Hi guys!
As I'm sure everyone guessed, this chapter revolves around Taka being sick, ha. As such, please know that I do describe illness, such as sneezing, coughing, and briefly vomiting. It's nothing graphic, but just a warning. This is another fluffy chapter and it's among my favorites in this fic, so I hope y'all like it too! This is also one of the three chapters I split in two because it got too long, so the end of this chapter and the beginning of the next one may be a bit clumsy, but I did my best. Next chapter brings back the angst we all know and love, so I'm kinda glad that I have split them up, honestly.
Anyway! Thanks again for all the nice comments! I appreciate them all! :-D
Enjoy!
When Taka wakes the following morning, it is to a thick head, a stuffed nose, a sore throat, and an all-around disgusting feeling that makes him want to curl up and fall back asleep for a thousand years. As awful as he feels, he tries to do just that, hoping that when he wakes again, the terrible feeling within him will be gone.
Unfortunately, he also regrettably notices that he has a pounding skull, and— to his great dismay— he finds that because of it, he is unable to fall back into the blissful oblivion that sleep usually is. And it is with that thought that he finally, fully concedes.
He is sick.
Letting out a soft, pitiful moan, Taka buries his face in the warmth in front of him, hoping that if he presses hard enough, the pounding in his skull will just go away already...
"Mm... kyoudai? Whatcha doin' up? S'only... fuck. S'only 5:40. Y'ain't gotta be up, man. S'also the weekend..."
Taka whimpers quietly as the low words rattle through his head, making his head pound. He buries deeper in the chest, but before he has any hope of finding relief, he feels a tickling in his throat. And, before he can stop it, he's coughing, the sound wet and aggravated, his body and head aching as he is wracked by the furious hacking. When he finally stops, his throat aches with the scratchy feeling the coughs created, his breathing ragged and painful.
"Ah, fuck... shit, kyoudai, I hate ta tell ya this, but I'm pretty sure yer like... actu'ly sick now... shit. Shoulda brought ya ta the nurse yesterday... goddamn it," the voice calls lowly again, making him whimper softly. His head is pounding so much that he can't quite place where he knows the voice from, but what he does know is that he trusts it entirely. This is a good voice, even if it is regretfully making his head hurt with its sound...
Taka whimpers again when he feels something move him, his body getting adjusted as warm bands wrap further around his waist, pulling him closer to the radiating heat before him. Considering how cold he feels, he goes greedily, shivering heavily.
"Fuck man... yer skin is on fire. Nurse ain't gonna open 'til 7:00 though... shit. 'M gonna get up an' get ya some cold pills I know I got hangin' 'round somewhere. Y'ain't like... allergic or nothin', are ya?"
Taka has no idea what the voice is saying, so he just whimpers yet again, shaking his head desperately. The voice sighs, and he feels pressure against the top of his head, warm and sweet. If he were in his right mind, he'd notice that the pressure is actually lips, but because he's decidedly not in his right mind, he just hums softly with satisfaction at the wonderful feeling.
The satisfaction is cruelly destroyed when he feels the wonderful heat tear away from him, making him let out a soft cry of distress. His eyes crack open a sliver as he tries to look to see what is going on, only to slam shut a second later, his head pounding as the pale predawn light assaults him. He hears a soft curse, before the warmth is back, pulling him tight again. He snuffles happily as he snuggles close once more.
"Aw, shit... fuck. Yer so goddamn cute, kyoudai... but I gotta get ya some medicine, man. Some a' that nighttime stuff, should knock ya right out. I'll be right back, okay? ... shit. Ya can't even understand me right now, can ya? Goddamn it..."
Taka says nothing as the voice peters out, the steady warmth before him staying and engulfing him so nicely. But then, a minute later, he hears a loud sigh. And then...
Taka lets out another pathetic cry, hands trying to hold onto the warmth as best he can, but the warmth is stronger than him. He hears another muffled curse, and he can feel hands gently pry his off. He opens his eyes again and shoots the warmth a pitiful look, even despite the pounding in his head, and he hears a soft sound of distress echo back to him. He then feels warmth press against his forehead (lips, he is able to blearily recognize, gasping painfully), before the lips pull back and a warm forehead is pressing against his, placating him somewhat.
"Goddamn kyoudai, makin' me feel like a fuckin' monster fer wantin' ta make sure yer okay... Christ. Ain't no use fer it, Kiyo. Gotta make sure yer okay, first an' foremost. I'll be back as fast as I can, okay? I fuckin' promise. Ain't gonna leave ya like this. Not now, not ever. Now, I'm gonna go find the stuff, so just... try an' rest, okay? I'll be right fuckin' back..."
And just like that, the warmth is gone again. Taka whimpers as the aching inside him gets worse, but he does his best to not cry out in panic. He's feeling very out of it right now, but some part of him instinctively knows that the voice and the warmth will be coming back, as soon as they are able. He's not entirely sure what or who the warmth belongs to, but he knows more than anything that he trusts them. With his life. With his everything. If they say they will return... he is more than inclined to believe them.
It doesn't help the pain he feels though, his head pounding and his throat throbbing and his... everything on fire and freezing at the exact same time. He can't help the soft whimpers he lets out every time he moves, and the pain radiates outward, making him hurt so fiercely from all over his body. He can hear the voice call to him every time he does, can hear it saying words throughout the entire time they're gone, but he can't seem to focus enough to hear what they're saying. It's comforting regardless, though, allowing him to settle somewhat, even with the agony wracking through his body so cruelly.
Eventually— Taka has no hope of knowing how long later— he feels as the surface below him shifts, making him whimper as his body is moved, which makes him ache again. The voice shushes him, saying some more words he can't comprehend, and then he feels as he's being lifted, his body screaming at him. It's over soon, though, his pitiful cries getting silenced as he leans comfortably against a warm chest, the warm arms back around his waist again.
"Shit, Kiyo, I'm here man, I'm fuckin' here... don't cry, baby, I got you... now, I know yer in pain, but I need ya ta drink this, okay? Can ya do that fer me, Kiyo? Yer so goddamn brave, I just need ya ta be a little more brave fer me, okay? C'mon, baby, that's it... that's it..."
Taka whines but when he feels something hard and cold press against his lips, he doesn't fight against it. He lets it sit there, and when it tips back, he does his best to swallow, like the voice had asked. Unfortunately, his throat is so thick and enflamed that he almost can't get the water down, trembling as he whines in panic. The voice keeps talking, telling him he's doing so good, that he just needs a little more, that's it... he tries harder to swallow and he eventually succeeds, the cool liquid helping soothe his painful throat greatly. When the water touches his tongue again, he doesn't need the voice to tell him to swallow, as he does it greedily, craving the relief the freezing water gives his aching throat.
After a few more sips, he feels as the water glass gets pulled from his lips, making him whine again. Then the voice is back, hushing him once more.
"Don't worry, baby, ain't gonna take it away. Just need ya ta swallow this pill, okay? It may be hard, but it'll make ya feel so much better, Kiyo. Promise. Now open up, man. Gotta give ya some medicine. That's it, yer doin' great, Kiyo, come on baby, that's it..."
Taka is still having some trouble comprehending the words being said to him, but he can figure that the voice wants him to open his mouth when he feels warm fingers press to his lips, brushing them softly. He parts his lips on a gasp, whining softly. The voice chuckles, and he feels something nuzzle against his cheek softly.
"Yeah, there we go baby. 'M gonna put the pill in yer mouth now, okay? Don't freak out, gonna give ya some water soon after. Then ya gotta swallow, ya understand Kiyo?"
Taka doesn't, actually, but when he feels the pill get placed on his tongue, the voice soothing him, he doesn't panic and just lets it sit there. When the water comes, he drinks it, allowing the pill to get washed away with it. He swallows it thickly, the pill getting a little stuck in his throat. Thankfully, more water comes and he's able to swallow it down fully, letting out soft noises of discontent as he goes.
He doesn't know how much time passes as he drinks the water, but eventually the cup runs empty and he can feel his eyes drooping, even with the painful headache he still has. He lets his head loll onto the warm chest behind him, eyes closing and breathing growing deeper as he feels sleep start to overtake him.
Before he can fully succumb, he feels the warmth behind him shift again, the voice muttering things he has no hope of comprehending. When he lets out another discontent noise, another chuckle sounds, even as he's still getting moved gently.
"C'mon, Kiyo. Can't sleep sittin' up. Not good fer yer back. Just gettin' ya inta a better position so ya can sleep prop'ly an' shit. That's it, baby. That's it..."
After a few seconds, Taka is settled once more, his head resting against the warm chest while his body lies belly down against a warm body. He feels warm bands wrap around his waist and a warm pressure against the top of his head, and everything is just... warm. So very, pleasantly warm.
"Now, get some sleep, Kiyo. Hopef'ly ya'll feel better when ya wake. Either way, 'm gonna take ya ta the nurse, even if I gotta carry ya. Yer too hot, an' not in yer usual way. Ain't good fer ya. But fer now, just get some rest. Ya've earned some fuckin' rest, man..."
Taka doesn't even hear the entire sentence because by that point, he's already fallen fast asleep, snuffling, and wheezing, and aching, but very, very tired.
(As such, Taka doesn't get to see the adoring and caring look Mondo gives him as the biker gently brushes back the sweat laden hair along his temple, nor does he feel the light press of lips against his forehead, hear the softly whispered 'get better soon, kyoudai,' or feel as Mondo tenderly pulls him closer, not caring that he, too, may get sick.
If Taka knew, he'd feel bitterly disappointed he'd missed it.)
~XoxoxoxoxoxoX~
When Taka awakens again, it's once more to a throbbing head, a stuffed-up nose, a painfully dry throat, and a too warm body that is drenched in sweat, feeling decidedly uncomfortable. However, unlike the first time he woke (which he barely remembers, mostly just snapshots of pain and agony), his head is relatively clear, allowing him to think without wanting to die. Too badly.
