CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE - SICK AND IN LOVE

The light clicks of his door being opened and then closed again startled Shigraraki awake from a restless sleep - if what he was doing could even be considered sleeping in the first place. It was like he was just resting his eyes more so than sleeping. And he had been doing it on and off all day.

"It's just me." Dabi whispered in his smooth, velvety voice - reassuring his boyfriend.

"Mmm." The sound softened Shigaraki and he sighed as he sank back down against the bed.

Light footsteps crossed the room and then there was a dip in the mattress. Shigaraki felt the brush of Dabi's hand against his back, rubbing slow soothing circles against his bare skin.

"Baby?"

"Mmm?"

With his face buried in his pillow, Shigaraki mumbled something unintelligible and Dabi smiled adoringly.

"Turn over." He requested, sweeping his palm to Shigaraki's waist and gently uprooting him from the bed.

Shigaraki complied with the gentle demand of Dabi's hand, shifting sluggishly and rolling over onto his back with a grumbly groan. He blinked one eye open and then threw his arm over his face to shield the light from his eye. There wasn't much of it, just a warm yellow glow coming from the lamp on his desk on the opposite of the room, but his head was still pounding with a headache and the light, combined with the movement, upset his queasy stomach further.

Dabi grinned and leaned forward, nuzzling his face underneath Shigaraki's raised arm and kissing his boyfriends feverish face slowly all over. He just couldn't help himself. Even when he wasn't feeling very well, Shigaraki still looked so unbelievably adorable with his messy bed hair and red flushed cheeks.

"I brought you some soup." Dabi offered, between leisurely kisses.

"I'm not hungry." Shigaraki murmured, his tummy rumbling at the mention of food - and not in a good way.

"How about some juice then?" Dabi suggested, petting his fingers through Shigaraki's hair.

"Not right now." Shigaraki sighed softly at the affections and closed his eyes, his arm falling down over Dabi's shoulder.

While he appreciated Dabi's attempt to nurse him while he felt ill, he didn't need food or fluids, he just needed a real sleep. Unfortunately, that part of his brain, that was responsible for telling his body when it needed to rest, had vacated his head leaving him with a high fever and the inability to keep any food in his stomach.

"You need to get some sleep." Dabi said, echoing his thoughts.

At the mention of sleep, Shigaraki yawned. Dabi frowned. He knew Shigaraki was still having difficulties in that department and hated that it was partly his fault. He was working on a solution and hoped that he could deliver some relief to his boyfriend in the coming week or two but was there something more he could do to help?

Maybe...

"Want me to rub your back?"

"Huh?'" Shigaraki replied, puzzled.

Dabi chuckled softly. "Massage is good for relaxation. It might help."

Shigaraki peeked an eye open again. Was he serious?

Shigaraki had never had a massage before. The idea of someone, a stranger especially, putting their hands all over his naked body did not appeal to him. But Dabi wasn't just anyone, and Shigaraki liked it when his boyfriend touched him - his hands were always so warm.

One corner of Dabi's mouth was kicked up into a grin as he intently watched his boyfriend, waiting for a response or a reaction. When Shigaraki didn't reply after a minute Dabi took it upon himself to get things started.

"Come on." He sat up and gently patted Shigaraki's thigh. "Nothing else has helped, right?"

Shigaraki considered this, and yes, Dabi was right. It was worth a shot. And admittedly, he didn't have the energy to fight Dabi on this anyway - it looked like it was going to happen with or without his agreement as Dabi was already helping him flip over.

"Comfortable?" Dabi asked.

Shigaraki could hear him cracking his knuckles in preparation and nodded his head slowly. Under the unfamiliar circumstances, he was a little bit tense but just about as comfortable as he would get.

Or so he thought.

He gasped in initial surprise when he felt both of Dabi's hands fall to his back and his fingers immediately begin to rub him - slowly and somewhat firmly, turning his uncertainty into complete contentment.

He moaned softly as Dabi pushed and pressed at his stressed muscles, trying to manipulate them into submission and boy did it work for Shigaraki. He closed his eyes and fell into a pleasurable daze, relaxing entirely as his boyfriends hands climbed higher, working at his stiff shoulder muscles.

"I told you." Dabi whispered and then brushed the light hair away from the nape of Shigaraki's neck, absently leaning over to kiss the exposed skin. He just couldn't help himself. Shigaraki was allowing himself to be completely vulnerable, yet he trusted Dabi enough to blindly allow him to pacify his distress.

Shigaraki exhaled another moan, this one more pleasing and satisfying then the last as Dabi's hands swept downwards again, kneading his back. He wriggled slightly and one of Dabi's eyebrows popped up in response. He pushed the blanket a little further down with his movements and a few of Shigaraki's bones cracked when Dabi added pressure to his lower back, right above his ass.

Shigaraki breathed a rough groan in response to the relieving crack.

"Good?"

"Mmm." It felt good. Amazing. So great that other parts of his body were reacting to the rub-down.

