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Entry tags:
And Even After
Pairing: Sakumoto
Genre: Sick!fic, fluff
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction.
Summary: They had been dancing around each other for years, alternating between love and hate, and every degree of feeling contained within those two extremes. It was tempting to ignore the message and pull the covers over his head, but he never could resist when it came to Jun.
It was almost 2am, and Sho had finally collapsed into bed after a long, long, day. It had taken all of his willpower just to bring himself to brush his teeth and shower, before dragging himself into the bedroom and tossing himself down onto the mattress. Even Sho’s very bones seemed to ache with tiredness and his eyes felt as if they were filled with grit. He vaguely tried to remember the last time he’d slept for more than three consecutive hours. The comments about his appearance on Zero over the past few weeks had been harsh, but true. He knew that he had dark circles under his eyes - he saw them every time he looked in the mirror.
Drifting into the calming space between waking and sleeping, Sho wriggled his head until it was in the perfect position on the pillow. The room was a little cool, just the way he liked it, since it allowed him to wrap himself up in his favourite blanket. The lavender oil in his diffuser filled the room with its gentle fragrance and soothed his frayed nerves.
Sighing softly, Sho closed his eyes and let his mind wander to a pleasant place. He was just picturing himself diving for clams in a warm, turquoise shaded sea, when his phone buzzed waspishly from the bedside table. Cracking open one eye, Sho saw that it was Jun and he immediately jerked awake.
They had been dancing around each other for years, alternating between love and hate, and every degree of feeling contained within those two extremes. Although things had been better between them lately, Jun hadn't called him outside of work, for over a month. It was tempting to ignore the message and pull the covers over his head, but he never could resist when it came to Jun.
The message was one simple word, which catapulted Sho out of bed, and into his clothes without a moment's hesitation.
“SICK”
+++
Tapping his fingers impatiently on the steering wheel while waiting for the lights to change, Sho caught a glimpse of himself in the rear vision mirror. He looked exactly like someone who’d been dragged out of bed at 2 in the morning. He raked his fingers through his hair in an attempt to repair some of the damage, and then wondered why he was even bothering. Sho hated that he always wanted to look his best when Jun was around, even under these circumstances.
Jun hadn't responded to Sho’s multiple attempts to call him back, making Sho’s foot press down harder on the accelerator than was probably safe. He was trying to quell the panic building in his chest as he navigated his way around the fortunately, almost deserted, streets leading to Jun’s apartment.
If the message had come from anyone else, Sho wouldn't have reacted in the same extreme fashion. It wasn't only because, as much as he hated to admit it, he harboured deep feelings for Jun. Everyone knew that Jun was as stubborn as hell, and would never admit to having any weaknesses, illness included. This meant that if Jun was reaching out for help, especially from Sho, then things must be bad.
+++
Although Jun had given him the key to his apartment, Sho had never used it. He’d accepted it during one of the times they were doing well, as a token of Jun’s trust towards him. Shortly after, they’d argued over something insignificant, and Jun had given him the cold shoulder. Sho admitted that the fight was his fault too; he’d done little to repair the rift afterwards, allowing them to drift apart once again.
The key chain was decorated with a diamante studded flying Pegasus, an inside joke between them, that made a smile spread across Sho’s face whenever he looked at it.
Right now, Sho was having trouble fitting the key into Jun’s lock. His fingers were trembling uncontrollably, and he almost dropped them on the doormat a few times before he finally had the door open.
“Jun? It's me.” Sho hung his coat on the wooden coat rack and slipped off his shoes. The house slippers that Jun had gifted him with were sitting in their usual place in the genkan. They were fuzzy and comfortable and had cartoon bowls of ramen embroidered on the front. Sho wondered if Jun always kept them there, or if he'd placed them there in anticipation of Sho’s visit.
All the lights were still on, in spite of the late hour, but the living room and kitchen were empty, and so was the glassed-in balcony where Jun’s bonsai lived. The kitchen was unusually messy, with dirty tea cups and glasses littering the sink.
The door was closed, and there was no light coming from within the room, but Sho moved towards the bedroom anyway. There was nowhere else in the apartment that Jun could be. “Jun, are you okay?”