Letting out a quiet whine, he presses his face into the hard chest under him, breathing deep as he tries to get the nausea roiling through his gut to calm itself down. He feels as the chest moves subtly, which makes things worse, honestly.
"Kyoudai? Ya up?" he hears a very quiet voice ask gruffly from above him, concern and caring drenching the few words. Taka whines again— unintentionally— and nods shortly in response, throat aching too much to even have any hope of speech. He feels as the body beneath him shifts again, but that just makes him feel worse, so he tries to get it to stop by pressing against it with his hand, letting out an aggrieved whine. The body does stop, briefly, before it regretfully begins to move again. Darn...
"Shit... sorry, kyoudai. But I gotta take ya ta the nurse. Ya've been sleeping for a few hours, but yer still so fuckin' warm. Anytime I tried ta remove the blankets or move away, though, ya'd start cryin' an' shit an' I just... heh. Couldn't bear ta do that ta ya. By the way, can ya hear me? Last time ya woke, ya were like... hella outta it an' I don't know how much ya heard me say. Seemed ta like hearin' my voice, though, so I kept speakin' an' shit. Just, uh... wanna know if yer still that bad off or not..."
While his head is aching and the voice— quiet, he is sure, but overly loud to him— is making his head hurt, he's able to comprehend what the voice is saying at least, though he has vague memories of what the voice is talking about. He still isn't entirely sure whose voice it is, as he's still half asleep and a little delirious, but he's not worried or afraid to hear it, so he doesn't think on it much.
Instead, he just nods slowly, whimpering with the pain.
"Y-yes," he croaks, voice impossibly dry and sore, "I can- c-can hear you..."
He can feel the body halt in... whatever it is doing, before a startled chuckle is released, which he can feel all throughout his body. And while it does make his head hurt, it feels so nice, too...
"Oh, shit... heh, that's good, Kiyo! But, uh... y'ain't gotta talk if that shit hurts, okay? But I gotta get up, get ya ta the nurse an' shit. She, uh... she'll fuckin' know what ta do. Ain't leavin', though, okay? Just gotta get some shit set up 'fore we can get ya outta here. Okay?"
Taka breathes heavily through his mouth for a few seconds— still trying to calm his stomach— before he nods, knowing the voice wants a response from him. The body below him starts moving again, shifting him to lay on the bed instead of on it, which Taka hates, but doesn't let out any noises of protest. While it's hard to think, part of him does know that going to the nurse is probably the best idea, honestly... even if he has no idea how that will even work, logistically, as he doesn't know if he can stand, let alone walk the distance to the nurse's office... hm.
Lying down is very uncomfortable without the body to hold him, though, his body aching with sickness, so after a moment, he struggles to sit, stomach roiling as he goes. He hears the voice let out a sound of surprise, before hands are there, helping him sit comfortably, moving the pillows behind him to help prop him up. He smiles gratefully, eyes squinting open carefully to look around.
Unfortunately, the second that his eyes open he finds them assaulted by light, which makes the nausea he's been fighting against this entire time flare up, his stomach immensely protesting the harsh pounding in his skull that the light produces. He puts his hand to his mouth as he tries to hold it all inside, body poised to stand and rush to the bathroom, but before he can even move, he hears a low curse and a rush of fumbling, before a solid garbage can is brought before him, held steadily before his mouth.
He doesn't even have time to thank whoever gave it to him before his body is expelling what seems like the entire contents of his stomach, the taste absolutely disgusting as it burns his throat coming up. He can vaguely feel a hand on his back, rubbing soothing circles as he heaves, as well as hear words getting uttered quietly in his ear, but with the violent heaving he's doing, he can't quite make out what the voice is saying. It does help soothe him, though, even with the violent upheaval his stomach is going through.
After what feels like hours but logically can't be longer than a couple minutes at most, Taka is able to move away from the revolting trash can, which is now full of bile and other disgusting bodily fluids. He wrinkles his nose at the smell, but the mess is gone before he can even blink, the body beside him leaving briefly to put the trash can as far away from them as possible. He blinks— his head actually hurting a little less now— and is finally able to focus enough to make out who it is that has been taking care of him this entire time.
"Mondo..." he mutters softly, though there is absolutely no surprise inside of him. Because obviously it's Mondo. Who else would it be? His father never took such good care of him when he'd get sick, not even when he'd been very young, the man uncomfortable around illness. Only his mother would, taking off work and sitting beside him while ensuring he was doing well no matter how mild his illness, but even that was mostly Before. After, she would want to, but she rarely had time between her two jobs. He's mostly had to take care of himself while ill since he was six, which is the main reason he's always hated it so much. To be so ill and have to deal with it alone... he'd always hated it. But now, here... with Mondo...
He watches as the biker smiles softly at him, eyes tender as they look at him, making Taka feel warm inside, but in a very pleasant way.
"Heh. Heya, Kiyo. I'm, uh... I'm gonna get a wet towel and some water from the bathroom real quick. Be right back, promise."
Taka nods slowly at the words, unable to say anything through the pain in his throat. He watches as Mondo gives him one last, bright smile, before turning and entering the bathroom quickly. Barely a minute passes before Mondo is exiting the room, two glasses in his hand, one full of water and one holding a wet towel.
"Here ya go, Kiyo... gonna clean ya up then have ya drink some water, 'kay? C'mere, Kiyo. I gotcha."
He watches yet again as Mondo moves to sit on the bed beside him, placing the glass of water down on his desk behind the bed. Mondo then takes the folded-up towel out of the extra glass and lightly rings the excess water out, bringing it forward to gently wipe away any of the bile that managed to get on his lips and chin. Mondo then folds the towel so that the soiled side is facing inward, before placing it gently on his forehead. Taka gasps at the cold sensation, humming with appreciation as it cools his feverish skin. While he vaguely remembers feeling freezing cold when he'd first awoken, he now feels like he's on fire, so the icy cold towel feels like heaven.
"Thank you," he mumbles, looking at Mondo gratefully with slitted eyes. It's easier to handle the light now that he's gotten more used to it, even though it does still make his head throb angrily. He watches as Mondo smiles down at him, the biker leaning forward to lightly kiss his cheek.
"Ain't no problem, kyoudai. Told ya I'd help take care a' ya if ya got sick. Don't mind one bit. Now, I'm gonna have ya drink some water, 'kay? I think ya've got the flu, which means ya need plenty a' fluids an' shit. Sports drinks would work better, with their electrolytes an' shit, but I ain't got any a' that shit lyin' 'round, sorry. Can get some at the school store later, or else ask Sakura if she's got any stashed away. Fer now, water'll help. So, uh... drink slowly, okay?"
With that, Mondo leans over the bed to grab the full water glass, pressing it gently to Taka's lips again. Taka absently raises a hand and grabs the glass too, his fingers brushing Mondo's as they hold the cup together. He takes a small sip of the water carefully, swirling it around his mouth to get the foul taste out. He feels Mondo pull back the cup silently and hold out the other one, which is now empty of all but a little water, since he removed the towel earlier. Giving Mondo another grateful look, he spits out the mouth full of water into the cup, wrinkling his nose at the grossness of it all. Mondo doesn't say anything about it, just chuckles lightly as he stretches to put the gross cup down on the desk. He then brings the water cup back up to his lips, Taka's hand moving with it easily. This all goes on without a single word shared between them, though it doesn't feel awkward.
Now that his mouth isn't quite as disgusting, he's able to drink the water easily, the cool liquid feeling so good against his painful throat, so much so that it's a little hard to force himself to drink it slowly. He knows that drinking too fast will just make him throw up again, though, so he doesn't even need Mondo muttering 'slowly, kyoudai, slowly... yeah, that's it, baby, that's it...' to remind him not to.
He can't help but focus on the fact that Mondo is calling him 'baby' again, though... he's noticed the biker doing that during their, er... intimate moments, but he's been doing his best to not think too much of it. He knows that Mondo's 'dirty talk' is mostly stream of consciousness, no thought going into it whatsoever, so it doesn't surprise him that the biker would say such things, even though it's not a super common practice in their culture. It's what he finds sensual, Taka supposes, so it's what he says.
But here... there is absolutely nothing sexual about what is currently going on. In fact, Taka hasn't looked in a mirror just yet (thankfully), but he would bet good money that he looks like hot garbage at the moment. He's never thought himself to be particularly attractive, but here, drenched in sweat, with his face unpleasantly flushed, having just thrown up the entire contents of his stomach... well. He highly doubts that he's ever looked less attractive in his life. So... so why is Mondo calling him by such an intimate— if unusual— pet name...?
He doesn't get a chance to ask (though he doubts he would, even if he had the chance, since he would hate to embarrass the teen or— worse— make him stop) before he finishes the glass of water, Mondo pulling it away and placing it on the desk beside the other one. Mondo then takes the towel— which is now warm and unpleasant against his skin— and gently mops up any remaining sweat along his brow and cheeks. Finally, he pulls back, smiling sweetly down at him.
"Heh, there we go, kyoudai. Ya feelin' any better?"
Taka thinks about that for a second, before nodding carefully. He's surprised to find that it's actually true, too. While he still feels achy and his head hurts, he's no longer in as much pain as he had been, and his head isn't as fuzzy. Throwing up had— surprisingly— helped him and drinking the water had helped even more. His throat still hurts, but he feels okay enough to try and croak out a few words.
"Y-yes, kyoudai... I'm feeling a little... little better. T-thank you... I truly appreciate what you- what you are doing..."
Taka's voice gives out by the end of his sentence, and the words are spoken very softly, but part of him is pretty proud he'd been able to get anything out at all, really. He pouts softly when Mondo tsks at him, the biker rolling his eyes and shaking his head. Before any hurt or upset can even hope to take hold in his heart, he watches as Mondo leans forward, his warm lips pressing tenderly to his forehead, right in between his intense eyebrows. Mondo lingers there as he mutters his next words, his voice low, but still understandable.
