"Annyeong, America-ssi!" – a cheerful Korean greeted when US opened the door… and answered with a fit of coughing.

"Uh… you ok da ze?"

"I got a flu…" – informed the blond with a hoarse voice, blowing his running nose – "Anyway, why you're here, buddy?"

"We had a meeting about those aircraft trading… but you don't look good enough for business da ze."

"Oh, right…(cough) totally forgot to cancel it. Sorry man. (snif) You better go now, or you'll get sick too." – the hero tried to shoo his friend away.

"Is there anybody taking care of you da ze?" – the Asian asked, concerned.

"No… (sneeze) but the hero sure can take care of himself." – the sneezing country assured…and blinked when he felt a refreshingly cold hand at his forehead.

"You're burning! Abandoning sick friends don't originate in Korea!" – the brunet declared, getting in – "Now close the door before you get worse."

"Thanks but (cough) no thanks buddy. I really don't want (cough) you to be sick too."

"Then, get well enough to kick me out da ze!" – cheeks that originated in Korea puffed, challenging the hero.

With no option, the blue eyed one complied with his in-law's order.

"Are you taking some medicine da ze?"

"A syrup every 6 hours."

"And you've been having it at the right time da ze?"

"Uh…" –the hero glanced at his watch and scratched the back of his head – "I'll take it now."

"When did you last eat da ze?" – the smaller man questioned.

"Hn… at breakfast." – the taller one answered after a thought, cleaning his running nose.

"Stomachaches can originate in you if you take medicines with your stomach empty! You're sweaty, so go take a hot bath while some food originate on me!" –the volunteer care taker scowled, pushing the sick one to his room's direction – "And don't forget to wear warm clothes da ze!"

"Jeez, I'm going, I'm going…" – said the blond, rolling his eyes… but there was a barely hidden smile on his face. Even if he was been told off, he knew it was a sign the Korean cared about him and it made him feel warmer on the inside.

"Korea, I'm done." – announced the hero, stepping into his kitchen.

"What you're doing here da ze? Go to bed and get warm da ze!" – the cooker demanded, pointing a 'menacing' ladle to his friend – "I'm going in a minute."

"Man, you can be so bossy at times!"

"Extreme times requires extreme measures da ze! If you're not taking care of yourself, taking care of you must originate in me!"

The American giggled at his friend's seriousness, but started coughing.

"See? Now go, I'll be right there da ze!" – the brunet frowned while patting the taller man's back.

"Soup?" –the American complained.

"It'll keep you warm and hydrated. Can you even swallow solid food da ze?" – the Korean reasoned.

"But I want hamburgers!" – the hero whined… then coughed.

"I know…that's why hamburger soup originated in Korea da ze~!" – the cooker announced proudly.

The blond blinked and took a more careful look inside the bowl and sure there were pieces of said meat on it.

"By the way, there's a little spicy punch on it because pepper can help to get you warmer and sweat that fever away da ze. Don't worry, taking easy on sick heroes originated in Korea." – the Asian informed – "Now, where's your syrup?"

The taller man pointed to his bed stand and took the bowl in his hand, trying a spoonful of the meal. Not bad. While his friend went for the medicine bottle, he started coughing again, spilling some soup on the blanket.

"Oh, man…"

"Sorry, too much pepper?" – the Asian asked, guiltily.

"No, it's ok."

"I can put some water and starch on it to make it milder da ze."

"No, really, I like it." – the hero said before another coughing fit. Luckily, the Korean was quick enough to take the bowl before more mess was done.

"Well, I guess I'll have to spoon feed you. How romantic da ze." – the brunet half-joked, offering the hero a spoonful – "C'mon. Sidekicks are not just to make hero's work funnier or to be saved, we're also meant to help the heroes here and there da ze. Now let me do my job da ze~"

The superpower felt helpless, but grateful that it was Korea who saw him on such a shameful condition. He would feel so humiliated if it was anyone else. So he accepted the help. At the end, it was actually so comforting that he thought that it could be ok to have someone helping him.

The last time he felt so pampered he was a kid, when England dropped by after a while, giving him toys and cooking for him… of course, at the time US didn't know any other food, so he didn't realized how bad of a cook England was, but he did tried to indulge the future superpower. And that's what counts, right?

