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"So there's the meeting with the northern representatives next week, I have to check up on the settlement near where Second to Last was, and I know Kamyuhn wanted to stop by at some point..." Takumi heaved a sigh, pushing away from his desk, trying desperately not to look at the ever growing pile of paperwork. "I really thought we'd be off the hook once this war finally ended."
Getting up, he stretched, fully expecting to hear a snarky reply. But when all that answered him was silence, his brow furrowed and he turned to look to the desk that was next to his. Usually, Eito would tell him that it was his own fault, and that he best not slack off, because he wasn't about to fix his messes. Which always turned out to be a lie, as Takumi lost count of just how many scheduling conflicts and issues from forgotten paperwork Eito had gotten him out of.
To hear no reply at all certainly was concerning, and looking at the other, that concern only worsened. Usually, Aotsuki felt like the image of elegance. His nose upturned, glasses immaculately clean and his cold eyes fixed on whatever document had earned his ire that day. There was none of that now. The other was practically slumped into his chair, the usually pale skin of his face flushed bright as he was clearly struggling to focus on the paper in his hands. Only when the silence stretched on too long did he finally look up, his nose wrinkling when he caught Takumi looking at him.
"If you've got time to stare at me like some pervert, you've got time to take care of your paperwork, Sumino."
Usually, that would have been enough for Takumi to tuck his tail and flee, mostly because Eito was right. He often took any excuse to shirk his paperwork. Still, the missing venom in the other's voice only seemed to confirm his suspicions. So instead of scampering back to his own desk like he usually would, he found himself stepping closer to Eito's. Something that wasn't appreciated, if the way Eito looked up and leaned away was any indication. "What? Do you have nothing better to do than be a nuisance?"
"Sorry- I'm just, y'know, wondering if you're doing okay? You look a little off." Takumi took a step away, knowing that crowding Aotsuki wouldn't help, even if he was concerned.
Something about what he said seemed to hit a nerve, as Eito immediately shot up from his desk, although the way he wavered right after only seemed to confirm Takumi's suspicions. "I'm perfectly fine! The last thing I want from you is your concern!" Takumi watched the other steady himself with his desk, but despite that the glare Eito shot his way was no less scathing. "If you want to help me, you should get back to your desk and finish the report from our expedition a week ago. It was due two days ago you know!"
Now that got Takumi to duck his head and take another step back, he'd definitely put that particular report off, mostly because there was so much to go over with it. But before he could open his mouth and try to come up with a viable excuse, Eito cut him off again.
"Useless as always Takumi. Too incompetent to even finish a simple report. Put it on my desk, I'll get to it once I'm back, I need some fresh air." Anyone else may have taken it for hostility, but Takumi knew Eito better than that. Still, he didn't get to ponder the situation for much longer, as he watched Eito move away from his desk, taking one wobbly step, then another, before Aotsuki's legs seemed to give in underneath him.
Part of Takumi was glad they still did regular training exercises, considering it kept his skills sharp and his reflexes quick, otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to leap to catch the other, managing to grab Eito just before he crumpled to the floor. But now that he had one arm around the other and helping him stand back up, something else made itself all too apparent.
"You're burning up!" His brow furrowed with concern, especially when Eito only really glanced at him, his face slowly shifting from red to green, something that his presence probably wasn't helping. Takumi couldn't help but pull a face at the reaction. "Please don't throw up on me again."
Eito struggled weakly, a hand clamped over his mouth and the other on top of Takumi's that was sitting at his waist, clearly debating on prying it off of himself even if it meant falling back onto the floor.
After a few moments, Eito's nausea seemed to settle a little. He took deep, shuddering breaths which quickly devolved into a cough that had his chest rattling in a way that Takumi couldn't help but find alarming. Even when he settled, he hung limply in Takumi's hold, a shiver running through his body that Takumi wouldn't have missed even if he wasn't holding him. "Okay, executive decision, I'm bringing you to Yugamu."
"Absolutely not-!" Eito tried to protest, writhing to get away from Takumi, but all it ended up doing was costing him energy he didn't have. It was hard to miss the way his legs were shaking or the feverish flush that had taken over his face. Takumi simply adjusted his hold, the arm around the other tightening slightly.