"Told ya, ain't gotta thank me, Kiyo. It's my pleasure ta be able ta help ya out. Mean that, got it? Don't gotta hurt yerself ta thank me. Ain't no big deal." Mondo pulls away then, looking down at him with soft eyes and a tender smile, looking so soft that it makes Taka's heart ache. "Now, if yer feelin' up ta it, we should head ta the nurse. If y'ain't, might be able ta get the nurse ta come ta ya. Or I could carry ya, but I ain't so sure if ya'd like that. Kinda a long distance, heh. I don't mind, but I don't wanna make ya uncomfortable or anythin'. D'ya think ya can walk?"
Taka, again, considers the question, breathing slowly through his mouth. If Mondo had asked him that a few minutes ago, he'd have resolutely said no, as awful as he'd felt. But now, with his stomach and his head settling a little, the body aches annoying but not overly painful... he thinks that, maybe...
"I- I think so, kyoudai... b-but I might- might need help," he mutters softly, shifting on the bed, nose wrinkling with his discomfort. Mondo hums, reaching out and brushing the sweaty hair off his forehead. The sensation feels nice, even if Mondo's hand is as warm as ever, and so Taka cannot help how he leans into it, humming happily when Mondo takes the hint and cups his cheek with care, thumb rubbing soothing circles along his cheekbone.
"Heh. Yeah, figured that, Kiyo. Okay, man. Let, uh... let's getcha up, then. Nice an' easy... we can stop if y'ain't able ta, ain't no big thing... that's it, Kiyo... c'mon..."
Taka lets out a puff of air as he shifts on the bed, allowing Mondo to help pull him forward so his legs can touch the ground. It takes him a couple of moments to get his bearings, vertigo making him want to throw up again (even though he's fairly certain all he's got in his stomach right now is the water he just drank), but after a while, he feels okay again. He places his hands gently on Mondo's shoulders and lets the biker help pull him up, his hands slung low on Taka's waist. Taka leans heavily against Mondo, forehead pressed to his chest, breathing deep to try and push down the vertigo once more, until he finally feels ready to move.
"I- I'm good, kyoudai..." Taka mutters against Mondo's chest, silently relishing in the rumble the biker gives in response, his arms feeling so pleasant around his waist. He pulls back and smiles shakily at the teen, laughing weakly as Mondo leans forward to kiss his forehead yet again. He sure does seem to like doing that, doesn't he...?
"That's good, Kiyo. We should head out now, though. Sooner we get ya some proper medicine, sooner ya'll get better, ya know? But, uh... if ya need ta stop fer any reason, let me know, okay? Can carry ya the rest a' the way too if I gotta, don't mind. Now... ya ready?"
Taka takes another deep breath before nodding once, shifting so he can put an arm around Mondo's waist for stability. He feels Mondo return the gesture, his arm snaking around Taka's shoulder and under his right armpit, holding him upright easily. It feels a little awkward at first, but he quickly gets used to it.
Soon, he feels Mondo start to move, and Taka forces his legs to follow. They're a little clumsy, and he knows that if it weren't for Mondo he'd most definitely have tripped and fallen immediately, but with the biker's help, he's able to slowly stumble towards the door, Mondo reaching for it as soon as they arrive. Before he can open the door, however, Taka cries out, something occurring to him suddenly.
"Face masks!" he cries, before being forced to stop as a coughing fit overtakes him. Mondo gives him a strange look, but he doesn't say anything as he waits for Taka to finish, thankfully, lightly rubbing his back as he waits.
A moment later when the coughs finally subside, he grimaces at Mondo, shaking his head softly.
"A-ah. I meant, we should both wear- wear a face mask before heading out. I am clearly sick, and since you have- have been near me, you... you should wear one- one too. T-to... t-to protect our- our classmates," Taka forces out, grimacing again at the painful throbbing the words force on his throat. Mondo looks at him steadily for a long moment, before sighing, nodding his head in acknowledgement.
"Shit. Yeah, yer fuckin' right. Uh... if I prop ya against the door, can ya stand by yerself? Or d'ya wanna head back ta the bed?"
Taka hums in consideration, before nodding lightly towards the door.
"I- I should be able to stand alone, a-as long as I am against the door. I keep some spare face masks in- in the first aid kit that I- I have been- been keeping in... ah. Y-your bathroom..."
The words are hard to get out, his voice giving out near the end, but Mondo hears him well enough, the biker nodding with understanding. Ever since he started spending more time in Mondo's room than his own, he split up his first aid kit and has been keeping a fairly well stocked kit in their room now, grabbing the free supplies the nurse's office offers whenever he has a chance. Some of those supplies included some pretty high-quality face masks, which he now feels very grateful for grabbing!
Feeling Mondo pull away from him is highly unpleasant, his body aching with the loss, but he does his best to not let the whine out, just leaning against the door as best he can. His legs are shaking with the effort, his body aching acutely with sickness, but they thankfully don't give out. He listens as Mondo hurries over to the bathroom, the biker muttering under his breath as he looks to find the first aid kit.
Thanks to Taka's organizing, it doesn't take the biker long to find what he's looking for, Mondo letting out a sound of triumph as he finds his prize. When he exits the bathroom, Taka can see that he's wearing the white disposable face mask already, a second one held carefully in his hands.
When he reaches him, Taka doesn't protest as Mondo gently places the mask on for him, not minding at all. Face masks are never comfortable to wear, he knows, but he'd rather face a little discomfort now than run the risk of making his fellow students sick as well. It's bad enough he's been exposing Mondo for hours now! He'd hate to get anyone else sick, too...
Before long, they're both masked up and are ready to head out, their arms around one another yet again.
The walk to the nurse's office is sadly a slow one since the nurse is regrettably on the other side of the school, and Taka gets tired pretty easily and needs to take a couple breaks. They thankfully haven't passed anyone on their way yet, which he figures is because it is still only 9:00 am on a Sunday. It's fortunate, since he had realized halfway down the hallway from the dorms that he's still wearing his sweat drenched sleep clothes, which is a look he'd never want anyone seeing him in. Well, other than Mondo! He is wearing sleep pants and a white undershirt, so he is technically presentable, but it is most definitely not a dignified look. Especially since Mondo is in a similar state of undress, which isn't in and of itself incriminating, but... well. Considering the popular rumor running through the school about them, he knows that being caught in such a state would not help matters much.
However, it's at the exact moment that Taka thinks that perhaps they'll be lucky and not run into anyone at all, that their luck finally runs out. Because... of course it would...
"Oh! Taka, Mondo! I was wondering how you two were, after, uh... yesterday. But wow... you don't look very good, Taka... uh..." he hears Makoto call, Taka's face flushing even more at the hesitant words, reminded of how indecent he looks. He quickly looks up from his feet (which he's been staring at to try and make sure he doesn't trip on them), and promptly feels his body go stiff when he catches sight of Makoto's eyes darting down to his neck, the boy's eyes widening to the size of saucers at whatever he sees there. Oh... god...
Taka suddenly realizes what, exactly, he is missing from his ensemble that he's been wearing every day for the last several weeks, to hide the, er... love bites that Mondo has been liberally giving him. Ever since they started their whole affair, he's made sure to not go out in public without his trusty red scarf, the bruises covered cleanly under the cloth. Plus, Mondo had made good on his promise to buy better foundation (as he's finally learned it's called) a few days before, one that actually covers the bruises entirely. He's been very diligent about having both things on before leaving the room for school or even exercise, the routine now a common one each morning.
However... he'd been so out of it earlier that he'd not even thought of it before leaving. And while he's not seen his reflection yet (again, thankfully...), he has no doubt that his and Mondo's actions from yesterday have left some fresh bruises along his neck, with the faded ones from earlier that week lying on the other side. He thinks Mondo has one, too, from when he'd, er, bit him before- b-before... a-ah. You know. Not to mention the still healing ones from earlier that week. Bruises that the biker, too, had not thought to cover up.
This realization shoots ice through his veins, especially when Makoto looks away quickly, a blush bright on his cheeks. The boy— while average in class— is far from an idiot and is in fact one of the more perceptive members of their entire class. Taka has no hope at all that the boy might not realize what such marks mean. Even just on Taka, since it is highly unlikely that he would have gotten them from anyone else, especially considering how little time he spends with anyone who isn't Mondo. But on the both of them… there's no way he doesn't understand the meaning behind them.
To his immense relief, though, the boy doesn't mention it, and Mondo doesn't seem to notice Makoto's realization, eyes too focused on Taka, frowning softly with his concern.
"Uh, yeah. Taka's definitely sick an' shit. Guess all the playin' in the snow an' shit made him sick. 'M takin' him ta the nurse, seein' if she can't get him some proper medicine. Think he's got the flu or somethin'," Mondo mentions, mild concern in his voice. Taka looks up at the biker and smiles with reassurance, only to remember the mask he is wearing. A-ah... oops... he thinks Mondo can notice, though, as the tightness in his eyes loosens and the corners crinkle a little, which tells Taka that the biker is smiling, too.
"Oh! Wow, Taka, that sucks... uh... whenever I get sick, I find that eating homemade chicken noodle soup helps. My mom has the best recipe for it, ha. And, uh... if you'd like, maybe I can get Hina to help me make you some for lunch? We all were worried about you after the battle yesterday, so I know she'd want to help. I-it's up to you, though. If you'd like."
Taka blinks at the kind offer, the boy looking at him again with a bright smile, face still a little pink but— other than that— showing no indication of what Taka knows the boy now knows. A-ah... he's so fortunate to have some very wonderful classmates... now, he can only hope that the boy keeps what he's learned to himself... which he's sure he will! He hopes...
He shakes the thoughts away as he smiles shakily at the boy, forgetting about the mask yet again.
"A-ah... you needn't do s-such a thing, M-Makoto! I shall... s-shall be fine! Thank you... ah. T-thank you for the o-offer," he manages to croak out roughly, a coughing fit following immediately after. Taka lifts the arm not around Mondo to cover his mouth as he looks away, since it's better to have more protection just to be safe. He sees Makoto take a small step back from the corner of his eye, which Taka does not fault him for at all, honestly. He'd probably have done the exact same! It's only safe!
