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Sometimes Rui just has days like this.
He gets it, gods don't get sick often, so whenever they do, they tend to get fretted over. Still, Rui feels like he gets sick much more often than the average god. And he's only got himself.
God sickness isn't like human sickness, of course. It's not random, or caused by an outside source. Getting sick as a god means you haven't been upholding your views and values. Rui supposes he can see why other gods worry so much when another god gets sick, but it's not like they'll die or be out of commission. They just have to do some maintenance. Reflect.
Rui pulls the covers further over his face, burying his nose in them. He shuts his eyes. He doesn't feel like doing that. He'll just wait until he feels better. It's not like there's anyone waiting for him down on earth or something.
But…ah.
He smiles a little. Maybe he'll get to see Tsukasa. Thinking about that makes him feel better already. Well, not really, but still. He's been coming over more and more lately. Rui has never felt so good.
Literally. Rui thinks that he's unlocked a new kind of god sickness that nobody knew about before. By all accounts, he shouldn't have been able to get his voice in such a poor condition. Being around Tsukasa made it feel better.
Well, it did, for a while. Recently, though, he's found that it's been getting worse and worse. Almost like a human, when they use their voices too much, they can sometimes give out on them.
God bodies don't work that way. They're free of most of that frivolous stuff. Still, it makes Rui feel connected to humans, and it makes the non physical pain hurt even more.
He curls up. It's cold. It's all he can do to hunker down in his myriad of blankets and pillows. He's a bit hungry. Maybe he needs energy to expend to get better.
…
He'll sleep first.
— — —
Tsukasa has been going over to Rui’s more and more often as of late. He sometimes stays the night intentionally, even! It’s sometimes nice to be somewhere less warm, because he can snuggle up with blankets, and Rui of course, and warm himself up.
He finally figured out in his head that, if he has work that can be done anywhere, that doesn’t require him to visit a certain place, he can bring it to Rui’s! They can spend even more time together! Rui doesn’t have work to do himself , of course, but what is Tsukasa’s is also Rui’s! If he wants to help out, he can help out, because they should be working closely together anyway. If he doesn’t want to, his mere presence is enough.
Tsukasa has been thinking a lot. New for him, he’s aware. He desperately wants a solution to the dilemma of getting a message down to the humans. There are really only the three Ps. Prophets, but that tends to drive people a bit crazy, if history serves… Plagues, and Tsukasa wouldn’t be entirely opposed, because he kind of gets angry thinking about how they all sort of left Rui out to dry, he knows that Rui would be absolutely distraught if he even brought it up, let alone sent something down. And either way, just because Tsukasa has the power to do something doesn’t mean he should. The last of the three is perception, but Tsukasa honestly never understood it. He read the definition so many times, and it generally made sense..? But he couldn’t explain it back to anyone. Ah, maybe he could ask Rui!
Well, but he doesn’t want to bug him, and he’s pretty smart, so he might figure out that Tsukasa is actually serious about it. Rui didn’t say much about it the last time he said anything, but if Tsukasa actually brought it up with him and tried to make a plan with him, Rui would probably get all ‘don’t do that for someone like me,’ and ‘I already served my time,’ and self deprecating stuff like that.
Well, actually, thinking about it a bit more, maybe it’s good that he doesn’t have an idea right now. He doesn’t want to overwhelm Rui with anything. And doing godly duties would pretty much require him to go outside, Tsukasa wouldn’t be able to run errands for him, so it might be too much for now. Okay, change of plan! Since he hasn’t gone outside yet, that’ll be the first step!! Tsukasa will get him comfortable with being outside, then around other gods, and then he’ll put together an actual plan and set it into motion!
Oh yeah. He’s brilliant. Another masterful plan from master plan maker Tenma over here.
Once Tsukasa actually reaches his destination, he gets all giddy thinking about seeing Rui again. It’s only been a bit, but he’s still excited! He opens the door to the hut like it’s his own home, but it kind of is! It’s like his second home!