"Either you come willingly, or I'll have to carry you there. Your call, Aotsuki."
That seemed to do the trick, as whatever argument Eito clearly had on his tongue seemed to die the moment he thought about being carried around. There was a beat before he grumbled quietly, refusing to meet Takumi's eyes, but also not putting up any further resistance to being guided out of their shared office and down the hall of the building they resided in.
"Seems like a classic, if slightly bad, case of the flu to me. I gave him some meds that'll help combat it, but he'll probably be woozy for a while. With some rest it'll go away fairly quickly, though it's gotta be actual bedrest, and not brooding over paperwork while sitting in bed."
Eito scowled, pointedly looking away from Yugamu as he was chided. Takumi merely tilted his head, but nodded after a moment. "Don't worry, I'll make sure he sticks to bedrest."
It caused Yugamu to chuckle as he moved across the room, digging through his medicine cabinet, grabbing a few bottles without even checking the labels. Takumi had to wonder if he was really that familiar with all of the medicines, or if he was perhaps going off of muscle memory.
"If you think you're up for the task. I can always let you borrow some of the restraints I have, I'm sure a pair of handcuffs would look lovely on Aotsuki~"
Takumi quickly threw his hands up, shaking his head. "Yeah, no. Just no. Eito's smart enough to stay in bed when he's sick, right?" Turning, he looked down at Eito, who sat limply in the chair Yugamu had pulled out for him. The other tilted his head up, giving Takumi a glare that was quickly ruined by another shiver running through his body, causing him to curl in on himself.
Takumi wanted to reach out, to put a hand on Eito's shoulder to maybe gently rub his back, anything to try and offer some comfort, even though he knew that his touch would bring anything but. Eito seemed to have gotten better at handling his disorder in recent years, but it was still more than abundantly clear that touch revolted him. The flinches whenever Takemaru slapped a hand on his shoulder after a successful expedition, the clear attempt to not throw up when Kako hugged him that one time he found something she had been desperately looking for.
Eito was certainly trying, for all of their sakes, but of course he couldn't simply turn off his disorder, as much as he may want to.
"...mi. Takumi? Hey, dude, did you get any of that?"
"Huh?" Takumi blinked, only now realizing that he had gotten lost in thought. Yugamu was looking at him, an eyebrow raised and a small bag of meds in his arms. "Are you sure you're not sick too? Should I keep both of you for observation? We could make it a whole thing, a fun little sleepover. I could always tor- massage the both of you to see if it would make you feel better."
The predatory grin on Omokage's face made him shiver, and he couldn't help but immediately shake his head. For just a moment, he waited for Eito to chime in, to tell Yugamu that his perversions were about as twisted as his visage. But when nothing came, Takumi couldn't help but furrow his brow and turn to look at the other.
It seemed that the meds were starting to kick in. He almost looked like he was about to fall asleep, with how unfocused his eyes were and the way his head was tilted to the side. Visible shivers were still running down his spine, and it was obvious that he was trying to resist the temptation to curl in on himself. It struck Takumi that this was the first time he's ever really seen Eito sick before, despite all the years they've spent together by this point. Was this somehow the first time?
Not that he got terribly much time to mull it over. Not when he had more important matters at hand. "Yeah uh, no need for that, thanks Yugamu. I'll get Eito home and make sure he rests."
He reached out a hand, intending to help Eito stand, fully expecting him to sneer at him for the action. But when Eito merely stared at it for a moment before hesitantly putting his own in it, Takumi realized that he must be more out of it than previously anticipated. Still, he wasn't going to argue with a cooperative Aotsuki. He tried to pull the other to his feet, but found himself lunging forward and missing when Eito almost immediately crumpled to the floor with a surprised noise, staring up at Takumi with confusion.
"Oh my, seems that between fever and the medication it's messing with his coordination more than we thought. Are you sure you don't want to leave him here for observation? I doubt he'll make it back home on his own anyway."
