Work Text:
"Toya's an incredible composer." That was Akito's only thought as he once again looped his partner's most recent track. There wasn't much room to think anything else when Toya had been pouring his soul into making incredible song after incredible song lately, each one another that Akito instantly wanted to burn into his memory and perform to perfection.
The one he was listening to right now was something Toya had explicitly said was about Akito and their partnership. It succeeded in embarrassing the ginger fairly quickly upon his first listen, but he supposed that was just another testament to Toya's ability. Joy and love overlayed with determination and passion permeated every single note no matter how small, creating an intense but fanciful arrangement that grabbed you by the heart and refused to let go. It was truly a proper monument to their relationship.
...Or maybe that was just how Akito felt because he knew exactly what was going through Toya's mind while he made this piece. He'd offer fair criticism to Toya just as much as his other teammates should he feel it necessary, but he was aware that there was occasionally a degree of bias. Either way, it was an incredible track worthy of being idly hummed along to as Akito worked his way through an essay he'd been procrastinating for a whole week.
That was until a certain hologram came erupting from his phone. He'd gotten used to the random pop-ups over the year they'd had access to SEKAI, but he still allowed a cursory glance towards the distressed MEIKO which interrupted him the moment he'd found the resolve to get his work done. "Akito-kun, we need help...!"
"I thought at least you would've known how to respect privacy, MEIKO-san..." Akito grumbled, cringing at just the memory of all the times he'd try to have a romantic moment with Toya only for Len or KAITO to pop in. "But sure, what's up?"
"Toya-kun came to SEKAI earlier, but he suddenly collapsed..." MEIKO explained, instantly making Akito's eyes widen. No wonder the usually level-headed MEIKO seemed to be more distressed than he'd ever seen her...
"It would really help if yo-"
"I'll be right there." Akito interrupted instantly, thumbs already working at lightning speed to open up the way to SEKAI. When it came to his partner, he didn't need to hear anything else. If Toya needed him, then he'd always do the utmost to make sure he could be there.
Before his eyes could so much as adjust from the glittery flash of light that always occurred upon entering SEKAI, Akito booked it for the cafe. He still didn't even know the context of what was going on, but he chose not to dwell on the possibilities. It was better to just channel his thoughts into adrenaline until the moment he could throw open the doors.
"Where's Toya?!" Akito yelled upon doing exactly that, the urgency in his voice at a level usually saved for when you're skydiving and the parachute won't open.
"Ah, Akito-kun..." MEIKO sighed, her reaction to his display rather nonchalant. She fully stood up before making a gesture toward the booth she'd been knelt by, revealing precisely what Akito had been looking for -- Toya, not quite passed out but not exactly conscious either, looking miserable as he leaned his head back against the seat.
"He seems okay, but it looks like he caught a bad cold." MEIKO explained before Akito could say anything, well aware of the boy's tendency to freak out over things like this as well as what seemed like a built-in function to dote on Toya.
"Dammit, Toya..." Akito's face scrunched up anyway, crouching down so he'd be eye-level with his partner. He already knew Toya was inclined to forget the rest of the world existed when he became particularly immersed in something, but it seemed the ginger underestimated exactly how far into space he'd end up drifting if left unchecked.
"I told you to take proper care of yourself, dumbass." Akito scolded, though one hand still came up to jostle around the silky bed of two-toned hair before him anyway. The pillow soft concern laced in his voice was obvious even to a weary Toya, whose resulting smile was weak yet sparing no mercy in its ability to make Akito blush.
"I'm glad you were the one who came to visit me." That was what Toya was saying, even if he hadn't spoken.
"He seemed a little bit loopy, so I gave him some medicine." MEIKO interjected, forcing Akito to hide the accumulating blush on his cheeks. "Do you mind watching over him for a moment while I head into the back?"
"I mean, yeah. That's why I'm here." Akito shrugged in a manner he knew MEIKO of all people wouldn't see as nonchalant, but luckily he knew she wasn't the type to tease him about it all the same. With a small chuckle, she left the room, appointing Akito as his partner's temporary caretaker.
Akito let out a hearty sigh as soon as they were alone, swinging up into the seat right next to Toya. The taller boy still looked a mess, to be honest -- eyes heavy with dark bags, pale face flushed completely red, lips dried out from dehydration... It was no wonder he'd become vulnerable enough to catch a cold.
"Akito..." Toya called out for his partner, but not in the manner expected of a sick person. He seemed giddy, practically crashing himself toward Akito in a clumsy effort to lean against his side. Akito nearly toppled, barely managing to slap a palm against the leather of the seat below him. He pressed down to keep them upright as his free arm instinctively moved to wrap around Toya.
"...I love you, Akito." Toya hummed as if he hadn't basically just attempted to tackle the poor boy to the ground. One hand came up to squeeze the upper part of the arm which Akito had curled around him, promptly snuggling up without a care in the world. The position was awkward, what with Toya halfway across Akito's lap as he buried himself right into the space where the collar of his partner's hoodie met his skin, but the latter remained in his position anyway.
