Public Displays of Aggression
Chapter 25 –Sleepless in Azalea
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'You really should get some sleep. You were complaining earlier that you were tired and it seems you're sick. At least take some aspirin.' Midorima said.
Takao rolled his eyes. 'I'm fine, Shin-chan, thanks for the concern but I'm fine.' Kagami glanced at Kuroko who shrugged. Kise looked clueless.
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Midorima and Takao went back and forth like that for a bit longer whilst their friends just stared. It was like watching a child argue with their parent. Midorima won out but on the condition that Midorima would get him some coffee. Midorima agreed reluctantly so there was probably something underhanded there.
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When they left and seemed out of earshot, Kagami immediately asked: 'Is that normal for Mr Stoic?'
'Nope. I've never seen Midorimacchi like that before. Normally when one of us gets sick, unless it's Momocchi, he just tells us to go die.' Kise said. Kuroko smiled softly and Kise noticed. He chuckled. Kagami glared.
'What did I miss?' he asked.
'I'm glad that Midorima-kun has found a good friend.' Kuroko said.
'They really suit each other.' Kise said.
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Kagami huffed. This was clearly an in-joke that he was missing out on. Kuroko noticed. 'Do we tell him?' Kuroko asked.
'Most people see doing that sort of stuff as "rude".' Kise said.
'I suppose. Then why don't you get mad when it happens to you?' Kuroko asked and Kagami's glare lessened. He was giving up trying to follow along to this patchy conversation.
'Well, it's half true when people say it about me and I think it helps me extend my fan-base. My label has other ideas regarding that.' Kise said.
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Kuroko smiled pitifully towards Kagami. 'Let's change the conversation then.'
'Or you could fill in the blanks.' Kagami suggested.
'I didn't realise you were one for gossip, Kagamicchi.' Kise teased.
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Meanwhile, upstairs, Midorima was wrangling Takao. 'I just need some coffee. I'm fine.' Takao insisted with a cough.
'You're lying through your teeth. Have a rest and some aspirin. If you're thirsty, drink water.' Midorima replied.
'Coffee and aspirin?' Takao attempted to negotiate.
'Sounds like a potentially dangerous combination given the fact that you are a teenager and that you appear to have a cold or the flu.' Midorima said.
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Arguing with Midorima was like arguing with a brick wall. He eventually won out. Takao got changed into his pyjamas and Midorima organised some food and drink for him to nibble on. When he came back, Takao was already asleep. He was out like a light and curled up with some blankets he had must have found in the linen closet provided. Midorima made sure he was quiet so that he didn't disturb Takao.
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A few hours later, Midorima came back as he had eaten and showered, he found that Takao was still asleep. The burger that had been left out was cold so Midorima put it in the mini-fridge. He was certain that Takao was going to have plenty of energy to burn at three a.m. in the morning but that was a problem that he could deal with later.
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Midorima changed the water he had left out for Takao; just in case. He then went to bed himself. A nice, early night like this was just what Midorima needed. He had become far too used to staying up past what he preferred for the sake of Takao's entertainment. If only early nights like these would become the norm.
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As the night crept on, storm clouds thickened and a downpour soon began to haunt Azalea Town. The beat of the rain was an uneven melody yet a lovely lullaby. The occasional roll of thunder added theatrics to its serenity and the rare flashes of lightning accompanied were like a pinch of melodrama. However it wasn't either of these noises and distractions that was piercing Takao's sleep.
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Through it all, he could hear it. He didn't know what it was but he was going to do something about it. It was soft beneath the rain and thunder but it was all he could hear. It was like an eerie murmuring and it only took a half a brain to realise that it was probably some Pokemon's call.
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Takao was blind with fury and refreshed energy from sleeping all afternoon and for most the night. He just wanted to sleep. That's all he wanted and he wasn't going to let some asshole Pokémon stop him from doing that. He scrambled down the ladder. He grabbed some random PokeBalls and what he thinks might be his umbrella. A ruckus followed in his wake and he slammed the door open. He unfurled his umbrella and Midorima rose from his bed. He saw that the door was open and that Takao was gone.
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Why? Midorima asked himself as he grabbed his glasses and his umbrella. He sincerely hoped that Takao was just in the mood for a midnight snack. Midorima put on some shoes and began searching for Takao. His path was clear and panicky Chansey who were drudging through the graveyard shift marked it. They were well aware that Takao wasn't supposed to be up and racing about like that.
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From the stairs, Midorima watched Takao leave through the doors and his heart stopped. The rain was biblical out there and Takao was sick. It was also night time. That was a lethal combination and Midorima's heart began to race. He had to catch up with Takao before he did something completely and utterly moronic.
