Summary:
It's not often that Kirsch is allowed to spoil Zora, but when he does, Kirsch loves it.
Kirsch takes care of Zora when he's not feeling well.
Notes:
Set after "The Letter," "Postscript" and the one-shot "When I Think of You"
You don't need to read the other parts to understand it.
Where Could I Go?
By:
IAmStoryteller
Kirsch yawned as walked down the hallway and passed the other rooms to his own room. It was after eight at night and he had a long day of balancing the budget to submit to the accounting office at Magic Knight Headquarters, training with his juniors, assigning missions, and going on a supply run to Thorncrest. Normally, Kirsch would stay in his office until about ten and then return to his room to do some light exercise, then bathe and then go to sleep by midnight.
But tonight, he was too tired. It didn't help that he missed his partner terribly. He hadn't seen Zora in two weeks due to missions and meetings. Sometimes, they just had an incompatible schedule.
He unlocked his bedroom door (the only reason he locked it was due to some squadmates' tendency to pranks and in a place where someone was always yelling for "Vice-Captain," he wanted a bit of privacy). Entering his darkened room, he spotted a familiar head of dark red hair, laying on his bed.
Kirsch smiled at the sight of Zora sleeping on his bed. Oh, I have missed you so, Zora.
Zora must have snuck in when no one was looking. Zora was very good at bypassing the security defenses of the Coral Peacocks' base (or more likely, Captain Dorothy let him in, as she had been the one to set up the security defenses). He walked to the bed and brushed his fingers against Zora's cheek.
No mask today. Zora had taken off his thigh-high boots too, only out of respect for Kirsch's cleanliness rule of "no shoes on in the house."
Zora's face scrunched up and his eyes slowly opened. Zora said, in a breathy, low voice, "Evenin', sweet'eart."
And instantaneously, Kirsch knew that Zora didn't feel well just from his tone. Softly, Kirsch asked, "Migraine?"
Zora grunted.
"Did you take the medicine that Doctor Owen gave you?" Kirsch asked, gently.
"Yeah. Had trainin' wit' Asta, Nacht and Gauche," Zora mumbled.
Ah, there it is, Kirsch thought to himself. He petted Zora's hair. Of course, Zora took the medicine as soon as he felt a migraine coming, but training with Nacht, Gauche, and Asta meant that Zora wouldn't show an ounce of weakness and opt-out of training to rest like he was supposed to do. There was this unspoken and very strange competition between Nacht, Gauche, and Zora, mainly because of Asta, even if Zora denied it when Kirsch brought it up. "I'm going to fill the bath, okay?"
Zora hummed. "'K." Zora dozed back off to sleep.
Kirsch quickly went to his bathroom (all Senior Knights in the Coral Peacocks had private bathrooms) and activated one of the lights with his mana that was the furthest away from the bath. He grabbed a washcloth out of his linen closet. Once it was soaked with cool water, he went back to Zora and placed it over his eyes. Satisfied, Kirsch returned to the bathroom to draw the bath. Once the water from the faucet began to fill his bathtub, he shifted all his hair and body products out of the way. He fetched the non-scented hair and bath products out from under his sink's cabinet.
Once the tub was filled, he turned off the water. He went back out to his room. He went to his dresser and opened the bottom drawer which held clothes for Zora. They weren't Zora's clothes, but clothes Kirsch bought for Zora, despite Zora's protests that he didn't need more clothes than the two outfits he wore normally. He pulled out a new pair of underwear and a soft pair of sleeping pants for Zora. Kirsch fetched his own nightclothes and made sure that he had two towels ready and placed everything on the bathroom counter.
With everything set, Kirsch went back to rouse Zora. He said, gently touching Zora's shoulder, "Zora, the bath's ready."
Zora removed the cool washcloth and groaned as he unsteadily sat up, holding his head, "Ow." Zora shifted so his legs dangled off of Kirsch's bed.
Kirsch sat down next to him to let Zora put his arm around Kirsch's shoulder. Kirsch stood up, bringing Zora with him. Kirsch guided Zora to the bathroom. It took a few minutes for Zora's legs to cooperate as Kirsch knew that Zora just wanted to sleep. Sleep was key to easing a migraine but Zora had a hard time staying asleep due to his paranoia that made him wake up at every single sound. A warm bath would help lull him to a night of deeper sleep.
They reached the bathroom and Kirsch led Zora to a fancy decorative stool that Zora had mocked many times ("Why do you need a stool in your bathroom, pretty boy?"). Sitting Zora down, Kirsch asked, "Can you undress or do you want me to help?"
Zora's eyes closed, and half-delirious from pain, he grinned a little grin and said, "'elp me."
