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When Arisu woke up, it wasn’t to light streaming through the windows warming the spaces they touch. It wasn’t to nightmares. Cold sweats and panicked screams. He didn’t wake to Chishiya crawling in bed after a long shift, or gently playing with his hair while he watched Arisu sleep.
It was the cold.
Under the weighted blankets and in the arms of his sleeping boyfriend, he was shivering. Arisu snuggled closer to Chishiya as if he could steal more of the warmth he radiated and sighed. The throbbing behind his eyes eased enough to be able to think. His head felt heavy and his throat was sore but he dismissed it as dry winter air and his inability to remember to turn on the humidifier. Chishiya was too comfortable for Arisu to do anything about it though, so he didn’t move. Over Chishiya’s sleeping head he saw a single snowflake drift past the window. Then another. He felt content and started drifting back to sleep as he watched the beginning of a gentle snowfall. Just a few more minutes.
When Chishiya woke, the first thing he noticed was the absence of sound, and movement from Arisu. Normally, he would be shifting. There would be the quiet mumbles of his constantly denied sleep talking. The mornings he was already awake and still in bed, he would still hear the buzz the earphones and the quiet click of buttons from him playing his game. But he was still. Chishiya opened his eyes, blinking quickly as he adjusted to the hazy morning light and, and observed the man beside him.
Pale.
Lips Dry.
Shallow Breath.
Chishiya frowned and he cataloged the growing signs that today was going to be exhausting. Arisu was sick. Arisu was also stubborn. Always had been. He would downplay a fever and push until he collapsed. It wasn’t worth it for Chishiya to even consider asking if Arisu was fine. He wasn’t. And Arisu’s answer would be a lie.
“You’re sick,” Chishiya said flatly, voice still rough from sleep.
Arisu blinked at him, startled. Clearly noticing for the first time the Chishiya was awake. More evidence against him. “I’m fine,” he lied, sounding like the effort was ripping his vocal cords. He winced and then continued “Just… cold.”
Chishiya raised an eyebrow and hummed unimpressed. “Cold doesn’t make you sound like you swallowed sandpaper.”
Arisu groaned and rolled away to bury his face in the pillow. “Keep your distance. I don’t want you to get whatever this is."
“I don’t get sick.” Chishiya replied as dryly as he could, trying to keep the amusement at how quick Arisu had admitted defeat out of his tone. He slipped out of bed before he could put up more of a protest.
“Where are you going?” Arisu groaned into the pillow.
“To prove you wrong.” Chishiya said simply as he pulled on a hoodie, already determining his plan of attack, “Stay put.”
“You don’t have to…”
“I know.” Chishiya cut in quickly, firmly. He turned to see Arisu trying to hold his head up to watch him. He smiled warmly at the ridiculous man. “But if I leave you like this, you’ll either freeze or try to make yourself tea and collapse halfway to the kitchen.”
The scowl on his face was adorable. “You make me sound helpless.”
“You are,” Chishiya didn’t miss a beat, amusement clear in his voice now “Don’t worry it’s temporary.”
Arisu laughed, then coughed, wincing in pain.
“You’re just proving my point.” Chishiya said under his breath and left the room to prepare after Arisu gave up again and sank back into the bedding.
When Arisu finally made it to the living room he couldn’t believe his eyes. In the time it had taken him to force himself out of bed, wrap the blanket around himself like armor and slowly shuffle his way down the hall, only leaning against the wall for support a reasonable amount, Chishiya had transformed the area into what looked suspiciously like a make shift infirmary. Medications lined up threateningly on the coffee table. A steaming mug next to a thermometer. The smell led Arisu to believe it was the ginger tea. Many extra blankets placed on the couch with extra pillows.
Arisu blinked at the setup again and then his eyes moved to Chishiya. He was lounging, relaxed in the armchair, legs crossed, reading a book. He looked like this was just a normal Sunday. “You…” Arisu paused clearing his throat painfully “You did all this?”
Chishiya didn’t look up turning a page, “Survival basics. But you can pretend its magic if you want.”
Arisu frowned, then tugged the blanket tighter at a shiver. He caught Chishiya quickly looking at him, assessing and then returning to his book. Rolling his eyes fondly at Chishiya pretending to not be as worried as he clearly was he replied “Amazing. I’m honored to be Exhibit A in your grand study.”
“You’re not that interesting,” Chishiya replied, shutting the book and giving him an amused look. “Sit down.”
Arisu hesitated and then sank into the couch, closing his eyes. He couldn’t help the sigh that escaped his lips at the comfort. He reached for the tea with a slight tremble in his fingers and took a sip. Chishiya had added honey. The warmth spread through him and eased the glass of his throat. “You didn’t have to do this.” He said, slightly less painfully.
