A/N: So this is my first ever fanfic that I've published. It's in an au where Tadashi didn't die and they're both going to SFIT. No slash, just brotherly love. Enjoy!
Cough, cough.
Hiro Hamada turned onto the street that the café was on, coughing into his fist as he trudged through the snow. He'd better not let Tadashi hear him cough or his overprotective big brother would think Hiro had caught something.
The fifteen-year-old boy had stayed after school to work in the lab and had lost track of time. It was nearly 9 at night now, and he knew Tadashi would be worrying when he finally arrived home. Tadashi had ridden his moped home earlier, leaving Hiro to take the trolley when he finished working. Aunt Cass was out of town and would be for the next week, on some business trip a few states away.
Stepping up to the café's front door, Hiro stomped his feet to free his boots of snow before entering the shop, the bell ringing as he closed the door.
Walking past the café counter, Hiro pulled his hat and coat off as he reached the stairs that led up to their living quarters.
"Hiro? Is that you?" a voice called down the stairs.
"Yup," Hiro called back as he hung his coat on a hook by the door and then sat down to pull off his boots.
Tadashi appeared at the top of the stairs. "Where have you been? I've been worried sick!"
"Geez, Tadashi." Hiro dropped his boots and turned to walk up the stairs. "I just lost track of time. I was getting a lot of work done, and didn't realize how late it was getting. No need to go ballistic on me."
Tadashi sighed and ruffled his brother's already messy hair as Hiro reached the top of the staircase. "Not going ballistic, just thought you could've gotten lost in this storm." He nodded toward the window, where snow blew past in strong gusts.
"It's one block from the trolley stop. Not even a baby could get lost, even in that." Hiro rolled his eyes at his brother before moving forward to climb the next set of stairs.
"Well then maybe-" Tadashi cut himself off as he noticed where Hiro was heading. "Where are you going? Don't you want some dinner?"
"Um..." Hiro hesitated. He really just wanted to climb into bed and sleep- he was exhausted from his long day, and, well, to tell the truth, he hadn't been feeling great since yesterday - maybe he really had caught something - but Tadashi didn't need to know that.
"I'm just a little tired," Hiro said. "I think I'll go to bed. Besides," he continued when Tadashi opened his mouth to protest, "I had a few snacks at the-" A cough came on before Hiro could stop it. He tried his best to turn and smother it with his sleeve, but it was no use.
The worried expression that had just been leaving returned to Tadashi's face and his hand shot up to check Hiro's forehead. "Are you feeling alright? Did you catch something?"
Hiro yelped and dodged Tadashi's hand. "Tadashi! Again with the overprotectiveness! I'm fine. It was one cough." Hiro shot his best stern look at Tadashi. "Geez."
It was Tadashi's turn to roll his eyes at his younger brother. He raised his hands in mock surrender. "All right, all right. Just want to make sure you're okay. You're not exactly famous for taking care of yourself, you know."
Hiro grinned sheepishly at memories of attempting to hide everything from minor scratches to broken bones from his brother, all throughout their years growing up. Tadashi always found out sooner or later. But he could get away this once, couldn't he? It was just a cold at the most. He'd be back to normal by tomorrow.
"Well this time it really is nothing," Hiro said with an air of finality. "And I'd like to get upstairs before midnight."
"Well, good night then," Tadashi chuckled. "Love you, Otouto."
Hiro was near the top of the stairs by now. He sighed. "Yeah, yeah, love you too, Nii-chan." It was muttered just loud enough for Tadashi to hear.
Tadashi smiled and turned away. What was he ever gonna do with that kid?
Tadashi lay in bed, awake, trying to figure out why he was awake. Something had just woken him up, he was sure of it. He glanced at the clock. 3:58 am.
A smothered cough sounded from the other side of the room. That was it! Wait...
The cough sounded again, this time harsher than the last, but still sounding stifled by a blanket or something of the sort.