The muffled groan Sho received in response propelled him into the room without knocking.
+++
The bedroom was in total darkness, so Sho flicked on the dim night light with the stained glass shade that Jun kept plugged into the socket near the doorway; he didn't want the sudden brightness of full light to hurt Jun’s eyes.
The room was in a messy state, with crumpled sweat soaked sheets on the bed and clothes scattered across the floor. There was a humidifier running on high, filled with antiseptic tea tree oil. The room was far too hot, so Sho opened the window a crack, to allow some fresh air to circulate.
Jun was obviously in the bathroom, and by the sound of it he wasn't well at all.
“I'm coming in, okay?” Sho asked, but not really asking. He was going into the bathroom, no matter what Jun said.
“Stay away,” Jun yelled desperately. “I'm gross.”
“You’re always gross, so don't think you can shock me,” Sho said, in an attempt to put Jun at ease as he pushed the bathroom door open slowly.
Jun was slumped on the floor next to the toilet; his face and eyes red raw from vomiting. His face was covered with a sheen of sweat, which had also soaked through his hair, plastering it onto his forehead and sticking it to his scalp.
Sho knelt down next to Jun, “How long have you been like this?” It was true that Jun hadn't been around all day, but Sho had assumed that it just meant that Jun had a day off. It wasn't as if they kept track of each other's schedules at the moment.
“Since last night. I think I ate some bad sushi,” Jun mumbled.
“Have you seen a doctor?”
“My manager took me this morning.”
Sho had to control the urge to hunt Jun’s manager down, and ask him why he hadn't told him or the others that Jun was so ill. Getting angry wouldn't help Jun right now, when he obviously needed all the help Sho had to give. “And then he left you here alone?”
“He didn't know I was going to be here alone. I told him that I was going to phone someone to keep me company.”
“And how did that work out, as if I don't already know?”
“You know that I’m not comfortable with people being around me when I'm sick, unless I am really close to them.” The red flush on Jun’s cheeks deepened as he spoke.
The implication behind Jun’s words caused Sho’s cheeks to take on their own nervous bloom of colour. But Sho was suddenly reluctant to pursue this particular line of conversation; this was a subject that definitely required them both to be in full control of their faculties.
“Let me help you up.” Sho hesitated to touch Jun without permission, but he couldn't help lightly touching the hair plastered to Jun’s forehead.
“Aren’t you repulsed? I stink and am covered in splashes of vomit.” Jun blinked at Sho blearily and brushed Sho’s fingers away.
“I admit, you've looked, and smelt, better, but you can forget about trying to make me leave.”
They both knew that Jun wanted Sho there, or why else would he have messaged him?
+++
“Ow, it stings!” Jun wriggled unhappily in the tub, sloshing water onto the tiles.
“If you’d stay still, I wouldn't get the shampoo in your eyes.” Sho rinsed the suds off Jun’s face with a cup of clean water.
“You’re doing it deliberately,” Jun whined.
“I am not. And you’re being a big baby,” Sho scolded softly.
Jun glared and pouted at Sho’s words, but held his tongue. By the way he was leaning towards Sho, he was definitely enjoying the process a whole lot more than he was willing to admit.
While Jun was soaking for a few minutes more, Sho hastily changed the bedding and closed the window, since the air was much fresher. Jun loved to keep his apartment warmer than average, and he wouldn’t thank Sho for making his room resemble an ice box.
With all preparations complete, Sho went and retrieved a sleepy and grumpy Jun from the tub. It was somehow oddly intimate to towel down his naked body with the fluffiest towel Sho could find. Even though they had been having sex with each other for years, Jun had never been this vulnerable in front of Sho. Usually Jun would nonchalantly rise from bed and wrap his favourite robe around himself, covering his nakedness effortlessly as he headed to the bathroom afterwards. But this was Jun at his most unguarded, hair awry, skin flushed, all of his imperfections on display, and somehow Sho found himself almost breathless with lust at the sight.