Yugamu was right, by all means Eito would likely be safer staying in the medical wing, and it wasn't like Takumi didn't trust Omokage-
Okay, well, maybe he could have more trust in the other, but Takumi also knew that Eito wouldn't be happy to be left in anyone's care, medical knowledge or not. Not to mention, he knew how uncomfortable the other got in medical environments, so leaving him here didn't seem like the best idea.
"No, it's fine. I'll just....carry him home. I don't think Eito would be happy if he woke up here later." Takumi shook his head, and with Yugamu's help, got Eito back up and into the chair. He couldn't help but be concerned at just how limply the other hung in their arms for a bit, not even having the energy to tell them not to touch him.
"Alright, if you're sure about that. You know where to find me if you end up changing your mind. You know I won't mind taking him off your hands."
"Yes, but no, thanks. Just, help me get him on my back?" Takumi rolled his eyes at Yugamu's offer, he appreciated it, knowing the other was just trying to be helpful in his own away, but he didn't really trust anyone with Eito. He'd just take care of the other himself, it was better that way. With Omokage's help, he hoisted the taller man onto his back, Eito's arms loosely draped around his neck and his feverish face almost buried in his hair. Making sure to have a secure hold on his legs, he gave Yugamu a nod. "We'll be off. I'll let you know if anything happens."
"Got it, take care." Yugamu opened the door for him, and just a moment later, they were off.
The trek back to their lodgings wasn't terribly far, luckily enough. But as Takumi slowly made his way through the quiet streets with Eito on his back, he couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu. Buildings passed them by as he walked, the reconstruction efforts having turned what was once nothing but ruins back into a bustling city for both futurians and humans alike.
"Wh-What...? Where am I...? What happened?"
Takumi felt the other stir, the arms around his shoulders tightening for a moment before Eito seemed to become more aware of his surroundings. The retching noise that followed wasn't as welcomed however, and for just a moment Takumi debated simply dropping Eito on the ground to avoid having the other vomit down his back. Luckily it didn't get that far, as Eito seemed to settle after a few moments, although he could feel how stiff he was, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.
"Sorry, I know it's probably not the most comfortable. The meds kinda had you knocked out and I figured you'd rather be in your own room rather than staying in the medical wing with Omokage. How are you feeling? We're almost there, think you can hold out?"
There was a pause, and for just a moment Takumi thought the other would start fighting him on being carried again, or maybe Eito was debating throwing up after all, but instead, he got his answer in the form of a soft voice almost mumbling against his shoulder. "I-I think so... I'm a little woozy, but I should be fine..."
Once again, Takumi was slammed with the feeling of a situation he's been in before. Carrying Aotsuki through the streets of a city, having the other's arms around his shoulders, depending on him...it was almost like...
The moment it struck him, he couldn't help but snort. The noise caught Eito's attention, and while he couldn't see him, Takumi could practically feel the raised eyebrow directed at him.
"Sorry, sorry. This entire situation just...y'know. We've been in it before. Well, I've been, I guess. Time travel stuff."
"Right...the other Eito. So you put him through this as well?"
At least Eito sounded a little more lucid, though Takumi couldn't help but huff at the question. "It's not like I knew! You- he didn't exactly make it known that he thought all of his were gross monsters. Not to mention, I didn't exactly have a choice. There were Invaders everywhere, and if we didn't find him when we did, he probably would have died for good..." And it probably would have changed the outcome of the entire war. It probably would have made Takumi never consider traveling back in time in the first place. He often found himself contemplating it, how things would have changed, but he had no desire to struggle through these 100 Days again, not when the future was finally starting to look bright.
"...would you still have looked for him, if you knew?"
The question completely caught Takumi off-guard, especially with how small Eito's voice suddenly sounded. The arms around his neck tightened slightly, almost like the other was afraid Takumi would try and toss him to the ground for his words.
"...probably, yeah. I mean, we were friends. Even if I didn't understand him - didn't understand you - for the longest time, I couldn't just let him die out there."
Eito didn't respond, at least not for a while, but Takumi didn't particularly feel like elaborating either. So instead, he simply trudged onward in silence, feeling some of the tension bleed out of the man on his back.