Dabi grinned and lowered his hands to the back of Shigaraki's thighs kneading them gently. Shigaraki bit down into his lower lip, trapping a moan at the sensitivity of that touch - who knew it would be so potent? But it was, and it was too much - distracting him from being able to fully relax.

Shigaraki squirmed. He wanted to take some pressure off his lower half. The way Dabi was pressing into him was making him hard, and as good as it felt, this was not supposed to be about his cock. This was about unwinding and hopefully getting some sleep.

"Dabi?" Shigaraki turned his cheek against his pillow and mumbled his boyfriend's name.

"Yes?"

"You need to move your hands." Shigaraki said matter-of-factly.

"Oh?" Dabi replied with a soft knowing chuckle, one of his hands moving to the inside of his thighs, "You are feeling really good then?"

Shigaraki's body immediately went rigid at the touch.

"Do you want me to touch you?"

"No."

"Are you sure?" Dabi asked, his voice playful. "Maybe an orgasm will help you sleep."

"You don't think i've tried that already?" Shigaraki disclosed, his voice hitching when he felt Dabi's soft fingers caress his balls over his loose cotton boxers.

"Hm." Dabi removed his hand and Shigaraki made an abject sound of frustration, "It's different when it's not your own hand."

"How so?"

"Just relax and let me take care of you." Dabi said quietly, reassuringly. He dropped a kiss against Shigaraki's shoulder and continued to massage his back with one of his hands, rubbing at the now more pliable muscles.

Shigaraki began to settle again, calming and sighing at the continued attention to his back. It did really feel good. Especially after laying in bed all day.

Simultaneously, Dabi began peeling his underwear slowly over his ass and down to his thighs so he could address his boyfriend's blissful, drowsy induced erection. Shigaraki twitched but didn't stop it from happening, lifting his hips a little to aid Dabi's progress.

"So eager." Dabi said, grinning with self-satisfaction.

"Tch." Shigaraki mumbled, burying his inflamed face back into his pillow as Dabi's soft fingers worked around his balls again, gently massaging. It was torturous, both pleasurable and painful, and Shigaraki began to tremble at the teasing touch.

"Keep your hips up, Tomura."

"Dabi… just hurry up and touch me, please." Shigaraki groaned as he arched his back, pushing his face harder into his pillow and offering up more room for Dabi's hand to grope him.

"I've got you. Stay right there." Dabi grinned and his fingers migrated lower, slipping beneath Shigaraki's body to grasp his cock while his other hand laid on one perfect ass cheek, squeezing it roughly.

Shigaraki whimpered, lifting his head to take a quick breath but then choking on the exhale as Dabi began to stroke him slowly and steadily up and down, rubbing him with his warm palm. He didn't realize how excited he actually was until Dabi properly grasped him and it wasn't long before precum was overflowing from the tip and dribbling down his shaft, heightening the pleasurable fisting with a delicious warmth and wetness.

"You feel so good." Dabi murmured, a rush of excitement running through his own body. And surprisingly, it wasn't really in a sexual kind of way either. Now, that wasn't to say Dabi wasn't horny. He was, afterall, a teenage boy and he thought about his dick all the time, but being able to please and relieve his boyfriend was far more important than his own desire at that moment.

Dabi wanted to make Shigaraki feel so incredibly good, that if only for a brief wondrous moment his sickness might fade a little. Dabi wanted to heal him and wanted to take away his pain. And, of course, offer him the chance to rest.

"Dabi." Shigaraki breathed his name as he turned his cheek to the pillow, soft moans followed, puffing out between his slightly parted lips.

Dabi continued to rub him, almost reverently, unhurried in his motions yet vigilant, making sure Shigaraki was satisfied with the pace and the pressure. His eyes were closed, his forehead relaxed like he was in a dream-like state - half-asleep, half- conscious, but fully aware of the pleasure Dabi was giving him.

Dabi grinned affectionately. He wished he could see his boyfriend's face more candidly while he was in such a state of euphoria, but thankfully, he was treated to a pretty honest view of Shigaraki's bare ass - raised slightly in the air - and he took a moment then to properly indulge his eyes in the beautiful sight and where his fingers were gripping one cheek tightly, leaving little red marks behind on his skin.

Shigaraki moaned his name again and started to tense, his fingers curling into claws against the bed sheets. He was close to a release, breathing heavily in and out. Dabi fisted him a little faster, a little more firmly - his palm moving easily along Shigaraki's long, thick shaft and making sure he paid special attention to the swollen head on the upstroke.

"Ohh God!"

"Come for me, Tomura." Dabi requested, forcefully sending Shigaraki's body forward as he raised his ass up a little higher with a hard squeeze - so he could stroke his cock more thoroughly, encouraging him to let go.

A strangulated groan followed and then Shigaraki legs went rigid, he was about to come. He buried his face into his pillow once again and then cried out as he started to shoot off, grasping desperately at the bed as his body shook.