He doesn't get a chance to even try and say any more, though, before he hears Mondo snort, the biker giving him an exasperated look.
"Don't fuckin' listen ta him, he's a fuckin' martyr an' shit. If ya two wanna make him somethin', we'd 'ppreciate it. My bro always made me that canned stuff when I'd get sick as a kid, so I know that shit helps. Ain't got any a' that at the school, though, so if yer offerin', I'd 'ppreciate it. Plus, ya'd have a favor owed from the leader a' the Crazy Diamonds! That shit's got value, I can promise ya that. Got any enemies ya need taken care a', just let me know. Can deal with 'em right fuckin' quick, no one the wiser, heh."
Taka frowns at the offer, giving Mondo a Disapproving Stare (tm), but his attention is brought back to Makoto quickly enough, the boy letting out a sound of alarm.
"Ah! That, uh... that won't be necessary, Mondo, though I appreciate the offer! Uh... y-you guys won't need to owe us anything, though, so don't worry! We're your friends and we want to make sure you're both feeling okay. I know I do, at least, and I'm positive Hina will feel the same way. She was very concerned about you two after you left, by the way. Especially when you guys didn't answer your texts for a while. But, um... I'll let you guys get going to the nurse, okay? I'll call my mom and see if she can email me her recipe. Bye! I hope you feel better soon, Taka!"
With that, Makoto waves them farewell, the action only slightly awkward, before the teen is shuffling away, cheeks still pink. Taka watches after him blankly for a moment, his cheeks flushed with more than just fever, and only snaps out of it when he feels Mondo coax him gently onward.
"Heh, nice fuckin' kid. Should prolly apologize fer almost deckin' him first week a' school... eh. Whatever. C'mon, Kiyo. Let's get ya ta the nurse."
Taka follows Mondo as he starts moving forward again, hunching his shoulders to try and cover the bruises on his neck as best he can. He notices Mondo frowning at him for it, but Taka can't help it. He, uh... he really doesn't want anyone else to see the bruises... aha.
Thankfully, it seems that the gods are smiling down on him for once, since they manage to make it to the nurse's office without running into anyone else. Taka is panting lightly by the end of it, since he'd refused to take a break in order to try and prevent any more run-ins, and his sick body is not happy with such a fact. He knows Mondo was unhappy about him pushing himself so hard, but the biker had thankfully not forced the issue. He had grumbled about it, though, calling Taka 'impossible' and 'a complete fuckin' idiot,' amongst other overly sweet things.
Now that they are at the nurse, though, Mondo just sighs softly and pushes the door open, leading Taka in without another word.
Taka can't help but grimace at the scent of the overly clean place, mind bitterly reminded of the doctor's office in which his family had first learned of his mother's illness. He's always hated going to doctor's and nurse's offices ever since, stomach clenching as his mind assaulted him with the memory of the news that his mother had cancer and that their government provided insurance wasn't going to cover all of the treatment. He'd been so young at the time, but he'd been old enough to know what those words meant, especially when his mother had burst into tears, his father holding her while looking shattered himself. Taka had sat in the corner by himself following the news, silent as a mouse, until his mother had remembered he was there and had gathered him tightly in her arms, telling him how much she would always love him. The memory is one of the worst in his life, and it hurts him so badly to be reminded of it now.
He doesn't have much time to come to terms with it, though, before the nurse practitioner is there, smiling at them politely.
"Hello! How may I help you today?"
Taka opens his mouth to reply— an instinct in him— but before he can, he hears Mondo speak up, his voice low but steady in the silent air.
"'S Taka. He, uh... he woke up all delirious an' shit 'round 5:00 this mornin'. Gave him some a' that nighttime cold meds, which let him fall back ta sleep, but when he woke a little while ago, he was still all warm an' sneezin' an' sh- I mean, uh... all. Figured he has the flu or somethin'. Was hopin' ya could get him some meds ta help. He, uh... ain't the type ta miss school, even when sick, so the sooner he gets well, the better."
Taka watches blandly as the nurse nods quickly, smiling brightly. She gestures for the pair to follow her, over to one of the beds that is sitting off to the side of the room. Taka is pulled along by Mondo, his legs far weaker than before, though he is still able to walk to the bed well enough without being dragged. Once the pair arrive at the beds, Mondo helps him sit on the edge of one of them, Taka going gratefully.
The room, to his immense relief, is empty of everyone but the three of them. Not even the Ultimate Nurse, from the year ahead of them, is there, like the girl often is. He supposes she's taking the day off, given that it's the weekend. Good, he thinks privately. Less people to notice the bruises...
The nurse comes over to sit in front of him, then, and begins asking him questions, though first she makes sure that he's alright with Mondo being present during her examination as she tries to determine the cause of his illness. At his vehement acceptance of Mondo's presence, she smiles gently at him, before she begins her exam. And then, after that, he's not given much time to think, as the nurse asks about his symptoms (Mondo answering most of the questions so he doesn't have to speak), before having him take off his mask so she can look at his throat and nose with her little light, looking at his ears next. She listens to his breathing with her stethoscope after that, and then swabs the back of his throat with a long cotton swab— which makes him cough harshly afterward— to test for strep.
Once she's done with her examination, she asks a few more questions, before finally, she gives him a soft look, her expression kind. He can't see it under her mask, but he has the impression that she's smiling at him, too.
"Well, we won't know for sure until the strep results come back, but I'm fairly confident that your friend is right, Ishimaru-san. It appears that you do have the beginnings of the flu. To be on the safe side, I will send a prescription for some TheraFlu to the pharmacy a few blocks away, which should be covered completely by the school's insurance. I will also send a prescription for you, Owada-san, considering how close you mentioned the two of you being, also to be safe. You should receive a packet of pills; I want you to take two a day, one in the morning and one at night, until you are out. Have you had the flu vaccine this year?"
At Taka's nod, she nods back, continuing on.
"Good. Then you probably won't have as intense symptoms as otherwise, and with the TheraFlu, you shouldn't be bedridden for too long. I do recommend you take the day off school tomorrow, though, and spend the rest of today and tomorrow resting, to give your body a break. You too, Owada-san. I will be writing a note to your teachers, informing them of my recommendation, as well. Other than that, drink plenty of liquids, primarily those high in electrolytes, and don't eat anything solid until your nausea goes away. Now, Ishimaru-san, Owada-san, do either of you have the ability to pick up your prescriptions at the pharmacy? If not, I can pick it up for you during lunch later, it will not be a problem."
Mondo snorts at the nurse's words, shaking his head slightly.
"Nah, y'ain't gotta do that. I can ride my hog an' pick 'em up after we're done here, not a problem. Should I take the pills now, too? Or wait 'til I got symptoms?"
"I would recommend waiting, as there is no guarantee you will get ill as well. As soon as you notice symptoms, however, I'd say to start taking the pills right away, as that will give you a better chance of missing the worst of the symptoms. I can also provide you both with masks and other sanitary products as well, if you'd like."
At their nods, she stands and heads over to the cabinet by the wall, where she grabs a small bag and begins filling it with masks, hand-sanitizer, gloves, and other various things he can't quite see from his distance. She then calls to Mondo, asking for him to head to another bed so she can give him a brief checkup as well, to be on the safe side. Mondo doesn't look happy to go, but at Taka's exasperated look, he reluctantly agrees, grumbling under his breath.
Before looking over Mondo, the nurse returns to Taka's bed, her eyes sparkling as she hands him the bag of supplies that she had put together for him. He tries to push down the feeling of unease inside of him. Why... why is she looking at him like that...
"Here you go, Ishimaru-san. If you need any more supplies at any point, feel free to come back and I will replenish your supply," she says cheerfully, voice bright and chipper. She then lowers her volume, the sparkle in her eyes increasing as the corners of her eyes crinkle, making Taka think she's smiling under her mask. Why... why is she... "I also put a tube of bruise cream in there, to help with the problem on your neck. It should help with any irritation or swelling you may experience. Your boyfriend can use it too, as it is not a prescription. I'm sure you know this, but the school provides condoms for free, should you need them. While pregnancy may not be a risk, it is always best to practice safe sex, though I would not recommend engaging in such acts until you are both one hundred percent better, alright?"
Taka's eyes are huge as he looks at the nurse, face paling drastically. S-she... what?! T-that's not- that isn't-!
He doesn't have a chance to correct her before she's turning to head over to Mondo, who thankfully hadn't heard what the nurse said. Taka can't help but notice the sly wink the woman gives him as she turns, though, making his skin go from pale to flushed in the span of a moment. W-well! How unprofessional!
As the nurse does a short examination on Mondo, Taka goes through the bag she provided, blushing as he sees the cream she mentioned, as well as a packet of condoms and some lube, of all things. Grk! How mortifying!
Unfortunately, he doesn't have any pockets in his sleep pants, so he has to put them back in the bag, cheeks impossibly flushed, sure his temperature is now five degrees higher than it had been before. And he still hasn't asked the nurse if it's okay to be blushing so much... w-well! He definitely will not do that now! He would die of mortification should he do that! In order to give him peace of him, he buries the additional items under the masks and gloves, hoping Mondo doesn't ask to look in the bag before they're back in their room, where he can hide them somewhere safe. Part of him wants to throw it all out, but he's not an idiot. The bruise cream, at the very least, will be good to have. And as for the rest... w-well. He doesn't know what, exactly, Mondo is comfortable with, but should their relationship ever progress enough for them to, er... well. You know. Then it might be good to have. After all, as the nurse said. Safe sex is important! Aha...
The nurse's examination of Mondo doesn't take long, and soon she's headed to her computer, sending the prescriptions over (which she says should be ready to pick up in half an hour), as well as printing out some papers detailing what they talked about and her recommendations for getting better. She then hands Taka an extra paper with another wink, which Taka hurriedly stuffs in the bag without looking at it, glad Mondo is still seated on the other bed and can't see it.
