Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Mizuki and the sun had fallen out. 

They’d never expected that sentence to cross their mind, let alone become a statement they resonated with, however today every run in with the stupid, beaming star had left them reeling in pain. And they were sick of it. 

It had started the moment they managed to peel their eyes open after a restless night’s sleep. Their head was pounding, waves of pain lashing against their skull with every slight movement against the soft pillows beneath them. They could feel the warmth of the sunlight spilling across their face, usually a comforting blanket of heat inviting them to start their day, however today it was too hot, as if the golden rays themselves had crawled under Mizuki’s skin and roasted them from the inside out. To make matters worse, their throat had decided to torment them too, causing them to wince in discomfort with every swallow. They laid there for a while, eyes scrunched closed, breath shallow, drowning in sweat, before they decided to cautiously pry open an eyelid. 

The regret was instant. 

A fresh wave of pain shot through them like a knife, slicing into their head the second the blinding sun pierced their eyes. Immediately, they sought refuge underneath the duvet, their arm knocking into something solid as they scrambled for safety. 

A groan. 

Ena. 

In their haste to protect themselves, they’d completely forgotten about the figure beside them in the bed, and all of a sudden became acutely aware of the arm draped across their waist and the legs tangled around their own. Evidently, their accidental assault had woken her up, as her once peaceful expression gave way to one of confusion. Tentatively, she reached a hand up to swipe at her eyes, before they fluttered open slightly to meet the pained gaze of her lover. Mizuki, who had been observing in horror through squinted eyes, momentarily forgot about the pain as guilt engulfed their mind. Ena sighed, before leaning into them and breaking the silence of the morning. 

“Zuki. It's too early to be punched.” 

Usually, such a deadpan remark would’ve had them doubling over, maybe even teasing Ena about her awful sleeping habits. However, now, despite the softness of Ena’s voice as she fought sleep, the sound grated against their ears unforgivingly; the pain in their skull relighting vigorously. Despite themself, they winced, their hands clutching fistfuls of the duvet as sound waves cut into their ears and lit their head on fire. 

Evidently startled by her partner’s reaction, Ena stayed silent for a few moments, the quietness of the room spilling into Mizuki’s ears and soothing the pain in their head like a balm. From somewhere beside them, Ena shifted, before her hand slipped into Mizuki’s own as she shuffled towards them. 

“Mizuki? You okay?” She whispered, her voice barely more than a breath this time. Eyes now shut, Mizuki could only imagine the expression of concern on Ena’s face. 

And it was killing them. 

Here they were, sulking and whining over a slight headache, whilst Ena worried over them despite the fact they’d just punched her awake and winced at the sound of her voice. It simply wasn’t fair on their beloved girlfriend, and they needed to make amends before Ena started fussing. 

Determined, Mizuki rolled onto their side, pushing through the storm raging in their skull, and slotted themselves into Ena’s arms. 

“Don’t worry. ‘M fine.” They croaked out, the itch in their throat betraying them as they tried to console their girlfriend. Silently, Mizuki cursed, clearing their throat in an attempt to convince Ena that the roughness of their voice was only due to the fact they’d just woken up. 

Unfortunately, Mizuki’s worst nightmare came true as Ena pulled a hand away from around their waist and slotted it against their forehead, which was no doubt slightly higher than the average body temperature. Mizuki listened as their girlfriend sighed, before placing a kiss atop their head. 

“If that was your attempt at deception, it was pathetic. You’re burning up, dumbass.”

As Ena slipped out of the bed, grumbling affectionately about needing to “find a thermometer so you don’t burn to death!” Mizuki sank further into the covers, the pounding in their head easing just a little as they rolled over into Ena’s leftover warmth. 

Maybe a day of care wouldn’t be so bad. 

~

Mizuki couldn’t have been more wrong. 

God did they love Ena. She was the love of their life. The apple of their eye. The peanut butter to their jelly. But Mizuki was making sure this was the last time she was the doctor to their patient. 