"Well, glad you liked the soup so much da ze~" – the Asian commented, amazed, turning the empty bowl upside down to show there was not a single drop wasted – "Now, your medicine… I didn't know which spoon you're using, so I brought every size for you to pick da ze."

Korea literally had every size of spoon… even wooden spoons.

US laughed at how silly (and thoughtful) it was, but coughed again, feeling his sore throat.

"Don…make me… laugh…"

"S-sorry da ze!"

So, America picked the right spoon and let the brunet fill it and give to his sick friend.

"Ok, so, I'll get a clean blanket and wash this one and the kitchen ware... not together da ze." – the Korean joked – "I'll come to wake you up for medicine later. So just focus on resting and getting better da ze. If you need me... I don't know, do something noisy or text me? So now take your heroic recovery sleep da ze!"

Sometime later, the phone rang. A half-asleep American heard his guest answering it.

"Yeoboseyo…What I'm doing here da ze? Did you know he's sick?... So why are you not here da ze?... And you never considered questioning your boss? Oh, of course, such an obedient nation like you would never dare talking back da ze!...Fukushima was almost two years ago, and you're fully recovered with all the help you got from every nation, so that's such a lame excuse! I wonder why they don't make as much effort to help Haiti or Timor-Leste, you're so spoiled da ze!... That's not what I meant, just that you should be less self-centered da ze... So what? I'm not even his boyfriend and being here for him originates in Korea da ze… Well, what can I do if the official wife is not here to take care of him? Besides, since when the disposable fuck-toy takes care while the official one sits comfortably and safely far away da ze?... Of course I do care, why I would help him just to get on your way, especially when planning to come to see don't originate on you?! Anyway, he's coughing a lot and has a fever, but I'm making him have his medicine, in case you were wondering da ze... Of course I'm not taking advantage on him da ze! That's sick and I doubt any medicine can cure your sick head da ze!... I do care because I… I'm his friend da ze!... WHAT?!... And do you love him anyway da ze?!... I don't care; I won't let him alone when he needs just because you 'can't' be here!... Then you come kick me out of here da ze!"

The phone was hung down violently by a clearly stressed Korean.

Then, a cell phone originated in Korea rang signaling a call from the American.

The Asian made a worried bee line to the sick nation's room.

"Hey, you're ok da ze?" – the brunet approached the bed and put a hand on the blond's forehead, then sighed in relief – "I guess you're getting better from the fever da ze. A mere flu can't stop the hero, right? So, what do you need da ze?"

The hero caught his friend's retreating wrist and pulled it, making the smaller man lose balance and fall on the bed.

Dark eyes blinked confusedly when American arms wrapped the Asian on a tight, protective hug.

"Nobody will kick you out… the hero won't allow it…" – whispered a hoarse and tired voice.

Korea did his best not to think about how warm and comfortable those arms were and how safe it felt there.

He tried to ignore the slow, peaceful breathing lulling him to accompany the hero to dream's realm.

He was afraid of taking US's scent within himself, to be addicted to it. He didn't dare to acknowledge how nicely his head fit on the curve between the blond's chin and neck.

He hated how he couldn't help but feel his own cheeks hot, knowing they probably were blushing and evidencing his sinful, forbidden feelings for his in-law.

He knew he was on other's rightful place and how wrong it was. On the other hand, he couldn't help but feel it righter than anything.

The last thing he wanted was to take any advantage of his best friend. Such a filthy behavior definitively don't originate in Korea.

However, that iron grip the American was keeping him in didn't give the Asian any chance of escape without waking the sick nation up.

Korea didn't know what to do with himself, he was so lost he wondered how long his own sanity – if he ever had one – would last.

He felt like a monster trapped in heaven.

Notes:

In 2011 there was a tsunami in Japan that caused, among other disasters, an accident on a nuclear plant at Fukushima.

Haiti had a terrible earthquake in 2010 – they are still recovering.

Timor-Leste… well, has constant earthquake/tsunami issues

Ps.: This chapter was inspired on an idea from theworldofhetalia, when she got a flu.

She suggested a chapter when one of them gets sick and is taken care by the other. So, there it go =p

It's also her birthday, so it's at the same time a birthday gift and a 'get better soon' little stuff for her.

So, Happy Birthday, girl!