Soon after, Mondo is wrapping his arm around his waist again, which relieves Taka, as he's starting to feel very fatigued. His head is aching again, but the nurse had told him he shouldn't take any more pain killers for a little while, as the medication Mondo had given him earlier had some in it, and the TheraFlu does as well. She says he can take some ibuprofen if the pain gets really bad, but to otherwise not take anything if possible. While his head does hurt, he doesn't think he needs to take anything for it, not right then. It just makes him feel tired and in pain, which is why he's glad they're finally headed back to their room.
They do end up passing by a few students on their way back to their room, but luckily, it's no one from their year, so they don't get stopped by anyone. The trip back takes almost as long as the trip there, but it's not too long before they're back safely in their room.
Once inside, Mondo gently seats him on the couch, before heading to the bed and grabbing all the blankets, piling them around Taka like he had the day before, to help keep him comfortable. The biker then slides onto the couch himself, pulling Taka's back to his chest, shifting them so they're both seated sideways in a lounge position, but can still look at the small screen. With Mondo's arms around him, he can't help but feel instantly better, even as he coughs lightly. It makes him feel guilty, though, knowing that he's putting Mondo in danger just by being around him...
"Y-you don't have to do this, you know," he claims softly as Mondo grabs the remote, clicking between the various channels the school provides without care. At Mondo's confused look, Taka continues. "Y-you know... taking care of- o-of me. I don't... don't want you getting... getting sick too..."
He hears (and feels) as Mondo sighs, the biker squeezing him a little tighter, but not enough to cause any pain.
"Taka. Kiyo. Stop with that shit, alright? I wanna take care a' you. Makes me, uh... makes me feel better, ta tell ya the truth. An' if I'm gonna get sick, I prolly already am, since I've been 'round ya constantly since yesterday. 'M already prolly infected, even if I ain't got any symptoms, the nurse told me. So, me goin' away ain't gonna do shit, other than make both a' us miserable. Yer my best friend, Kiyo. My goddamn family. Ain't gonna leave ya when yer like this. Nothin' ya can say ta me is gonna change my mind on this, either, so don't even fuckin' try, okay? I wanna help ya. It helps me ta help ya. So, just... please believe me. Okay?"
The words make tears rise in Taka's eyes, to his shame. He pushes them down and instead laughs softly, nodding as he turns his head to press his ear to Mondo's chest, listening closely to the steady thumping of his heart, the beat getting steadily quicker as he listens. He reaches down then and tangles their fingers together, unable to help himself. Mondo doesn't complain at all, just squeezes back, turning his focus back to the television set, stopping on a Japanese game show that the biker likes to watch every so often. Taka doesn't like the show very much, so he just lets his eyes slide shut and feels his breath grow steady as his lethargy grows. Taka tends to prefer to sleep on his stomach or side, but with his congestion, he figures it's probably best to stay on his back. And with Mondo underneath him, he has to admit that he's feeling very comfortable despite the discomfort from the flu.
After a while, though, as he's dozing lightly, he feels Mondo move, the biker trying to get out from under him without jolting him too much. He lets out a noise of complaint, making Mondo freeze. A second later a chuckle sounds, the biker's hand rising to clumsily pet his hair, the angle awkward but the sentiment nice.
"Heh, sorry kyoudai... just gotta go an' get yer prescription now, ya know? Was gonna let ya keep on sleepin', since I know ya need yer rest an' shit. I'd love ta stay, but ya need these pills as soon as possible, so ya can take both doses today and get better quicker. But I promise I'll be back as fast as fuckin' possible, okay? An' if ya need me, I got my phone, so ya can call if anythin' happens. I'll even pull over ta the side a' the fuckin' road if I'm drivin', if it makes ya feel better. Just... I'll be back quick, okay? Promise."
Taka lets out a hum of understanding, sitting up to help Mondo get out from under him. As Mondo sits up, he leans forward carefully and presses a quick kiss to the side of Taka's neck, making him flush bright red. Mondo doesn't seem to notice what he's done, though, as he just stands casually, stretching as he goes. Taka watches him for a second, before figuring he should respond verbally to the biker.
"Alright, kyoudai. But don't- don't speed! Abide by- by the rules of the... the road! Understood?"
Mondo groans softly, eyes rolling over-dramatically, but when he looks at Taka, it's with such adoration and fondness that it takes Taka's breath away. Like usual...
"Shit, Kiyo. Take all the fun outta it, why don'tcha. Yeah, yeah, don't fuckin' worry 'bout it. I'll be a little bitch an' mind the rules a' the fuckin' road. Think it's snowin' anyway, so I prolly woulda done it regardless, but fer ya, kyoudai, I'll make sure ta go grandma speed," Mondo drawls, rolling his eyes again with a smirk. Taka scoffs, which unfortunately makes him cough lightly. When he's done, he just gives Mondo an unimpressed look, the biker snickering softly (once he's assured that Taka is, in fact, okay).
"I would hope you'd always a-abide by the rules of the road, k-kyoudai! But I am- am glad that you're going to- g-gonna listen to me," he states, voice still raw and painful, but getting a little better with use.
He watches as Mondo smiles softly at him, shaking his head fondly. He doesn't reply back, though, and just leans down to kiss Taka's forehead tenderly.
"Whatever, Kiyo. Be back soon. Promise," he mutters against his skin, pulling back after a moment. He then heads to the bathroom and comes back with another glass of water, handing it to Taka carefully.
"Drink this slowly, okay? Should help. I'll see ya soon. An' don't ferget ta call if ya need help, okay? Don't try an' be an idiot an' get yerself hurt when y'ain't gotta. An' if ya get cold or anythin', got the extra blankets in the closet, though I can pull 'em out now if ya'd like. An' if ya get hungry, got some snacks in the top drawer a' the desk. Though, ain't liquid... uh, shit, I can get ya somethin' 'fore I leave or somethin', if ya want-"
"Kyoudai," Taka interrupts after a moment of the biker's rambling, rolling his eyes lightly when Mondo looks down at him with his head tilted. He once never did such an action, finding it childish and disrespectful, but finds that he doesn't mind doing it around Mondo, knowing that the biker sees it as teasing rather than rude. "I'll be fine. I can take care of- of myself, though I know that you... that you wish to care for- for me. But I can handle being alone for... for a little... little while. Promise."
Mondo frowns down at him, looking like he wants to counter him. But then, after a second, he sighs softly, a chagrined smile on his lips as he raises his hand to rub at the back of his neck.
"Heh, shit... yer prolly right. Just... don't wanna leave ya when yer sick, s'all. Ya just... I... I don't want nothin' ta happen ta ya when I'm gone. Can't fuckin' stand that thought, man. But I know I'm bein' fuckin' overbearin' an' shit, so I'll get outta yer fuckin' hair, don't worry. Just... please call. If not me, then someone. If... if ya truly need help. Just... promise me. Please."
The intensity of Mondo's eyes breaks his heart, the biker looking deadly serious with concern. Taka doesn't know why this means so much to the biker, but he finds himself nodding, taking his phone off the coffee table and holding it close to his chest with a smile.
"I promise, kyoudai. I- I'll call if I truly need help. That... that's a Kiyotaka Ishimaru guarantee," he smiles, his heart aching softly at the way Mondo's eyes melt, the look the biker gives him so soft and sappy it makes him want to spontaneously combust. The feeling gets worse when Mondo bends down yet again, pressing one more kiss to his forehead, lingering a few seconds before pulling back.
"Alright. Alright, I'll fuckin' go. Just..." Mondo pauses, before sighing, shaking his head as a rueful smile rises on his face. "Heh. Turnin' inta a fuckin' mother hen, Christ. Hope ya 'ppreciate the shit I do fer ya, god. Promise I didn't use ta be this fuckin' clingy, shit. I'm gonna go 'fore my balls fuckin' fall off or somethin'. See ya soon, Kiyo."
With that, Mondo turns towards the door, grabbing a fresh mask as he goes. He pauses before exiting, however, head tilted back towards Taka like he wants to say something. It seems he thinks twice about it, though, because he yanks open the door without saying anything after a moment, marching out stiffly.
Taka looks at the door with a fond smile for several seconds more, before looking down at his phone, unlocking it and clicking into the texting application before he can tell himself not to.
To: Kyoudai 3:
Kyoudai,
I didn't get a chance to say this earlier, but I wanted to thank you for being so kind and caring! And I do not mind you being a little overbearing! I find it sweet, and I appreciate it more than words can say!
But... well. Please stay safe on the road, okay? I would hate for something to happen to you. I... I care about you more than I can say, and I can't help but worry about you, especially when it's so slippery outside. So just... be careful, please, kyoudai.
See you soon,
Your Kiyo.
Taka hits the send button before he can talk himself out of it, cheeks flaring bright red as he bites his lip anxiously. He knows that excessive use of ellipses can be annoying, but he can't help it! He just... loves dramatic pauses, and it's the best way to convey that via text, he's found. And that's not even to mention the sappy words he'd written, his face heating up just thinking about them. Of course, he'd meant everyone, but... well. It's very revealing, though it's nothing more than what Mondo had just done with him. Still... hm. Still. He worries he's revealed too much of himself just then.
It takes Mondo a while to reply back, which worries Taka as the moments pass, as Mondo usually replies immediately. He finds himself obsessively checking the phone every few seconds, though he knows it won't change things.
Finally, though, his phone buzzes, Taka opening it with excited fingers and reading the words greedily.
From: Kyoudai 3: ur so fckn precious, Kiyo. aint gtta wrry bout me tho. cn hndl mself. wrry bout u, k? gt rest, drnk sum wter, n dnt do nythin 2 tirin, k? rest up, y'idiot. c u sn, Kiyo. love ya.
Taka's heart is racing as he finishes reading the text, eyes lingering on the last two words before he reads the whole again, and again, and again. By the tenth read through, he's managed to realize that it really does say that, and by the twentieth, he is able to smile softly, the words (poorly spelled as they are) memorized entirely. He's exchanged enough texts with Mondo over the past several weeks that he's begun to understand his weird 'text speech' that he uses. He'd realized early on that the biker usually erases any letter that doesn't take away from the meaning of the word, though he doesn't from words he wants to make sure Taka understands fully.
