Work Text:
Jo knew something was wrong with his body when he woke up sore despite yesterday being an uneventful day. As bright rays penetrated through the windows, he reached out for his phone with bleary eyes and called in sick with a groggy voice. His supervisor, as understanding as always, already suspected that his hardworking employee was not on his best today when the former did not see him online.
"Get someone to help you if you need anything. Knowing you, you're probably gonna carry this all on your own. Aren't you?"
Jo let out a noncommittal hum before his supervisor continued, "Anyways, rest well. I'll update you on the tasks once you recover."
The young man dropped his phone to the empty side of the queen-sized bed, sheets feeling cold to the touch as his boyfriend was away on a business trip. Yudai often took the time to check in with his partner daily, whether through texts or calls, regardless of the distance between them. But Jo had to admit that he was missing his boyfriend a little more today, body craving for his lover's warmth to cure the sickness away. Nevertheless, Jo did not intend to let Yudai know of his ailments, not when the latter was at the other side of the world. The last thing Jo wanted was to have Yudai worrying endlessly about him over a condition Jo believed it would pass eventually.
The sweltering heat was getting to him. Not sure whether it was the intense rays or his impending fever, Jo struggled to leave the bed to get any medications he could find in the shared apartment. Using the walls as support, Jo dragged his feet to the kitchen for the first aid, only to realise that the pills he needed were absent. He did not have the energy to curse under his breath as he took a cup of water instead, hoping the hydration would soothe his increasing body heat.
The bedroom was too far for his liking, Jo thought, as he made his way to the couch before crashing head first on the soft furniture. Too tired to shift his position, Jo closed his eyes, hoping a nap would help to alleviate this pain.
By the time he regained consciousness, he felt the soft duvet covering him in the barely lit room. He then sensed a figure beside him, supporting his body to sit upright on the bed. Despite his hazy vision, Jo could tell Yudai was here as the former parted his lips, silently accepting the pills and water that his partner was feeding him.
"Are you hungry?" Jo shook his head, not having the appetite to eat due to his sickness, though he felt a little lighter before.
"Give me a moment." With his vision cleared, Jo noticed his partner was still on his work clothes as Yudai shifted the former's body to lie down again. "I'll cook some porridge for you, so you don't end up feeling hungry in the middle of the night."
Jo did not protest as Yudai placed the damp towel on his forehead, with the latter leaving the bedroom after pecking his lover's cheek. Jo basked in the warmth he had been waiting for, though it lasted for a few seconds before he felt the room grew cold as he craved for his boyfriend's warmth again. He was glad to see Yudai after two weeks of no physical contact, yet Jo was concerned whether his partner rushed here, toying with the possibility that his boyfriend abandoned his work when Jo took too long to reply to Yudai's usual check-ins.
When Yudai returned to their bedroom, Jo spotted the man already in his casual white tee and shorts as Yudai brought in the food he promised. Jo peeled the towel off his forehead as he slowly got up, but that prompted Yudai to quickly placed the porridge down to support Jo in leaning against the headrest. Giving space for Yudai who was settling next to him, Jo was about to take the bowl from his partner's hands to eat on his own, but Yudai pulled back as he frowned.
"Let me take care of you." Yudai scooped a spoonful before nudging the porridge to his lover's lips. "Open up."
Jo managed to swallow a couple of servings before he raised his hand to push the bowl away, too full to continue eating. Setting the bowl on the nightstand, Yudai reached for the glass of water for the sick man to drink, before Yudai put the empty glass down and climbed over to his designated spot on their bed.
Placing the back of his palm on the younger's forehead, Yudai lightly sighed in relief before he said, "Temperature's much better now."
Yudai scooted closer to his lover, arms wrapping around the delicate body by the side as he nuzzled Jo's exposed collarbone. Taking in a deep breath upon the contact, Jo had his palms resting on his boyfriend's forearm that covered his abdomen.
"Don't you miss me?"
A heavy pause, before Jo exhaled.
"... I do."