“I know,” came Chishiya’s dry tone again but Arisu could see the mirth in his eyes as he continued “But if I left alone, you’d either freeze or try to make yourself tea and collapse halfway to the kitchen.”
Arisu laughed weakly. “You already said that.”
“Repetition increases the chance of remembering. And you don’t like to listen when you're like this.” Chishiya deadpanned. His gaze turned clinical again before reaching his conclusion. “Thermometer.” came the quiet command.
“Do we have to?” He definitely didn’t whine.
“Yes.” Chishiya said simply and held it out to him. When Arisu didn’t immediately take it, he tilted his head and added, “Unless you prefer I guess your temperature based on how pathetic you look.”
Arisu shot him a glare at that but took the thermometer. Chishiya chuckled fondly. When the result came in, he accused “You’re enjoying this.”
“Not particularly,” Chishiya said noting the temperature before returning to his book smiling “But it is mildly entertaining watching you resist basic care.”
Arisu settled back into the couch and muttered under his breath, “Sadist”
“Accurate observation. Congratulations” Chishiya responded distractedly.
Arisu was stunned that he hadn’t gotten a reaction out of him. “You’re supposed to deny that!” He huffed.
“Why?” Chishiya asked, infuriatingly calm as he turned a page. “It’s true.”
Arisu huffed, sinking back into the couch, mug cradled in his hands. “You’re impossible.”
“And yet,” said Chishiya as he gazed at him above the book, pleased with himself, “You love me anyway.”
The snow still fell softly outside, accumulating in small piles on the ledge of the window as the sun crept its way across the sky. The droning of the narrator from the documentary neither of them were really watching the only noise in the otherwise silent room. Arisu was curled on the couch with his head on the armrest. Cocooned in blankets to fight the chill, sweat clung to his skin, but the heat had dulled slightly. He was still exhausted, but a bit more lucid. For a while he just watched Chishiya. He had spotted a pattern in the movements and smiled every time the cycle repeated. One hand holding the book the other resting on his face, his eyes would scan, reading, understanding the words on the pages in front of him. When he would get to the end, his eyes would flick over to Arisu, assessing him, and then back to the page. The hand on his face would move and turn the page. Chishiya would adjust and then fall into the same pose to start anew.
Arisu broke the silence first. “You really don’t get sick?” He asked with genuine curiosity, voice quiet in an attempt to minimize the pain.
Chishiya intentionally didn’t look up. “Statistically improbable,” he said, turning the next page smirking softly “But not impossible.”
Arisu sighed “That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one you’re getting” Chishiya responded in amusement. He lowered the book and studied Arisu more closely. His voice, gentle but insistent, asked “How do you feel?”
“Better.” Arisu said. When Chishiya looked unimpressed he relented “Still tired. Still cold.”
Chishiya hummed, setting the book aside. He stood and moved to the kitchen with purpose. Chishiya’s movements were always efficient, but there was a quiet urgency with them now that was telling. A few minutes later he was back holding another cup of tea. Arisu pushed himself upright as he approached. “You didn’t have to…”
“I know.” Chishiya cut him off, holding out the cup. “Drink.”
Arisu did. Groaning as the comfortable warmth spread once again. He leaned back against the cushions, letting them support his head. “You’re really good at this.” He admitted.
“Don’t get used to it.” Chishiya replied with his forced indifferent tone, but Arisu could hear the affection under it.
Arisu chuckled at the game Chishiya was clearly playing. “Too late.”
Chishiya rolled his eyes and then lowered himself onto the couch next to Arisu shoulders touching. Arisu blinked at the sudden closeness, then smiled, pleased. “You could have stayed over there Shiya.” He teased.
“I could have,” Chishiya conceded. He settled in further and when he was comfortable smirked “But then you’d keep looking at me like a kicked puppy.”
The laughter jolted out of Arisu at the playful jab but quickly turned into a coughing fit. Chishiya’s hand was at his back in an instant, holding him gently as he struggled. When the coughing finally ended, Arisu rest his head against Chishiya’s shoulder. It was warm. Solid. Comforting. Chishiya didn’t move away as Arisu drifted back into sleep.
When Arisu came to, his head was in Chishiya’s lap as opposed to his shoulder. He snuggled closer into him and murmured, “You’re warm”
Chishiya continued running his hand gently through his hair, scratching gently at his scalp. A stark contrast to the dry “Congratulations, you’ve discovered basic thermodynamics.”
Arisu snorted. “You’re a terrible nurse.”
“I’m not a nurse. I’m a surgeon.” He replied smoothly. “You’re just lucky I’m not charting your symptoms”
“You probably did in your head” Arisu giggled softly.