As such, he finds himself adoring the words Mondo had sent, not caring at all about the spelling or grammar (which isn't actually as bad as usual). And, of course... the last two words... a-ah. He can't help how he presses the phone to his heart after a moment, wishing that it was the biker he was holding.
After a moment, he pulls back and begins writing a letter in return, hitting send as soon as it is written, not bothering to read over it for spelling errors like usual, face flushed so bright he knows it can't be healthy.
To: Kyoudai 3:
Kyoudai,
I will! I promise, kyoudai! But I will alway worry about you, Mondo. Alwyas. You... you mean everything to me. And I... I can't help but fret when you on your bike. Because... because I love you, too. And I don't want you to get hurt. Please...
Yours forever,
Your Kiyo.
He puts his phone back on his heart, too anxious to look at it. It is the first time he's ever said those words to Mondo... and he knows that they hold a different weight than the ones Mondo had texted to him. The biker doesn't say he loves Taka often, but he does it occasionally, ever since the night he'd bared his soul to the biker, usually when Taka is stressed out or upset about something. But Taka... Taka has never said it back, though he most definitely has felt it. He just... he knows how much he means them, and he has always been terrified that Mondo will read them the proper way if he says them, and he just... he's always so afraid that if the biker knows how he truly feels he... he will... but he hadn't cared, in that moment when he'd written them and hit send. He just... he hadn't cared. He meant them. He means them. And he wants... he wants Mondo to know. He just... he wants him to know.
Taka takes several deep breaths as he sits on the couch, the TV still playing softly in the background, phone pressed tight to his heart. Long minutes pass as he waits for a reply, his heart rate rising with every second that passes, his body wracking with a coughing and sneezing fit, his head beginning to pound again. It's just as he's begun to assume that Mondo must be driving now (while doing his best to not worry that Mondo isn't replying because he realized what the words truly meant and is disgusted now), when the phone buzzes, making Taka startle so badly he almost throws the phone across the room. He catches it at the last second and hurriedly unlocks the phone and reads the words written with desperate eyes.
From: Kyoudai 3: I will, Kiyo. Promise. Im not leaving you, no matter what. I will be as careful as I can. Dont worry. Now, Im gonna drive soon. An if u want me to be safe, I gotta focus. Ill text u when I get there. Still call if ya need help tho. Love you, Kiyo. tk 2 u l8r, nrd.
Taka can't help the watery laugh he lets out at the last part, something so utterly endearing to him about Mondo reverting back to his text speech after writing out such a beautiful message, with almost perfect spelling, too. The tears in his eyes finally spill over, then, running soft trails down his face as he smiles at the message, rereading it a hundred times. It takes Mondo a while to write full words on his flip phone. He knows this. Taka has seen him as he types on it, fingers fast but the awkward way he has to text slowing him down quite a lot. He doesn't like having to spell words fully, doesn't like capitalizing words either, and yet he'd done both here. Done it so Taka could see how serious he was being. It makes him feel so incredibly fond and in love that he just... can't. He just... can't. At all.
After several minutes, his tears finally stop and he's able to move without his chest aching with something that isn't the flu. He considers sending a text in reply, but he doesn't want to possibly distract Mondo and make him get into an accident. He'd never forgive himself if that happened.
Instead, he picks up the glass of water Mondo gave him and drinks it slowly, figuring the least he could do is to do what Mondo had requested of him and finish the glass. It helps soothe his throat again, which he is grateful for. All the talking he'd done earlier has aggravated the tender flesh lining his esophagus, so while it's only a temporary relief, it's good enough for him.
Once the glass is empty, he lies back down on the couch, legs curled up under him to fit, facing the ceiling as he closes his eyes. The position is nowhere near as comfortable as when he's lying on Mondo, but he is able to fall into a light doze as he holds his phone tight to his heart, waiting for the message that lets him know Mondo is safe.
The message arrives a few minutes later, causing Taka's eyes to shoot open as he checks the screen, not caring that his head aches with the too quick movement.
From: Kyoudai 3: hy Kiyo. th stor. gnna pck up th plls n sht. n sum sprt drnks n sht. need nythin else? dnt wrry bout price. dnt care. wnt ya t be hppy, k? n hlthy. tht wud mk me feel btr, knwin ur ok. k?
Ah. Aha. He's just so... perfect. So utterly, utterly... perfect. Isn't he?
With a soft smile, Taka quickly texts back, for once not letting himself worry about repayment or anything, just doing what he can to fulfill Mondo's request.
To: Kyoudai 3:
My Kyoudai,
I'm glad that you have made it to the store safe and sound! I can rest easy until you're on the road again! As for what I might need... do they have any of those throat lozenges? My throat has been hurting particularly badly, and I think such things may help. Just something cheap is fine, I promise! No preference for flavor. Thank you so much, kyoudai!
With all my heart,
Your Kiyo.
Taka flushes at the closer he put, but he can't find it in him to erase it, even after reading it through for errors. He hits send with a shaking hand, hoping that this isn't too much for Mondo. It... it shouldn't be... right?
Right, he thinks with relief, seeing Mondo's reply a few moments later.
From: Kyoudai 3: yh k. gnna gt u th mst xpnsv knd they gt, nw. cnt stp me, ha. f they gt cnmn, gttin ya tht. cnmn fckn rles. ttyl, Kiyo. th counter gttin ur drugs frm th drg dlr, haha. lv u.
Taka can't help the tender smile that rises on his face as he reads the words, the butterflies going wild inside him.
They spend the next several minutes texting back and forth, Mondo providing commentary on his trip through the pharmacy, the teen picking up much more than needed. He'd apparently asked the pharmacist (or drug dealer, as he insists on calling them) what would be the most helpful for the flu and had gotten a list of things that would provide some relief, ranging from cheap and practical to expensive and impractical. Taka had had to spend several texts talking Mondo out of buying them a humidifier, of all things.
(Kyoudai, if we want to have steam, we can just head into the bathroom with the shower running. We don't need that. Love, Kiyo.
yh, bt ths sys cool mst. mre plsnt n shit. pls it dnt wst wtr.
Kyoudai, I am begging you. Do not buy the humidifier. Fervently pleading, Kiyo.
... fn. splsprt.
Kyoudai, that last word doesn't even make sense. What is that supposed to mean? Entirely confused, Kiyo.
ha. nrd.)
In the end, he knows that Mondo bought some of the things just to spite him, and that he certainly bought more than either of them needs, but Taka can't really find it in him to care, not with how gleeful the biker sounds in his texts over some of the nonsense he buys. Besides, he knows that Mondo gets the same amount of money as he does from the school, but since he doesn't have anyone to spend it on but himself— and since most of their living costs are mitigated by the school— most of it just remains sitting in his school bank account, collecting dust.
It does make the biker go a bit overboard when he finds something to splurge on, though, which is why Taka has been doing his best to help Mondo figure out how to handle having money without spending too much. It's something Taka has mastered over the years, despite never having money to manage in the first place... aha. His lessons have been going over with mixed results, but he's fairly confident he's instilled Mondo with the knowledge that he shouldn't go under a certain amount in his bank account at any one time, with that amount increasing as more money gets added. For example, he should never go below ¥100,000, which isn't too hard with the ¥70,000 he gets from the school per month. It's what Taka would do, after all... if he actually had money to put in a bank account...
Anyway. After about twenty minutes in the store, Mondo finally heads to the check out with his purchases, saying that he'll be on his 'hog' soon and that he'll be unavailable to talk. Taka wishes him safe travels, smiles at the sweet message Mondo replies with, the biker claiming he can't wait to see Taka again soon, and puts his phone on his heart again as he looks back up to the ceiling, trying to calm the way it races with worry. He knows that Mondo knows how to handle his bike, has willingly gone out with the biker with minimal fear because of it, but... still. The icy nature of the road concerns him greatly. It just takes one wrong move and... well. He shouldn't think about it.
He can't make the worry stop, though, and when his phone finally buzzes several long, long minutes later, he can barely contain his hurry to read the words, his body relaxing when he sees the familiar horrid spelling.
From: Kyoudai 3: m bck. gnna hed insd, fckn frzin otsd. nd t wrm up, chrst. c u sn, Kiyo.
He smiles and writes his reply quickly, knowing the biker will be there in a handful of minutes but not even caring.
To: Kyoudai 3:
Kyoudai,
I eagerly await your return!
Eternally yours,
Kiyo.
He sits up slowly, then, his body shaking as another coughing fit overcomes him, his body starting to feel uncomfortably warm again. Hm... and here he was, hoping his fever was dying down... what joy.
To his immense relief, while no more texts come through, he hears the sound of a keycard unlocking the door a handful of minutes later, his heart leaping as he watches the handle turn and the door finally, finally open.
"Heya Kiyo, I'm home," he hears Mondo call out, right before the door opens fully and his body is revealed. Taka's heart swells again at the meaning behind Mondo's words, so ridiculously happy at the easy way the biker had said home, like he's said it a thousand times before, even though it's the first that Taka's heard it.
He doesn't get time to dwell on it for long, though, before Mondo is rushing forward, kneeling before him on the couch easily, the biker leaning forward to kiss his cheek without a hint of hesitation. It's a bit awkward with the mask the biker is still wearing, but he appreciates the gesture, nonetheless.
"How ya feelin'? Any better?" Mondo pauses, looking at Taka intently. With a soft smile, he nods carefully once, adoring the way Mondo smiles, the biker removing his mask as he goes. "Heh, good ta hear! Now, hold on a second, gotta find something..."
Mondo trails off as he digs through the bag he's holding, taking out a small box, opening it without care and removing a thin sheet of foil. Taka just watches curiously as he pops something out of one of the compartments, holding it out to Taka with a smile.
