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"It's nothing serious," Hinata sighed, pulling away the thermometer. "Just a cold."
"Ah... how unlucky," Komaeda rasped, smiling his usual self-deprecating smile. "On our honeymoon, too..."
"It- it's not really a honeymoon," Hinata coughed, angling away his face to hide his red cheeks. "We can't even leave this island."
"That's true... but tropical islands are popular spots for honeymoon vacations, wouldn't you say? Although I suppose I wouldn't really know..." Komaeda mused, spinning the golden band on his ring finger idly.
"A-Anyway, you'll need to get a lot of rest. I'll take care of you."
"Hinata-kun..."
"What?"
"Stay with me...?" Komaeda looked up at him with doe eyes as he laid bundled in soft, clean sheets. Hinata scoffed.
"I will, I just need to get something. I'll be right back." He attempted to leave again, but was stopped by a metal hand gripping his trouser leg.
"Hinata-kuuunnn..." Komaeda huffed, pursing his lips in a pout. "How mean. You promised you wouldn't leave me alone when I get sick. Did you forget, Hinata-kun? Is your memory okay?"
"I- I'm not leaving. I'll be right back, I swear-"
"I didn't realise Hinata-kun could be so cruel... after you promised me, too... I understand... after all, trash like-"
"Okay, fine, I'll stay. You've gotten a lot more demanding since I proposed, y'know." Hinata rolled his eyes, trying but failing to suppress his smile as he sat down on the floor next to the bed. Komaeda closed his eyes and grinned, content.
"Hmm... that's because now I'm sure you won't leave me."
"You weren't sure before?"
"..." He didn't know why he asked, the answer was obvious. He sighed and shook his head as Komaeda began to open his mouth to reply. "Don't, I understand. Now get some sleep."
"...You won't leave?"
"I won't."
"Not even after I fall asleep?"
"Not even after you fall asleep."
"..."
"...What?"
"I don't believe you..." Komaeda squeezed his eyes shut, as if trying to suppress bitter memories. "I hate... being alone... when I'm sick..." He mumbled quietly.
"Nagito." He hesitantly opened his eyes. "I promise. You won't be alone. I'll stay with you until you're awake again." He smiled, trying to be reassuring; pouring all his affection into his voice. "Trust me. I'm your husband, aren't I?"
His lips pressed together tightly as his eyes became glossy, trying to hold back tears. He took a deep breath, slowly releasing the air from his lungs, as he relaxed against the mattress and smiled. "Okay. I trust you."
Hinata grabbed onto Komaeda's hand and lightly squeezed. Komaeda closed his eyes, droplets falling down his cheeks, and quietly drifted to sleep.
"Nnn... Hinata...kun..."
"How do you feel?" Hinata held him upright as he helped him slowly down a glass of water. Komaeda looked even worse after waking from his nap.
"...Sweaty... hot..." Komaeda leaned his entire body weight against Hinata's arms, feeling weak. Hinata's heart squeezed to see him like this.
"Let's get you into the bath. Can you stand?"
"Ye-..." Komaeda paused, frowning, before slumping against Hinata with a huff. "No... I can't."
"..." Hinata eyed him dubiously, before rolling his eyes and scooping him into his arms, lifting him into the air. Komaeda giggled as he held onto Hinata's back. Spoiled rotten, was all Hinata could think.
Well, whose fault is that?
He chose to ignore that thought.
Komaeda shivered with the air hitting his bare skin, frowning in discomfort; sighing in relief as he was lowered into the bath and the soothing hot water touched his body.
"I'll start with your hair first," Hinata didn't bother asking if Komaeda could bathe by himself- he knew him well enough to know the answer already. He gently wet his hair before applying the shampoo, gently massaging it into his scalp. Komaeda leaned into his touch, and Hinata couldn't help but voice his thoughts aloud.
"You look like a wet dog," He snorted. "A fluffy, wet dog."
"A dog?" Komaeda frowned. "I like dogs..."
"I do too."
"Am I your favourite dog?" Hinata sputtered, face red. "You could put a collar on me... with a leash... and a tag wit-"
"Okay, stop, that's enough. I can't believe you..." Hinata's hands shook with embarrassment as he carefully rinsed the shampoo from his hair.