+++
Jun’s kitchen was exactly as anyone would imagine, clinical, well designed, and stuffed full of the latest gadgets and appliances. The refrigerator contained a selection of fruits and vegetables (organic, of course) and the pantry was stocked with gluten free noodles and rice.
But as Sho rummaged for the ingredients to make Jun a simple rice porridge while Jun napped, he stumbled across a stack of treats hidden in a huge square box at the very back of the top cupboard. The jar would make any child squeal with excitement, and Sho smiled to himself as he ran his hands through the glittering rainbow of candy wrappers. There were cookies in there too, and potato chips and bags of sugary rainbow coloured popcorn. It was a relief to know that beneath Jun’s newly attained smooth and cool exterior, his childlike self remained. It took Sho right back to their first meeting, when the small, skinny, younger boy had offered Sho a candy with a trembling hand. The smile that Sho’s acceptance of the gift had produced on Jun’s face had stuck in Sho’s mind long after that day.
“Sho? Are you still there?” Jun’s voice was almost panicked as he shuffled in the direction of the kitchen. “You’ve been ages. You’d better not be wrecking my kitchen.”
Caught snooping, Sho hastily tried to shove the sweets back into the jar, but in his haste he knocked the container over, scattering the sweets across Jun’s black granite countertop. Even though there was no real reason to feel so guilty, Sho felt his cheeks colouring with embarrassment.
“You’re going through my stuff? How dare you.” Jun pushed Sho aside and scrambled to shove the treats back into the open container.
Jun’s eyes blazed with a mixture of shame and anger, leaving Sho confused and bewildered. “Jun, why do you feel like you have to hide this? It’s normal to want something to snack on now and again.”
“Because I have to be perfect. The public expects it, and you expect it of me too.” Jun slammed the lid on the box and reached up to shove it back on the top shelf, but dizziness made him wobble dangerously.
“Jun, perfection is overrated. Don't be so hard on yourself. I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel that way too.” Sho reached for Jun, wrapping his arms around his waist, and hugging him tightly against his chest. Jun practically growled, struggling against Sho’s grasp like an angry cat. “Let me go. You’ve always been good at that up until now. I’m not a little kid anymore and I am perfectly capable of looking after myself.”
“If you’re going to behave like this, then I’m leaving.” Instantly flaring into a bad temper himself, Sho went to retrieve his coat and shoes. Sho didn't know why Jun was flipping out over such a innocuous thing, and trying to pick a fight. He’d made sure that Jun was comfortable to the best of his abilities, and if Jun didn’t like it then he wasn’t going to stick around and argue. “I'll leave my key here, so you won't have to worry about me touching your stuff again.”
“No!” Jun’s eyes were filled with an unspoken plea, as he caught Sho by the sleeve and clung to him. “I need you, and not just because I’m sick.”
Sho paused, and allowed Jun to hold him in place, the red mist in front of his eyes clearing at the feel of Jun’s desperate touch. “I’m listening.”
“I need you, okay? I’ve always needed you, even if you don't need me.”
“Why do you say that like it's something to be ashamed of?” Sho stroked Jun’s cheek. “And what makes you think that I don't need you?”
“Apart from me giving you the key to my apartment and you never using it?”
“We had a fight. I didn't think you would want me here after that.”
“We always fight. It's what we do. It didn't mean that I didn't want you here, and it certainly didn't mean that I didn't want you in my life.” Jun’s voice was barely above as whisper and his face was blanched of all colour.
“I know you will probably punch me for this but…” Sho swept Jun into his arms and carried him, limp and unprotesting, back to the bedroom.
Jun remained floppy, and sat meekly on the edge of the mattress as Sho tried to undo the knot on the cord of Jun’s robe so he could tuck him back in bed. As usual Jun had tied it in a complicated knot; something which often frustrated Sho when he was in a hurry to get Jun naked as quickly as possible.
“Sho, stop!” Jun stiffened and weakly tried to shove Sho away.
“I’m not going to allow you to push me away anymore, not figuratively or literally,” Sho gripped Jun’s wrists with one hand, and held them still; something which was alarmingly easy to do since Jun was very weak. As ill as Jun was, Sho knew that he wasn't going to continue this pattern of push and pull any longer. He wanted Jun, and he wasn't going to leave until things were settled between them.