"Here, take this, yer gonna need ta swallow it. I'll get ya some more water, though, hold on," Mondo mutters, looking him in the eyes with such incredible tenderness. He places something in Taka's hand, then, which Taka takes without question, only looking down at it curiously when Mondo disappears into the bathroom, the sound of the tap running a moment later.
He rolls the little pill in between his fingers, musing as he waits for Mondo to return. It looks far too small to be able to help with the painful symptoms he's been having, but he doesn't doubt the nurse when she says this will help him. He wouldn't know, though, since he's never taken such a thing, even when he'd get fairly sick as a child. He'd not wanted to bother his father about it, after all.
Mondo returns before he can think about that anymore, making Taka smile once more, any hint of pain gone at the sight of his dearest and most beloved friend.
"Here ya go, Kiyo. I got ya some a' those sports drinks, but they're buried in the bag, so this is easier. As fer the pill, yer gonna need ta take one now an' one later, after dinner. Ya got 'bout fourteen little tablets an' the drug dealer said that ya should run out in 'bout seven days. If ya still got symptoms after that, then ya should head back ta the nurse and have her prescribe ya some more. Make sense?" Mondo questions, head tilted slightly in question. Taka nods slowly, giving Mondo a playfully exasperated look. It doesn't even hurt that much to do, which he hopes means he's getting better already...
"They are called a pharmacist, kyoudai. Or a chemist. Not a- a drug dealer. And I understand- a-ah. I understand you perfectly," Taka replies, wincing at the rough quality to his voice. Ah. He'd forgotten how painful it was, since Mondo's texts and antics has so successfully distracted him that he'd forgotten about his still present aches and pains.
He gets distracted from them again, in fact, when Mondo snickers, the biker giving him a mischievous look as he smirks at him.
"Hey Kiyo, what exactly does this 'pharmacist' a' yers do again? 'Cuz, from where I'm standin', looks ta me like they're handin' out drugs ta people. Or, ya know... dealin' 'em. Am I fuckin' wrong?"
Taka gives him an unimpressed stare, shaking his head with faux disapproval. Because while technically, yes, he is right, he also technically isn't. And it's a lot more fun to call Mondo out on his self-proclaimed 'bullshit' than to just let it go. Plus, he knows Mondo likes it, as it always makes the biker grin so beautifully...
"Technically, yes, you are! According to- to the semantics of the words drug dealer, the drugs- t-the drugs in question must be illegal, and the drugs pharmacists give out are certainly not- n-not... illegal, and-"
"Oh, screw you an' yer semantics! Fuckin' nonsense bullshit. I know what I'm about, an' so do you, prissy pants," Mondo interjects, eyes sparkling with mirth despite the harsh sounding words.
Taka can't help the startled laugh he lets out at the insult, even though it makes his throat ache again. He can't help it, though. Mondo has been calling him increasingly ridiculous insults lately, which never fail to make him laugh, even the cruder ones the teen comes up with (which he refuses to even think about, for fear of blushing bright red, thank you very much!). He'd never thought he'd feel so giddy hearing insults hurled at him, honestly... and he doesn't even know why Mondo had started doing it, but he knows he continues because the biker likes hearing Taka laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. It all just makes him feel warm inside, which he finds utterly ridiculous, but wonderful all the same.
Taka gets pulled from his thoughts when Mondo's face grows serious again, the biker looking down at his hand, which is still clutching the pill Mondo had given him earlier. A-ah... he'd almost forgotten about that...
"Anyway. Here, Kiyo. Yer water. Take the meds so ya can start feelin' better an' shit, okay? Oh, an' I got ya yer throat things. Didn't fuckin' have cinnamon, the bastards, but I got ya some fruity flavored ones. Figured ya like 'em better than the mint ones. Also got cough drops, since I wasn't entirely sure the difference 'tween the two an' they both claimed ta help. One says it helps with coughin', other says it helps with sore throats. Figured had a better shot a' one a' 'em workin' if I got both, ya know? D'ya want one now, or later?"
Taka smiles gratefully at the worried looking teen but makes sure to take the pill before he forgets again. It takes him a couple tries, but eventually his throat cooperates and allows him to swallow the medication down painfully. Once done, he nods to Mondo in response to his words.
"Ah, I would- would love a lozenge, thank you. They are- t-they're the same thing, though, so either one is fine. I- I don't think it will help with my- ah. My coughing. B-but it should... help. With the soreness. I hope..."
Mondo nods once before looking back at the bag, quickly taking out some of the nonsense inside as he looks for the lozenges. Taka watches as the pile of junk gets steadily larger and can't help the sappy, overly fond smile that rises on his face at the sight of what Mondo had thought would be useful. Some of it does seem practical to have just in general (such as a thermometer and thermometer covers, which should allow them both to use the device without much problem) but some...
"Mondo... why did you get a packet of tongue depressors?" Taka finds himself asking, picking up the packet with a bemused look. When Mondo looks at him, confused, Taka holds up the packet, which Mondo glances at, head tilted. He then grins, shaking his head.
"Oh, that what that shit is? Nah, didn't get 'em fer the illness an' all. Used ta make these little fuckin' ninja star shit outta 'em with Daiya when I was a kid. Ya'd hit 'em 'gainst a wall an' they'd, like... explode outwards an' shit. Super fuckin' cool! I'll show ya how ta make one once yer better an' all. Think ya'll like that sorta thing, even with how tightly wound y'always are. Nice ta take some time an' make useless things, ya know?"
Mondo is grinning brightly, eyes sparkling, and even if Taka wanted to complain, he can't. Not with how stupidly happy Mondo looks about something so utterly simple. He's only human, you know...
"Well. Alright, then. At least- l-least it's not the hum-h-humidifier!"
Mondo's face shifts to a look of fake annoyance, the biker pointing a finger at him (how rude!) and practically pouting at him.
"Hey, I still maintain that shit looked fuckin' sick, alright? Supposed ta help kill the flu virus an' shit. Makes a nice cool mist that helps with breathin', an' it reduces mucus too. But no, y'ain't want one 'cuz it 'ain't practical' or whatever. Not everythin' in life's gotta be fuckin' practical, Kiyo. Some shit can just be fuckin' sick as shit."
Taka rolls his eyes, though he can't help the smile that rises on his lips, so utterly fond of this ridiculous boy it's not even funny.
"Mondo, how would you- you e-even have brought it home? Th-those things are- a-are big! I don't think- that it would- w-would fit in your side- ah. Storage."
"I'd have fuckin' found a way, man! Always fuckin' do. But no. Ya had ta go an' be the biggest fuckin' spoilsport an' ruin all my fuckin' fun..."
"Ah! That is what- what you meant! In your- y-your text! Your spelling is frankly- fr-frankly... appalling!"
"Least I don't fuckin' type like a old fashioned scholar or somethin'."
The exchange goes on for a little while, a back and forth sniping that once would have made Taka panic that he would seriously offend Mondo with his playful teasing, but now just makes him so utterly happy it's a little concerning. He eventually has to stop when his throat gets so sore that he can't produce any sound, making Mondo look at him with concern again and return to looking for the lozenges. He finally finds them after a few more seconds of rummaging, taking out a citrus flavored one, unwrapping it, and holding it out for Taka to take.
"Shit, here, Kiyo. Yer throat thing. I also got some tea that says it should help with sore throats. The drug dealer assured me that it would help, 'specially with honey an' shit. I'll make ya some later, 'kay? Hope this helps ya, though... gonna miss the sound a' yer voice if ya can't speak anymore, heh..."
Taka has to bite his lip to make it stop wobbling, something about the words making him feel strangely like he wants to cry. He holds it in and just takes the lozenge gratefully, sucking on it lightly, humming with appreciation at the soothing quality of it. He doesn't try and speak, though, knowing it would just run out his voice again.
Instead, he just holds out a hand to Mondo in invitation, cheeks slightly pink but still feeling so crummy he doesn't really care. And with how Mondo's eyes soften and how he smiles sappily at him, he doesn't think Mondo minds.
"Heh, yeah, sure Kiyo. Let me just put this shit away, okay? Know ya hate a mess an' all. Be right back, promise."
Mondo then proceeds to do as he said, to Taka's never-ending gratitude. Even with how unwell he feels, he doesn't think he's ever been happier, watching Mondo carefully (for him, at least) put away the things he bought, providing a steady stream of a one-sided conversation to make the oppressive silence go away. Taka is more grateful than words could ever say, honestly...
It doesn't take the biker long to do his task, and soon he's back by Taka's side, sliding behind him on the couch easily, the teens laying back as Mondo grabs his book for the week (The Hobbit, Taka notes, smiling at the whimsical cover) and puts his glasses on his nose.
He then proceeds to begin reading the book to Taka, from the beginning— even though he knows Mondo is near the middle at least— his voice steady and soothing to listen to as he reads the foreign words. He uses mostly his more proper way of speaking to read the book, though he slips into his usual speech patterns for reading the dwarves' lines. It makes Taka feel so incredibly fond and in love that he doesn't really know what to do. Mondo has done this a couple times, the first time to practice his English, but the second just because he knows Taka had really enjoyed listening to him speak. And now, clearly, he's doing it to help Taka feel better, the teen somehow remembering that Taka had mentioned ages ago how his mother used to read stories to him when he was feeling upset or ill as a child, soothing him immediately. It just... it is so much, too much, but in a very, very good way.
Unfortunately, even though he finds himself truly enjoying the book (something about the fussy little Hobbit making him smile), he finds his eyes drooping about halfway through the second chapter, his breathing getting deeper and deeper the longer Mondo reads. At one point he hears the biker stop for an extended period of time, which makes him whine softly, his eyes blinking open slowly.
"Noo," he whimpers, pressing the side of his face against Mondo's, not caring how pathetic it makes him sound. "'M listening... want... wanna listen..."
He can both hear and feel Mondo as he chuckles, warm lips pressing a little clumsily to his cheek.
"Heh, 'kay, Kiyo. I'll keep readin'. Just needed a drink a' water anyway. You just keep on restin', 'kay? Ya need yer rest, man... now, where the fuck was I... shit, right. 'They had not been riding very long, when up came Gandalf very splendid on a white horse. He had brought a lot of pocket-handkerchiefs, and Bilbo's pipe and tobacco...'"