"...I do have a collar, y'know. It might still be around somewhere..."
"...One more word and I'm drowning you."
"Drowning me on our honeymoon... It's like the plot to a detective story. Oh! Maybe you, as the murderer, could also be the detective... what a classic twist!"
Hinata's head slumped forward in resignation.
"Hinata-kun..."
"Hmm?" Hinata replied as he carefully brushed out the tangles from Komaeda's freshly dried hair.
"I'm hungry..."
Hinata glanced at the clock. "It is about lunchtime. I'll get us something to eat... any requests?"
"Hmm... sakura mochi."
Hinata scrunched up his nose. "Bad joke."
"Hahah... I don't mind. Anything you make is good."
"Hmm... something easy to digest would be best..." Hinata hummed as various recipes and their health benefits flitted through his mind.
"Hinata-kun..."
"Yeah?"
"Have you ever gotten sick before?"
Hinata raised a brow, confused. "Of course I have. Who hasn't?"
"But... after you became Kamukura-kun. Your body is superhuman, after all..."
"I..." He paused, lost in thought. "Haven't... but that could be for a lot of reasons. I probably just got lucky. Why?"
Komaeda went silent, before turning around to face him. "If you ever got sick... what would you do?"
"I... don't understand. What would I do? I-"
"I wouldn't be able to take care of you," Komaeda's glance fell to the ground, as if he were ashamed. "Even if my luck doesn't work like it did before, I'm still clumsy and useless... and I'm not a doctor or a cook like you are..."
"Whenever I become unwell, you always take care of me. You stay by me no matter what... no matter how unsightly, or gross, or difficult I am... you take care of me without a single complaint. But... I wouldn't be able to return the favour. I wouldn't be able to take care of you the way you take care of me... ahaha..." Komaeda's hands shook. "Isn't that so useless of me? I can't even look after the one I love most..."
There was a brief silence between them, Komaeda's head hung low, afraid to meet his gaze.
"Nagito... you're far from useless. Sure, you can be a bit clumsy sometimes and mess up, but none of us are perfect. The other week, I had to spend the whole day doing repairs because Souda accidently broke important infrastructure doing maintenance. Even with his talent, and how capable he is, he still messed up. That's normal, Komaeda. It's normal to mess up. You don't give yourself enough credit."
He continued. "When Tsumiki fell ill and couldn't do your exam, you offered to look after her and keep watch on her condition. And she fully recovered, no thanks to your help. You can be capable when the time calls for it. On this island... we all need each other. We all work together. You're part of us; we need you."
"If I did get sick... I know you'd be just fine. I trust you. Nagito... there's nothing you have to worry about. So please don't... talk yourself down like that."
Hinata grasped Komaeda's trembling hands within his own and smiled sadly. "There's things you can do that nobody else can. I know I can rely on you. You're my husband."
And, try as Komaeda might to stop them... tears fell down his cheeks anyway.
"Hinata-kunn... hurry up..." Komaeda's hands sneaked out from under the blanket and grabbed at the air.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming."
"Not fast enough."
A laugh as he climbed into bed. "Quiet. I'm here now, aren't I?"
Komaeda huffed and wormed his way into Hinata's arms, snuggling against his chest, sighing contentedly.
"Hmm? Happy now?"
"Mmh..." Komaeda responded half heartedly, already falling asleep. Hinata grinned and wrapped his arms around him in a gentle embrace.
"...You're sure you won't get sick?"
"I'm sure. And even if I do..." Hinata combed his fingers through Komaeda's mass of fluffy white hair, idly playing with the individual strands. "You'll be taking care of me, so I'll be fine."
"..." Komaeda didn't respond, and soon, gentle, even breaths could faintly be heard in the quiet night air.
Hinata nuzzled his face into his hair; and, checking he was truly asleep, placed an affectionate kiss on the top of his head.
Tomorrow would be another eventful day, with his hands full of caring for his newly wed husband. Somehow though, he found himself looking forward to it; another day of getting to spoil his beloved rotten without looking for an excuse.