Kirsch shook his head but smiled. It wasn't often that Zora let Kirsch spoil him, so Kirsch would take every chance to dote on the love of his life. Without any delay, Kirsch helped Zora take off his ridiculous black shirt that couldn't even be called a shirt. Kirsch was glad that he didn't have to take off Zora's mask because that was a bit more involved, as Zora's mouth piercings had to be removed first before unwrapping the leather monstrosity that Zora insisted he wear. There had been more than once that Zora lost his studs when Kirsch had been in a hurry to take the mask off so he could kiss Zora.
Not wanting the bath to cool too much, Kirsch's hands went to Zora's belt buckle of his pants. Once unbuckled, Kirsch unbuttoned Zora's leather pants.
"Hold on to me and lift your cute butt," said Kirsch.
Zora steadied himself on Kirsch's shoulders and lifted himself so Kirsch could slip Zora's pants down. Once they were down his thigh, Zora plopped down on the stool. Kirsch slid the pants down Zora's long and toned legs.
God help me. Calm down. Another time, Kirsch told himself while he admired Zora sitting there only in his briefs.
Kirsch said, in a low voice, "You're a menace."
Zora let out a short chuckle because Zora knew exactly what he was doing to Kirsch. "Love ya too."
Face feeling a little warm as Zora finished undressing, Kirsch stood up and turned around abruptly (not that he hadn't seen Zora naked before, but even after all this time, Zora still made Kirsch flustered). He took off his Coral Peacocks' cloak and undressed. "Ready?"
Kirsch once again helped Zora stand up as they went to the tub. He helped Zora climb into the tub first. Zora immediately sighed happily at the warmth of the bathwater. Kirsch climbed into the tub after him. Kirsch's bathtub was a rather large one, more than enough for two full-grown men, that he had installed after he became Vice-Captain years ago. It had a handy shelf above it with all the bath supplies on it. Kirsch asked, "Want me to wash your hair?"
"If ya want," said Zora, but what he really meant was yes. He turned around so his back faced Kirsch and slid back at an angle so Kirsch had access to his hair.
He's so needy right now. I wish he would let me do this all the time. Kirsch smiled as he filled the small bucket with water. He kept it for this specific reason when he got to wash Zora's hair. He gently wet Zora's hair, mindful of not splashing Zora in the face with water. Once Zora's normally spiky hair was saturated with water, Kirsch reached for the unscented shampoo. It took ages to find the right one since most had a flower or sweet scents, but those kinds of scents always made Zora's migraines worse.
He squeezed a bit of the shampoo in his right hand. He placed the bottle down. He rubbed his hands together before he buried his hands in Zora's hair. He gently made sure he got every spot. Kirsch pressed his fingers firmly on Zora's head, causing more relieved sighs from Zora.
"I like yer hands," said Zora, voice all rumbly and content.
Kirsch hummed face warming at the compliment. "Thank you, love."
If Kirsch took a few minutes longer than necessary to get the shampoo in Zora's hair, neither of them would complain. Once he rinsed the shampoo out of Zora's hair, he reached for the conditioner. He repeated the process.
Once he was done, Kirsch said, "Let me wash your back. You wash the rest of you."
Zora sat up and said, "But what if I want ya ta wash me?"
As Zora didn't make many requests of Kirsch, Kirsch was loath to say no, but Kirsch couldn't handle being allowed to touch every inch of Zora in an intimate but non-sexual way. He was sure that his heart would burst from all the adoration and love he felt for Zora if he did. "Zora, behave."
"Okay," said Zora, and Kirsch wished to see Zora's face at that moment because it sounded like Zora pouted.
Pouty Zora was a vision that Kirsch was only ever allowed to see.
Kirsch grabbed the soap and the luffa scrubber. He soaped up the luffa and handed the soap to Zora. The sounds of the bathwater moving meant that Zora did his own task. Kirsch put one of his hands on Zora's shoulder and used the scrubber to clean Zora's back.
"All done," said Kirsch. "You relax for a few minutes." He needed to do his short version of his hair and skin routine in order to get Zora out of the tub and hair dried and to bed.
Zora turned around to face Kirsch. Zora's eyes were closed and mumbled, "Ain't fair that I get ya in the tub and I can't watch ya, angel."
Kirsch nearly dropped the bottle of shampoo into the bath. Kirsch rubbed his cheeks, willing himself not to get so flustered. They've been together for three years, and you'd think that Kirsch would be used to Zora's unintentional (and sometimes very deliberate) flirting, but he was not. "You're the unfair one."
Zora smiled sleepily.