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Takao trudged through mud and slush. The umbrella was not helping as it was being terrorised by the wind. He squinted through the rain and darkness. He was following the noise towards a thicket of trees behind the Pokémon centre. 'I don't know what you are but for the LOVE OF GOD PLEASE SHUT UP!' he screeched. He heard the crunch of leaves and a curious noise.
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A Pokémon watched and made noises, irritating Takao further. 'You know what? I'm done with this! Fight me!' he yelled. The Pokémon understood, perhaps too literally, and swooped on him from its wet nest amongst the tree. Takao screamed and let go of the umbrella. He crouched and tried to protect his head. He could see gleaming red eyes in the darkness. He couldn't put a face to them. 'Eek!' he squeaked. He was scared as it could be anything. He tossed out a PokeBall and through a red light... Hoppip appeared?
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Takao cursed himself for being so hasty. He had grabbed Midorima's PokeBalls over his own. Hoppip twirled about in the wind but fought it. 'Hop-chan, help me battle whatever that Pokémon is!' Takao yelled and he attempted to point out their opponent. Hoppip made what sounded like an understanding noise but Takao wasn't certain. 'Use, um, Stun Spore!'
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Hoppip bowed its head and the leaves atop its head rustled. Yellowy coloured powder was expelled and drifted over the Pokémon. Its species was still unknown. It didn't seem dangerous but those eyes were creepy as a horror flick. The Pokémon dove on Hoppip with a glowing appendage – a beak.
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Takao rubbed his eyes and wished desperately that the rain would lessen but it seemed there was no end in sight. 'Hop-chan, use Fairy Wind!' he instructed. Hoppip twirled about and seemed to be lost amongst the ragged and wild winds of the storm. It still performed its attack though. The light it produced was bright enough to reveal what they were facing and suddenly the world made sense again.
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The red eyes and the incessant "Whoo-Whoo" noises at midnight... it all made sense. The culprit was a Hoothoot!
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Takao checked through the random PokeBalls he had brought along with him. He found one of Midorima's Level Balls. Takao smirked. He could easily shut-up this Hoothoot if he caught it. He resolved to catch it.
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The Hoothoot slammed against Hoppip who was sent flying because of it. Takao fretted and he quickly caught Hoppip on the rebound before she could go too far. Midorima would kill him if something happened to his precious Hoppip. Takao let Hoppip go and she began to struggle against the wind again. 'C'mon Hop-chan, one last time and then straight into the PokeBall again... Fairy Wind!' he said.
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Hoppip rode the winds now and spun through them leaving a glittery, pink trail. The attack surrounded Hoothoot and it took damage because of it. Paralysis struck so it couldn't retaliate. Takao saw his opportunity and quickly recalled Hoppip who was snavelled up by a bright, red light. He then threw out a Level Ball and it bounced against Hoothoot's forehead.
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The PokeBall opened and Hoothoot was brought into its innards. The PokeBall dropped the ground and became stained with mud. It struggled to wobble but its button still flashed. Takao held his breath and tried his hardest to watch. Through the lashing of the rain, he heard a little click and his mouth grew wide with a grin. He picked up his umbrella and his newly caught Hoothoot and turned back to the Pokémon Centre.
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Midorima finally caught up with him. 'Takao, are you okay?' he was panicked.
'Yeah... i'm fine.' Takao said. He was breathless. Midorima put his hand against Takao's forehead.
'No you're not. You're burning up. Please don't faint on me.' Midorima said.
'Like I'd do such a thing.' Takao teased but now that Midorima mentioned it. His head felt very heavy and his knees felt kind of weak.
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Takao gripped onto Midorima and leaned on him. 'Just let me carry you.' Midorima said. Takao huffed but he let Midorima scoop him up and carry him. Midorima's arms felt tired by the time he got back to the Pokémon Centre. He felt lucky that it was just a short trip.
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Nurse Joy greeted them and fussed over them. In under five minutes, she assessed them and told Midorima what to do. She said that Takao was fine and that his cold had worsened because of the weather. With a little rest, some fluids, and more blankets than probably necessary he would be fine. It was the type of fever that could be sweated out and endured with sleep. If things worsened, she would call-up a professional doctor but she doubted that would happen as she figured that Midorima was a responsible person.
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Takao was fine with walking up the stairs but he still held onto Midorima. He was a little embarrassed by this whole fiasco. He shouldn't have been as reckless as he had been. 'Shin-chan, I'm sorry.' he murmured as he kept on walking.
'It's fine. I knew this was going to happen. I knew you would get a random burst of energy before dawn and I should have better prepared for it.' Midorima replied. Takao leaned against the wall and Midorima unlocked the door to their room.
'I'm also sorry for sending Hop-chan into battle in weather like that. That was dumb but to be fair, I thought Hop-chan was Pi-chan.' Takao admitted. 'Also, I used one of your new PokeBalls to catch Hoot-chan.'