"You're such a nice guy, Takumi. Really... just too nice...."
Before he could think to respond, he felt Eito's head slump against his shoulder, the other going slack against him. It caused Takumi to stutter in his pace for a moment, but he caught himself quickly, making sure that Eito wouldn't fall before continuing the trek home.
"You're one to talk, Aotsuki."
"I just don't know what to do with that child. He's so....creepy."
Even beneath the distortion, Eito would always recognize the voice of his mother. It was muffled, like she was trying to keep him from hearing.
"The way he looks at me, like I'm some monster, I can't stand it anymore!"
He tried to turn, to open his eyes, but his body felt too heavy, his limbs paralyzed so he could do nothing but lay there and listen.
"I've tried. I really have. But nothing I do works."
His breathing quickened, his pulse started to race. He remembered this conversation.
"I don't think I can do it anymore."
No. Not this. Anything but this.
"Eicchan."
Her voice was clearer now, like she had stepped into the room, but Eito didn't care, not when he knew what was about to happen.
"Eicchan, listen, Mommy has to go take care of a few things, okay?"
It wasn't. It wasn't okay. Please.
"I'll be back, so listen to the nurses in the meantime, yes?"
No. No no nononono-
"Be a good boy."
A sob tore itself out of his throat before he could stop it. It was a fake memory, a mere bit of programming implanted in him, one that was faulty, no less. So why was it tearing him apart all over again?
Hot tears were rolling down his cheeks, his body shaking as he sobbed. He wanted her to come back, wanted her to tell him that she didn't mean any of those words, that she cared. Even if she was fake, Eito wanted the comfort her memory could bring. He wanted her to try and understand him, even if she struggled. Even if it felt repulsive, he found himself missing the touch he remembered, slimy, awful fingers running through his hair, leaving behind residue that revolted him. And despite everything, it was a comfort, because it was someone he should have been able to trust-
"...to?"
How strange, hadn't he just thought about how he'd never feel this again?
"Eito...?"
Yet, there it was. Those weird tendrils, messing with his hair, a cold palm pressed against his forehead. It should be disgusting, and yet he couldn't help but lean into it.
There was a beat of silence, and then the sensation disappeared, and while the cold feeling on his forehead stayed, the loss of touch caused him to panic once again.
Finally, he managed to blink his eyes open. His vision was blurry, but he could make out someone at his side. At first, he thought it was his mother, maybe she'd come back after all, maybe he'd been good enough for her to decide he was worth the trouble.
"Sorry...did I wake you?"
The voice made him furrow his brow. It was familiar, but it wasn't his mother. He blinked a few more times, trying to clear his vision. The blurry white blob slowly took more shape, and the moment he caught sight of a vibrant red, his brain made the connection.
"...Takumi."
Of course it would be Takumi. What other person's touch could ever be comforting to him? He slowly turned his head, only to feel something sliding off of his forehead and land on the pillow next to him.
"Ah- wait, here, let me-"
He watched the other pick up what he now realized was a washcloth, before putting it back on his forehead. The feeling of it almost made his eyes flutter shut again, but they flew back open when he heard the rustle of the other turning to leave.
"Get some rest, alright? I still have to take care of a few things, so I'll be ba-"
Eito moved before he fully understood what he was doing. His body felt like it was made of lead, but that didn't stop him from lunging for the other, fingers now curled into the back of Takumi's shirt in a desperate grip.
"Please-" he was interrupted by a coughing fit, his voice raspy. "...don't…leave yet…?"
There was a beat of silence as Takumi stood frozen, Eito refusing to lighten his grip on his clothes. He knew it was silly, it was downright stupid, but the idea of being left alone right now was more terrifying than any human could ever be.
Finally, Takumi moved, a warm hand settling over his own, slowly untangling it from the vice grip he had on the back of the other's shirt. The touch should have been disgusting, but instead, Eito found himself slightly soothed by the contact, even if it still sent an unpleasant shiver down his spine.
