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Genya was not having a great afternoon. He got a question wrong during math and his brother chewed him out in front of the whole class. His next couple classes went okay but his last period is P.E.
Genya didn’t hate P.E. class but he didn't like it either. The physical activity was a great trigger for his asthma. He always had to make sure he had his inhaler with him.
And the P.E. teacher, Giyuu Tomioka, was his brother's boyfriend. This just made Genya want to do better, feeling that if he slipped up Sanemi would find out and he'd get in trouble or something.
Today they started with running laps. Nothing Genya hadn’t done before. But half way through his first lap Genya’s chest began to tighten. He tried to ignore it and push through but the sensation only got worse and he could hardly get any air in. He stopped, bending over releasing a slow wheezy breath.
He raised his arm trying to signal Giyuu to let him know what was going on.
He was having an asthma attack. One that would be considered rather mild but he would still need his inhaler.
Genya didn't even hear Giyuu approach him.
“Do you have your inhaler?” Giyuu asked, placing a hand on Genya’s back.
Genya nodded. He should have his inhaler on him, he always had one in the pocket of his gym pants after a rather nasty asthma attack had landed him in the hospital.
Genya pulled his inhaler out with shaky hands. He put the mouth piece in his mouth, took a deep breath and pressed down on the canister. He waited a couple seconds before he pressed down on the canister again.
Genya breathed in slowly waiting for the medicine to take its full effect.
The whole time Giyuu stood by Genya, his hand on the boy's back.
Genya coughed and his lungs ached.
“Do you need to see the nurse?” Giyuu asked.
Genya shook his head, “I'm fine,” he rasped.
“Well you should at least sit out the rest of class.”
“Probably,” Genya agreed. Not that he wanted to sit out. Sitting out meant being with Giyuu.
Giyuu led Genya from the running track to the grass just outside of it.
Genya spent the rest of the class watching his classmates run laps and do other exercises. He wished he could join. His lingering cough was just a reminder or why he couldn’t and that his body fucking sucked.
Instead he sat by Giyuu bored out of his mind pulling at the grass.
P.E eventually came to an end and everyone went inside to get changed. Genya quickly followed suit.
After cleaning up Genya was ready to head home. He was tired and his stupid cough wasn't easing up.
Genya went to the teachers office to meet his brother and finally go home.
“I have to stay late,” Sanemi told Genya, not looking up from the exams he was grading.
“What? Why?” Genya didn't even bother hiding the disappointment in his voice.
“I have exams to grade.”
“Why can't you do that at home?”
“I need to get this done and there are less distractions here.”
Genya whined. He didn't want to sit and wait for his brother to finish grading papers. But the walk was a bit too far from him right now and they still lived too close to take the train.
“Why are you whining?” Sanemi asked, still focused on grading exams.
“Becuase I want to go home,” Genya replied bluntly.
“You have two legs, you can walk.”
“I had an asthma attack during P.E,” Genya explained.
This caused Sanemi to pause, “why?”
Genya shrugged, “we were running and I have asthma.”
Sanemi sighed and put his pen down and as if on cue Giyuu entered the room.
“Did Genya have an asthma attack during P.E?” Sanemi asked before Giyuu could even sit down at his desk.
“He did,” Giyuu replied, “he said he was fine though.”
“I still have to stay here and work,” Sanemi told Genya and he picked his pen back up, “you can wait here for me to finish.”
Genya groaned, he really didn’t want to stay at the school longer than he had to. He considered asking if he could just go to a friend's house, but even then Genya just wanted to go back to his own home.
“I can give him a ride home,” Giyuu offered.
“That would be appreciated," Sanemi accepted, as he went back to looking at the exams.
Genya wasn’t too sure he was happy with this option either. He had nothing against Giyuu. He was quiet and never pressed Genya to share more than he was willing and he seemed to make Sanemi happy.
But it wasn’t what Genya wanted. Genya wasn’t actually sure what he wanted past going home, so in theory this should be fine. In theory he should be happy with this. A nice quiet car ride home, because Giyuu never spoke more than necessary. And then a nice quiet evening at home until Sanemi returned home which would be followed by dinner then homework and bed.
While Genya was busy thinking Giyuu had gathered his stuff into his bag and grabbed his keys, “I’m heading out now,” he told Genya.
Genya looked to Sanemi who was back to work, and looking rather annoyed as he did so, then to Giyuu who was standing by the door to the teachers office waiting for Genya.
He sighed then coughed, and gripped the strap of his bag, “okay.”