“Not what I meant...gonna be sick…” Jun’s shoulders heaved as he tried to contain himself.
Sho immediately released Jun’s hands and ended up on the floor in a surprised heap, as Jun knocked him over in his haste to make it to the toilet in time.
+++
“Here, drink this.”
Jun wrinkled his nose at the murky glass of liquid Sho was offering to him and shook his head, tightly pressing his lips together.
“It’s just water with some electrolyte powder mixed in. It’s not going to kill you,” Sho said, wiggling the glass in front of Jun.
While Jun was throwing up earlier, Sho had rung his own manager, who’d immediately arranged for a home visit from a doctor from a 24 hour service. The doctor had immediately wanted to hospitalize Jun for severe dehydration, but Jun had vehemently refused. As a compromise, the doctor had hooked Jun to an IV and after closely observing him as the fluid flowed into Jun’s veins, he had grudgingly allowed Jun to remain at home as long as he kept up his fluid intake and had someone there with him.
“Baby, please drink. I love you, and it hurts me to see you suffering.” Sho’s voice cracked, as he offered the glass to Jun once again.
Jun’s mouth made a surprised ‘O’ and Sho grabbed his chance to tip some of the liquid down Jun’s throat.
After spluttering and screwing up his face at the slightly salty, lemon flavoured liquid, Jun blinked in astonishment. “What did you just say?”
“That I love you?” Sho rubbed his hand tiredly across his face. “I'm too exhausted to play games and pretend that I don't.”
“Not that bit. The love part is pretty obvious, since you just spent the last, I don't even know how many, hours watching me throw up and do other disgusting things which we shall never speak of again.” Jun replied with a faint smile. “I'm actually talking about the ‘Baby’ part.”
“Oh, I simply decided that if we are together now, then you need a schmoopy nickname.”
“And are we together now?” Jun closed his eyes, as if bracing himself for Sho’s answer.
“I think you already know the answer to that question,” Sho said, kissing Jun’s eyelids, before pressing a tender kiss to his pale lips. “But just to be perfectly clear...Jun will you go steady with me?”
“Yes, my little clam, I would love to go steady with you,” Jun whispered tiredly.
“Clam? You just called me a clam?” Sho giggled as he dropped onto the bed beside Jun; by now he was so tired that he could barely stand.
“I shall be working my way through a list of suitable names until I am completely satisfied, my fluffy squirrel.”
They both giggled at that one, as their fingers entwined on top of the covers.
“Let’s just sleep now, you can think of some more names later,” Sho muttered.
Jun thought for a moment, before sitting bolt upright, almost catapulting Sho onto the floor. “What time is it? What about work? I kept you awake all night!”
“Shh,” Sho tugged Jun back down and cuddled him. “To be perfectly honest I am too tired to know if it's day or night right now, and I don't care about work. All I care about is your health and the fact that you are here in my arms.”
“But…”
“Don't worry, I rang your useless manager and told him that we wouldn't be at work for the rest of the week and for him to fix it. After leaving you alone in this state he needs to make amends.”
“Wait, did you say ‘we’?”
“Yep. I am planning on staying right here until you're better.”
“Oh.” Jun couldn't hide the dismay he felt at the thought of Sho leaving again.
“And even after,” Sho added hastily. “Just think of all that junk food I have to help you eat.”
“Greedy squirrel,” Jun said, wrapping himself around Sho possessively.
“Again with the squirrel?” Sho pouted, puffing out his cheeks in a pretend huff.
“Oh, yes. I think that one is going to stick,” Jun murmured.
It had taken Jun’s illness to bring their often painful, courtship dance to a happy conclusion after so many years. Sho knew that they would both have to work hard to not fall back into their old ways, but this time he was determined to make their relationship a success. And right now, holding Jun in his arms as sleep finally came to him, Sho knew that he was going to do everything in his power to make it happen (even if it meant being called a cute squirrel).
Genre: Sick!fic, fluff
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction.
Summary: They had been dancing around each other for years, alternating between love and hate, and every degree of feeling contained within those two extremes. It was tempting to ignore the message and pull the covers over his head, but he never could resist when it came to Jun.
