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Zeal slowly opened his eyes, blinking against the morning light filtering softly through the half-drawn curtains. The room was still and quiet, save for the faint sounds of breathing around him.
Kaelix was clinging to his waist, arms snug and warm. Freodore had ended up sprawled half over him, one arm draped lazily over Zeal's chest, while Zeal’s head rested gently on Freo’s toned abdomen. Seible, ever the most chaotic sleeper of the group, had seemingly collapsed in a starfish position on Zeal’s left, his limbs splayed carelessly, one leg half-draped over Zeal’s thigh.
Zeal exhaled a soft chuckle, though it came with a wince. A twinge pulsed in his lower abdomen, the dull ache he knew all too well. Not how he wanted to start the day, but he wasn’t surprised.
“Hmm…” he mumbled, trying to shift without disturbing the others. It was a delicate operation, considering his current position. He slid out from under Freo and Kaelix, easing Seible’s arm off his chest. Incredibly, no one stirred. That alone was a miracle—usually Freo was sensitive to movement.
They must be exhausted from last night’s shift, Zeal thought. It had been a long one, full of rehearsals, meetings, and an unexpected guest appearance. The energy had been sky-high, but clearly it had left them drained.
Another pulse of pain curled in his gut, more persistent now. “Cramps,” he muttered under his breath, rubbing at his stomach. “Perfect.”
Zeal was acutely aware of his body during times like these. Being trans meant navigating these days with extra care and patience. At least he’d felt the signs before anything stained. That was always a small relief. He always knew he has good sense of time.
Wearing only a soft black sleep shirt and comfy briefs, Zeal padded quietly to the bathroom. He clicked the door shut gently, then slipped out of his clothes. He checked the laundry as he always did, habit, really. No stains. Even better.
The shower hissed to life, steam curling against the frosted mirror. Zeal stepped under the stream and sighed. The water was warm, easing some of the tension in his back and stomach. He let himself just be for a few moments, standing still as the cascade washed over his slightly longer-than-usual black hair.
He ran his fingers through it, slowly detangling the strands. Some fans teased that his hair looked ethereal in the right light, and though he usually laughed it off, moments like these made him feel a little magical.
A soft knock tapped at the door. Before he could answer, it creaked open.
“Morning, Gin-chan…” Seible yawned, rubbing his eyes as he shuffled toward the sink.
Zeal hummed in acknowledgment. Seible blinked slowly, catching sight of the second laundry basket with Zeal’s neatly folded briefs. “Oh? Wait… you’re on your period today?”
Zeal cracked the shower door open, steam billowing outward. “Yeah. But no worries, nothing got stained. I felt the cramps first, luckily.”
Seible pouted and walked over, brushing Zeal’s damp hair from his face before leaning in to press a gentle kiss on his forehead. “Lean on us, pretty boy. You know I could totally pamper you right now~”
Zeal laughed and flicked Seible’s forehead with a soft thwack. “Already? It’s only six in the morning, Seible.”
“Exactly. Prime pampering hours,” Seible teased, grinning.
“Get your shower. I’m going back to bed.”
“You sure?” Seible said, grabbing a towel and handing it over. “Freo’s probably waking up soon. He’ll make you tea or something. Not coffee. Tea. You need to hydrate, dummy.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Zeal rolled his eyes affectionately and took the towel, drying off before heading into the wardrobe.
He threw on an oversized white tee and clean undergarments with a pad in place. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was part of his routine. Comfort mattered.
By the time he returned to bed, Freo had shifted awake, his eyes still sleepy but focused immediately on Zeal.
“You okay?” Freo asked, voice husky with sleep. He reached out and took Zeal’s hand gently.
Zeal nodded and gave his hand a squeeze. “Yeah. Just cramps.”
Freo frowned slightly and sat up. “I’ll get some meds and make tea. Raspberry leaf, maybe? Or ginger?”
“Surprise me.” Zeal smiled faintly as Freo got up and headed to the kitchen.
Zeal climbed back into bed, letting his body sink into the soft mattress. Kaelix, still dead to the world, had somehow migrated closer in his sleep, wrapping himself tightly around Zeal’s waist like a sleepy, clingy octopus. Zeal gently carded his fingers through Kaelix’s snowy hair. “You really don’t know how to share in your sleep,” he whispered fondly.
Kaelix mumbled something incoherent, then let out a soft snore, clinging tighter.
…
Freo returned ten minutes later with a small tray. It had a cup of steaming raspberry tea, a tiny bowl of cut strawberries, and a small bottle of painkillers.
“You’re the best,” Zeal said with a smile as Freo handed over the tea.
