Work Text:
Genos has always known his teacher to be invulnerable. Punches, kicks, and cuts never affect him, so do other things that usually send his cyborg body back to the repair. But after the fight with the sea king, Saitama complained that he felt weak.
He remembers it was raining that day, both of them soaked up to the bone and the outcries of the masses didn’t help their condition. He didn’t know what happened after that due to him being sent back to Dr. Kuseno. Knowing his teacher, he must have walked back all the way to Z-city wet.
It’s only natural that a person will get sick in those conditions, but the image of his teacher being indestructible disappeared. He brings this topic up to Saitama, and the other just laughed saying he’s only human after all.
So he discretely began monitoring his biological status, wary of any changes within his teacher's body.
Saitama of course notices this, how can't he when Genos is intensely staring at him every five seconds. He doesn’t mind it at first; secretly comforted for knowing that Genos cared for him, but after too many times he's starting to get tired of it.
It's been only two days since he caught the cold and Genos became overbearing to the point where he was actually contemplating to give him something to do, like make him train in the mountains for something. Or just kick him out of the apartment. That's easier.
"'m fine Genos, you don’t have to worry about me every single day." Saitama tried his best to reassure him, but his raspy voice and weak demeanor did not convince Genos one bit.
"But teacher! According to this website, colds can sometimes turn into flu. The symptoms of flu usually develop within one to three days of becoming infected..."
Saitama coughed, successfully getting his disciple's attention. "20 words, no wait... make that 10 or less... I don’t wanna deal with this anymore." He whined before reaching out to get a tissue and blowing his nose.
Not wanting to irritate his teacher anymore, Genos flopped down in the side and clenched his hands in worry.
After thinking it through, Genos faced him with a serious expression. "Teacher, your condition may get worse." He deadpanned.
"It won’t, don’t worry about it."
"But..."
"Are you my mother or something?" Saitama tried to joke but it fell flat when Genos did not even react one bit. "Look, it's just a simple cold. It will clear up after a few days or so. Just get me some water or something, I wanna go back to sleep."
Genos opened his mouth to say something but the way Saitama clutched his blanket and his dazed expression prevented him from talking back. Instead, he held his teacher and slowly helped him lay back down on the futon, covering him with a blanket.
"Is there anything you want teacher?" Genos asked.
Turning his back so he's facing the window rather than his disciple, Saitama waved his hand and said "Nah, just do your usual stuff. I'll call you when i need something."
"I... understand" Reluctance is evident in Genos' reply, but he heeded his teachers advice and set out to clean the apartment. He hopes that this may help in alleviating his teacher's condition.
"Oh... and make sure to close the windows. It’s freezing in here."
"Genos, can you get me another sheet? I’m still freezing here." Saitama mumbled through his chattering teeth.
"Yes teacher."
Genos paused in what he was doing, got a thicker blanket from the closet they shared and handed it to his teacher, who took the sheet and wrapped it around himself. He heard him whisper a quiet thank you before returning to the kitchen.
He cannot help but worry (again) about his teacher. It’s been nearly a week ever since he came down with that cold and he seemed to be getting worse. Yesterday he had another coughing fit that left his teacher gasping for breath.
He offered to take him to the hospital but as usual he declined, saying that they shouldn't waste money on a simple cold. A bitter smile crept its way to his face after remembering how he nearly dragged the older man out the door. Only the sound of rain falling prevented him from actually carrying his teacher to the hospital.
The association has been calling him, but he ignored all of it in favor of taking care of his teacher. Messages have been racking up in his phone and he read it all at once, when his teacher was once again sleeping. Thank goodness there was nothing life-threatening happening in the fast few days, with his teacher not in his best condition.
Once again his phone rang, and he let it ring out before setting it to silent. He didn’t need distractions right now.
"Who's that?" Saitama croaked, turning away from the TV.
“Nothing important. Just a fan who found out about my number." he smoothly lied. Worrying his teacher might worsen his condition.
Saitama just gave him a blank stare. "I see. I think it’s time you should change your number, those fans of yours are starting to get creepy."
"There’s no need for that teacher." he set out the pots and plates for dinner. "And I don’t care what those people do as long as they don’t disturb you."
"Err.... thanks I guess?" with that said Saitama turned back to watch the news. “So did anything interesting happen?”
Both talked about the current events while he chopped the vegetables, with Saitama having a snarky remark every now and then. After a while he merely listened then went silent as Genos concentrated in his task.
As he put all the ingredients at the pot, he stole a glance at his teacher’s direction. As expected, Saitama must have fallen asleep while he was talking about the blizzard group. So he avoided making too much noise as he turned on the stove and let the soup simmer.
