Work Text:
Shikanoin Heizou. A very proud man and good at his job. Smart on every aspect accept self care.
Here he stood, in front of the door to his apartment. Unbelievably freezing cold and shaking as he blindly searched for his keys on his person. He had been in the snow for way too long and had the least amount of clothes on. A sweater and a light coat. He didn't think it was going to snow today.
The sun had been so kind to him that morning. Why must it fool him like that? That's a little unfair, don't you think? He let out another small whimper as he moved his fingers against the coldness of his coat. The snow quickly melting on him and drenching him.
He finally found them after slow digging around and opened the door. He stumbled into the cold, dark and empty apartment. Right. He had forgotten to turn up the heat before he left. He knew he would be home late. It's always cold when he gets home late.
How could he forget? He grumbled as he took stiff steps to the thermostat. His hands mindlessly hovered over the small box on the wall, his vision slightly blurry and his mind slowing down.
It took longer than he liked to turn the heat up. He went to his bedroom, stripping from his clothes. Now that those clothes were off of him, he felt the coldness of his apartment hit him. It left him shaking more. He was also suddenly so tired.
"Choo." Heizou blinked. Sniffling back another sneeze. His nose burned. "Just my luck." He groaned. Fuck everything. He was tired. He slipped into bed, under the blankets and hugged them with his life as if they'll magically produce their own heat and warm him up.
━━━━━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━━━━━
Kazuha looked through the books. Smiling as each of them reminded him of a certain someone. These mysteries novels were collectors items that Heizou wanted so badly but never had the time to get them.
He would always forget whenever he did have time and say he would get them next time but forgot again. Christmas was right around the corner. It would just be easier if Kazuha got it for him.
As he was checking out, his phone began ringing in his pocket. He took a quick peak at the time before he answered it. Nearly lunch time. "Hello?"
"Goodmorning, Kaedehara. Or afternoon." Kujo spoke on the other line with a slightly irritated tone, "Have you spoken to that bone headed boyfriend of yours?"
Kazuha's cheeks turned a bit red at the name. He wouldn't say that. More like his partner was more appropriate in his mind, "No. Is everything okay?" Kazuha asked, grabbing his bag from the checkout, giving a small bow to the cashier before walking out the store into the snowy cold where the sun was beaming just a bit to make it bearable.
Kujo let out a huff on the other line, "He didn't show up for work and he's not answering his damn phone. I assumed you had heard from him."
It was unusual for Heizou to be a no call no show for work especially. He was a workaholic after all. "I'll swing by his place and see what's up. I apologize-"
"Don't apologize for that baboon! Archons so help you two." After that, she hung up. Kazuha didn't mind her little attitude. He had gotten use to it since meeting Heizou who seemed to push every wrong button on her consciousness.
Kazuha let out a sigh, making his way torwards Heizou's apartment. Something told him to try and call him. The phone went to voicemail at least 2 times. The 3rd time he finally picked up. His heart skipped a beat.
"Hello, dear, is everything okay?" Kazuha asked with a hint of excitement in his tone.
It was quickly washed away as silence drew out on the other line. It wasn't until a rough cough and a sniffle, following a groan, that he even realized the phone call was still going. He thought he had imagined the pick up tone for a moment.
"Heizou?" Kazuha said, quickening his steps a bit, "Can you speak?"
Another groan and a soft huff, Heizou finally spoke back and ease his worried heart, "Yeah..." His voice was scratchy. Hoarse as if he was dehydrated.
"Do you know what time it is?" Kazuha said carefully. There was soft shuffling on the other side of the line before the shuffling grew louder, uneven heavy footsteps.
"Dammit. I'm.. so late for work." Heizou was slightly slurring his words which caught him off gaurd. Was he sick or hungover? The second assumption was unlikely since he knows he had work yesterday as well.
"Heizou, are you alright? You don't sound too good." Kazuha said, turning a corner.
It took another moment for Heizou to answer, his words slowed and his breathing heavy and slightly ragged, "I'm- fine." He let out a small cough after his sentence that led to him gagging before the phone cut off suddenly.
It was only for a few seconds before Heizou was heard again, this time groaning loudly. Kazuha was a bit of way from his apartment and wasn't going to get there fast enough on foot. He called over a taxi.
"Heizou, I'm on my way." Kazuha stated as he hopped into the backseat of a taxi.
"N-no. That is unnecessary. I might just have.. a small cold." Talking seemed like a struggle for him. Had he thrown up?
"There is nothing you can say to change my mind. I suggest you sit down somewhere so you don't fall over, assuming you're probably dizzy. Correct?" Kazuha was leaving no room for arguments. He could just hear the dizziness consuming him just from the phone.