“Only for you.” Freo leaned in for a brief kiss to Zeal’s temple. “Did Kaelix glue himself to you again?”
“He’s got a death grip,” Zeal confirmed, lifting the corner of the blanket to show Kaelix’s limbs tangled with his. “Send help.”
“I’d rather not lose an arm trying,” Freo chuckled.
Seible entered not long after, towel-drying his hair and looking a little more awake. “Room for one more?” he asked cheekily, already crawling onto the bed without waiting for an answer.
Zeal groaned playfully. “Seible. I’m supposed to be resting.”
“Exactly! Resting in good company.”
Kaelix finally stirred, blinking sleepily at the noise. “Mm... Zeal?” he murmured, voice low and gravelly.
“I’m here.”
Kaelix lifted his head and squinted. “You okay?”
Zeal gave a small nod. “Period day.”
Kaelix immediately sat up, wide-eyed. “Do you need anything? I can make breakfast. Or hot packs. Or—”
Zeal pressed a hand to his chest. “Breathe, Kae. Freo’s already on top of it.”
Kaelix paused, then slumped forward onto Zeal’s shoulder with a sigh of relief. “Okay. But I’m still staying close.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Seible rested his chin on Zeal’s other shoulder. “You’re surrounded now. Full boyfriend barrier engaged.”
“More like boyfriend burrito,” Zeal teased, sipping his tea.
“Don’t tempt me,” Seible whispered.
Freo raised an eyebrow from across the bed. “Behave.”
“Never.”
Zeal laughed, the tension finally easing from his body. Even with the cramps, even with the ache, mornings like these made it bearable. Being loved so completely made everything easier.
“I’m lucky,” he said softly.
Kaelix kissed his cheek. “We’re the lucky ones.”
Zeal laughed, voice already softening as comfort returned to his limbs. “Go take a shower first, Kaelix! They're in there with Freo—I’m not cuddling you until you’re clean.”
Kaelix gasped like he had just been stabbed. “I feel so rejected.”
“You smell like rejection,” Zeal teased.
Despite his dramatic protest, Kaelix dragged himself into the bathroom where Freo was already showering. The moment he walked in, there was an audible twack and a muffled, “Behave,” from Freo.
Zeal chuckled to himself. The sound of running water and muffled banter was oddly comforting. The room smelled faintly of peppermint and lemongrass from the tea Freo had prepared, which Zeal now sipped slowly. Seible had returned to the room, now sitting cross-legged beside Zeal on the bed with a book in his lap. He gently adjusted a hot pack against Zeal’s abdomen.
“Better?” Seible asked softly.
Zeal sighed. “Mmh… yeah. Thanks, Sei.”
Seible flipped a page in his book. “You don’t complain often,” he said casually. “So, when you do, we know it’s code red.”
“I’m not that dramatic—”
“You whined,” Seible interrupted with a grin.
“I did not whine!”
“Mmhm.” Seible leaned over to plant a kiss on Zeal’s temple. “It’s okay, you’re cute when you’re pathetic.”
Zeal puffed his cheeks in mock indignation, only for Seible to poke one.
“Stop babying me.”
“No,” Seible replied instantly.
Zeal tried to fight a smile and failed. He opened his phone, scrolling through his social media. The DMs were filled with sweet messages from fans, fanart, and the usual chaos. He posted a simple story: a photo of his tea mug and hot pack with the caption, *“A little under the weather today. But I’m surrounded by love.”*.
As he set the phone down, Freo returned with Kaelix, both freshly showered and toweled up. Kaelix looked immediately offended upon seeing Seible curled up with Zeal.
“I was gone for five minutes.”
“You weren’t clean,” Seible replied without even looking up from his book.
“I am now,” Kaelix huffed, and climbed into bed on Zeal’s other side, rubbing his damp hair against Zeal’s shoulder.
“Kaelix—!”
“Snuggle tax,” Kaelix whispered like it was sacred law.
Freo entered more gracefully, setting down another fresh pot of tea and a small plate of sliced fruit and sweet crackers. He sat at the edge of the bed, tucking a stray lock of Zeal’s hair behind his ear.
“You look tired,” Freo said gently.
Zeal shrugged. “I’m okay. Just…”
“He whined,” Seible chimed again.
Kaelix and Freo turned in unison. “You whined?”
“I did not—” Zeal began, face heating up.
Freo kissed his forehead. “That means no chores today.”
Kaelix gasped. “That means extra pampering today.”
Seible nodded sagely. “Full-body massage, hot water bottle rotation, playlist of his favorite covers, and absolutely no stress.”
“I can still—”
Kaelix put a finger to Zeal’s lips. “No. Shut up. You’re in our care now.”