As it turned out, Ena was very practical when it came to illness. When Mizuki would whine and curl up into a ball so they could spend time feeling sorry for themself, Ena would immediately shove a drink and some medicine into their vicinity, hovering over their side until they’d either taken it or Ena had forced it into them. Every time Mizuki even tried to lift a finger, Ena appeared in front of them, disapproving eyes scaring them back into their former position. She’d also taken their temperature at least ten times in the past three hours, her hand never really leaving their side, as if she was trying to estimate the seriousness of their fever at all points in the day. 

In other words, Mizuki was exhausted.

However, despite the endless fussing and unimpressed glares whenever they tried to move from their spot on the bed, Mizuki couldn’t help but find this new side of Ena absolutely adorable. 

When they weren’t silently grumbling about taking medicine and not being able to move, they’d been watching Ena through half lidded eyes, their silent awe overtaking the pain coursing through their body. The feeling came in waves, intensifying whenever Ena unconsciously fixed the covers around them; whenever she pressed another cold compress to their head; whenever she stood up and announced she was going to fetch Mizuki some water, or some medicine, or a heating pad, never leaving without a kiss to their lips. It was hard to believe, really, that someone could love them this much. That someone could dig this deep inside of them, unravel them from the inside out, and still decide to stay. Mizuki had never thought they’d be worthy of love, even on their best days, so they’d definitely never imagined someone could even fathom staying on their worst. 

And yet Ena was living, breathing proof that they couldn’t have been more wrong. 

~ 

As the end of the day fast approached, Mizuki’s pain became more bearable; the sunlight, once streaming in from behind the curtains, had gradually faded away, leaving the cool, forgiving glow of the moonlight to take its place. After a long day of doing absolutely nothing, Mizuki found their eyes slowly fluttering closed, blissfully free from most of the day's woes. 

And then it hit them. 

A sharp, cutting pain, right through their skull, almost as bad as it had been when the sun had been firing lasers at them, and they found themself involuntarily whimpering as they curled in on themself. Ena, perched beside them on the bed, idly playing with their fingers, looked up immediately, her hand coming to rest at their side as she spoke. 

“Mizuki? Hey, what’s wrong?” She whispered, evidently desperate to avoid causing them any more suffering. Head full of cotton, Mizuki turned on the bed and latched onto Ena, gripping her hoodie like a lifeline and breathing in her scent like it was the only thing tethering them to the earth. A hand reached forward, brushing their hair out of their face as they tried to press as close as humanly possible up against their girlfriend. 

“Mm.. ‘hurts.” They managed to force out, rather pathetically. Ena didn’t seem to mind though, as she leaned forward, placing a kiss to their forehead with all the love in the world, before reaching over to the bedside table to grab something. 

“I know, Sweetheart. Here. I think you need more, the last dose probably wore off.” With that, Ena gently helped them sit up, before coaxing them to pry their eyes open. They winced as the dim light in the room attacked their senses, before the lamp was clicked off and the space fell into darkness. Relieved, they looked down, only to find Ena’s hand in front of them, two pills ready and waiting. They looked up at her pleadingly, but it was no use, Ena was too stubborn for them to combat, especially in their weakened state. 

“I know, you’re sick of this. But you’ll only feel worse if you don’t.” 

Mizuki knew Ena was right. 

Begrudgingly, they placed the pills on their tongue, before Ena gently lifted a glass of water to their chapped lips, only retreating the cup once they stopped sipping. Satisfied, she coaxed them back down onto the bed, this time slipping under the covers herself. Immediately, Mizuki found themselves chasing her warmth, pushing their face into her chest and gripping the sleeve of her pyjama top. Ena giggled, a soft, melodic jingle that instantly calmed their racing heart, before reciprocating, wrapping her own arms around Mizuki and placing her chin upon their head. 

“I’m glad you’re comfy.” She said, breath tickling the wisps of their hair. ”Now sleep.”