It was almost 2am, and Sho had finally collapsed into bed after a long, long, day. It had taken all of his willpower just to bring himself to brush his teeth and shower, before dragging himself into the bedroom and tossing himself down onto the mattress. Even Sho’s very bones seemed to ache with tiredness and his eyes felt as if they were filled with grit. He vaguely tried to remember the last time he’d slept for more than three consecutive hours. The comments about his appearance on Zero over the past few weeks had been harsh, but true. He knew that he had dark circles under his eyes - he saw them every time he looked in the mirror.
Drifting into the calming space between waking and sleeping, Sho wriggled his head until it was in the perfect position on the pillow. The room was a little cool, just the way he liked it, since it allowed him to wrap himself up in his favourite blanket. The lavender oil in his diffuser filled the room with its gentle fragrance and soothed his frayed nerves.
Sighing softly, Sho closed his eyes and let his mind wander to a pleasant place. He was just picturing himself diving for clams in a warm, turquoise shaded sea, when his phone buzzed waspishly from the bedside table. Cracking open one eye, Sho saw that it was Jun and he immediately jerked awake.
They had been dancing around each other for years, alternating between love and hate, and every degree of feeling contained within those two extremes. Although things had been better between them lately, Jun hadn't called him outside of work, for over a month. It was tempting to ignore the message and pull the covers over his head, but he never could resist when it came to Jun.
The message was one simple word, which catapulted Sho out of bed, and into his clothes without a moment's hesitation.
“SICK”
+++
Tapping his fingers impatiently on the steering wheel while waiting for the lights to change, Sho caught a glimpse of himself in the rear vision mirror. He looked exactly like someone who’d been dragged out of bed at 2 in the morning. He raked his fingers through his hair in an attempt to repair some of the damage, and then wondered why he was even bothering. Sho hated that he always wanted to look his best when Jun was around, even under these circumstances.
Jun hadn't responded to Sho’s multiple attempts to call him back, making Sho’s foot press down harder on the accelerator than was probably safe. He was trying to quell the panic building in his chest as he navigated his way around the fortunately, almost deserted, streets leading to Jun’s apartment.
If the message had come from anyone else, Sho wouldn't have reacted in the same extreme fashion. It wasn't only because, as much as he hated to admit it, he harboured deep feelings for Jun. Everyone knew that Jun was as stubborn as hell, and would never admit to having any weaknesses, illness included. This meant that if Jun was reaching out for help, especially from Sho, then things must be bad.
+++
Although Jun had given him the key to his apartment, Sho had never used it. He’d accepted it during one of the times they were doing well, as a token of Jun’s trust towards him. Shortly after, they’d argued over something insignificant, and Jun had given him the cold shoulder. Sho admitted that the fight was his fault too; he’d done little to repair the rift afterwards, allowing them to drift apart once again.
The key chain was decorated with a diamante studded flying Pegasus, an inside joke between them, that made a smile spread across Sho’s face whenever he looked at it.
Right now, Sho was having trouble fitting the key into Jun’s lock. His fingers were trembling uncontrollably, and he almost dropped them on the doormat a few times before he finally had the door open.
“Jun? It's me.” Sho hung his coat on the wooden coat rack and slipped off his shoes. The house slippers that Jun had gifted him with were sitting in their usual place in the genkan. They were fuzzy and comfortable and had cartoon bowls of ramen embroidered on the front. Sho wondered if Jun always kept them there, or if he'd placed them there in anticipation of Sho’s visit.
All the lights were still on, in spite of the late hour, but the living room and kitchen were empty, and so was the glassed-in balcony where Jun’s bonsai lived. The kitchen was unusually messy, with dirty tea cups and glasses littering the sink.
The door was closed, and there was no light coming from within the room, but Sho moved towards the bedroom anyway. There was nowhere else in the apartment that Jun could be. “Jun, are you okay?”
The muffled groan Sho received in response propelled him into the room without knocking.
+++
The bedroom was in total darkness, so Sho flicked on the dim night light with the stained glass shade that Jun kept plugged into the socket near the doorway; he didn't want the sudden brightness of full light to hurt Jun’s eyes.