Zeal blinked. “…Is this what it's like when I take care of you guys?”
Freo smiled softly. “It’s your turn now.”
Zeal slowly let himself sink back into the pillows, warm all over from more than just the tea. “You guys are so dramatic.”
“All of us?” Seible asked.
Kaelix grinned. “Especially me.”
Zeal laughed quietly. “Yeah… I’ll take it.”
The morning passed slowly, peacefully. Zeal drifted in and out of sleep, serenaded by soft playlists Freo queued up, warmed by Seible’s careful hand and Kaelix’s constant nuzzling. Every time he so much as shifted or winced, one of them was there in a heartbeat.
Lunch was light—rice porridge with soft scrambled eggs, pickled vegetables, and a tiny bowl of soup, all delivered on a tray by Freo who took it upon himself to plate it in the most aesthetic way possible.
“Presentation is 90% of healing,” he said, brushing crumbs from the blanket.
“Pretty sure that’s not how that works,” Zeal replied, already spooning up porridge.
Kaelix knelt behind Zeal to massage his shoulders. “Shhh. Let the art soothe you.”
The day was filled with small luxuries, Kaelix painting Zeal’s nails a pale lavender, Seible braiding tiny strands of his hair with pastel ribbons, Freo brewing cup after cup of herbal tea.
“You’re going to spoil me,” Zeal mumbled at one point, eyes closed as he laid across Seible’s lap, who gently fanned him with a manga volume.
“That’s the point,” Seible whispered.
By sunset, they had moved the cuddle pile to the couch, soft blankets thrown over them, the TV quietly playing an old anime they all liked but didn’t need to actively follow. Zeal’s cramps had dulled to a manageable throb, thanks to the hot packs, medication, and the sheer amount of affection he was subjected to. He shifted slightly, squishing closer into the pile of limbs. “Thanks, you guys.”
Kaelix kissed his hair. “Don’t mention it.”
“You always take care of us,” Freo murmured. “Let us return the favor once in a while.”
“Especially when you whine,” Seible added cheerfully.
“Drop it, Sei.”
“Never.”
Zeal sighed dramatically. “You’re all ridiculous.”
Kaelix grinned, snuggling closer. “And you’re ours.”
“…Yeah.” Zeal closed his eyes. “Lucky, huh?”
“The luckiest,” they echoed.
…
As night deepened and the last round of tea cooled beside the bed, they all started settling down. Zeal shifted, tucking himself closer between Kaelix and Freo. His body still ached, but it wasn’t so bad. He was fine, really.
“Mmmhh...”
A small whine slipped out of his throat as he tried to find a comfortable position. His face scrunched, not from pain this time, but pure exhaustion. Three heads snapped in unison.
“You okay?”
“Zeal?”
“Baby?”
Zeal cracked one eye open to stare at them, unamused. “Guys. Seriously. I’m fine.”
“That was the whine, though,” Seible said, pointing accusingly.
“The ‘I’m hurting but too polite to say anything’ whine,” Freo added solemnly.
Kaelix was already half out of bed. “Do you need soup? Heating pad? Another pillow? I can carry you to the bath again—”
“STOP.” Zeal tossed a pillow at Kaelix, who caught it midair and hugged it. “It wasn’t that kind of whine! It was a ‘ugh, I’m tired and your legs are bony’ whine.”
Kaelix immediately looked at Freo. “Are my legs bony?”
Freo glanced down. “You could use some more thigh, but they’re acceptable.”
“Rude.”
Zeal groaned, burying his face in Seible’s shirt. “Why are you guys like this.”
Seible chuckled softly, stroking Zeal’s hair. “Because we love you, dummy.”
“Too much,” Kaelix added, flopping dramatically across Zeal’s legs. “Tragically so.”
“Unconditionally,” Freo murmured, brushing his knuckles against Zeal’s cheek.
Zeal smiled despite himself. “You’re all dorks.”
“But we’re your dorks,” Seible whispered.
Zeal finally allowed himself to sigh—an exhale so deep it felt like the end of a long song. Then he curled up tighter in their embrace and mumbled something that made all of them pause:
“Thanks for not making me feel like a burden.” They didn’t speak for a moment. Then Kaelix leaned in and kissed the tip of Zeal’s nose.
“You could never be one.”
Seible pulled the blanket tighter around them all. “If anything, you’re our entire day’s meaning.”
Freo added, “Now shut up and let us love you.”
Zeal snorted. “Okay. Fine. Only because I’m too tired to fight.”
The lights dimmed further. The room settled into peaceful silence, interrupted only by the gentle rustle of blankets and soft, sleepy breathing. And before he drifted off, Zeal swore he felt someone place one last kiss over his heart.