"The hell's gotten into you...?" Akito asked in a near-whisper, that indescribably gentle voice which erased any semblance of bite that would've been laced within those words when spoken to anyone else. Akito would be lying if he said it didn't feel incredibly natural to act this way; he was undoubtedly at his most comfortable when it was only the two of them.
"You're so amazing, Akito..." Toya promptly ignored the query, beginning a trail of kisses at the tiny nip of exposed collarbone before him and working his way up. "Right when I need it, you're always the one who comes to my rescue."
Well, not when Toya repeatedly pecked at his neck he wasn't. Akito could only pool his efforts into keeping himself upright as his partner reached the outline of his chin, hoping his blush wasn't as obvious as it felt when Toya placed a strategic smooch to the miniscule junction between his ear and jaw. Through certain means, the taller had long since discovered Akito was ticklish in that tiny area. He giggled at the way Akito jolted upon contact in a way that had the ginger wondering if Toya had really caught cold or if MEIKO just left out her whiskey collection by mistake...
"Toya, c'mon. Take it easy while you're sick." Akito tried to intervene as softly as he could, even if the way Toya looked at him like his kiss was necessary for survival made it difficult to resist. The way he pushed himself as close to Akito as he possibly could, as if trying to merge with him, made his blazing hot fever all the more obvious, not to mention the blatant delirium he was experiencing now.
"See? Like that. You're so gentle, it makes my heart go crazy... Like my feelings won't stop overflowing to the point where I may gag on them." Toya continued, guiding the hand previously secured around his waist so that Akito could feel the prominent thump of his beating heart. "That's how you make me feel, Akito. Absolutely unreal."
How the hell did this version of Toya have even less of a filter than his normal self?!
"...You should at least drink some water." Akito tried to retort, though he cared not to remove his hand from Toya's chest. He tried to ignore the fact that his intended bull-like demeanor was crumbling with each new action his partner took.
"I know a better way to hydrate." Toya said plainly, the suggestion obvious when their faces were suddenly made to be inches apart. He even pecked Akito's cheek for emphasis, knowing damn well it would destroy his final line of defense in seconds flat.
"Jesus, Toya- MEIKO-san would see, though." Akito fired back, attempting to appeal to his sense of shame in a last ditch effort to make Toya rest. He chose to ignore how quickly his choice of words spelled out relent.
"That's okay." Toya shrugged, fully sliding himself onto Akito's lap at last. "She won't mind as long as we aren't disturbing other customers. Part of me really wants to show off how cute your smile is after I give you a kiss, anyway."
...Ah. Right. Regular Toya had no sense of shame to begin with; he was bound to be hopeless in this state. Oh well, he'd just think of an explanation to give MEIKO later.
Akito had no further time to recover, though. Immediately, Toya resumed his kiss attack with little patience, leaning his full weight forward as he littered kiss after kiss all over his partner's squishy cheeks. Akito let out a noise of mock protest as he endured the onslaught, clearly relishing in his 'defeat' far more than he'd ever admit.
"Wait, Toya-" Akito cracked, though he was instantly silenced when Toya's butter soft lips finally found his own. Their mouths awkwardly crashing together, it was easy to forget whatever complaint he could've possibly had.
...Even if that was the worst moment to allow Toya to make him melt, as the sudden movement of the taller lurching forward caused Akito to finally lose purchase, a tell-tale flash drowning out the whole cafe as they fell to the floor.
"Ow..." Akito groaned the instant he felt his head smack against wood. Homosexuality was truly not for the weak, he decided in that moment.
Toya, however, seemed to have no complaints. He instantly recognized the comfiness of Akito's bed, seeing as they'd shared it countless times over the course of their relationship. He must have frantically made an attempt to exit SEKAI for the sake of their own privacy, which was why he suddenly lost balance after keeping steady for so long...
But that wasn't important, Toya decided as he flopped atop his partner. Akito groaned beneath him as he was suddenly trapped under the weight of the broader boy as though he were a hefty cat deciding to use him as a perch, though that didn't stop his arms from swooping upward to wrap up his partner. "Your parents are gonna be worried sick if you stay here without tellin' 'em, dude."
"I'll worry about that later. I just want you." Toya sighed out with just as little tact as ever, clearly having already decided Akito would be acting as his free pillow tonight.
"God..." Akito chuckled out, watching as his partner peacefully drifted off like a little kid burning himself out after playing too hard. He was completely unconcerned with the consequences he'd made for himself, wasn't it?"
"You're a damn menace, Toya." Akito declared. And he loved him for it, but it seemed the boy wouldn't be awake to hear that part. Deciding it was fine as long as Toya finally got some proper rest, Akito allowed his own eyes to flutter shut, holding his partner and lover close all the while.
~
🌕☀️
~
Akito ended up sick too, of course. The moment he woke up, his regret in letting Toya have his way was instanteous... Though, at the same time, it gave them an excuse to laze around and cuddle all day, so maybe it wasn't that bad.
"Wish we could just do this every day..." thought Akito, consequence the last thing on either of their minds as they nestled close once more.