The room was in a messy state, with crumpled sweat soaked sheets on the bed and clothes scattered across the floor. There was a humidifier running on high, filled with antiseptic tea tree oil. The room was far too hot, so Sho opened the window a crack, to allow some fresh air to circulate.
Jun was obviously in the bathroom, and by the sound of it he wasn't well at all.
“I'm coming in, okay?” Sho asked, but not really asking. He was going into the bathroom, no matter what Jun said.
“Stay away,” Jun yelled desperately. “I'm gross.”
“You’re always gross, so don't think you can shock me,” Sho said, in an attempt to put Jun at ease as he pushed the bathroom door open slowly.
Jun was slumped on the floor next to the toilet; his face and eyes red raw from vomiting. His face was covered with a sheen of sweat, which had also soaked through his hair, plastering it onto his forehead and sticking it to his scalp.
Sho knelt down next to Jun, “How long have you been like this?” It was true that Jun hadn't been around all day, but Sho had assumed that it just meant that Jun had a day off. It wasn't as if they kept track of each other's schedules at the moment.
“Since last night. I think I ate some bad sushi,” Jun mumbled.
“Have you seen a doctor?”
“My manager took me this morning.”
Sho had to control the urge to hunt Jun’s manager down, and ask him why he hadn't told him or the others that Jun was so ill. Getting angry wouldn't help Jun right now, when he obviously needed all the help Sho had to give. “And then he left you here alone?”
“He didn't know I was going to be here alone. I told him that I was going to phone someone to keep me company.”
“And how did that work out, as if I don't already know?”
“You know that I’m not comfortable with people being around me when I'm sick, unless I am really close to them.” The red flush on Jun’s cheeks deepened as he spoke.
The implication behind Jun’s words caused Sho’s cheeks to take on their own nervous bloom of colour. But Sho was suddenly reluctant to pursue this particular line of conversation; this was a subject that definitely required them both to be in full control of their faculties.
“Let me help you up.” Sho hesitated to touch Jun without permission, but he couldn't help lightly touching the hair plastered to Jun’s forehead.
“Aren’t you repulsed? I stink and am covered in splashes of vomit.” Jun blinked at Sho blearily and brushed Sho’s fingers away.
“I admit, you've looked, and smelt, better, but you can forget about trying to make me leave.”
They both knew that Jun wanted Sho there, or why else would he have messaged him?
+++
“Ow, it stings!” Jun wriggled unhappily in the tub, sloshing water onto the tiles.
“If you’d stay still, I wouldn't get the shampoo in your eyes.” Sho rinsed the suds off Jun’s face with a cup of clean water.
“You’re doing it deliberately,” Jun whined.
“I am not. And you’re being a big baby,” Sho scolded softly.
Jun glared and pouted at Sho’s words, but held his tongue. By the way he was leaning towards Sho, he was definitely enjoying the process a whole lot more than he was willing to admit.
While Jun was soaking for a few minutes more, Sho hastily changed the bedding and closed the window, since the air was much fresher. Jun loved to keep his apartment warmer than average, and he wouldn’t thank Sho for making his room resemble an ice box.
With all preparations complete, Sho went and retrieved a sleepy and grumpy Jun from the tub. It was somehow oddly intimate to towel down his naked body with the fluffiest towel Sho could find. Even though they had been having sex with each other for years, Jun had never been this vulnerable in front of Sho. Usually Jun would nonchalantly rise from bed and wrap his favourite robe around himself, covering his nakedness effortlessly as he headed to the bathroom afterwards. But this was Jun at his most unguarded, hair awry, skin flushed, all of his imperfections on display, and somehow Sho found himself almost breathless with lust at the sight.
+++
Jun’s kitchen was exactly as anyone would imagine, clinical, well designed, and stuffed full of the latest gadgets and appliances. The refrigerator contained a selection of fruits and vegetables (organic, of course) and the pantry was stocked with gluten free noodles and rice.