Genya quietly followed Giyuu to his car.
He ended up sitting in the back seat, even though Giyuu told him it was okay for him to sit up front. Genya just didn’t want to. He sat back and rested his head against the car window.
A familiar but slowly creeping fuzziness was starting to set in. He already wasn’t in a great mood, the last thing he wanted right now was to be little without Sanemi.
The drive was quiet. Giyuu didn’t turn on the radio when he drove, he didn't engage in small talk, he didn’t vocally react to anyone on the road. Genya didn’t know anyone could be so quiet until he met Giyuu.
They pulled into the parking lot of the apartments Sanemi and Genya lived in. Genya was expecting Giyuu to leave after he dropped off Genya but no, Giyuu stayed and followed Genya inside.
Giyuu was allowed to stop by the apartment whenever he wanted to, Sanemi had given him a key to the apartment. But Genya just really didn’t want to spend time with Giyuu right now. And maybe it was rude of Genya to feel that way but if he ever said anything he knew Giyuu wouldn’t be mad.
Once they got inside Genya went straight to his room without saying anything.
Giyuu never followed him, never came to his door to ask if anything was wrong.
And as he sank deeper into his little head space and the mess of confusing emotions, this upset Genya. He wanted Giyuu to knock on his door and ask him if he was okay, he wanted Giyuu to press him about how he felt.
Genya sat on his bed, and brought his knees to his chest.
He wanted Giyuu to worry about him.
Genya rested his forehead against his knees. Suddenly his emotions began to feel too big and too confusing.
Genya wanted Giyuu, but now he was too scared to ask.
Genya sniffled as a small sob escaped his throat. His shoulders shook with each small sob.
He didn't want to be alone.
He unfurled himself just enough so he could grab Bingo and hug her tight.
He thought about going to the living room, joining Giyuu in whatever he was doing and just sitting quietly with him. Genya knew with Giyuu he wouldn’t have to say anything. But there was a part of Genya that still didn’t want to be with Giyuu.
Because when Genya was small all he wanted was his brother. His brother was the safest person he knew, and the person he trusted the most.
But Sanemi was still at work and Genya didn’t know when Sanemi would be home. In fact in his little mind he worried that Sanemi would never come back.
The thought made Genya cry more even though he knew Sanemi would never abandon him.
Genya sat crying with his loneliness.
Then the crying triggered another coughing fit and the coughing fit led to a knock at his door.
“Genya are you okay?” he heard Giyuu ask, sounding rather worried.
Genya tried to steady his breathing, but it was hard when he was crying and little.
“Is it okay if I come in?”
Genya didn’t respond, he wasn’t coughing anymore, but he was still crying and he didn’t want Giyuu to see him like this.
But the silence must have worried Giyuu even more because the bedroom door opened.
“Did you have another asthma attack?” Giyuu questioned as he approached Genya.
Genya shook his head as he tried to hide his face with Bingo.
There was silence and Giyuu didn’t leave Genya’s room. And for some reason this only made Genya cry more.
“Are you crying?” Giyuu’s voice was soft and concerned.
“No,” Genya mumbled, his voice muffled by Bingo.
“You sure?” Giyuu knelt down by Genya’s bed.
Genya wasn’t even sure when Giyuu had gotten so close to him.
“‘m not.”
“Then why are you hiding your face?”
Genya sniffled then shrugged.
“Are you upset that Sanemi had to work late?”
Genya shrugged again. That was sorta true, he was upset that Sanemi wasn’t here, but he wouldn’t be crying over just that.
“Are you upset because I’m here?”
Once more Genya shrugged, he wasn’t upset at Giyuu.
“Can I ask how old you are?”
Genya tensed up. He was surprised that Giyuu even caught on to that, then Genya was worried that this would mean Giyuu would have to let Sanemi know, which would have interrupted Sanemi’s work.
Genya started sobbing even more.
“Genya, it’s okay if you are little,” Giyuu said, clearly trying to comfort Genya.
“Don’ wanna be,” Genya choked between sobs.
Giyuu was quiet for a few seconds before responding, “why not?”
“Nemi,” was all Genya could think to say. He didn’t want to bother his brother but he also wanted his brother, he just wasn’t sure how to tell Giyuu.
“He’ll be back soon, Genya,” Giyuu told him.
Genya whimpered, soon made no sense to him right now.
“Is there anything I can do?”
Genya went back to responding with a small shrug.
“How about a hug?”
Genya liked the idea of a hug, so he slowly put Bingo down and opened his arms. Giyuu got off the floor then sat by Genya on his bed then pulled the little into a hug.
