'Here you are, Hiro-San,' Nowaki says to his lover, as he tucks in the multiple duvets around the other man's body (who was currently dozing on the sofa half-watching a children's movie in the hope to distract his mind from the pain in his head and stomach).
'Thank you,' Hiro replied, bashfully looking away. As Nowaki was leaning over him he obviously noticed his lover's insecurity for being in such a helpless state and so he kissed Hiroki's forehead, saying-
'I'm just going out to buy some medicine and bits for you, is there anything else you need?' he asked, now crouching beside Hiro (who was on the sofa) and stroking the other man's hair soothingly (which Hiro found was beginning to lull him to sleep, so was rather disappointed at the fact that his Nowaki was going away- particularly when it was on his account- but decided to be grateful and not make him stay, particularly when he had already done so much for him today- besides, if anything, he needed that medicine).
'No thank you,' he slurred, desperately not wanting Nowaki to stop the act of stroking his hair- it was sweetly lulling, reassured him and made his heart feel warmer.
But Nowaki did, causing Hiro to sub-consciously pout as his lover rose to his extraordinary full height. As always, Nowaki (who paid extra attention to notice every detail of his secretive lover) noticed the subtle expression, and said-
'I'm sorry Hiro-San, I won't be gone long- I'm just trying everything I can to make my Hiro-San feel better,' and then lovingly smiled towards his (now guilty) lover for reassurance, and mutely shut the door behind him, so as not to disturb Hiroki's pounding head- as always thinking of his Hiro-San before anyone or thing else.
Nowaki made his way through the familiar well-lit, modern corridors of their flat-block, mind racing with thoughts of how to make Hiro feel better, and thoughts on how much worse he knew Hiro would get within the hours and days to come. He decided, as he stepped into the once-again familiar lift, to call both of their work and notify about the two of them having the next week off. He called the university first, though the only number he knew was Hiroki and Miyagi's office number, but it would have to do-
'Hello?' came Miyagi's voice from the other end of the line. Nowaki didn't know Miyagi too well, so he had no idea on whether he knew about his and Hiro-San's relationship or not. I better not mention it, just in case I cause trouble for Hiro-San…Nowaki told himself.
'Erm, hello, this is Nowaki, Hiroki's…roommate?' Dammnit! Nowaki cursed himself, why did I have to sound so unsure?!
'Oh, you're that boyfriend of his?' –Nowaki's jaw physically dropped-'Yeah, is there anything I can help you with?' Miyagi's voice had now taken on a more casual tone; clearly he felt comfortable in talking to Nowaki.
'Erg, I…' Nowaki cleared his throat and made an attempt to compose himself. 'Need to notify the university- Hiroki won't be in for the next week, I think he must have the flu.'
'No shit! I remember earlier, he only did one class before he spent the rest of the day sulking with his face on his desk,' Miyagi casually came from the other end of the phone-line.
'Yes, he's got worse, and he really does need this week off. Would that be O.K?'
'Yeah, sure, send him my regards- I'm sure I can cover most of his lectures, and we've got other professors who can help out,'
'Oh, thank you very much!' Nowaki replied, relieved and grateful as he prepared to step out the warm and silent building and into the wind-whistling cold air outside- 'Yes, thank you very much!'
'No problem,' and with that, all Nowaki heard was the click of an office-phone being placed down into a holder, and then the lonely beeping tone of the end of a conversation. One down, one more to go- but Nowaki's thoughts were cut off as he stepped outside. The sight before and around him froze his tracks, in more than one way…
'The first snow of the year…' he quietly murmured under his breath, which caused condensed smoke to rise around his lips as his warm breath hit the icy, flake filled air around him. The familiar Tokyo street that was his home was almost unrecognisable; it was blanketed in the graceful, twinkling stuff as it reflected the dull (overcast) moonlight from above. All year round Nowaki had forgotten how beautiful snow was- he stood in the middle of it -as frozen as the stuff itself- as delicate, frosty, intricately designed by nature ice crystals fluttered and fell around him, making their slow and peaceful journey to the ground below- which now was dusted with fluffy, sparkling ice and frost. I wish Hiro-San was here right now… I'll make sure to open the curtains and show him when I get home. Thinking of his Hiro made Nowaki just a little warmer as he made his way through the unusually empty streets to the nearest pharmacy.
Half an hour later
'Hiro-San, I'm home!' Nowaki calls energetically through the flats spacious halls, making his way through the (seemingly eternal corridor) to get to his beloved Hiro-San. He couldn't wait to see him for more than one reason- to start with he had been worrying how his poor Hiro-San had been coping by himself while he had been out, but now he also just wanted to snuggle with him to keep his snow-dusted body warm (and, of course, he also wanted to surprise Hiro by telling him about the weather- Nowaki still had the tendency to get excited like a child when it came to these things, while Hiro had to grudgingly muddle along and put up with his lovers behaviour).
He then entered the living room, padding quietly now just in his socks (his give-away snowy boots, coat and scarf had been discarded to the cloak hooks) towards the sofa, where he found his lover pale and totally frozen-looking, even though the flats heating was blasting at full-temperature.
'Nowaki, I'm fucking freezing,' his sore throat managed quietly; Hiroki was currently literally gripping the fabric of the sofa to try and gain control over the torturous chills and pains he was currently going through.
'Oh, Hiro-San, it's O.K, I'll warm you,' Nowaki's comforting voice replied, as he settled himself gently on the sofa (taking into account his painfully shuddering lover) and slowly wrapped his arms around him, while stroking his forever-warm hands soothingly across his lovers (against all common sense) icy cold back.