"I can stay for a while, if that's what you want." Takumi finally turned, although Eito wasn't sure how he felt about the other helping him get settled back into bed. The touch at his hand had been fine, but feeling those slimy tendrils at his shoulder as he draped the blanket back over him went right back into being disgusting.
Still, he couldn't help but appreciate Takumi moving to sit on the side of the bed, those warm hands returning to replace the washcloth for a third time now. "I'm worried about that fever...how are you feeling?"
"....about as bad as you look."
Somehow, his answer caused Takumi to break out in quiet laughter, although Eito couldn't exactly be annoyed at it, not when the sound wasn't as grating as usual. He wouldn't call it pleasant, but with everything clouded in a curtain of fever and sickness, perhaps his senses were already messed up too much for his disorder to have much room to twist things.
Once he finally settled down, Takumi shifted, turning to look at him properly. Between not wearing his glasses and everything else, Eito had to squint slightly to make out much of his face, but even he couldn't miss the concern in those vibrant eyes. "You scared me in the office, you know. You could have told me you were sick."
"I've been sick plenty of times, and it's always been just fine."
"That's not better!" Eito's eyes went wide at Takumi's outburst, despite all the years they've worked together by now, it always took him by surprise by just how much Sumino cared about him. "I don't want you to work yourself until collapse you know. That's not gonna help anyone. Next time you get sick, you better tell me."
Takumi's tone of voice left no room for arguments, even if Eito wanted to. "Fine, fine. But that does mean you'll have to take care of your own paperwork for once, General Sumino."
The flash of despair on the other's face was priceless, not that he got to enjoy it for terribly long when another wave of dizziness hit him. The room began to spin slightly, and for a moment he thought he'd have to throw up.
"Eito...?"
He could hear Takumi, and a moment later, he felt a warmth settle over one of his hands. Usually, he'd shy away from the touch, and it still felt awful in a way, but it was a familiar awful feeling, one that grounded him. Slowly, the room stopped spinning and he relaxed back against the pillow with a heavy sigh.
"Are you okay...?"
Cracking an eye open, he could see the blurry outline of Takumi leaning closer, and while part of him was utterly revolted and his stomach turned, another part still preferred this disgusting feeling over the one that came from him being sick. He hesitated before giving Takumi's hand a squeeze, something that seemed to startle the other, considering how he flinched back at the unexpected response. "...I'm fine."
Another beat of silence, before Eito finally gave in, moving his hand to carefully intertwine his fingers with Takumi's. The sensation was unpleasant, slimy tendrils wrapping around his fingers in a way that made him want to gag, but it was also familiar in a good way. "...will you stay a little longer?"
He could see Takumi glancing down at their intertwined fingers, the dumbfounded expression on his face not lost even through the layer of rot that Eito could still make out. But the disgustingly soft expression that followed it up had him turn his head to the side to avoid looking at it for too long, even if he could practically hear it in his answer.
"...sure. I can stay."
There was something about Takumi's answer, the way he gently squeezed his hand in return, that made him relax. Like a knot that he'd been picking at this entire time finally coming undone. He still felt awful, his throat raw, his head throbbing, but at least the feeling of the other's hand in his own allowed him to focus on something else, instead.
"...remember to wash...your hands later... Even an idiot like you-" he interrupted himself with a yawn "...can catch a cold..." Finally, he allowed his eyes to fall closed, still focused on Takumi's presence, even as he started to drift back off.
"Eitooooo....I'm dying....." Takumi whined from where he was laid up in bed, sniffling obnoxiously a moment later.
"Die faster then." Eito sneered down at him. Contrary to his words, he was cutting an apple for the other to eat. "If you'd just done as I said and washed your hands we wouldn't be in this mess."
"Couldn't leave you alone...." Came the mumbled reply from beneath the blankets. Eito merely rolled his eyes but placed the plate with the apples on the nightstand.
"You're unbelievable. Here, eat. I still have more of your messes to clean up."
Takumi watched the other leave, shivering underneath the covers. When he finally mustered the energy to grab one of the apple slices, he realized they'd been cut into the shape of a little bunny.
"Heh...love you too, Eito."