The asthma attack had taken Hatori by surprise; Yuki's weak bronchial tubes were always prone to giving out on him at the most inopportune times, but Hatori was thankful that this attack happened during one of his routine check-ups. The doctor was already there to aid him.
The coughs began as few and far between, but it wasn't long before the smaller cousin was gasping for breath and hunched over on the examination table. Hatori wasn't sure why after nearly sixteen years, seeing the rat crumble like this still disturbed him so.
"Yuki," Hatori breathed, urgency laced in his tone. "You need to calm down, you're going to make yourself pass out if you do not-" He froze, the flushed boy bending over and holding his stomach, gasping breaths coming out in short, panting bursts. A shaking, pale hand reach out and grabbed onto Hatori's coat, and the dragon knew then that Yuki couldn't calm down, even if he wanted to.
His inhaler. Hatori turned on his heel, peeling himself away from Yuki's grasp long enough to bolt to his desk. Fumbling wildly, he pulled out a small bag with Yuki's old inhaler in it, and he prayed it wasn't empty. It had been years since Yuki last needed it, Hatori pleaded it wouldn't fail him now.
Returning his side, Hatori grasped Yuki's chin in his fingers and tilted it upwards. Within moments, the inhaler was pressed to his lips and the rat was sucking in the medicated air in small gulps, curling his fingers into Hatori's doctor coat. The dragon held the boy close, coaching him on taking deep, long inhales.
His prayers were answered when seemingly, Yuki began to catch his breath again.
Looking down into his eyes, Hatori's own eyes alert and his pupils dilated out of fear, he could see a glimmer of something else in the amethyst orbs. Hatori would've questioned what it was, but Yuki was still using his inhaler as his chest rose and fell with the deep breaths. The room had gone silent besides Yuki's soft breathing, and Hatori welcomed the peace. A tiny, delicate hand let go of the white fabric and the younger cousin reached up, very gently pressing his fingertips to Hatori's cheek- and immediately, Hatori knew exactly what Yuki was trying to communicate to him.