Kirsch very quickly washed his hair and body to get his man out of the tub and to bed to sleep off the migraine. He got out of the tub first to grab a towel to wrap around himself first and the towel was meant for Zora before he went to help Zora out of the tub, very carefully. Kirsch gently wrapped the towel around Zora's waist.
"Come, and sit," said Kirsch, leading him back to the stool. Zora sat where he was told. Kirsch grabbed another towel. He placed the towel on Zora's head to dry his hair gently. "Feeling a bit better?"
"Ya always make me feel better."
How could I possibly love you anymore? Kirsch finished drying Zora's hair and said, "You want me to dress you in here or in the bedroom?"
"Here's fine," Zora said.
Kirsch dried Zora's legs and body. Zora swayed a bit, meaning that Kirsch really needed to get him back into bed so he could rest properly. If Zora wasn't better in the morning, Kirsch would fetch the Coral Peacocks' resident medic. Without much hassle, Zora had his underwear and soft pants on him, which wasn't less distracting at all. Kirsch dried himself quickly and dressed in his nightclothes.
"Ready?"
"Mhmm."
Kirsch let Zora use him as a crutch and led him out of the bathroom and back to the darkened bedroom. He got Zora back to bed and sat him down. Kirsch moved the comforter so it would be easier to get Zora under them. Zora didn't need help laying himself down. Kirsch placed the comforter over Zora.
He leaned down and kissed Zora on the forehead. The washcloth from earlier needed to be rinsed, so Kirsch took it with him back to the bathroom when he went to clean up the tub.
Returning to the bedroom, Zora soundly slept. Kirsch sighed in relief. He went to the opposite side of the bed and climbed on top of the bed. He laid down and got himself under his comforter. Placing the cool washcloth over Zora's eyes again, Kirsch kissed Zora's cheek. "Sleep tight, Zora."
He closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Zora's eyes flickered open. He felt no pain. The day after having a migraine still had him a bit out of it, but he wasn't in pain, so that was a good start to the day. Zora found himself using Kirsch's chest as a pillow, one of his legs between Kirsch's legs, and Kirsch's fingers were tangled in Zora's hair. Chuckling softly, Zora closed his eyes and relished the warmth from his partner.
Kirsch always took such good care of him. He had been the one to make Zora go to Doctor Owen after they started dating when a particularly nasty migraine had Zora in bed for two days. Kirsch had been horrified that Zora just lived with migraines on the regular and did everything in his power to take care of Zora. Kirsch helped Charmy with a food plan specifically for Zora to try to prevent migraines and made sure that Finral had Zora getting regular check-ups. It was adorable and Zora should have hated it but Kirsch looked at him with big sad eyes ("I just want you to be healthy, Zora. I don't like you in pain.") and Zora didn't dare argue.
Zora felt Kirsch's finger rub circles on his head. Kirsch was awake. Sighing at the feeling of Kirsch's touch, Zora said, keeping his eyes closed, "Morin' sweet'eart."
"Morning, my Zora. How are you feeling?" Kirsch asked, gently.
"Better," said Zora. "Thanks."
"Good, I'm glad," said Kirsch. And he was really happy that Zora felt better. "How did training go anyway?"
"Fine as usual. But I think Asta likes Nacht more than me," Zora muttered.
"He doesn't. He loves all you the same," said Kirsch, amused greatly.
Zora grumpily said, "Ya always say that."
"Because I'm right," said Kirsch, "Now, don't worry about that right now. I'd like a kiss. I didn't get one last night."
Zora grinned, lifted his head, and caught Kirsch's lips in a kiss. Kirsch's soft lips were so addictive. He could kiss them for hours. (And he had done so before). Zora broke away to catch his breath but Kirsch chased him to press their lips together again. Playing this game, huh, Kirsch? Zora shifted to roll on top of Kirsch. They briefly parted to make the position more comfortable and easier for them to kiss.
Kirsch's hands gripped Zora's hair and he wasn't letting go. Kirsch's lips parted and Zora groaned as he slipped his tongue in Kirsch's mouth. Kirsch moaned.
A few minutes of nothing but enjoying each other's kisses, Zora nipped at Kirsch's bottom lip before pulling away. "Miss me that much?"
"You teased me so badly yesterday. How do you manage to be so sexy even when you're suffering from a migraine," said Kirsch. Kirsch wet his pretty pink lips, drawing Zora's gaze to them. "You never let me spoil you."
"Yes, I do," said Zora, softly. "Ya just want ta spoil me all the time. And if I let ya, we'd never get anything done."
"Well, can I spoil you right now?" Kirsch asked, smiling coyly.
"Or," said Zora, grinning, kissing Kirsch on the edge of his mouth, "I can spoil you."
Kirsch happily sighed, "Oh, yes, please."
~fin