"Mm. That's it, baby." Dabi spoke softly, praising Shigaraki for his submission and milking all the sticky, hot fluid from his cock as his orgasm wrecked his body. "Such a good boy."

"Nngh." Shigaraki moaned hard, more spurts of come coating Dabi's fingers until he had emptied himself dry.

"And so wet." Dabi purred, caressing Shigaraki's shaft with his slippery hand while the other squeezed his ass. "You were really backed up."

A moment later, Shigaraki's hips collapsed to the bed, trapping Dabi's hand beneath him - which was still holding onto his cock.

"Tomura?"

"Mmmmmm."

"You're going to be upset you fell asleep in the wet spot when you wake up," Dabi said quietly before carefully releasing him and pulling his arm back.

Another moan followed, but he didn't move.

Dabi grinned at Shigaraki's instant post-orgasmic lull. He was spent. As he should have been. That was the goal.

Dabi shifted on the bed and laid down against Shigaraki's side, his hand slowly sweeping up and down his boyfriend's back. His skin was so much warmer now, yet he was shivering, like he was cold. Dabi had been so wrapped up in the handjob he almost forgot Shigaraki was still sick.

He nuzzled into Shigaraki's neck and blindly reached for the comforter, so he could cover him up. When he was fully blanketed, Dabi gently maneuvered Shigaraki's listless body onto his side and then tucked him in against his much warmer chest, his lips dropping down against the top of Shigaraki's head as his boyfriend freely accepted the embrace.

"You feel okay?" He asked, petting his fingers through his boyfriend's hair.

"Sleepy." Shigaraki yawned, his voice groggy.

Dabi grinned. That one simple raspy word made his heart flicker with fire, a burning heat that radiated outwards from his chest, warming his entire body and soul. He couldn't contain the joy or the elated emotion spiraling through him. Before he could catch himself, the three very important words - that he had been waiting for the right time to say - slipped out of his lips.

"Fuck, I love you."

Shigaraki inhaled sharply.

Dabi was about to ask him what was wrong when it suddenly hit him - realizing what he had just said. Did he just fuck up? He really didn't know if this was the right moment to say those three little words but it sure as hell felt right. Did Shigaraki feel the same way? Or was this a complete misjudgment on his part?

If only he could read his boyfriend's mind...

Light puffs of air hit Dabi's skin, Shigaraki was breathing again, more evenly, more calmly now. That was a good sign.

"Tomura." He whispered his boyfriends name and grasped the back of his neck, holding him in that perfect spot just below his chin - which seemed to be made just for Shigaraki. "I love you." He said in a gentle voice, the words came more naturally, more organically - sincerely and seriously.

Shigaraki didn't move, he didn't make a sound. He didn't know what to do.

Did he love Dabi too? How would he know?

Physically, he was attracted to Dabi, that was extremely obvious. And mentally, Dabi made everything in his life feel right even when everything was going wrong. But it was the emotional response to his boyfriend that made him think that yes, he was in love with Dabi. It was how his heart fluttered erratically when Dabi looked at him or the warmth that filled his entire body when Dabi touched him. No one else made him feel those things.

Lost in his thoughts, Dabi was the first to break the silence - bringing him back to reality. "You don't have to say it back."

Shigaraki's brow furrowed.

"I know it's… a lot and I-"

"Dabi." Shigaraki interjected.

"I don't expect-"

"Dabi." He said again, a little more loudly.

"Yeah?"

"I love you too. Idiot." Shigaraki breathed. The words sounded strange to his own ears, not because they weren't true but because they were so new. He had never said anything like that to any one in his life, so he repeated them, more confidently. "I love you."

Dabi blew out a breath, one that he didn't even realize he had been holding.

Shigaraki smiled and lifted his arm, sliding it over Dabi's waist. His fingers curled against his boyfriends back as he nestled closer and his mouth brushed Dabi's throat with slow kisses, lips unerringly finding and tracing the scars.

"Tomura?" Dabi sighed happily, fingers stroking Shigaraki's skin beneath the blankets.

"Yes?"

"I need you to go to sleep now." Dabi drew back a little and Shigaraki tipped his head up.

"I'll try."

"Do you need anything before I go?"

Shigaraki shook his head slightly and Dabi dropped his chin, kissing his forehead.

It was unfortunate that they had to part now, after they had finally and audibly professed their love but Dabi knew Shigaraki wouldn't be able to rest well if he stayed in his bed. He would worry, he wouldn't sleep properly and Dabi needed him to get better.

He eyed Shigaraki, watching as his eyelids fluttered closed. He was quickly sinking into unconsciousness, not completely out but already dozing, right on the verge of falling asleep. His body was done, energy depleted, ultimately forcing him to shut down even if did not want to. It was time.

Dabi slipped quietly from the bed, hoping that Shigaraki got the rest he desperately needed and when he woke up, he felt healthier and refreshed.