'You're forgiven.' Midorima said.
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Takao stumbled into the room and dropped his things. 'Shin-chan, I'm sleeping in your bed tonight.' he said and he plopped down on Midorima's bunk. He was immediately engulfed by Midorima's smell. It smelt nice.
'Okay.' Midorima said and Takao wriggled in under the sheets. Midorima stood by the ladder to the top bunk.
'Can I let Pi-chan and Sen-chan and Hoot-chan and Hop-chan and Na-chan and Shin-chan sleep with me?' Takao mumbled into the pillow.
'Maybe not Shin-chan.' Midorima said. He worried that Takao was woozy as he wasn't making much sense anymore.
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Takao pouted. He grabbed Midorima's hand and pulled him. Midorima bumped his head into the bed and Takao continued to pull. He had a weak grip on Midorima. 'Nooo...' he whined, 'I want Shin-chan to sleep with me most. I need as much body heat as possible if I'm gonna sweat out this fever.'
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Dealing with Takao was like dealing with a petulant child but this was something different. This time, Midorima decided to be lenient. He let Takao have a few of his living stuffed dolls. Sen-chan curled up at his feet and Pi-chan nested by his head with Hoppip. Midorima grabbed a second pillow and succumbed to Takao's will.
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With all the weight placed on the bottom bunk, it sagged. There wasn't much room between anyone and Midorima didn't want to think about the dander that was going to be left behind from this but if it made Takao happy then he was willing to put up with it. Sheets could be washed after all. Midorima could feel Takao's warm breath on his neck and Takao seemed keen to cuddle. His arm was across Midorima's chest now. Midorima knew that as soon as he drifted off, they would both be too close for comfort come morning because Midorima was also a cuddly sleeper.
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The whole situation reminded Midorima of a childhood fantasy. When Midorima was eight, he thought that a perfect marriage life would be similar to this. He thought that his perfect wife would let him and their Pokémon all sleep together on a huge bed. Midorima could only wonder what would happen now if his eight year old self knew what his sixteen year old self knew.
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He tried not to think about that as that could have unfortunate consequences for his budding friendship with Takao. Midorima wondered if this was the future Oha-Asa had predicted for him this morning. Cancer had come in second and their lucky item was a useful PokeGear app. The announcer had said there would be mixed results. Midorima supposed that his current situation was "mixed" results. Perhaps if his useful PokeGear app had had purple incorporated into its colour scheme, maybe this could have been avoided.
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After a while, Midorima's eyes grew bleary and his body relaxed. He drifted to sleep and the last thing he remembered was the gentle touch of Takao curling up next to him.
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They had a late morning and it wasn't as awkward at Midorima had expected. Takao had woken up first and he had forgotten that he had bumped his head against the wire grate supporting the wooden planks and mattress of the top bunk. He struggled with numb legs as he tried to get Sen-chan to stop sleeping on him and he tried to get Hoppip from dusting him with some kind of yellowy-purple dander. Pi-chan and Hoot-chan had been good creatures and had nested in the corner where the bunk bed met the wall. It was place where they couldn't bother anyone.
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Takao wasn't surprised at all to see Midorima. He didn't remember coming back in from the storm at all. He had no doubt whatsoever that it was his idea to let Midorima into his bed. 'Shin-chan, wake up, I'm hungry.' he whined. Midorima exhaled abruptly and his eyes fluttered open. Takao watched and he had never noticed just how long Midorima's eyelashes were before now. He looked so different without his glasses. 'Good morning.' Midorima replied dryly. 'How are you feeling?'
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Takao took a deep breath. His nose was clear. He could see straight and he didn't have a headache. 'I'm a bit hot.' he said.
'No wonder. Look at all the "heat packs" you have.' Midorima said.
'Did I do anything, uh, "dumb" last night?' Takao asked, embarrassed.
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Midorima paused. 'Do you mean "dumb" as in "unintelligent" or are you using it as a euphemism for something else?' Takao huffed and rolled his eyes. 'Something else then. In which case, the answer is no.'
'Good, good... It's just I don't want things to be awkward between us. I am bi after all.' Takao said and Midorima sputtered.
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His face reddened whilst Takao stared in nonplus. 'You're acting as though that's news to you.' Takao pointed. 'Shin-chan, I don't date friends. Well, not guy friends anyway. So don't worry, I won't come onto you or anything.'
'No, um, it's just this is news to me. You haven't mentioned it before, that's all.' Midorima said.
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Takao's confusion thickened. 'Really? I mean, I make gay comments all the time. Well, I guess only make 'em in crowds so it's natural you'd assume it's a girl's ass I'm talking about.'
'I'm a terrible friend. I usually just zone out whenever you bring up things of a casually romantic or sexual nature.' Midorima admitted and Takao laughed.