But as Sho rummaged for the ingredients to make Jun a simple rice porridge while Jun napped, he stumbled across a stack of treats hidden in a huge square box at the very back of the top cupboard. The jar would make any child squeal with excitement, and Sho smiled to himself as he ran his hands through the glittering rainbow of candy wrappers. There were cookies in there too, and potato chips and bags of sugary rainbow coloured popcorn. It was a relief to know that beneath Jun’s newly attained smooth and cool exterior, his childlike self remained. It took Sho right back to their first meeting, when the small, skinny, younger boy had offered Sho a candy with a trembling hand. The smile that Sho’s acceptance of the gift had produced on Jun’s face had stuck in Sho’s mind long after that day.
“Sho? Are you still there?” Jun’s voice was almost panicked as he shuffled in the direction of the kitchen. “You’ve been ages. You’d better not be wrecking my kitchen.”
Caught snooping, Sho hastily tried to shove the sweets back into the jar, but in his haste he knocked the container over, scattering the sweets across Jun’s black granite countertop. Even though there was no real reason to feel so guilty, Sho felt his cheeks colouring with embarrassment.
“You’re going through my stuff? How dare you.” Jun pushed Sho aside and scrambled to shove the treats back into the open container.
Jun’s eyes blazed with a mixture of shame and anger, leaving Sho confused and bewildered. “Jun, why do you feel like you have to hide this? It’s normal to want something to snack on now and again.”
“Because I have to be perfect. The public expects it, and you expect it of me too.” Jun slammed the lid on the box and reached up to shove it back on the top shelf, but dizziness made him wobble dangerously.
“Jun, perfection is overrated. Don't be so hard on yourself. I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel that way too.” Sho reached for Jun, wrapping his arms around his waist, and hugging him tightly against his chest. Jun practically growled, struggling against Sho’s grasp like an angry cat. “Let me go. You’ve always been good at that up until now. I’m not a little kid anymore and I am perfectly capable of looking after myself.”
“If you’re going to behave like this, then I’m leaving.” Instantly flaring into a bad temper himself, Sho went to retrieve his coat and shoes. Sho didn't know why Jun was flipping out over such a innocuous thing, and trying to pick a fight. He’d made sure that Jun was comfortable to the best of his abilities, and if Jun didn’t like it then he wasn’t going to stick around and argue. “I'll leave my key here, so you won't have to worry about me touching your stuff again.”
“No!” Jun’s eyes were filled with an unspoken plea, as he caught Sho by the sleeve and clung to him. “I need you, and not just because I’m sick.”
Sho paused, and allowed Jun to hold him in place, the red mist in front of his eyes clearing at the feel of Jun’s desperate touch. “I’m listening.”
“I need you, okay? I’ve always needed you, even if you don't need me.”
“Why do you say that like it's something to be ashamed of?” Sho stroked Jun’s cheek. “And what makes you think that I don't need you?”
“Apart from me giving you the key to my apartment and you never using it?”
“We had a fight. I didn't think you would want me here after that.”
“We always fight. It's what we do. It didn't mean that I didn't want you here, and it certainly didn't mean that I didn't want you in my life.” Jun’s voice was barely above as whisper and his face was blanched of all colour.
“I know you will probably punch me for this but…” Sho swept Jun into his arms and carried him, limp and unprotesting, back to the bedroom.
Jun remained floppy, and sat meekly on the edge of the mattress as Sho tried to undo the knot on the cord of Jun’s robe so he could tuck him back in bed. As usual Jun had tied it in a complicated knot; something which often frustrated Sho when he was in a hurry to get Jun naked as quickly as possible.
“Sho, stop!” Jun stiffened and weakly tried to shove Sho away.
“I’m not going to allow you to push me away anymore, not figuratively or literally,” Sho gripped Jun’s wrists with one hand, and held them still; something which was alarmingly easy to do since Jun was very weak. As ill as Jun was, Sho knew that he wasn't going to continue this pattern of push and pull any longer. He wanted Jun, and he wasn't going to leave until things were settled between them.
“Not what I meant...gonna be sick…” Jun’s shoulders heaved as he tried to contain himself.