Chishiya didn’t deny it. He moved his hand out of his hair, fingers gently pressing against his forehead. The care Chishiya finally let him see plainly in his face made Arisu’s chest ache. “Your fever is down” he said quietly, relieved.
“Thanks to you.” Arisu whispered back, losing himself in Chishiya’s eyes.
Chishiya smiled at him “Don’t make it a habit.”
Arisu drifted to sleep again later that night. Chishiya didn’t wake him. He waited until his breathing evened out before easing out from beneath him. Arisu barely stirred as Chishiya adjusted the pillows meticulously, tucking the blanket around him as if it alone could protect him from the world.
Only the hum of the heater and Arisu’s slightly labored breathing filled the air after he clicked off the TV. Standing with the faint glow of moon on snow from the windows, the scene felt like a precious secret.
He left the room, quickly changing his clothes and brushing his teeth. He stopped in the kitchen on his way back, gathering two bottles of water. After placing one near Arisu, he settled back into his chair.
He rubbed at the faint ache in his temples, dismissing it as fatigue. The blanket he pulled over his own shoulders felt unusually comforting, warmer than he expected, but he didn’t dwell on why. His throat was dry, and the heater’s hum seemed louder than before, but none of it mattered. Not when Arisu looked so small, so breakable, and so deeply asleep. He was sure he would be okay in the morning, so Chishiya settled in for his watch.
Light filtered through the window and the snow sparkled. When Arisu woke up he felt lighter. His fever had broken, and his head felt clear. He stretched and sighed in relief at the simple experience of breathing without effort. Without pain. He was better. He could think again. When he turned to the armchair, Chishiya wasn’t there, but he heard sounds coming from the kitchen. He quietly padded over excited to see him. When he finally laid eyes on Chishiya he noticed it.
Chishiya was paler than normal, he was moving sluggishly. Setting the mug on the counter seemed to take a concentrated effort. His eyes looked dark. He looked human, and tired.
“Chishiya,” Arisu said, “You look…”
“I’m fine.” Chishiya interrupted grumbling.
Arisu just stared at him blankly and then he couldn’t help the teasing smile that took over his face, “You don’t get sick, huh?”
The glare Chishiya shot him could kill a man if they hadn’t built up a resistance. “Correlation does not equal causation.”
Arisu laughed before taking Chishiya’s hand and pulling him back into the living room. “Come on. Couch. Your turn.”
“I don’t need...” Chishiya began but Arisu was already adjusting the cushions and blankets with a surprising amount of determination. He rolled his eyes and muttered “Unnecessary theatrics.”
“Don’t fight me on this.” Arisu said as he took Chishiya by the shoulder and positioned him in front of the prepared couch. “I learned from the best.”
Arisu leaned forward to force direct eye contact and in a practiced imitation said, “Sit down.”
Chishiya eyes narrowed and muttered something under his breath, probably an insult, but he didn’t resist.
Arisu laughed and then patted him on the head explicitly to annoy him. “Good patient.”
“Don’t push it.” Chishiya rasped, but when Arisu pulled a blanket over him and made him lay down, his eyes were already closing.
Chishiya groaned, alerting Arisu to the fact that he had finally woken up again. He paused his game and then walked over.
“You look awful,” Arisu said cheerfully, tucking the blanket tighter.
Chishiya raised an eyebrow. “Your bedside manner is atrocious.”
“Better than yours,” Arisu shot back. “You called me pathetic yesterday.”
“You were pathetic,” Chishiya said, voice hoarse but smug.
Arisu grinned. “And this is karma.”
Chishiya rolled his eyes, but when Arisu brushed his hair back from his forehead, his lashes fluttered shut for a moment. “You’re enjoying this,” he murmured.
“Maybe a little,” Arisu admitted, fingers lingering. “Payback’s sweet.”
That afternoon as Chishiya slept on the couch, the fever had fully set in. Chishiya was curled on his side, hair in a messy halo under him and stuck to warm skin. His brow slightly furrowed, and mouth slightly parted with shallow breaths.
Arisu had settled on the ground in front of the couch as he watched the TV quietly, not wanting to be too far away.
Chishiya stirred, a small, pained sound escaping his throat. Eyes still closed he whispered a confused, fragile, “Ryo?”
“I’m right here.” Arisu said softly. He reached up and gently squeezed Chishiyas arm as physical proof of his presence
That seemed to be all that he needed. Chishiya relaxed, settling deeper in his cocoon and his fingers curled into the blanket before falling fully back to sleep. Arisu couldn’t help but smile at the sight, and knowing Chishiya couldn’t hear him “Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”
Outside the snow kept falling, but inside there was only warmth and two stubborn people following the most basic rule of survival. Care for each other. Everything else is optional.