Genya wrapped his arms around Giyuu. Hugging Giyuu was so different then hugging his brother. Giyuu’s hug was soft and warm, but oddly rigid.
Giyuu didn’t move much as he held Genya, letting the little cry into his chest.
“Do you want to see if we can call Sanemi?” Giyuu asked the sobbing little.
Genya shook his head. He was scared that if he called Sanemi he would get in trouble and Genya hated getting in trouble.
“Then maybe we can watch Bluey?” Giyuu suggested.
Genya nodded, he liked watching Bluey, even though he had already watched it many times over.
“Okay, let's grab Bingo and go to the living room.”
Genya let go of Giyuu, still crying and sniffling. He grabbed Bingo then held his arms out.
Giyuu wasn’t as good at carrying Genya around as Sanemi was. Giyuu wasn’t used to carrying a 5'11 teenager around the apartment the way Sanemi was. But he still managed to get Genya to the couch.
Giyuu turned the TV on, then went to Sanemi’s Disney+ account. Bluey was the first show on the continue watching section. Giyuu pressed play and Bluey started up.
Genya started to calm down as the show began, one of his hands making its way to his mouth. With Genya preoccupied with the TV, Giyuu went to the kitchen. He figured he would prepare a bottle for Genya. He grabbed one of Genya’s bottles from the cupboard and filled it with milk then microwaved it.
After the microwave beeped, Giyuu took the bottle out of the microwave and tested the temperature. Satisfied with it, he went back to the living room where Genya was still sitting on the couch, eyes wide as he watched his cartoons.
Giyuu sat beside Genya on the couch, “hey Genya, I got you a bottle.”
This got Genya's attention. He crawled into Giyuu’s lap, Genya always loved being in Sanemi’s lap when it was bottle time.
Giyuu held the bottle for Genya as he suckled on it.
Giyuu smiled softly as he watched Genya drink.
He was still far from as good of a care giver as Sanemi was, and it was likely Giyuu never would be that great at it. But he did like when he was able to care for Genya. Genya was normally a calm little after all, perhaps just a bit fast to cry.
Bluey was still playing as Genya was drinking his bottle. Genya seemed alert enough to just hear the show playing.
When Genya was done with his bottle Giyuu sat him back down on the couch so he could continue watching the show.
Giyuu sat watching with Genya, he’d never actually sat down and watched Bluey before. He had seen the odd episode or two when he was visiting while Genya was watching it but never paid any mind to the show.
It was calm and comforting and Giyuu understood both why Genya liked it so much and why Sanemi let Genya watch it.
The two kept watching until the sound of the door being opened was heard.
“Nemi!” Genya shouted as he scrambled off the couch to meet his brother at the door.
Giyuu paused the show, got off the couch and went to greet Sanemi.
“How was grading the exams?” Giyuu asked.
“Fucking awful,” Sanemi complained, patting his brother’s head.
“You shouldn’t swear around the baby,” Giyuu teased, though his tone of voice was flat.
“Genya won’t repeat any swears,” Sanemi told Giyuu, as he kicked his shoes off. With his shoes off Sanemi lifted Genya off the floor and rested him against his hip. “When did this start?”
“I don’t know, found him in his room crying,” Giyuu explained.
“Sorry you had to take care of him,” Sanemi apologised, “if I knew this was going to happen I would have brought him home.”
“It’s okay,” Giyuu replied, as he reached up to ruffle Genya’s hair a bit, “he cried for a bit but he’s well behaved.”
“That’s good,” Sanemi sighed, “I’m going to get him changed out of his school uniform.”
Giyuu nodded as Sanemi carried Genya to his room.
Sanemi quickly got his brother into a comfy shirt and pants then returned to the living room, placing his brother on the couch.
“We’ve just been watching Bluey,” Giyuu let Sanemi know, “I also gave him a bottle not too long ago.”
“Thanks,” Sanemi sat on the couch with Genya.
“Of course.”
“I’m happy that Genya feels safe around you,” Sanemi told Giyuu, combing his fingers through his brother's hair, “he needs people other than me.”
“I’m happy he trusts me,” Giyuu agreed.
Genya wasn’t paying any attention to what his brother and Giyuu were saying. The conversation sounded too serious and too adult for him. Plus he had Bingo to keep him company.
Sanemi turned Bluey back on for Genya, which instantly caught his attention again.
“I think it’d be nice if we can both be Genya’s care givers,” Sanemi told Giyuu as their conversation continued. “For times when I can’t look after him.”