‘He’s been sleeping a lot lately’. He observes. He writes it down as he waits for the soup to boil then cleaned up the mess. By the time the soup is done, the sun’s rays are nearly disappearing over the horizon.
He set out two bowls, one for each of them, making sure that his teacher’s bowl got the best ingredients before setting both to the table.
"Teacher, I've read that chicken soup is good for someone sick." he says as he shakes Saitama awake.
Groaning, Saitama grudgingly woke up from his nap and sat up to face Genos who is sitting in his usual seiza beside him. He can see steam rising out from a bowl, presumably the chicken soup he mentioned.
For some reason, Saitama could barely understand what Genos is saying. He feels weird, like his body was hit by a truck and dragged down the pavement. His throat burned and he can barely breathe through, feeling like coughing out every time he took a breath.
"Thank you" He tries to tell Genos, but his voice still sounds scratchy. Thankfully, Genos must have understood what he was trying to say for he nodded and stayed quiet.
Saitama reached out and took the bowl of soup, not wanting to let his disciple's work go to waste. The soup tasted perfect, not too salty like he sometimes does when cooking something. Even the chicken was perfectly cooked, seasoned with the best spices they have in the kitchen and easily melted in his mouth.
It really did help in making him feel better, if only just for a bit.
Genos must have really poured his heart out in making it looking at the way it was presented to him.
"Thanks for the meal." he handed out the bowl to Genos after he finished, who was watching him the entire time. Genos took it and went to the kitchen, returning back with a glass of water in his hand.
"What’s that?" he asks eyeing the bottle in the cyborg’s other hand.
"Cough syrup. It may help in alleviating your cough"
“No way!” Saitama weakly protested, unconsciously moving away from the offered medicine. “Those things taste bitter!”
Genos gave him a look. “Teacher…”
Saitama wanted to resist, but the puppy face Genos has had prevented him so. How a serious looking cyborg able to do that is beyond him, but right now he can see him silently pleading, begging him with those eyes. He feels that he’s the bad guy here. So he relents.
"...fine. Let's get this over with." Saitama wanted to wipe the smug look off his disciple's face.
Pouring the viscous liquid right in front of his face, Genos proudly lifted the spoon to the other’s face, who is looking at it like poison. The older man made a face at him before hesitantly gulping the solution.
“Ack!” He sputtered, nearly spitting out the liquid before forcing himself to swallow the vile liquid. Saitama wildly gestured for the water which Genos obliges to give to him. He can taste the water wash off the bitter aftertaste of the medicine.
"There... I swallowed it. Are you happy?” he panted, glaring at the cyborg.
“Yes.”
Saitama really wanted to wipe the smile look off Genos' face.
He gave back the glass and laid back down on the now cold futon. Maybe he can finally get some peace from Genos' hijinks.
"Teacher, I've also read that having someone to tuck you into bed is very comforting. Shall I do those for you?"
Or maybe not.
'Where did you read those advices anyway?' Saitama wanted to ask ‘and what the hell does that even do with colds?’ Sure, those advices sounds nice but he can’t help but feel exasperated. Genos is treating him like a kid! It’s an insult to him; he's supposed to be the older one.
"Genos! I'm not a kid!" Saitama whined, looking up to face Genos.
“You can barely take care of yourself.” Genos countered.
"It's just a cold!" He insisted.
A pause. “Teacher did you know that-“
“I’m going back to sleep.” He cut him off. He really didn’t want to deal with this anymore. Plus the growing pain in his head is making it hard to focus.
"Teacher, are you sure you're really fine? My analysis shows that..."
"Goodnight."
"...Goodnight teacher."
"Teacher, I'll go out to buy groceries. Will you be alright?"
Saitama merely groaned in reply, not wanting to wake up from the warm cocoon he's created.
"If you want I'll call someone else to come here-"
"No!." Saitama cut him off, rising up and using his arms as a makeshift pillow. "I mean, I’ll be fine own my own. You really don’t have to be worried about me. Besides it’s just a cold" he insisted between coughs.
Reluctance is evident in Genos' face, he didn’t want to go out but it was a matter of life-or-death. Saitama is still sick and Genos fears that he will lose his mentor if this continues.
"I’ll come home as soon as possible. Please take care teacher..."
"Mmmhhh..."
By the time Genos returned to the apartment he shared with Saitama, the moon is already high in the sky. He didn’t need to turn on his night-vision since the silver light is bright enough to illuminate the surroundings. He checked the items again to make sure he never forgot anything. Medicines, groceries, he made sure to buy the things he thinks will help.
