It had started with the stomach aches. Ritsu had complained even on the night of their wedding, doubling over, clenching his suit, unsteady on the altar. He remembered their vows that they had written together. To love one another until death do us part.Even after Ritsu died, he would always love him. Always.
Takano buried his face in Ritsu's blankets. Ritsu was asleep, so Takano reached for his hand under the cover and held it. He was so damn cold.
"Masamune," mumbled Yokozawa carefully, hovering behind him. "You should come home. You should take a shower. You definitely need to eat something. He'll be here when you come back-"
"You can't think I would just leave him like this," Takano snapped. "What kind of afucking husband do youtake me for?"
"… Masa-"
He flipped Yokozawa off. The band on his ring finger wobbled.
Every single one of these fucks wouldn't shut up. They pitied him with their eyes. They reached for his hand when he didn't want to be touched. They interrupted him and Ritsu, taking his arm, pulling him away from his chair, their mouths moving soundlessly, hands shoving food in his mouth. He couldn't even have one day to himself, Jesus fucking Christ. Takano didn't know how to phrase it to them. Should he scream? He should. He should run up and down the hospital halls. And while he was at it, he should go back to Marukawa and blare red messages through the intercom since the notion that his wellbeing was their business had infected everyone in the building. He would stand up and scream: "Ritsu is dying on me. My husband is dying. Do you get it now?"
He blinked. He was standing and Yokozawa had backed up to the door, staring at him, scared. Takano covered his mouth quickly.
"I'm sorry, Masamune-"
"Yokozawa, I'm so tired." He collapsed in his chair. "Just leave us alone."
"Masamune, you need to calm down."
"Did you just tell me to calm down? I'll break your fucking fingers."
Takano laid his head down on the bed again. He didn't know how long Yokozawa stood there in disapproving silence, but Takano fell asleep feeling his eyes on his back.
Ritsu was staring at him when he woke up. Small hands grabbed his hair and pulled him up. Like always, Takano could feel Ritsu's wedding band against his skin.
"Good morning."
Ritsu glanced at the digital clock on the dresser. "But it's three o'clock in the afternoon."
Cold lips kissed his. Takano smiled. Maybe it had all been a dream. Maybe it had all been some sick nightmare, like the ones that kept him awake in college. He hadn't had those types of dreams for years thanks to Ritsu, who had destroyed everything Takano had to fear by agreeing to marry him.
Takano climbed on the bed, laying down next to Ritsu. The hospital bed creaked; the light bodies of the dead and dying were the only ones usually putting strain on the frame.
"Hey, you wouldn't try anything with a sick person, would you?" Trying to laugh, Ritsu wheezed and started to cough.
"Hey, hey, Ritsu, stop that."
"I'm-trying-!"
All the blood in Takano's face drained. "Ritsu, cut it out!"
"Stop-yelling-at-me-Masamune!"
Takano hugged him tight, but he couldn't love him enough for it to stop. The monitor began to beep insanely. Each spike in Ritsu's heart rate shocked Takano like a shot from bullet. This couldn't be happening now. He still had time. Takano covered his eyes. He couldn't accept not being able to save him.
Ritsu turned around suddenly. Ritsu's fear was raw and bleeding, like a shot rabbit, and he grabbed Takano's hands.
"Masamune, I need to tell you something."
Takano gripped Ritsu's hand in one last futile attempt to stay with him. "Shut up-"
"Masamune."
"I told you to shut up, Ritsu! You're going to be fine! Just fucking walk it off!" He was rambling now, but the light in Ritsu's eyes was gone. He shook Ritsu awake. "Don't fucking do this to me!"
Ritsu closed his eyes.
"I love you."