Tadashi slowly rolled out of bed and tiptoed lightly to peer around the shoji screen that half separated his and Hiro's sides of the room. Hiro lay under a mound of blankets with his back to Tadashi. He was shaking slightly with suppressed coughs, and as Tadashi watched, another cough slipped past Hiro's lips and Hiro hastily tried to smother it in his pillow.
Tadashi took a step forward and Hiro rolled onto his back, turning his head toward his brother.
"Are you alright?" Tadashi asked.
"I'm fine, Tadashi. Go back to sleep."
Tadashi just chuckled and moved forward. "Are you sure about that?" He sat on the edge of his brother's bed.
"That I'm fine? Course I am. Why wouldn't I -cough- be?"
Tadashi took a closer look at his little brother and his brow furrowed. Sweat shone on the boy's brow, yet he was shivering under his comforter.
Tadashi put his hand on Hiro's forehead and gasped. "Hiro! You're running a high fever! Why didn't you tell me you felt sick?"
"I didn't- I don't feel sick. I'm-"
"If you say you're fine one more time, I'll - well, I don't know what I'll do," Tadashi sighed. "But I do know that I'm going to go get a thermometer and you'd better stay right there."
Hiro rolled his eyes at him but then broke into a coughing fit. Tadashi winced in sympathy as he headed down the stairs.
When Tadashi got back a minute later, thermometer and a glass of water in his hand, Hiro lay on his side, breathing heavily. His throat sounded raspy and dry.
Tadashi helped his younger brother into a sitting position, adding a pillow or two to the one behind his back. "Here, drink this." Tadashi handed him the cup.
Hiro drank without protest. Tadashi ran a hand through his brother's hair as Hiro drained the cup. When Hiro was finished, he handed the cup back to Tadashi with a weak "Thanks."
Tadashi nodded and set the cup on Hiro's desk before turning back to his brother. "Now put this in your mouth." He held the thermometer up to Hiro's lips.
"Tadashiii," Hiro whined. Tadashi took the excuse to slip it in and Hiro nearly choked. "I'n not thick," Hiro tried to speak around the thermometer under his tongue.
"You just keep telling yourself that, buddy," Tadashi smiled and shook his head at his younger brother's stubbornness. "Maybe one of these days it'll be true, but for now-" The thermometer beeped and Tadashi slipped it out of Hiro's mouth, voice trailing off as he read the numbers displayed on the instrument.
"102.6"
Tadashi sighed and looked at his younger brother. "Just how long have you been feeling sick?"
"I- I don't know. Since yesterday, maybe?" Hiro shrugged up at him, and then doubled over in another coughing fit.
Worried, Tadashi adjusted his position to be sitting next to Hiro, against the headboard, instead of facing him. Slipping his legs under the covers, Tadashi put one arm around his little brother, pulling him close, as the other hand went up to card through Hiro's hair. Hiro rested his head on Tadashi's chest as his body was racked with coughs. They went on and on, and when they were finally over, Hiro was left shaking and gasping for breath. He gave a low groan and curled up tighter against Tadashi.
Tadashi let a few moments pass before speaking softly. "Hiro, how much sleep have you gotten tonight?"
A few more moments passed before Hiro mumbled in reply, as if he didn't quite want Tadashi to hear, "Hardly any."
"Do you think it would help if I slept with you for the rest of the night?" Tadashi asked.
There was an even longer pause.
Finally Hiro spoke wearily. "Tadashi, I'm too old for this."
"That's not what I asked."
Yet again Hiro paused before mumbling reluctantly, "Maybe. I don't know."
Tadashi figured that was as close to "yes" as it was going to get. Carefully sitting up straighter, he removed the extra pillows from behind them and then gently lay down, Hiro's head still on his chest. Hiro subconsciously snuggled in closer as Tadashi pulled the covers over themselves. Then he wrapped his other arm around his little brother and gently kissed his forehead. "Good night, Otouto," he whispered. There was no response. Hiro was already asleep.
A/N: What do you think? Again, this is my first time doing this, so constructive criticism is appreciated, as long as you're nice about it. Please review! I'll update soon if y'all like it.