Mizuki, wrapped safely in the arms of their girlfriend, no longer focused on the pain beating within their skull. Instead, they found themself drowning in Ena’s warmth, each breath becoming slower and calmer than the last. 

Seconds away from sleep, they pulled Ena closer, their grip on her shirt tightening as they voiced a question they already knew the answer to. 

“Stay?”

They didn’t need to see the soft smile on Ena’s face to know it was there. 

“Always.”

Chapter Text

The second Ena lugged herself through the door of their shared apartment, Mizuki could tell something was wrong. 

For starters, her usual cheery greeting or snarky comment upon entering the building had been replaced with an unfamiliar silence, broken only by the heavy breathing also coming from the doorway. Mizuki heard her bag clatter to the ground, thumping against the floor like Ena’s arm had given out halfway through placing it down. Usually, Ena handled her bag with care, especially with all the makeup and mirrors she shoved in it every morning, which meant the unceremonious dumping of her handbag only alarmed Mizuki even further. Hastily, they tore down the corridor, concern evident in their movement as they rushed to lay eyes on their wife. 

Who was dripping from head to toe in rainwater. 

The sight of the usually so put together Ena, soaking and disheveled, standing in the doorway looking as though she’d just tried to swim her way through a tsunami, was definitely enough to stop Mizuki in their tracks. Slowly, their pink eyes wandered up to meet a pair of exasperated brown ones, and their brain short circuited as they stood frozen in the hallway. 

They stood like that for at least five seconds, taking in the sight of their soaked lover, before the corner of their mouth lifted slightly. Ena, ever observant, immediately caught the change in their expression, and scowled at them in warning. 

“Don’t.”

As much as Mizuki wanted to laugh, poke fun, and tease Ena with a comment like, “You should’ve invited me if you were going swimming!” They knew that look. And they quite valued their life. 

So, with every ounce of maturity left in their body, they mustered a somewhat serious expression, before taking a deep breath and asking,

“What the fuck happened to you?” 

They didn’t receive a reply. But Ena’s drenched coat being flung at their head told them their wife probably didn’t appreciate their concern. 

~

After hiding a giggle behind their hand and pulling the shivering brunette out of the doorway, Mizuki immediately got to work, settling Ena on the couch under at least ten blankets before rushing away to run her a bath. Ena, on the other hand, watched helplessly, her earlier anger waning as the cold engulfing her began to claw at the edges of her mind. She clutched the blankets closer, cringing as her wet sleeves rubbed against her wrists. 

A couple minutes later, Mizuki stepped into the room, cradling a steaming mug of tea which they gently pushed into their wife’s shaking hands. Ena sighed in relief, slumping back onto the couch as the ice cold of her fingers melted against the warmth of the cup. 

She was about ten sips in before she realised Mizuki was watching her like a hawk. 

Stubbornly, she placed the tea down infront of her on the coffee table, before turning to her partner and muttering a quiet “what?”

Mizuki smiled gently, before reaching out to tuck a damp lock of hair behind Ena’s ear. 

“I meant what I asked earlier.” They replied, their fingers travelling to Ena’s cheek to rub comforting circles into the freezing skin. Subconsciously, Ena leaned into the warmth, her eyes fluttering closed as she relaxed into their touch. She didn’t even bother opening them as she mumbled her explanation. 

“Wasn’t expecting rain. Didn’t bring my umbrella.” 

“Silly Enanan.” They giggled, “It’s rained every day this week, and you thought today would be an exception?”

“Shut up.” 

They sat like that for a while, Mizuki gazing softly at their wife, Ena slowly melting into their touch, before Mizuki stood up, leaving Ena’s side in the process. Ena whined at the lack of warmth, curling further into the blankets in search of a new source of comfort. Mizuki only smiled, before hooking their arms around Ena’s shaking body and gathering her up into a princess carry. 

“C’mon m’lady! Your bath is almost ready!” 