“I wouldn’t mind that,” Giyuu replied.
“You already know he’s not too hard to look after, just a bit clingy.”
Giyuu nodded in agreement.
“Get him doing something other than watching Bluey as well,” Sanemi noted, “I’m worried he spends too much time watching the TV.”
“Bluey seems to be his favorite thing when he’s little.”
“It is,” Sanemi sighed, “I’m trying to find him other shows but I don’t want him watching trash.”
Giyuu smiled, “it's nice how much you care about him.”
“He’s my baby brother, it’s my job.”
Giyuu nodded, he couldn't argue with that.
“Anyway, it’s time to start dinner,” Sanemi said.
“Do you want any help?” Giyuu asked.
Sanemi looked to Genya who was happily watching his show, Bingo’s ear in his mouth.
“Sure, I think Genya will be okay on his own for a bit.”
Genya didn’t even notice that Sanemi and Giyuu had left him alone as he watched his show.
As Sanemi was washing the rice, Giyuu was cutting vegetables.
Since Genya was little they were just making a simple dinner, Sanemi hoping that Genya would eat it with minimal fuss.
When dinner was finished, Sanemi dished up Genya’s plate and put it on the table then went to grab his brother.
“Dinner time bud,” Sanemi told Genya as he paused the show.
Genya whined at his show being paused then reached his arms up to Sanemi.
Sanemi chuckled and lifted Genya off the couch taking him to the kitchen table.
Sanemi sat Genya down in front of his meal, “think you can eat on your own bud?”
Genya nodded and grabbed the fork that Sanemi had put out for him. He didn’t hold it right and made a mess as he ate, but Genya did manage to eat most of his dinner before putting his fork back down.
“Good job Gen,” Sanemi praised as he was finishing his own dinner.
Once Sanemi was finished eating he took the dishes to the kitchen sink intending to clean them after Genya went to bed. He then went and started to clean up Genya’s face.
Sanemi took Genya back to the living room. This time instead of sitting Genya on the couch he put him on the floor by the coffee table, then went to get Genya’s coloring supplies and some paper.
“How about we draw until bed time?” Sanemi suggested putting the items in front of Genya.
Genya nodded then grabbed the markers, he started scribbling random lines on the paper at first, switching between different colors. Once one paper was a mess of colors Genya would put it aside and start on another.
Sanemi and Giyuu sat on the couch behind Genya watching him, until they eventually put on their own show.
Genya paid no mind to it, it wasn’t animated or colourful so Genya decided it was probably a boring show.
Eventually Genya went from randomly scribbling on papers to drawing Bluey characters, with squiggly unsteady lines with incorrect colors.
Each time he finished a drawing he would turn around and show it to his brother and Giyuu who praised the drawing. Genya would go back to the drawing and the cycle continued.
Homework definitely wasn’t getting done tonight. Genya was far too little to even begin to understand what was written on the papers. Sanemi would likely wake Genya up early the next morning to make sure he got his homework done.
Sanemi paused the TV and stood up, reaching down to pick Genya up, “bed time, Gen.”
Genya whined, he wanted to keep drawing, plus he wasn’t even tired yet.
“I don’t care,” Sanemi responded to the whining as he lifted Genya off the floor, “Nemi says it’s bed time.”
Genya whined once more but wrapped his arms around his brother's neck, accepting his fate.
Sanemi made sure to grab Bingo before he carried his brother to his room. He changed his brother into his pyjamas then tucked his brother into bed with Bingo.
Sanemi sat at Genya’s bed side for a bit, running his fingers through his brother's hair trying to get him to settle down for the night.
Once Genya was struggling to keep his eyes open, Sanemi leaned down and kissed his brother on the forehead.
“Want the nightlight on?”
Genya nodded.
“Sweet dreams Gen.”
“Nini,” Genya mumbled as he began to drift off.
Sanemi made sure to flick the nightlight on as he left his brother's room, softly closing the door behind him, rejoining Giyuu in the living room.
Sanemi sat down by Giyuu again, lowered the volume on the tv and unpaused their show.
“Is it hard getting Genya to sleep?” Giyuu asked.
“Sometimes, tonight wasn’t too bad,” Sanemi replied as he leaned into Giyuu.
Giyuu hummed and ran his fingers through Sanemi’s hair, “that’s good.”
“Yeah,” Sanemi melted into Giyuu’s touch.
The rest of the evening was quiet. Sanemi and Giyuu enjoyed their show without saying a word to each other.