“Good morning!” He calls out, though to no answer. Intrigued, Tsukasa walks in further. What could Rui be up to? Not to call him a neet or anything but he really doesn’t have much to be doing that could constitute him not responding.
It’s definitely weird to be here without Rui. Where could he be? Tsukasa checks the only two rooms that he’s actually ever gone into, and Rui isn’t in either.
Well, ah, there’s only one other door to try! Aside from the one in the kitchen, but Tsukasa is pretty sure that one also leads outside. No way Rui’s past that one. He feels a bit weird wandering around and exploring alone, but Rui has to be here somewhere. Ah, maybe he’s playing a game! Tsukasa smiles. He’ll look for him, if that’s what they’re playing!
Tsukasa reaches and opens the door. It looks pretty much the same as to the living room, but the decorations are even more tightly knit. Tsukasa steps in, observing the place slowly. There are overlapping curtains that make it impossible for any light to come in, and it feels so dark, even with some dim fairy lights. Tsukasa could almost forget he has night vision in this place normally, but when he looks down at himself, it’s almost so dark it’s snuffing out his natural light too! Weird.
He looks closer, squints, and identifies the large mass in the center of the room as a bed! It’s quite big and takes up a pretty large percentage of the small room, one that Tsukasa finds fit to call a ‘bedroom,’ now. He honestly didn’t know Rui had one of these, he thought he just slept on the couch… Because, to be fair, he always has! Rui has never even looked towards this room!
The bed is covered in layers and layers and layers of blankets, all darkly colored. They have some sort of stitched or embroidered pattern on them, but Tsukasa can’t make out what it is. It’s made of a very dark, varnished wood, smooth and shiny looking. Tsukasa walks towards the footboard and sees an intricate, carved design, themed around space, the moon and the stars. There are layered canopies, a red-ish purple, and translucent, bunched together at the ends ilke the curtains in the main room.
The blankets move. Tsukasa flinches, then squints, and realizes that this is where Rui has been hiding all along! He sees a little puff of purple hair! Atop white pillowcases and sheets, but honestly, the light colors make the darkness feel deeper.
Rui is curled up, looking like he’s having a hard time sleeping. Tsukasa walks closer to him, smiling gently. He exhales lightly. He reaches out and brushes some of Rui’s hair away from his eyes. “Sorry for interrupting.” He whispers, “Have a nice rest!”
He’s about to stand up and leave, but then, Rui’s eyes peek open. “.. Tsukasa kun?” He wonders aloud, in this scratchy little whisper.
“Ah!” Tsukasa wasn’t really ready for him to be awake, “I’m- sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you up!” He’s pretty terrible at whispering, you could really only call it softly speaking. “I know it’s early. Please get your rest, I’ll come back at a different time today!”
“S, sorry,” Rui starts to slowly get up, “I lose track of time… I’ve been feeling under the weather, that's all.”
What!!! “Lay back down!!” He’s sick?? Tsukasa puts his hands on Rui’s shoulders, not really pushing him down, just keeping him from sitting up any further. “It’s totally alright, don’t apologize! You can rest and regain your strength, and,” Tsukasa pauses once he gets Rui laying down again to check his temperature with his hand. “And you can find whatever it is that’s been bothering you in private.”
Tsukasa has never personally gotten sick before, but he’s heard that it sucks pretty bad! It’s not like human sickness, with gods, they’ve gotta do all of this self reflection and introspection, so Tsukasa thinks he’ll only get in the way if he stays here.
Rui shakes his head. “No, really, it’s alright. I really don’t feel much different. Besides, I have a guest, and,” He’s rambling, and he does seem sort of feverish. His lids are kind of low. “I can’t kick you out, that’d be rude.. I’ll get up, just give me a minute.” He tries to sit up again, but Tsukasa wrangles him back down.
