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Azure coughed roughly as they drank the chamomile tea that they had finished brewing. Their mask discarded on the coffee table as they watched television. The warm tea felt soothing as it passed through their sore throat and into their body. Warming them from the inside out.
They hated it whenever they got sick. The uncontrollable coughs that racked their body, a runny nose that made breathing nearly impossible, and fevers that left them feeling lethargic. And most importantly, he has to distance himself or risk getting Two Time sick as well.
Azure took pride in having a good immune system. He rarely got sick, and when he did, it never lasted more than a few days. Two Time, on the other hand, has–pardon his language– dogshit immune system. Whenever they catch a cold, the sickness lasts for a whole month before they can recover.
Two Time didn’t tell him much about their past, except that they had nothing before finding Spawn. All he could do was speculate; his lover would have a field day with his guesses if they knew, but they’ll probably never tell him. Besides, it could just be a matter of genetics.
They’ve been mopey about not getting to hug or kiss him anymore. Although they would rather disregard their own health, Azure didn’t want to get them sick again. The herbal medicines he made could only do so much.
Currently, Two Time was outside handling their duties on his behalf. Normally, the two would do it together, but Azure had to be pardoned due to his cold. Two Time reassured him that they could manage it themselves, leaving him stuck in their room watching telenovelas like a girl who recently got dumped.
Gabriella, you should just leave both of those men and learn the way of the Spawn instead.
There wasn’t much for him to do; he had already watered all the indoor plants and tended to his garden. He even made coffee and lunch for when Two Time came back. Sickness be damned– it wasn’t like Two Time could cook without burning the food. He sighed at the thought; he really needed to teach them how to cook.
A door distantly creaked from behind him. The sound was barely audible over the white noise of the TV that he wouldn’t have heard if he were still immersed in the show.
Quickly, he set down the teacup and snatched his mask back into place before arms wrapped around his neck from behind the couch, forcing him to stare up into a familiar pair of bright grey eyes.
“Hello, my love! Did you have fun today?” Two Time asked, their gaze softened with fondness as they stared at Azure lovingly. They leaned down to press a kiss against his mask, but Azure quickly slid down the couch and onto the floor before it could happen.
“Five feet apart, please,” Azure whispered, their voice croaky as they slowly pushed themselves up from the floor. They staggered slightly as they rose, holding up a hand to prevent their partner from helping. If Azure had their hat on, Two Time might not have pulled such a stunt like that.
He sighed as a wave of dizziness washed over him as he gingerly sat back down on the other end of the couch. Making sure to keep a safe distance as they recover from the sudden exertion they had made prior. Two Time watched him with worry from behind, but listened and stayed put–no need to worsen the situation.
“I made you lunch,” Azure muttered, pointing at the dining table. The recently made bowl, covered by a pot lid to prevent it from going bad, waited patiently on top. He hoped it was still warm.
It was ironic how the sick person was the one who made the food. Not that he minded, of course, cooking for them was always a delight.
Two Time beamed at his words. They rushed excitedly towards the table and gasped at the sight, “You made curry?!”
Azure smiled and nodded, gesturing at the coffee machine for them to use as well. Two Time looked around the table and noticed that there wasn’t another bowl for the two to eat together.
When they turned to ask, Azure simply shrugged in response. He didn’t have much of an appetite. The now-empty teacup in front of him was the only thing he had drunk all day.
“That just won’t do. You need the energy to fight your illness,” Two Time gently chided.
They slowly approach Azure and attempt to take his hand, but he pulls away, shaking his head. He draws his legs up and turns away in a stubborn fit as he wraps his arms around himself.
“I’ll eat later,” Azure stated. He honestly just wanted to curl up and sleep the day away. The small throbbing headache he had made him feel a little more irritated than usual. He shut his eyes, trying to will the discomfort away lest it intensify.
“Azure, my love, you have to eat something,” Two Time urged, their voice laced with concern as they placed a hand on his shoulder.
It pained them to see their beloved in such a state. Azure always put up such a brave face, even when he was visibly struggling. Seeing him like this just made them want to hold him close and never let go.
Azure groaned silently as Two Time gently shook them, tiredly mumbling for them to just go eat without him. They sigh at his stubbornness, unsure what to do. As they pondered, an idea came to them. Oh, Azure is going to hate this.
For a few moments, only the sounds of shuffling and clanking could be heard before silence. Azure assumed Two Time had finally given up and began eating.
Just as he was about to relax and uncurl himself, a sudden heavy weight plopped down next to him. Before he could react, arms wrapped around his body without warning, lifting him to sit on top of Two Time’s lap.
“Two Time?!” Azure exclaimed, his voice muffled by the mask as he coughed in disbelief. He stared at his partner in shock, the unexpected intimacy leaving him feeling startled and slightly lightheaded.
As he recovered from the sudden onslaught, he watched Two Time proudly hold up a bowl of the curry with an innocent expression on their face.