Taka begins to drift in and out of sleep after that, hearing only snippets of Mondo's book as the biker reads and Taka dozes. He still enjoys it immensely all the same, heart so full it's about to burst, he's sure.
He doesn't know how much time passes, but before long, there's a ringing at the door, followed by a buzzing of his phone. Wrinkling his nose, he opens his eyes heavily and shuffles from where he's lying on top of Mondo, pulling out his phone as he goes. Mondo looks at it curiously along with him as he opens up the texting application.
"What's it say," the biker mutters in his ear, nuzzling him gently even as he carefully extracts himself from behind Taka, looking very reluctant. Taka hums, reading the words quickly.
From: Hina: HI! Makoto told me u r feeling sic, so we made u sum soup! cum n get it, it nice n hot!
Taka relays the message as simply as he can, Mondo nodding as he stands, stretching lightly as he goes. Taka settles back down on the couch and just watches as the biker grabs the face mask he'd tossed to the side and puts it on as he heads for the door, not even bothering to remove his glasses as he goes. Taka loses sight of him as he rounds the counter, but he can still hear him as he stomps heavily forward.
When he opens the door, Taka is able to make out the conversation he has with the excitable girl and the lucky boy on the other side, though he isn't able to see them from where he is laying.
"Oh, heya Mondo! Is Taka in there? Makoto and I made him some soup!"
"Heh, yeah, he is. He's restin' right now, but it'll be good fer him ta eat somethin'. Thanks fer doin' this, ya know. An' I meant it, Makoto. Either a' ya two got any enemies ya need taken care a', just let me know. Can fix that shit right quick."
"U-uh, like I said, that won't be needed, but thanks again, Mondo! Um... my mom sent over the recipe and we followed it the best we could. It should hopefully help him feel better, though we had to make a couple of substitutions. We made enough for a couple days, too, you'll just need to heat it up. The rest is in the communal fridge with your names on it, you should be able to find it pretty easy..."
"Uh huh! I tried some earlier and it is sooo good! Makoto's mom is, like, the best! It should definitely make Taka feel better. Tell him that we wish him well, okay? Oh, and are you guys coming to class tomorrow? If not, I can take notes for you! Um... I mean, I'm not the best note taker, but I promise I can try!"
"Uh, yeah, we won't be comin' ta class. Nurse's orders. Prolly hafta tie that idiot ta the bed ta get him ta stay in, but I promise ya he ain't comin', an' I won't be either. Nurse says I'm prolly infected an' shit anyway, so it's best ta stay in an' prevent the spread a' it the best I can. 'M sure Taka'd 'ppreciate the notes, though. Ain't like he needs 'em, he's already finished all a' our class work fer the rest a' the quarter, but eh. He likes ta study. What can ya fuckin' do..."
There's a pause in the conversation here, and Taka is tempted to sit up to see what causes it, but before he can, Hina speaks again, voice bright as ever.
"Oh! Okay, Mondo! I'll do my best! You tell Taka to focus on getting better, though, okay? We missed you guys at lunch yesterday and you both have to get better as soon as possible! That's an order!"
Hina giggles then, and Taka can practically see her in his mind's eye, twirling as she bounces happily on her toes. It makes him smile to himself, feeling so grateful that he has such wonderful friends.
He hears Mondo chuckling too, the door creaking as the biker moves to close it.
"Heh, yeah, that one we can do, promise. I'll take good care a' him, y'ain't got nothin' ta worry 'bout. Now, hate ya cut this short, but I should prolly get back ta Taka. Get him this soup an' shit. He ain't ate anythin' today, so it'll prolly help. See ya two later. Thanks again."
With that, Taka hears twin goodbyes sound, before the door closes with a soft *click*. The sound of footsteps follows and then Mondo is there, smiling down at him so beautifully he just... ahh.
"Heh. Ya look so fuckin' cute, kyoudai... but ya gotta sit up, man. Hina an' Makoto brought ya somethin' ta eat, an' ya should prolly eat it soon. Should help ya feel better, too. Need help sittin' up?"
Taka lets out a soft noise to indicate that he can do it himself, shifting heavily to sit up. Despite all the sleep he's gotten, he still feels so very tired... he's not sure if the medication causes drowsiness or not, but regardless, he feels very lethargic and sleepy. He doesn't try and argue against Mondo, though. Mainly because he finds that— despite his still somewhat queasy stomach— he is actually hungry. And the soup does smell very good, when Mondo carefully opens the top of the soup container...
"Heh, here ya go, kyoudai. 'S kinda hot, so don't eat too fast or ya'll hurt yerself."
Taka nods and does as Mondo requests, blowing on the spoonful to help cool it off. The second it touches his taste buds, though, he hums with satisfaction, quickly grabbing another spoonful, not caring about the heat. It tastes almost as good as his mother's recipe had, honestly! He can see Mondo look at the container hungrily, and Taka holds out the second spoon that was lying in the bag, smiling invitingly.
"You should try some of this, kyo-kyoudai! It's very good!"
Mondo hums as he sits next to Taka, shaking his head as he goes.
"Nah, Kiyo, 's yer fuckin' food. Ain't gonna take from ya."
"Kyoudai, there is plenty enough for- f-for us both! And I heard Makoto mention that there is- is more in the fr-fridge! Please. Eat some. If you'd like."
He and Mondo enter a stare down with one another for several long moments, before Mondo huffs and nods, eyes rolling as he picks up the spoon and shoves it in the container.
"Fine. Whatever. Ya prick."
He doesn't say anymore as he shoves the spoon in his mouth, immediately humming happily at the taste. He takes another spoonful quickly after, eyes lit up as he begins telling Taka about how it reminds him of the soup his brother used to make him, but way better. Taka listens happily with a smile, the pair sharing from the same container. Part of him thinks that they shouldn't be sharing like this, as it runs a greater risk of sharing germs, but considering how he's been lying on top of Mondo pretty much the entire morning, he supposes it doesn't matter too much. Besides, it gives him a little rush inside, which he does his absolute best to squash down before he makes an utter fool out of himself.
It doesn't take long for them to finish the container, Taka feeling a little queasy but mostly satisfied when it's done. He is still very tired, though, so he doesn't even complain when Mondo takes the blankets off the couch and puts them back on the bed, the biker saying it might be a good time for a nap or something. He does let out a noise of protest when he feels Mondo lift him a moment later, but he settles when Mondo mutters that he should 'just let me take care a' ya, Kiyo. Ain't no big thing.' And, well... it does feel awfully nice, being cradled so tenderly... and it reminds him of how strong the biker is, that he can easily lift his 5'9, 146-pound self...
After that, the pair settles into the bed, Taka feeling comfortable enough to try and lie on his stomach as he presses his head to Mondo's chest, his body and head still hurting dully, but a lot better now than before he'd taken the medication and eaten the soup. He's not sure if it's just the placebo effect or if it's actually working or not, but he finds that he does feel a lot better now. He still is coughing and sneezing every so often, and his nose is still congested, and his throat still hurts, but... it's light years better than that morning, when he'd first woken and felt so out of it that he'd not even recognized where he was or who he was with.
They spend the rest of the afternoon like that, Taka dozing lightly while Mondo reads silently through his book, his right hand running through Taka's hair while he holds the book in his left. Every so often he'll feel Mondo absently lean down and kiss the top of his head, the kiss lingering for several seconds before the biker pulls back, not saying a word. Taka can't help but smile brightly every time it happens, snuggling further into the warm chest beneath him, sighing with contentment and happiness and just... love. Overwhelming, all-encompassing love. It does hurt his heart a little to feel it, but he's already feeling so unwell that he can't find it in him to make matters worse, and so he doesn't let himself dwell on it too much, just lets himself feel it.
And maybe... if he's interpreting the words Mondo has texted and said to him correctly...
Maybe he's not alone in his feelings. He's thought that before only to be bitterly disappointed but maybe... maybe this time...
Regardless, the afternoon passes comfortably, neither teen bored nor upset at how they spend the chilly afternoon. Hours and hours pass as they do nothing more than snuggle under the blankets, Taka daydreaming (something he almost never allows himself to do, as it's a waste of time and energy) while Mondo reads, so unbearably content it's not even funny. This is what Taka believes is called a lazy Sunday, in the common vernacular, and it's something he once never would have dreamed of allowing himself to do, not even when horribly sick.
But now... here, with Mondo, lying beside him, atop him, snuggled so close they might as well be one... it doesn't seem so bad. That he's neglecting his studies. That he's not constantly moving. That he... that he's allowing himself a moment to rest, for once in his godforsaken life. He still thinks that studying and doing homework and being an upright, moral citizen is of the upmost importance, don't get him wrong! But... but it's not the only thing that's important to him, now. It's not the only thing that matters.
Mondo is. He, himself, is. Their individual health and happiness is.
What a wonder, isn't it?
Aww, Taka and Mondo are just adorable. And yes, Makoto totally knows they're fooling around together, but he won't tell anyone since he's a good bro like that. The nurse also totally thinks they're in a relationship, because let's be real... they totally are acting like it. I don't know Japan's policy on providing condoms and things like that for free, especially to teens, but I figured it would totally embarrass Taka and I NEEDED that in my life for Reasons, so... ha.
Also! Fun fact! Y'all remember back in chapter 15 when I mentioned that a future chapter had inspired me to go back and fix the clunkiness of it? Well! That chapter was this one! I got the idea of writing Taka sick with Mondo taking care of him from that chapter and when writing this chapter, I remembered how much I disliked chapter 15 and went back to fix it up. Maybe one day I'll post the original chapter 15 on Tumblr so people can see the vast difference editing can make. Let me know if anyone would actually be interested in that, ha. But just a bit of a BTS fun fact for y'all. :-)
(Also, also. Bonus points if you understand Mondo's texts. I just eliminated any vowel or letter that didn't seem important in a word, ha.)