Work Text:
❤️
Arisu was going insane. Somehow Usagi had convinced him to go on a weekend hiking trip with him. Objectively, the trip was fun. He had gotten into much better shape after their time in the Borderlands and honestly it had been nice to get away from the noise of the city— see the stars again.
But through the entire vacation something felt wrong and now Arisu’s knee was bouncing impatiently on the train ride home. That’s the issue though wasn’t it. Because even as he walked through the door to their apartment, he wasn’t really home yet.
Chishiya wasn’t there.
He was at work, one of those terrible 36 hour shifts Arisu couldn’t understand being legal. So not only had he already spent two whole days separated from him, he would have to wait another 24 hours to fully reunite.
It was the longest the two of them had gone without seeing each other and he hated it. The fact that the trail had limited reception so they couldn’t really chat only exasperated the situation. Usagi laughed at him, joking about him having withdrawal symptoms from a weekend away from his boyfriend. Arisu couldn’t help but worry though, and given what they went through in the Borderlands he felt justified.
Fortunately Chishiya seemed to be just as anxious to see him, because the moment they could actually have a conversation over text they arranged for the two of them to video call on one of Chishiya’s few breaks.
When there was still 10 minutes left before the time Chishiya said he might be free, Arisu set up at the table. He turned on the camera and shifted the phone around the table looking for the best spot. There was a lot to consider. He wanted to make sure he could see Chishiya, of course he needed to be seen in the frame, but he also need to be able to eat without worrying about knocking over the phone.
Arisu was practically buzzing when he got the message that he was on the way to his office and would call as soon as he got settled. He straightened everything for the thousandth time. He knew it was irrational but he missed Chishiya so much.
Finally, finally, his screen lit up with the request for a video call and he answered as fast as he could- his heart doing something concerning as Chishiya came into focus. He looked so soft. His cat-like eyes tired and gentle. Hair pulled back and a bit frizzy from the scrub cap he must have quickly pulled from his head. It was the most beautiful image he had seen in days.
“Shiya!”
Chishiya smiled softly. “Hi Ryouhei, how was your trip?”
“Long. So long.” Arisu groaned. “I don’t know why I agreed to go. I missed you so much!”
“I missed you too.”
He sighed, bringing up a hand to rub his eyes before reaching of camera to grab something. When he saw what it was Arisu raised an eyebrow.
“An energy drink? I thought you hated those.”
“Usually do, but I need the boost and the line for coffee was too long.” Chishiya said after taking a long drink. “I don’t have much time before my next case. I’m sorry this is going to be a short call.”
Arisu hummed, and picked up a piece of fruit. “That’s okay. I’m just happy I get to see you at all. What’s for lunch?”
Chishiya lifted the neon can. “This and the 3 cookies I took from the birthday celebration I was made to attend.”
Arisu blinked owlishly at the screen. “You can’t be serious.”
“Extremely.” Chishiya huffed in amusement. “Was called into a meeting and surprise! Singing and sweets. At least they went to the good bakery.”
“Not— That’s not a meal Shuntarou!”
He just rolled his eyes. “It’s fine Ryo. Like I said, I don’t have much time. If the line for coffee was to long and I’ve resorted to the monstrosities you used to drink, do you really think I had time to find and eat a full meal?”
“Not a full meal but… Is it because of—”
“No. This would be my lunch even if we didn’t call. I promise.” Chishiya said. “It’s better than most shifts. I couldn't begin to tell you how many times I’ve not been able to eat at all.”
“That doesn’t make it better! Shun… you need to eat real food.” Arisu insisted, horrified.
Chishiya just sighed. “Not much to do about it now mon Coeur, this is what I have.” His eyes flicked up to the wall. “Now, I only have 5 minutes until I have to go. Would you like to continue discussing my eating habits? We haven’t gotten to talk in days I’m sure this was on the top of your list~”
“Only 5 minutes? Shiya…”
“I know, Ryo. I have a few days off once I get home tomorrow at least. We can stay in bed all day.” He said softly. “Or if there is something you’d like to do?”
Arisu stared longingly at the screen and decided to put his concerns to the side for the moment. “I just want you.”
“And you’ll have me.” Chishiya said, smiling. “Now, can you please tell me about your hike?”
5 minutes passed far faster than seemed fair, and Chishiya was pulled away from their call into another surgery. After the video ended, Arisu was once again left alone with his thoughts. He couldn’t help but fixate on what Chishiya had eaten for lunch. Even more alarming was that three cookies and an energy drink was ‘better than most shifts.’
Yes, Arisu often saw him leave for work without a lunch, but when he had questioned it Chishiya said that he could get food from the cafeteria there. He failed to mention that his shifts were so busy that he didn’t have time to do so.
Chishiya always made sure that when Arisu was hyper focused on a project that he would take breaks to eat, Yet he was so casual about the fact that on the average day at work he just… didn’t. Arisu felt so guilty that he had never noticed.
With another surgery already in progress and another 24 hours to go before he could go home, who knew when he would have another break— let alone one where he’d be able to find something actually nutritious. Now that he knew, Arisu wasn’t going to let him go hungry. He looked at his lunch and the bag where what remained of the trail snacks Usagi had made him were still packed away when the solution finally came to him.