Ena, half asleep and quite frankly a little startled at the sudden movement, squirmed about in their hold, her still-cold hands pushing against their arm weakly in protest. 

“Let m’go. I can walk.” She mumbled, even despite the fact the fight was rapidly draining from her body. 

“Absolutely not.” Came Mizuki’s reply, “You’re still shivering like it’s a competition and you’re basically asleep already. If I put you down you’ll probably melt into the floor.” 

Ena whined in reply, but her fingers stopped pressing against her partner’s arms, and instead clutched at their shirt. Mizuki sighed fondly, leaning down to press a kiss to Ena’s forehead before carrying her to the bathroom. 

~

After peeling the damp clothing off of their wife, Mizuki helped her into the bathtub, watching as Ena basically deflated into the water. The shivers wracking her body slowly came to a stop, and Mizuki watched with satisfaction as colour bloomed back into Ena’s pale cheeks. 

The warmth also seemed to be having other effects, as Ena’s breathing slowed to a rhythm that only came with sleep, and Mizuki found themselves cupping her head to keep it above water. Ena was unbelievably cute like this, her cheeks and lips rosy and her face set into an expression of pure relaxation. The bath water coated her face in a beautiful shimmer, and Mizuki couldn’t help themself from pressing a kiss to her lips. Their wife was undoubtedly, absolutely ethereal. 

Even after being doused in rainwater. 

After taking a few more seconds to gaze at their wife, Mizuki got to work washing her hair. It had been getting longer recently, now slightly grazing Ena’s collarbone, and Mizuki took shameless delight in meticulously kneading their shampoo covered fingers through the brown locks, going as gently as they could so they didn’t wake her. Once the strands were suitably covered in suds, Mizuki reached for a jug, filling it with water before pouring it over Ena’s hair. They continued the process, conditioning Ena’s hair twice, just how she liked it, before gently manoeuvring her into a sitting position. At that, Ena stirred, before her eyes fluttered open slightly and her pupils met Mizuki’s own. 

“Good morning, Princess.” Mizuki cooed, half teasing, before reaching for a towel. They helped a dazed Ena out of the bath, before coaxing her to sit down on the edge of the sink counter as they dried her. Yawning, Ena obeyed, before leaning forward to rest their head against Mizuki’s shoulder. 

“Didn’t mean to fall asleep…” She mumbled, evidently still fighting exhaustion. 

Mizuki smiled, wrapped her in a towel, and began taking care of their wife once more. 

~

It wasn’t long before Ena was dry and sporting one of Mizuki’s own oversized hoodies and fluffy pyjama bottoms. Whereas an awake Ena would’ve usually spent half the time protesting and trying to free herself from their grasp, this docile, dozing version of their wife had barely complained, only grumbling whenever Mizuki leaned too far in the wrong direction and jostled her from her place against their shoulder. Sure, it had been quite a struggle to dry and clothe a half asleep human, but Mizuki didn’t mind. Something about being so trusted made their heart swell. 

Once again, Mizuki scooped Ena up into a bridal carry (this time without the extra hustle and bustle from a certain struggling artist) and padded over to their shared bedroom. They approached the bed, before peeling back the sheets and gently placing the brunette onto the mattress. The blankets returned, and Mizuki made sure Ena was wrapped in at least three of them before they crawled in beside her and looped their arms around her waist. 

Subconsciously, Ena turned in their grip, planting their face right into the crook of their neck, before promptly falling asleep against them. 

Mizuki was exhausted. Their arms hurt. Their pyjamas were slightly damp as Ena’s hair soaked into the fabric. But Ena wasn’t shivering anymore. Her hands were warm again. Her rosy cheeks glimmered under the moonlight. 

And really, that was all that mattered. 

(And if they woke up to a tray on their bedside table, holding a mug of their favourite tea and a plate of cookies, alongside a note that read “Thank you. I love you. Even though you’re super annoying”, they didn’t mention it.)