"Then why didn't you tell me you're sick?" Chin on his lover's shoulder, Yudai looked up to observe Jo, who had his eyes shut before the younger man faced his partner.
"I don't want you to be worried about me while you're away for work..."
"You know I—"
"—over something minor!" Jo quickly added, hoping that would justify his action. Yudai frowned deeper instead, opting to nibble on his lover's skin to vent his frustration.
"Yudai—" Jo gasped, squirming against his lover's hold, which led the latter to hug him tighter. It was only when he tapped on Yudai's forearm repeatedly did his lover stop, bearing a smirk so obvious in the dimly lit room as Jo felt his ears all warmed up.
"Yudai, please..." Jo begged. "I hate to see you drop everything for me when I can handle it on my own."
"That didn't seem like it when I came back earlier," the man retorted. "You were unconscious even as I tried to wake you up from the couch."
Jo looked away, suddenly finding the door in front of him more interesting than admitting that he had no words to refute his lover's argument. Hearing the man next to him sigh, Jo did not resist when Yudai guided the younger's jaw with two fingers, stopping the movement only when Jo was eye to eye with him.
"Jo..." Yudai leaned forward to rest against the said man's forehead. "Can't you tell that you're so precious to me?"
His intense gaze was too much for Jo at the moment, with the latter found himself darting his eyes away but came back to look at his beloved partner when Yudai brought his palm up to his lover's face, thumb grazing his cheek in slow circular motions.
"I'm sorry," Jo muttered with his eyes shut, because what else could he say? He slowly lifted his eyelids after feeling a peck on his lips.
"I'm not asking for an apology." Yudai maintained his gaze on his lover. "I just wish you can rely on me more, you know. What if you're dead if I didn't rush back here? I can't bring my dear back to life again, as much as I want to."
"Over a fever?" Jo chuckled. "You're being dramatic."
Yudai pouted.
"Call me dramatic, whatever. You're the one I love the most. Of course I'm willing to do anything for you."
Jo lowered his gaze, processing those words quietly in his head. The stark difference between Yudai and him — Yudai, willing to do anything for his love while Jo, accepting whatever his lover was giving him only because expressing more of his needs would be too selfish.
"Hey." Yudai cupped both of Jo's cheeks, squishing them for a moment in hopes to get the latter return to the present. "You're thinking loud now. Why don't you say it to me instead?"
"I..."
"Say that you miss me. Say that you need me," Yudai paused. "Say that you love me."
"I love you!" A lone tear escaped from the younger's glistened eyes. "I love you and yet, I feel that I might ask too much from you."
"Jo..."
Unable to stop more tears trickling down his cheeks, Jo found solace in his lover's embrace as he hid his sorrows using the latter's chest. It was too raw for him to admit, with Jo blaming it on the fever, but he appreciated how Yudai did not say anything further. Running his fingers through his lover's hair, Yudai gently patted Jo's back in a soothing pattern, waiting for his muffled sobs to subside. When Jo finally released the embrace to face Yudai, the latter reached out to wipe the remaining tears off his lover's tender visage.
"Feeling better now?" Jo nodded sheepishly.
"Come, let's sleep." Yudai ushered the younger to lie down with him. "It's been a rough day for you."
Jo acquiesced to the suggestion, feeling too awake to be sleeping at the moment, though he willingly embraced his lover with his head tucked under Yudai's chin. As both of them nestled into the pillows, Jo allowed himself to be anchored by Yudai's steady heartbeat, lingering tension slowly dissolved from the former's body before Jo succumbed to a peaceful slumber.
When the first faint hints of dawn began to soften the edges of the room, Jo was still in Yudai's arms, stirring gently from his sleep. With his fever fully subsided, Jo was about to get up to satisfy his hunger when Yudai tightened his hold around the younger man.
"Food," Jo mumbled against Yudai's collarbone, though he did not fight the embrace. A sleepy chuckle was his only answer as Yudai buried his face in Jo’s messy hair, inhaling the sweet scent of his lover's sweat. For a few more minutes, hunger could wait; the comforting warmth of Yudai's hold was far too good to leave.