Rui looks up at him so pitifully, like he looks like he’s gonna fall asleep any minute, so Tsukasa feels bad and lets him go. Rui immediately tries to sit back up again, though it really seems more like it’s out of absent mindedness, and not of an actual ploy to trick Tsukasa into letting him up. Either way, Tsukasa doesn’t, staying firm in his goal and putting a hand on Rui’s chest, leading him back down. “Do you want me to get you something?” Tsukasa asks, thinking maybe he keeps getting up because he wants something to eat or drink! He pulls up the covers and brings them up and over Rui, stopping by his chin, like maybe he’ll get so cozy he forgets he wants to get up. “Food, or water, or.. Anything?”
It seems like Rui doesn’t quite know what he’s asking, so Tsukasa pats his head and tries again. “Are you hungry? Thirsty?” Rui shakes his head no to both of the options.
“N-no. Not really.”
“Does anything hurt? I could make you a remedy to ease the pain.”
Rui doesn’t respond right away, so the answer must be yes. “Mm…” He shuts his eyes and reaches up towards Tsukasa. Tsukasa takes his hand and brings it back down to the covers, but does hold onto it for a while.
“Yes?”
“... my throat… a bit..” He mumbles, then, with good timing, turns his head to cough meekly.
Tsukasa is pretty sure he knows a remedy for that! “Okay, I’ll get you something for it! Just wait here, okay? And don’t worry about sitting up, I’ll get everything for you.” He tentatively lets go of Rui’s hand, slowly backing away, one step at a time, watchin to make sure he stays horizontal. He does, just watches Tsukasa leave from his mountain of blankets, so Tsukasa turns and hurries for the kitchen. He heads for the stash, looking just about as big as it was when he left it last, but some things are missing! That’s good! Tsukasa sees what he can make of what’s left.
There’s honey and some milk, which is great! But Tsukasa figures that he should get him something to eat, too. Not something so energizing he won’t be able to sleep, just something so that he can get some energy in him to expend on feeling better! He’s bring some fun stuff and some soothing stuff, so that Rui can pick which he wants.
Tsukasa ends up returning with some snacks, those fun little breaded things with chocolate on the inside, and candy that sizzles and pops in your mouth! On the soothing side, he balances a bowl of soup with dumplings for him. He can eat the whole thing if he wants a meal, but can just drink the soup if that's what he’d prefer.
When Tsukasa returns to the bedroom, “I'm back,” he walks and places the snacks and food on the bedside table closest to Rui.
Rui stayed laying down, thankfully. He opens his eyes to look at the things Tsukasa brought him, so Tsukasa picks up and shows him each one! Rui's eyes get especially big and excited when he sees the soda candies. So cute.
He does, however, recognize that he needs Rui to sit up to be able to drink. However, he's got a plan! It's rather simple really, Tsukasa can just sit next to him in bed (if he doesn't mind), and Rui will be able to lean on him and put his weight on him so he can relax and drink at the same time.
“Do you mind if I sit with you?” Tsukasa smiles. “You should drink this, it should make your throat feel better.”
Rui nods. He blinks slowly, lids heavy. It definitely seems like he's getting sleepy again, and that's perfect! He doesn't need to eat anything, of course, Tsukasa just thinks it'll make him feel better when he wakes up.
Tsukasa sits next to him, putting his arm around Rui and scooting back. He helps him up, and Rui slips leaning on his shoulder and falls right to his chest. Tsukasa pats his head, then holds up the mug. “I made this for you!” He tries to stay as soft-spoken as possible, but it's a bit hard for someone so expressive like him. “It's just milk and a bit of honey. But it'll be gentle on your throat and will hopefully soothe it.”
“Thank you.” Rui says, softly, and takes the mug from him with both of his hands. He slowly lifts it to his mouth and tips his head back, taking a drink.
Tsukasa fights the urge to start talking again. He is able to make it until Rui lowers the mug to his lap.