"I'm home..." he says as he closed the door behind him.
No one answered.
Fearing that something may have happened to Saitama, Genos sprinted inside knocking over the contents of the bag. His worries alleviated a little when he saw his teacher sleeping. But his analysis shows that he’s not out of the woods yet.
Saitama still slept on, his cheeks pink and sweat dripped down his forehead. Labored breaths echoed the small room as he shivered, curling the blankets around himself in an effort to stay warm. Genos crouched and placed a hand on his forehead, internally cringing when he felt the burning heat on his sensors.
38.5
‘Dammit! Of all the times that this would happen!’ He curses himself as he scanned his teacher’s biometrics. He shouldn’t have gone out, shouldn’t have left his teacher’s side. But what’s done is done; and the only thing he could do now is to focus his teacher’s condition.
Flinging the sweat drenched blankets; he unbuttoned the pajamas to expose his body to the cool night air. Saitama stiffened at the sudden coldness, before relaxing and his breaths slowly softened. He unwillingly left him there as he went back to the doorway to take out the medicines he bought, a glass of water, and a basin and cloth from the kitchen.
Gently shaking his charge, Genos waited until Saitama woke up. He seemed to be out of it, blinking and flinching every second or so. He didn’t even notice that his clothes were gone.
“Teacher, please drink this.” he took out the pills and gave it to his charge.
Without a word, Saitama took the pills and swallowed all in one gulp before resting his head in the other’s shoulders.
“Your arm’s cold… it feels nice” Saitama mumbled, clinging to his metal arms and snuggled, leeching off the coldness of his arms.
Genos froze as he hears snores coming from the bald man. He didn’t know what to do. Should he stay like this? Or should he wake him up and let go? After coming to the conclusion that sleeping like this will be uncomfortable for the other, he decided to go with the second choice. He supported the other as he moved away, seeing him groan as the source of the cold went away.
“Geno-“
“Please go back to sleep.” He shushed, smiling in order to assure the older that everything’s alright.
He helped the older man lay back down on the futon then fixed his blanket. Then the wet cloth was placed over his head. Genos watched as Saitama’s eyes slowly closed and waited until his breathing became even.
He stayed like that for the rest of the night, watching over his sleep and replacing the towel whenever possible. Only when Saitama’s body stopped shivering did he finally let himself rest.
The sun’s rays hit his face when he came to; blinding him and making him turn. It wasn’t long until the sleep went out of him. Giving up, he opened his eyes to see the familiar ceiling of his tiny apartment. That’s when he realized that he felt better. The clock on his side shows that it’s 9 in the morning. Which reminds him why didn’t Genos wake him up?
His question was answered when he looked to his side. Genos sat beside him; eyes closed and had a peaceful expression on his face. This is unusual for the cyborg to skip out his routines. Usually at this time, Genos is either cleaning out the apartment or setting out to come with him to a sale.
Seeing the pills on the table, everything that happened came back to him.
It’s been a while, Saitama realized, since the last time he's been sick and he's forgotten how irritating it can be. Thinking of the times where he lay on his futon, having no energy to even make himself something to eat made him recognize how he had underappreciated Genos.
Now that the foggy feeling in his mind is gone, he can't help but feel guilty. Remembering how Genos was always by his side supporting him, taking care of him made him feel something he can’t name. A warm feeling that he knows he never felt in a long time, maybe affection? Gratefulness?
He doesn’t have to know. Doesn’t need to know since he’s content with what they have right now.
Turning and using his arms as support, he reached out and touched the smooth skin. The material is life like, he thinks, like it was made of real skin yet is still delicate like glass. A finger glides through pale skin and gently tucks in blond locks behind his ears.
He watches as those eyes slowly open, golden eyes shining behind inky sclera.
"Teacher?"
"Shhh..." he pressed a finger to those lips. Golden eyes widened in surprise, then confusion.
"What is it teacher?"
Saitama didn’t say anything, didn’t have to since he knew the cyborg will understand. So instead he softly pats Genos’ head, ruffling the blond hair.
Genos let him, inwardly liking the gesture. It feels nice, the closeness of someone important made him feel safe, secure, needed. After what feels like a minute, the hand is gone. Then he felt a flick to his forehead, surprising him. Quizzically looking at Saitama, Genos saw him smile before he stood up.
“I feel like going outside. Want to walk with me?” he offers, didn’t look at him as he said so.
Genos smiled and accepted the offer.
He didn’t need to hear what Saitama truly wanted to say.
‘Thank you…'
“Achoo! ... dammit...”
Beep!
“Genos…”
“Yes teacher?”
“Stop analyzing me.”
“No.”