Sho immediately released Jun’s hands and ended up on the floor in a surprised heap, as Jun knocked him over in his haste to make it to the toilet in time.
+++
“Here, drink this.”
Jun wrinkled his nose at the murky glass of liquid Sho was offering to him and shook his head, tightly pressing his lips together.
“It’s just water with some electrolyte powder mixed in. It’s not going to kill you,” Sho said, wiggling the glass in front of Jun.
While Jun was throwing up earlier, Sho had rung his own manager, who’d immediately arranged for a home visit from a doctor from a 24 hour service. The doctor had immediately wanted to hospitalize Jun for severe dehydration, but Jun had vehemently refused. As a compromise, the doctor had hooked Jun to an IV and after closely observing him as the fluid flowed into Jun’s veins, he had grudgingly allowed Jun to remain at home as long as he kept up his fluid intake and had someone there with him.
“Baby, please drink. I love you, and it hurts me to see you suffering.” Sho’s voice cracked, as he offered the glass to Jun once again.
Jun’s mouth made a surprised ‘O’ and Sho grabbed his chance to tip some of the liquid down Jun’s throat.
After spluttering and screwing up his face at the slightly salty, lemon flavoured liquid, Jun blinked in astonishment. “What did you just say?”
“That I love you?” Sho rubbed his hand tiredly across his face. “I'm too exhausted to play games and pretend that I don't.”
“Not that bit. The love part is pretty obvious, since you just spent the last, I don't even know how many, hours watching me throw up and do other disgusting things which we shall never speak of again.” Jun replied with a faint smile. “I'm actually talking about the ‘Baby’ part.”
“Oh, I simply decided that if we are together now, then you need a schmoopy nickname.”
“And are we together now?” Jun closed his eyes, as if bracing himself for Sho’s answer.
“I think you already know the answer to that question,” Sho said, kissing Jun’s eyelids, before pressing a tender kiss to his pale lips. “But just to be perfectly clear...Jun will you go steady with me?”
“Yes, my little clam, I would love to go steady with you,” Jun whispered tiredly.
“Clam? You just called me a clam?” Sho giggled as he dropped onto the bed beside Jun; by now he was so tired that he could barely stand.
“I shall be working my way through a list of suitable names until I am completely satisfied, my fluffy squirrel.”
They both giggled at that one, as their fingers entwined on top of the covers.
“Let’s just sleep now, you can think of some more names later,” Sho muttered.
Jun thought for a moment, before sitting bolt upright, almost catapulting Sho onto the floor. “What time is it? What about work? I kept you awake all night!”
“Shh,” Sho tugged Jun back down and cuddled him. “To be perfectly honest I am too tired to know if it's day or night right now, and I don't care about work. All I care about is your health and the fact that you are here in my arms.”
“But…”
“Don't worry, I rang your useless manager and told him that we wouldn't be at work for the rest of the week and for him to fix it. After leaving you alone in this state he needs to make amends.”
“Wait, did you say ‘we’?”
“Yep. I am planning on staying right here until you're better.”
“Oh.” Jun couldn't hide the dismay he felt at the thought of Sho leaving again.
“And even after,” Sho added hastily. “Just think of all that junk food I have to help you eat.”
“Greedy squirrel,” Jun said, wrapping himself around Sho possessively.
“Again with the squirrel?” Sho pouted, puffing out his cheeks in a pretend huff.
“Oh, yes. I think that one is going to stick,” Jun murmured.
It had taken Jun’s illness to bring their often painful, courtship dance to a happy conclusion after so many years. Sho knew that they would both have to work hard to not fall back into their old ways, but this time he was determined to make their relationship a success. And right now, holding Jun in his arms as sleep finally came to him, Sho knew that he was going to do everything in his power to make it happen (even if it meant being called a cute squirrel).
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I love how you put details that sound so Jun such as the mention of Pegasus, the warmer house temp setting, and also the humidifier with the antiseptic oil/water. These things had been mentioned by him in vsa 😂
And the best thing:Sho carrying Jun to his bed XD
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Maybe Jun can alternate between pet names?
Sho gambled on Jun being to weak to protest at being carried princess style back to bed.
Thanks for reading, my friend.