“How's your maintenance going?” He's just worried, he can't help but ask. “Do you know what caused your sickness?” Tsukasa doesn't want to wish harm on him or anything but he does hope it's not because of the food he brought.. what if he's sick because he ate too much and has a surplus of energy? The leftovers from their feast were supposed to be eaten at leisure and, by the look of the kitchen, it does seem to be that way. Still, Tsukasa really hopes he hasn't done anything to contribute. And hopefully, Rui hasn't been pushing himself, either.
Rui shakes his head, then nods it, in response to his questions. Tsukasa nods in return, understanding. “I see. Well, that's a good idea, you should keep from talking for now.” He nods. He lifts his hand up to pet Rui's hair again, because he really can't help it. “Just take a break! Rest and sleep and regain your energy.”
“It's really n-”
“Ababapap!!” Tsukasa makes a general noise with his mouth to signal to Rui to be quiet, and Rui tries one more time, so Tsukasa does it again. “Abap!!!”
Tsukasa clears his throat. “Drink or eat or rest, okay? That's all you should do until you feel better.” And actually reflect of course, but that's a given.
Rui makes a little humming sound, and as Tsukasa thinks he might start talking, interrupts him before he gets to. “Are you done with that for now?”
Rui nods, so Tsukasa takes the mug and transfers it to the bedside table. He maneuvers and helps Rui lay down again. He brings his blankets up again, as they'd fallen when he sat up. Tsukasa stands to tuck him in, then brushes his hair out of his face. He plants a kiss on his forehead.
“I'll get out of your hair, okay?” He kisses him again, just for fun this time. “Just make sure to sleep. I love you!”
And he takes the way that Rui smiles with his eyes to be his way of saying it back without speaking. Tsukasa stands up again and makes sure he's got all he needs and is all set up, but then heads for the door.
He's a bit busy still, and he really doesn't want to distract Rui, and either way he sort of feels like he shouldn't be in his bedroom? Like, that's kind of private, isn't it? It's a private space, and he's so vulnerable being sick. Tsukasa doesn't know how he'd feel personally, as he's never felt like this, but he doesn't know if he'd want someone in his own space while he didn't feel well.
Well, actually, being doted on by Rui sounds kind of nice.
It takes Tsukasa a second, and for Rui to mumble “wait,” before he realizes Rui was trying to get his attention.
Tsukasa turns, tilting his head. “Hm? What is it?” He thinks, trying to answer the question for him before Rui can say it out loud. He is a bit too slow on the draw.
“Could you sit with me, please?”
Tsukasa nods, and walks back up to him, if getting a little bit flustered. “Of course! Oh,” He gets another idea, “Do you want me to feed you? I can do that.”
Rui looks to the side, and Tsukasa is a bit annoyed at how much he's speaking, because it was a yes or no question! “Ah, I- I wouldn't mind,” at least he's speaking quietly. “But really I would just like to have you by my side.” Rui moves and shifts down the covers next to him, in a similar gesture to patting a seat you want someone to sit in.
Tsukasa blinks slowly. Woah. “Okay!”
He shuts the door, so that Rui can sleep in the dark here without any of the outside light, then walks up and carefully crawls over him. He sits next to him, then realizes the contradiction in his two most recent actions. Will he make it too bright in here for Rui to be able to sleep comfortably? He did ask, but… it's not like Tsukasa can turn it off, but maybe it'll get dimmer if he also relaxes and gets sleepy. Gah, his work can wait!! He actually slips under the covers and into bed, lying down as well. He's gotta set an example!
“I hope it isn't too warm with me around.” Tsukasa says, sort of sheepishly. It's kind of obvious to him why nobody would want to share a bed with him.
Rui turns on his side, facing Tsukasa. He looks up at him for a moment with obviously heavy eyes. “It's perfect.” Then, closes his eyes and snuggles into his pillow.
Ah, who knew it would turn out like this?