Heizou let out a small chuckle on the other side, "You're still so seeing... even through a... phone.." Heizou's words slurred dramatically and then there was a soft thud that made Kazuha's heart drop.
All that could be heard now was Heizou's loud ragged breath, "Heizou?" No answer.
The taxi ride was painfully slower than Kazuha would like if he was in his own car. He stayed on the phone with him despite the lack of response from him.
He had his own key so it was easy to get into the apartment. A pungent smell hit his nose as he stepped foot inside. It was so cold in here. Too quiet. Kazuha's footsteps rang out as he frantically started looking for Heizou in the small apartment.
His search lasted all but a few seconds when he found him collapsed by the bathroom door. He was shaking, his breath coming out like smoke. Kazuha immediately went for the heat before going to Heizou.
"Heizou? Are you alright?" As he got closer, he noticed it looked like he was just sleeping. Heizou let out a groan at the sound of his name but didn't open his eyes.
Kazuha felt his forehead, he was burning up. His nose and cheeks were red. Drool falling from the side of his mouth. It seemed he was on his way to the bathroom and didn't make it in time if the puddle of acids not too far from him were anything to go by.
"You poor thing.." He muttered out loud. Heizou blinked his eyes open and looked up at him with feverish eyes and a small smile.
"I must be dreaming." If he didn't feel so bad, he would find this funny. Kazuha took a deep breath, calming himself from the panic he felt. It only got rid of some of it.
Kazuha's eyes softened as he looked down at him, cuffing his cheek, "You definitely are not dreaming, my deer."
Heizou was a dead weight in his arms. The lack of movement in him as he got him to his feet was concerning. He groaned and his eyes rolled back a few times as if he was about to pass out again.
It was difficult to get him somewhere other than back on the floor. Kazuha got him to the couch. "How did you get so sick?"
Heizou took too long to answer, a hand hovering his mouth, "Must've been the snow yesterday. Got— caught in it."
Kazuha sighed, "It must be the dizziness from your fever that is making your stomach unsettled. I will go to the store and get you some medicine but you must stay on the couch."
Heizou didn't respond as he lay down on the couch. Nearly immediately falling asleep. He was snoring louder than usual. His nose must be so stuffed up. His mouth hung open slightly. Kazuha couldn't help but adore him in this state.
What a beautiful man he is dating. He admired him a bit more before walking off, finding Heizou's car keys and walking out the door. He was gone for only 20 minutes at the least.
Heizou was still passed out on the couch when he got back but his positioned changed. His arm hung off the couch while his other lay lazily above his head on the armrest. His cheeks and rose still bright red but the apartment was getting warmer.
At least they were out of the cold now. Kazuha went to the kitchen and started a soup. He left it brewing and went to clean up the mess Heizou had made on his way to the bathroom earlier. His bedsheets were clearly soaked from sweat. He began a cycle in the washing machine for those to be cleaned.
It took him about 2 hours. That whole time, Heizou slept somewhat peacefully on the couch. Occasionally, Kazuha would peak over and see his face scrunched up or hear him let out a painful cough followed with a small sound of pain before he seemingly drifted back to sleep.
When the soup was being near to done, Heizou finally woke up. Groggy, eyes glazed over and his body shaking with heat radiating off of him. Signs of being on an empty stomach.
"Heizou?" Kazuha said softly.
He slowly turned his head torwards him, letting out a heavy breath, "Zuzu..." He sounded so sick but relieved to see him.
His face visibly softened as he tried to get up and come over to him. Kazuha quickly filled the distance between them before he could and wrapped his arms around him.
He was burning up. Heizou lay against his chest, hands clinging onto his shirt as if letting go would physically harm him.
"You scared me." He told Heizou as he held him.
"..I can tell." Heizou rasped out after a minute or two.
Kazuha held him in his arms for a few more moments before pulling away and helping him to his feet. Heizou held onto Kazuha, feeling quite dizzy.
"I made you something to eat and got you medicine. Come to the table." Kazuha was gentle with him, guiding him.
Heizou ate his food slowly, it seemed to help with his sore throat and was easy to swallow than anything else. He looked slightly better after eating and taking the medicine.
He looked torwards Kazuha and smiled a bit, Kazuha tilted his head curiously, "What is it?"
"Nothing. You're just very pretty." Heizou teased.
Kazuha blushed a bit, "Well you definitely are feeling a bit better. What a relief."
Heizou giggled, "I'm glad you're here. Will you be staying?"
Kazuha sat closer to him, giving him a peck on the cheek before nodding. Heizou brightened and kissed him back on the cheek. It tickled due to how cold Heizou's lips were.