“Let me feed you!” they declared, using their free hand to pull Azure’s mask down.
In response, he hastily grabbed at Two Time’s wrist before they could successfully pull it off and asked haphazardly, “Eh? What about you?”
He tried to turn his head away, but Two Time stopped him by resting their chin on his shoulder and pressing themselves closer to his back.
“I can eat after you do.” Two Time insisted, their hot breath tickling the back of Azure’s neck and sending shivers down his spine. He could feel Two Time’s eyes bore into him, daring him to talk back as he avoided eye contact.
“You'll get sick if you stay too close,” Azure attempted to retort, his grip tightening marginally when Two Time began to caress his covered cheek. The sensation sent a jolt through him, stirring a whirlwind of emotions as he struggled to maintain his composure.
Their presence felt overwhelming, the warmth that emanated from their chest and seared into his back made him hold back a shudder. As their fingers lightly trace over his skin, Azure could feel his resolve start to waver. Dang it…
“Don't you want to get better for me? We haven't cuddled in forever,” Two Time lamented.
In reality, Azure had only been sick for two days, but it had felt like an eternity to them. He had been distant, avoiding physical contact and even opting to sleep in the living room instead of their shared bed! It was torture .
“Okay,” He conceded, his voice barely above a whisper, “Just make sure to shower after.” The words felt like a surrender, but the glee on Two Time’s face made it worth it.
With a heavy sigh, Azure reluctantly let go of Two Time's hand. They smiled brightly at the permission granted, happily running their fingers over his lips and jawline as the mask slid beneath his chin. Their expression momentarily made Azure forget the reason he insisted on wearing it in the first place.
Two Time rarely ever smiled. They occasionally gave polite ones now and then, the type you usually reserve for strangers and acquaintances, but never ones that seemed genuine.
When they did smile, it was like flowers blooming in the spring. The way their eyes would sparkle with joy and their lips–usually set in a neutral line– would curve upwards in a way that made Azure’s heart skip a beat.
Azure hesitantly parted his lips as Two Time took their hand off to raise a spoonful of curry towards him. The pungent taste doing nothing to calm down the churning in his stomach. He wasn’t particularly hungry, but if it made Two Time happy, then he didn’t mind getting spoon-fed– even if it was embarrassing.
A toothy grin spread across Two Time’s face at the lack of resistance. Azure did most of the housework since the two have lived together. Cooking, cleaning, tending to everyone’s–especially Two Time's– needs. It was rare that Azure let themselves be pampered. A miracle almost considering how independent they were.
Yet, it was these rare moments of vulnerability that made their heart swell with joy. To be the only person that Azure trusted enough to let his guard down around, the only one who could see him like this–soft and pliant– and the thought made them feel giddy inside. A privilege that Two Time knew they shouldn’t take for granted.
Just as Azure finished the last bite, Two Time surged forward, pressing a quick kiss against his cheek. Their tongue darted out to catch the remnants of the curry that had stained the corner of his lips as they moved back.
“Two Time!” Azure shouted, twisting his head to stare at them in disbelief and exasperation. “You’re going to get sick now!”
“Whoopsie, I guess that means we don’t have to stay apart anymore.” Two Time laughed, their words lacking any form of remorse for what they had just done.
Azure rolled his eyes and sighed, all the hard work he’d done for the past few days gone down the drain in an instant. He stared at them pointedly as they giggled manically, the force of their laughter rocking both of them.
If that’s how they want to play ...
He took the spoon and bowl from Two Time’s hands and placed them carefully on the table. When Two Time finally calmed down, Azure suddenly shifted to straddle their lap, his purple gaze staring down intensely into gray ones.
“A-Azure?” Two Time squeaked, staring up at their lover nervously. In response, Azure cupped their face gently, slowly leaning down to capture their lips in a deep kiss.
Two Time froze for a moment, caught off guard by the unexpected kiss, before their eyes fluttered shut as they melted into the embrace. Tentatively, their hands find their way to Azure’s hips, pulling him closer as they reciprocate the kiss. The initial shock had given way to bliss as they savored the taste of Azure’s lips, which they had been denied for far too long now.
The world around them faded away as the couple focused only on each other. The intensity getting more and more heated until Azure finally pulled away, his hot breath brushing against Two Time’s flushed, red lips as they both tried to catch their breath.
For a while, they simply stared at each other, eyes locked onto one another. Then, a smirk tugged at the corners of Azure’s mouth as he wrapped his arms around their neck and pulled their bodies even closer together. He glanced down at them with half-lidded eyes, his voice low and breathy as he spoke, “Satisfied?”
Two Time’s lips curve upwards in a matching smile, their fingers tracing idle patterns along Azure’s sides. “I’m not sure,” they purred, eyes gleaming with barely-restrained desire. “I think I need a few hundred more to decide.”
Azure chuckled, the sound warm and rich on Two Time’s ears as their body heated up in anticipation. “Well, in that case,” he murmured, already leaning back in, “I’ll see what I can do.”