He wasn’t sure when the next time Chishiya would be able to step away would be, but when he was Arisu would be ready.
♦️
Chishiya was absolutely exhausted by the time he made it back to his office. There was a complication in the surgery and so something that was usually so straightforward for him quickly turned into a race against time that he, thankfully, won.
But now the crash from adrenaline was hitting and a headache was starting to make itself known. Stumbling into the call room, he grabbed a bottle of water and sunk into the sofa as he drained it and sighed. At least he was half way through the shift. In just under 18 hours he could call a ride and when he finally made it home, Arisu would be there.
Fortunately there was another surgeon with him for the night. With him just off a case and none other scheduled, Chishiya finally had time to relax. He checked his phone and frowned to see that there were no new messages from Arisu but he assumed he must also be tired having just got home.
He couldn’t really think of anything he desperately needed to do at the moment, so Chishiya closed his eyes in an attempt to get in a cat nap when his work phone started ringing.
Groaning, he answered. “You’ve reached Doctor Chishiya.”
“Hello. Sorry to bother you but we have a bit of a situation up here in the lobby.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Yes, yes. We were just going to call security, but thought we might as well call since they would ask if we did when they get here. We are truly sorry for wasting your time. ”
Chishiya brought a hand to his temple. Why would they need him for a security issue? Still he kept his voice calm. “No problem at all. What is it?”
“There is someone here asking for you.”
“Oh? Family of one of my patients?”
The woman laughed. “No, just some guy with a cooler asking for you. Of course we have been telling him we can’t give him your information. But he’s persistent, asked if we could show him your office to drop it off.”
“That is… odd.” Chishiya said.
“Right? We’ll have security get him off campus but you might want to be careful when you head out. He’s delusional. Claims he’s your boyfriend.”
Chishiya’s eyes snapped open. “Arisu is here?”
“Wait you know this guy? Should we have security hold him instead? If he’s stalking you we can get the police to—”
“Do not call security.” Chishiya snapped before reeling himself back in. “Yes he’s my boyfriend, I’ll come down to meet him. Is he hurt?”
“Oh. Oh my god. I am so sorry. We didn’t— No, he doesn't seem injured, he just wants to bring you… I am so sorry Doctor Chishiya. We’ll ma—”
Chishiya hung up the phone as he rushed out of the room, exhaustion forgotten. They said he wasn’t hurt but he wouldn’t be satisfied until he had examined Arisu himself. Why else would he have come to the hospital while he was on shift? Even if he wasn’t injured it had to have been an emergency.
Thankfully the elevator opened the moment he pressed the button and it wasn’t long until he turned the corner to the front desk. Sure enough, Arisu was there with an alarmed expression on his face as Higuchi and Miura were apologizing profusely to him.
Arisu must have caught the movement, because almost instantly wide doe eyes snapped to him and his expression morphed into pure joy.
“Shiya!” He called excitedly before glancing back to the women.
“Hi Ryouhei.” He couldn’t help the fond smile that tugged at his lips when one of the receptionists choked. “While I am happy to see you, I do need to ask—”
He was cut off by a rather large cooler suddenly mere inches from his face.
“Food.”
“What?”
“I brought you food.”
“I can see that but why—”
Arisu narrowed his eyes. “Have you eaten anything since we called?”
“No, I just got out of surgery.”
“But you are free now?”
“For the moment ye—”
“Perfect. Now you have food!”
“Putain de merde” He muttered under his breath. “Ryouhei I—”
Arisu rolled his eyes. “You can speak all the French you want, I’m not leaving until you take it.”
Chishiya was momentarily speechless.
“Doctor Chishiya is French?!” He heard Higuchi whisper from behind the desk, bringing him back to reality.
He glanced around the lobby to see several staff members pretending not to watch. “Fine. I’ll take it just…” Chishiya sighed defeated as he reached for Arisu’s hand.
Before he could lead him to the privacy of his office,however, Arisu spun on his heels to wave to the women. “Thank you so much. I’m sorry for the trouble!”
“Come on. I don’t know how long I’ll be free.” Chishiya pulled him towards the elevators.
As they were waiting for the doors to close the voices of the receptionists echoed.
“Oh my god. He’s adorable!”
“His name was Arisu, right?”
“Yeah! Oh! We should email the whole team so everyo—”
Chishiya groaned and let his head fall back against the cool wall. “Wonderful. I’m going to be pestered for days about this.”
“Sorry.” Arisu unapologetically giggled. “I would have called but you were headed into surgery.”
“It’s fine.” He sighed. “Let’s just…”
The doors opened and Arisu followed him quietly through the halls and into the privacy of the call room.
Upon entering Arisu, went immediately to the fridge. He began unpacking an absolutely obscene amount of food, setting aside a couple and otherwise stocking the previously empty appliance.
“Ryo… You didn’t need to do all this. I said it was fine.”
Arisu pouted. “You said you couldn’t eat because you didn’t have time to go get food. This way you don’t need to.”
He was overwhelmed with affection at the lengths Arisu had gone to. “I’m sorry I—”
“Less talking more eating.” Arisu said flatly as he shoved an onigiri into Chishiya’s mouth.