fact that a single crumb in his bed would drive him absolutely insane and be a sensory nightmare. Kiba's bed is full of crumbs, so he definitely wouldn't understand.
"Just the soup is fine." He eats another spoonful and can feel it warming him up already. It's quite nice. "Thank you."
Kiba watches him with a soft half smile. He tries not to look too long, as it makes him feel rather awkward. "I owe you. You took care of me when I was sick, so I gotta return the favor."
"All I really did was let you use me as a pillow for a few hours."
"And you make a very comfy pillow! Speaking of, are you comfortable in that…?" Kiba gestures to his clothing, which is just his normal everyday clothing. The only thing he had removed was the wraps on his legs and his headband.
When he had begun to feel sick he hadn't bothered to change and had just laid in bed as he was. It wasn't terribly comfortable, but it wasn't uncomfortable either.
"I am perfectly comfortable in this."
"That's a lie."
"I have no desire to change clothes. The reason is because I am already wearing these clothes."
"I'll get you something comfier."
"I don't need-"
"Yeah, yeah, you don't 'need' to change. But you'll be comfier. I'll even help you if you're too tired."
"I don't need help changing clothes. I'm not a child."
"You don't need help with anything, ever, I get it. Did you know you're the most stubborn person I've ever met?"
"So you have said."
Kiba says nothing else after that, instead making his way over to Shino's dresser and flinging open the drawers and then sifting around in them in a way that makes Shino want to wring his neck. He takes a deep breath to calm himself, ignoring how crackly it sounds. He will make sure everything is in order when he is well. It'll be fine.
"So you do own casual clothes!"
Shino rolls his eyes despite the fact Kiba can't see them.
"Ooh, this one's soft." Shino watches as Kiba pulls out a sweatshirt made out of an incredibly soft material that Shino had received as a gift a few years back. Gift giving occasions were often the only times he received new clothing that was more casual in nature. He sees no need to purchase it himself, given the fact that he rarely has a need for it.
Kiba throws it over his arm before moving to another drawer, pulling out a pair of pajama pants that Shino forgot he owned.
"You'll sleep much better in these."
"I haven't had any trouble sleeping in what I'm currently wearing."
Kiba's eye twitches and his smile goes a bit sideways. He seems to be getting genuinely annoyed with him at this point.
"Remind me to never become a nurse if I'm going to have you as my patient."
"That would be a terrible career for you, anyways. The reason is because you have absolutely no gentle or nurturing qualities and also because you have no medical training."
"Maybe I should smother you with your pillow. Get it over with while you're weak and defenseless."
"I'm never defenseless. Why? Even if I were to die my insects would eliminate you shortly thereafter, avenging me."
"You're even more annoying than usual right now. Must be the cold."
Kiba walks over to the bed, throwing the clothing he picked out down on top of it. He smirks. "Want me to help you change?"
"Absolutely not." There were very few things he could think of that would be more humiliating than having Kiba change his clothes for him like he was a sick child or an ailing hospital patient.
Kiba continues to stand there beside his bed, waiting for him to change, he supposes, as if there is any chance of that happening with him still in the room. "You can leave."
Kiba sighs and picks up the tray of soup which, by now, Shino had eaten enough of to satisfy him. "Fine! But I'll be back!"
When Shino stands to change he feels a bit lightheaded and almost falls over, but he is able to get the job done without injuring himself, and, given his condition the last few days, that is satisfying enough for him.
Kiba returns to the room without even knocking just as he is pulling his jacket back on over the sweatshirt.
"Do you really need that?"
"Yes." He doesn't need to explain the reason. It is far too obvious. His jacket is his security blanket. Kiba knows this.
"Whatever you want, then. At least you have all that other shit off. You should take off your goggles, too."
"They are comfortable enough."
"Shino."
"I see no reason to remove them. They aren't a hindrance to my ability to rest."
Kiba lets out a low growl in annoyance. "Why are you like this?"
Shino is about to answer him when he's interrupted by a violent coughing fit. He has to sit down on the side of the bed, as he's unable to properly steady himself while standing.
Kiba immediately rushes to his side. "You okay?"
"I-It's just coughing. A symptom that often comes with being sick."
"Don't be a smart ass." Kiba hands him his water, which he drinks much more of this time. Empties the glass, in fact.
"I'm gonna go get more. I'll be right back. You get comfy."
Shino is feeling very lightheaded at this point and his headache has gone from somewhat mild to the worst headache he can remember ever having, so he decides to listen to Kiba for once and makes himself as comfortable as he can be. However the issue he has had in the last few attempts to do so persists, making it quite difficult.
Kiba comes back a few minutes later, a fresh cup of water in hand. He sets it on the table and hovers at Shino's bedside. Shino wants to be annoyed, but unfortunately his presence is a comforting one.
"You don't have to stay, you know. You don't 'owe me' for taking care of you before. The reason is that I would have done it regardless."
"You seemed awfully set on not doing it before."
"The reason for that is because you are a pain to care for."
"Ha! Look who's talking. That's hilarious coming from you. Anyway, no one could drag me away from you right now if they tried. You cold?" Kiba's hand presses against his forehead. It's warm. Shino feels himself drifting.
"I'm always cold."
"Let me warm you up, then." Kiba smirks down at him before throwing off his own jacket and climbing into the bed with Shino.
"That's not necessary…" Despite his verbal protests Shino practically melts into Kiba's embrace. It's kind of embarrassing how quickly he molds himself into Kiba's arms, actually. But, at the moment, he can't really find it in himself to care.
Kiba is warm. Very warm. He's always run rather hot, despite usually wearing a jacket like his teammates.
Shino had definitely registered how much colder than usual he felt very early on in the timeline of this illness, but he has grown so used to it that he didn't consider how nice it would feel to finally be warm.
He's so tired. He doesn't even protest when he feels Kiba slip his goggles off of his face. Instead he takes the opportunity left by the lack of obstruction to bury his face in Kiba's chest. He'll probably be teased for it later, but it's definitely worth the teasing. He's finally comfortable in his own bed, for the first time in days, and he's wrapped in the embrace of the person he is most fond of. It's a pity he's too sick to properly enjoy the moment.
"Wow, clingy much? Didn't expect you to shift into 'cuddle-bug' mode that quickly."
"It's…natural to gravitate towards a heat source when cold." He's barely finished the sentence when his body is wracked with coughing. Kiba rubs his back and strokes his hair.
"Sure, whatever. I'll be a heat source all day long if it makes you all cuddly like this." He's grinning. Shino can't see it, but he can hear it.
He wants to respond with a snide remark. He wants to, but he doesn't. Because Kiba's so warm, and he's so tired, and he's finally, finally comfortable.
And Kiba being his 'heat source' all day long? Well, that sounds pretty nice to him, too.