'You'll be alright, Hiro-San,' he continued to soothe as he now began nuzzling their noses together- and for once, his stubborn Hiro didn't mind returning the cosy, romantic gesture. All he cared about was that Nowaki was here- here to protect and care for him, here for him to love and to gain love back from.
Nowaki then began to perform the pleasure full act of running his fingers through his Hiro-San's hair, but as he reached to do so, he cried-
'Poor Hiro-San! Your hair is still damp and cold!'
'It is?' Hiro conceded he must not have noticed, given that everywhere else was sub-zero temperatures anyway.
'Yes! O.K, I'll just get a nice warm towel off of the radiator to dry it off for you, and after that I'll sort out your medicine and how to keep you warm.'
Hiro then heard Nowaki exit into the room behind him (noticing how unusually quiet Nowaki was trying to make his usually heavy footfall, and then blushing at this small detail of care) and then heard Nowaki carefully enter again. After he felt two big, warm hands carefully propping yet more pillows behind his limp body –Hiro took a moment to bask in the wonderful, soothing feel of his lovers hands gently brushing across his back- and then listened as Nowaki got up to sit cross-legged on the arm of the sofa above and behind him.
'Do you want to watch a movie, Hiro-San?' Hiroki's beloved asks, enjoyably watching his lover's content and relaxed expression as he massaged the warm, dry towel into his hair and aching head (taking extra care to massage thoroughly at the spots where he knew the migraine was worse).
'Hmm..? Oh, I don't mind…' Hiro's unusually soft reply came as he was locked in a world of bliss and tranquil relaxation- his usual stubborn barriers crumbling down in the process.
'O.K,' Nowaki said, continuing to enjoy pacifying his lover. 'I was thinking of bringing the T.V into the bedroom so as we could watch it snuggled up and keeping warm in there.'
'Sure…' comes his beloved's ill and dozy reply. I'm glad that I can make him feel nice…Nowaki thought to himself, who's mind was currently filling up with worries about his Hiroki's current painful condition.
Meanwhile, the usually persistent minded Hiro had given up in the war to retain his pride- it was too much trouble for his aching mind and body to continue with this act, he just wanted to bask in the glorious feel and warmth of his Nowaki; these vague thoughts floated lightly around his relaxing mind, along with practically nothing else, as he let himself go to the glorious pleasure of his constant migraine being massaged away by his Nowaki; the one he loved most in this world.
'O.K, I think that's as dry as it will go,' Nowaki says softly as he carefully pulls the towel from the other man's head (much to Hiro's disappointment). He then proceeded to get down from his perch behind Hiro's head, and rustled around in the shopping bag that sat on the coffee table.
'I've got some Ibuprofen (painkillers) to take away some of the pain; but there's nothing else you can really do for a flu. I'm sorry, Hiro-San, it'll be O.K!' Nowaki attempted to reassure his lover, as he walked over to the kitchen area, found a glass and filled it with clear, icy water from the fridge.
'That's not your fault,' Hiro stated, still dozily gazing at the animated characters talking on the screen. His mind hadn't been able to keep up with the simple plot-line and he hadn't really had it in him to be able to concentrate on the guileless speech- as well as his tired eyelids constantly dropping shut every time he thought he could keep them open for just five minutes. So he didn't really have much of an idea of what a talking lion was doing on Madagascar right now, but he watched it for something to do, anyway.
He then became aware of Nowaki's voice softly speaking to him, as his hair was soothingly brushed from his face and then ruffled around at the top.
'Hiro-San? Are you O.K? I've got you water, Hiro-San. You look a little green, is everything O.K, Hiro-San? Hiro-San?' the soothing voice told him as fingers ran through his hair.
Hiro knew what wasn't O.K. The horrible (unfortunately now becoming familiar) feeling rose once again in his already agonizing stomach, so then 'Bathroom-'was all Hiro was able to manage before he probably would have let go of whatever remained in his stomach (if anything).
Nowaki, comprehending the situation at the speed of light, then swept Hiro off of his feet and rushed him towards the toilet (which seemed a million miles away when he was in such a panicked state) as if his life depended on it. Then as his lover, retching and tensing horribly came up with nothing but bile, Nowaki delicately stroked his fingers up and down Hiroki's spine in an attempt to calm and comfort him.
'There, there, it'll be O.K, Hiro-San, I'm here,' he gently soothed in a tranquilizing voice in almost as much pain as Hiro himself as he had to watch the one he loved in so much discomfort. It multiplied his need to baby and care for the other man (amazingly enough) by a thousand.
When Hiro finally finished he turned and fell into Nowaki's embrace, (forgetting and/or discarding his usual stubborn bubble of self-pride as he had seemed to be doing a lot during this evening) just treasuring and loving the warmth and security as his Nowaki tenderly stroked lulling circles across his shaking back, which was better than that of any medicines could ever do- not only did it make him feel a million times better, but it also warmed up his heart from the inside.
'O.K, I'm going to take you into bed now, and then I'll come back in with the tablets, the T.V and hopefully lots more blankets,' Nowaki said slowly and gently (lips delicately brushing his Hiro-San's ear) 'I want to do everything I can to make my Hiro-San feel as comfortable as possible,' Nowaki continued lovingly, now stroking across his beloved's tensed and aching stomach in a hope to soothe and relieve the stress. He hoped that the evening he planned to come would not just do so for Hiro's body, but his mind, too.
'Thank you for being here, Nowaki,'
'I never won't be, Hiro-San,'
A.N- I would just like to say thank you to everyone who has read, favourited, followed and/or reviewed my story. It gives me confidence in myself and really does mean a lot to me. So thank you! :D
